Last week, you shared in the comments some of those “Bedlam” Holiday moments, and it was so fun to read, chuckle and commiserate.
It was just what I needed to know we were all in this together, but little did I know I was setting myself up for a similar moment. We always take our traditional jaunt to the NC mountains with my side of the family Wednesday through Friday. We eat our Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant, but then come back and prepare our own traditional meal on Saturday.
Being the proactive family manager that I am, I took the turkey out of the deep freeze a full FOUR days before it was to be cooked, and placed it in our refrigerator while we were gone. I was even more proud that I actually remembered to take it from the outside fridge on Friday at 11:00pm upon our arrival home. My son brought it into the house, set it down on the counter, and it made a rock like thud. Surely, he had brought in the wrong turkey (since I bought two, of course, at those rock bottom prices)? Nope, it was THEE turkey that I was supposed to brine all night long, and then bake first thing Saturday morning. Solid as a rock after FOUR days in the fridge. What’s with that? I soaked it in water all night, and it was still partially frozen in the morning. So much for the nice marinade that I had prepared (in my mind.) ARG! Eventually, it thawed. (Although I do admit it was just a tad icy when it went in the oven). Definitely not the juiciest turkey ever baked, but the flavor was delicious, and it’s amazing the multitude of mistakes that an amazing gravy can cover. (Mine did just that.)
The beauty of that small moment of panic on Friday evening, was that it just didn’t matter. Truly, I remembered some of these stories. I remembered my own words, and realized that turkey or no turkey, the time gathered as a family was what was etched in our minds and hearts.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I need a few weeks to inhale before heading into Christmas. I haven’t even thought of getting the Christmas decorations down from the attic, and yet that needs to be on the “to do” list this week.
Couldn’t the Pilgrims have timed their arrival a little earlier in the season? (ha…I jest…really.)
I need a little pep talk about swapping out the fall decor for my Christmas items. (Now the shopping? I have that covered. For the first time ever, I am doing almost all of it on-line, and it’s delightful.)
I know seeing all your recipes will get me in the holiday mood. I can’t wait to take some time to browse your inspirations.
Simple Rules for Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods – If you’re joining in with a recipe link, two simple requests. As always, please link directly to your recipe post and not your blog URL, so that everyone can find the recipe months from now.
Also, please link back to my site so that everyone can join in the fun. I don’t ask much in order to participate, but many of you are not linking back, and it’s just common courtesy of blog carnivals.
I feel your pain 😉 I’ve had the same thing happen, felt that same moment of panic … but it looks like it turned out to be sweetly thankful, despite the frozen fowl!
If someone could tell me why my link always has an X on it, I would really appreciate it. It drives me crazy!! 🙂
@cyndi spivey, Cyndi – you are the only one who sees that X. It shows up for the person who links so that you can edit it if you want or delete it. So, rest assured, no one else sees it. 🙂 But I am sure you aren’t the only one who wonders that.
Hi everyone,
I shared a recipe from a couple years ago that is a favorite around here whether it’s holiday time or not! We love this egg nog and it’s a great way to get some raw eggs and other nutritious foods into the kids when they’re coming back from Grandma’s and too many treats. 🙂
Kelly p.s. Cyndi, your link has an x on it because it’s the one you submitted. Mine does, too. 🙂
I have been there with a frozen turkey many times, but you are right it is the time with family and friends that count not just the food.
I am with you I am so not ready to get out my Christmas decorations, but I must get it done this week.
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one who put the turkey in the oven kind-of icy! We bought a “fresh, never frozen” turkey… and sure enough, it sat in the cooler long enough that it was partially frozen. Three days later it still had ice crystals on it when the bird was unwrapped! We ran a bunch of hot water over it — and it was good to go!!
You need time to relax before Xmas? I can relate…Channukkah starts tomorrow night! I haven’t even finished all the cleanup from Thanksgiving and I need to start making the latkes. Oy!
But I’m not complaining. I love the holidays, all of them, and I look forward to the season of lights.
I shared a recipe for Banana Cranberry Muffins. It was a great way to use up the extra cranberry sauce. The muffins are long gone… but I think I have enough cranberry sauce to make at least two more batches this weekend. Can you tell that I slightly overestimated how much cranberry sauce we needed?
Go ahead and breathe….growing up we never decorated for Christmas until Dec. 13…Santa Lucia Day (we have Swedish roots). Then, the tree and decorations stayed up until January 6 (Epiphany…when the wise men came to see Jesus).
It gives a little more time to “relax”, instead of rushing time! 🙂
Ha! We’ve already decorated around here. We never can wait to move into the Christmas season.
I’ve started my decorating, but I’m not anywhere near finished yet! I’ve linked up my roast potato recipe – an easy, foolproof way to crunchy on the outside tender on the inside roast potatoes. Thanks for hosting 🙂
It’s so funny, because I actually gasped a little when you said the turkey was frozen solid. LOL! Apparently I was feeling your pain. 😉
Thanks so much for hosting again this week.
I roasted our turkey a few weeks before Thanksgiving, so that we would have the leftovers as we always go away for the holiday. My turkey actually thawed quite nicely, but I forgot to put it in a separate pan to thaw and when I took it out of our refrigerator that is in the garage, there was a long trail of turkey blood all the way to the kitchen before I realized what had happended. Yuck. I thought I did a good job cleaning up the mess until we started to smell a foul odor in our garage. Upon closer look at the refrig, I realized turkey juice had seeped down underneath the drawers and was starting to mold. Double Yuck.
Thanks for the link-up and I don’t think you are the only one needing a little nudge to get into the mood.
So glad your Thanksgiving went well despite the bird’s evil plan to ruin it. Thanks for hosting another Tasty Tuesday. I’ve been waiting all week to share that chocolate mousse pie! 🙂
I had the same thing happen with my turkey, but noticed it in time so that I could have it mostly thawed. But I am curious, as I don’t usually put it in the refrigerator to thaw 3-4 days ahead of time (usually do it the faster way) … does it really ever thaw completely in the frig? Just curious for next time …
Thanks so much for all your helpful hints and ideas here. I have been reading for awhile, but am not sure if I have ever left a comment. Love your good ideas, and also the tips on watching the budget.
We had a bird freeze situation as well. But it all ended great!
FYI:I usually store the turkey in our deep freeze as well and it consistently takes at least 1 extra day if not a couple to defrost in the fridge. I think it’s just a matter of it getting extra cold in the deep freeze.
So many great recipes, thanks so much for hosting.
Jen!
I feel the same way and I need a break! I’m just not ready for Christmas, yet. Although the snow falling outside is helping! I have a strict “no Christmas celebrating until December 1st” policy in my house. I’ve got to give Thanksgiving its dues!
Lots of fabulous recipes here! I posted the Easy Dilly Casserole and I can’t wait to try the Mexican Ravioli Casserole…