Buying a Turkey

I was watching the Food Network the other day and Bobby Flay had a throwdown with a woman who is supposed to be the queen of turkey-cooking. Flay did a weird pomengranate sauce and wild rice stuffing, while the lady did an apricot jam sauce on a more traditionally cooked bird.

I wasn't wild about either. I like my turkey roasted in the oven..a nice, juicy, butter-basted, Butterball stuffed with a bread-celery-onion-sage stuffing, just like Mom used to make. I bought this year's Butterball tonight. It's a small 13-pound young bird, which will be just enough for dinner and few days of great turkey sandwiches ( and of course many treats for the dogs and cats!)

For me, Thanksgiving is all about smelling the turkey cooking while watching the Macy's Day Parade and Miracle on 34th Street. I love puttering around in the kitchen, working on my pie and rolls, while the bird slowly browns. It's a relaxing day, and a comforting day since it reminds me of countless Thanksgivings with my parents.

I know many cooks like to be adventurous, but on a special day like Thanksgiving that's full of memories, I prefer to stick to the menu that those memories are made of.