Monday, November 26, 2007

apologies.

this is rapidly becoming my food photo blog apparently.

i didn't manage to write a novel this november. instead, i appear to have channeled most of my creative urges into cooking things.

i'm not sure if this is good or bad.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

turkey update, day 2.


the turkey, i think is a success. here is a picture of it just after it came out of the oven yesterday. the pan, as you can see, is too small. those strange dark/red dots on the skin are dried cranberries that simmered in the pan drippings, since i didn't have any dry sherry or madeira to flavour the gravy with. the green clumps are herbs that i mixed with melted butter to pour over the turkey while the skin was browning, since i was not about to stick my hands under the skin of a raw turkey and smear butter over the flesh. ew.

the orange thing is the pop-up thermometer that was included with the turkey, which, although counsidered by many to be cheating worked just as well for me since i don't have a meat thermometer. since i am still here and not suffering food poisoning, i think we did ok. the breast meat is possibly a little dry, even. i overcooked it just a tad. if i ever do this for real people, i will have to invest in a meat thermometer. this was totally unplanned; i had already given away my free turkey certificates from the supermarket to a local food cupboard when he came home with... a free turkey. it was a gift from one of his clients, and it seemed a shame to waste a fresh turkey by putting it in the freezer. so i did the best with what i had in the house *grin*

the bird has since been carved up and is wrapped in foil packets in the fridge. for those of delicate constitution, i will here omit a description of carving the turkey, but let it suffice to say that it is a singularily primeval act.

what is left of the carcase is currently in the stockpot being simmered. i don't get to make a homemade stock that often, so i wasn't going to pass this opportunity up. it will be good when i inevitably come down with the flu this winter.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

turkey update.

the little built-in thermometer thingy has popped. as i do not have a meat thermometer myself, and i do not want to get salmonella poisoning, i am leaving the turkey in the oven a little while longer, although i have removed the foil.

i do not have a turkey baster, so i am doing the best i can with a metal spoon and a measuring cup.

also, the pan is too small. i will have to clean my oven after this.

i'm not sure about the stuffing either, but i figure since the pan juices are boiling, it can hurt to spoon them over the stuffing.

i got up this morning to make cornbread for stuffing. i only used half of the cornbread because i ran out of carrots. so the turkey is i guess about 2/3 stuffed.

i will go baste it again.

slight delay.

i'm cooking a turkey!

more updates to follow.

eeeeeeek.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

happy thanksgiving.

yes, it's slightly early. but i'm not a dedicated enough blogger to work a post into my schedule tomorrow, which will involve waking up, taking a shower, and then driving to my aunt's in northern new jersey for turkey and so forth.

this is also the weekend where i have mostly finished my nano in past years. yeah. that's not going to happen this year. i'm stuck just past 13,000 words and i haven't written for days :( too much shit going on this year.

he also got a turkey from one of his clients this year. we have a 14lb turkey in a box in our fridge. i am thinking i might actually try to cook it. then it will feed us for weeks and weeks. such a benevolent turkey.

i got off work early today and spent most of the afternoon looking up thanksgiving recipes. luckily, i don't have to actually bring anything tomorrow. ha.

i should probably bring a book. he'll disappear to play whatever latest 360 game my cousin bought, and i will probably feel pretty anti-social after a few hours tomorrow. what book goes with turkey?

mmm... fooooood.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

waah.

guess what's coming out of the sky!

i'll give you a hint: it's cold, white, and frozen.

this sucks.

also, i am so far behind in my nano, it's not even funny. this may be the first year i don't finish.

this also sucks.

i think i need more tea.

Friday, November 9, 2007

documentation.


if i'm not careful, this photoblogging thing is going to become a habit.

anyway. i have made apple pie.

i have now fulfilled my quota of patriotic activities for the quarter. or something. but i had apples, and i had to use them up before they went bad. it is no longer sizzling. i believe i shall have to taste it. mmm... pie.