Turkey Day Achievement Level Unlocked

I've finally recovered enough to blog about Thanksgiving.  It was an off year for the Dimocks, meaning we all go to our other family/friends.  Last year I got to get away with bringing canned cranberry sauce (the good stuff with the rings) and some rolls.  This year I hosted for the second time.

There was no school this week.  Instead I had 3 days of parent/teacher conferences.  During down times between conferences I furiously planned my upcoming units, all with the goal of bringing nothing home.

I pride myself on being organized.  A couple of days before Thanksgiving, I opened up my binder of recipes and pulled out the Thanksgiving sleeve.  The clear plastic sleeve contained most of my recipes for Thanksgiving, a menu plan, and timing for the big day--what to put in, at what temperature, and when, and what to prep the day before.  It made it a lot easier to not have to expend mental energy.  I invited family and extended family via Facebook events--off loading the bringing of drinks, desserts, and rolls (gluten-full and gluten-free)

Thursday morning I managed to take it slow, slept in, drank coffee, and showered.  We took away i-pads, video games, and computer screens from the kids at the beginning of the week.  The result was kids who slept in and then played nicely all day.  Weird right?  I borrowed the electric turkey roaster from my mother-in-law and then impulse bought buffet warmer at the checkout a few days before Thanksgiving.  These simplified the whole day with the goal of food ready at 4 pm.

Growing impatient for my mom to arrive to help me with the turkey, I decided in that moment that this would be the year I learned to roast a turkey.  Last time I hosted, my mom handled the turkey.  I was too intimidated.  Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I cobbled together a recipe I thought might be good.

Charlotte Roasts a 15 lb Turkey, step by step instructions.

1. Don't brine the turkey.  Preheat roaster to 450 degrees.
2. Clean out the sink.  Put turkey in sink.  Be brave and reach into turkey to pull out neck and giblets.
3. Call for help (Dave!) when you can't find the giblet packet and are ready to cry because you are getting a little grossed out digging around the cavity of a large bird.
4. Have Dave come to rescue.  Then rinse turkey, pat dry, and sprinkle kosher salt inside turkey.
5. Put turkey in roaster.  Shove fresh poultry seasoning herbs, 2 carrots, and 2 celery stalks into bird.  Put additional 2 carrots and 2 celery in roaster.
6. Rub 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup melted butter on bird.  Add a little more oil to wings just for good measure.
7. Make a rub of 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp pepper, 2 tsp dried thyme, 2 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp dried sage.  Rub all over outside of bird.
8. Wash hands for the millionth time.  
9. Pour 1 cup white wine over turkey (plus a little more for good measure).
10. Cover cook for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 350.  Cook for another 2.5 - 3 hours.  Then pour another 1/2 cup of melted butter over bird.  Quick baste (so bird is good and drunk).  Then continue cooking for another hour.
11. After 4 hours, check temps.  If done, put on giant Christmas cookie platter you have lying around and let rest of 30 minutes.

While the skin didn't get crispy and brown, the turkey was beautiful and the meat fell off the bone.  I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.

I rounded out the meal with roasted balsamic brussel sprouts (done in a crockpot), my serious labor of love stuffing, lime ginger roasted corn, vegan mashed potatoes, and a carrot souffle (Trader Joes).  Appetizers were fancy crackers, gluten free (but surprisingly delicious) foccacia, bruschetta (Trader Joes) and my amazing ricotta parmesan thyme dip.  My brother brought his A game with pumpkin flan, pumpkin pie, and salted caramel pumpkin pie.  And dinner was ready right at 4 pm.

After eating ourselves into oblivion, everyone carpooled over to Sally and Gino's new place (about 5 minutes away).  I used the opportunity to slowly clean up a little and have some quiet moments to myself.  The excursion was just long enough to allow our stomachs to make enough room for dessert.

The kids played quietly by themselves most of the day.  Robin has recently taken to playing for hours with his duplos.

My dad, Linus, and Dave played Snake Oil.

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year with a total of 14 people, a completely manageable amount. Robin picked off the outside of a roll and ate a bowl of vanilla ice cream.  Not surprisingly he had room at the end of the night. 

I conquered Thanksgiving taking a slow and steady pace.  However, I was exhausted by the end of the night.  The kids weren't in bed until 10 pm.  2 days later I feel like my self again, but better.  Why?  Because I am a complete and total badass who roasted her first turkey.  I am so an adult now.