Yep, I completely wrecked the turkey. I’ve had and made great turkey and ok turkey and it is really pretty hard to wreck one…overcooking is one way and that is what I did. It was a smallish, fresh turkey and I prepped it like I do a fresh chicken and set the timer at what I thought would be the halfway mark. But the halfway mark was already too late. Bob, Bear and I all had some of it – I actually roasted the bird the day before TDay…and although it certainly didn’t taste “off” as in tainted, it just did not taste good and I realized it had never smelled good and I dithered about what to do. Thinking I was just disappointed and my taste might be off I thought: gravy! But eventually in some moment of angst, I wrapped the whole bird up and put it in the trash. And I wasn’t sorry the next day! And the thought of turkey did not appeal.

Plan B.

Plan B was actually my original Plan A. Looking at the turkeys when I first went to buy and thinking about the lack of room in both my refrigerator and budget – and it was just me so I could have what I wanted…I thought buffalo (bison technically) – VERY American West. My mother had just given me a recipe for a buffalo meat loaf that she and Bill liked. AND – I recently purchased a meatloaf cookbook:

The Meatloaf Bakery is a restaurant in Chicago and most of the loaves are shaped into individual servings in pastry shapes: cupcakes, pie wedges, etc. and topped (decorated) with pipped mashed potatoes.

The change from turkey dinner back to meatloaf was easy to accomplish, but I admit to an initial loss of confidence. If I could wreck something as simple as a roast turkey, could I still make meatloaf….or pie???

I relaxed, got my kitchen mojo on…

…enjoyed the process…

And all was well.

It was a balmy (for late November) 44F.

We were all outside most of the afternoon

I didn’t make meatloaf cupcakes but I did make cheesy-garlic red mashers, smothered my piece of meatloaf with them and browned the potatoes under the broiler. Garden green beans with cherry-basil-balsamic syrup on the side. I was happy and full.

Bob, Bear and I hope all had a Happy Day.

Let the season of holiday madness begin :) !!