Talkin' Turkey

Today I made my first cup of real brewed coffee in over a year. Talk about yummy! Ok boring topic lol but serious business when one had a 3-4 cup a morning habit until almost 2 years ago. I only quit drinking coffee when I realised it was just too darned hot to drink it every morning.

I do have a coffee maker that C~ bought for me when I first came to visit him before we got married but it has remained packed away in a box until yesterday when I brought it out for dinner. We had dinner guests last night for the first time since we moved into our house earlier this year. I guess we just haven't had the time or the inclination as we have either been too busy or too tired or just plain didn't care too what with all the boxes hanging around that we had yet to unpack and didn't really have too much reason to get on with it, you know?

We knew we'd eventually get around to it, and so we did....eventually, which was last night. House was all cleaned up, boxes unpacked, turkey in the oven, and our guests thoughtfully brought a yummy pavlova for dessert. LUCKY US!

I LOVE to cook. Absolutely LOVE to cook, especially for guests. I like nothing better than to cook for holidays but here the main holidays happen to fall during the Summer which kind of puts the quietus on big, heavy meals that take hours to cook in an oven, but a few weeks ago C~ found a nice juicy turkey breast on sale ( about $20 for a 6 pounder - shocking eh?) and so he bought it knowing that I'd been wanting to cook one before Winter was over and he was also planning to ask a workmate and his girlfriend over to dinner.

So last night out came the good dishes -FINALLY! - and the turkey et al was prepared. We had roasted turkey with roasted pumpkin, fennel, and parsnips. Also broccoli casserole, salad, and mashed potatoes and gravy with homemade honey mustard dressing for the salad. Finished off with pavlova that our guests brought for dessert.

Honestly it wasn't my best effort where the turkey and dressing were concerned though they were both eaten with relish and C~ said he much preferred this style of dressing than the one I made last time. I found it too heavy and "cake like"...but he happens to like things "cake like" lol.
The gravy was also not the greatest but I was a bit rushed as the turkey took about 45 minutes longer than expected. I really hate it when that happens! Our guests had been here since 5:30 and it was nearly 7 pm so I was rushing things along as best I could. The tummy rumblings that could be heard from the next room were an indication I was about to have a riot on my hands if things weren't hurried along sufficiently....and that was just from Tiger.

Anywho, the table was already set by moving husband and I proceeded to load it down with about a half tonne of food which caused the guests eyes to nearly pop out of their heads (and Tiger's too!). So, The Tigez was ushered out onto the patio where he was temporarily pacified with a bone until about a quarter of said table food laden table was consumed and smiles replaced tummy rumblings. Even hubby who generally hates all things containing mustard, mayo, and sour cream ate the honey mustard dressing (on his turkey of all things) and proclaimed it very nice, indeed. My guests were astounded and complimented me on everything then lamented that they were wanting to reciprocate the invitation but were a little scared LOL.
Of course we told them that we'd be happy with tacos made from one of those Old El Paso box mixes. Hehehe, they didn't believe us til we showed them our stack of box mixes we keep just because we like them so much. Too easy!

What can I say? I love to cook and show off my skillz in the kitchen when given half a chance. Plus we have lots of leftover turkey and stuff to eat off the rest of the week, but I'm gonna have to get off my butt and make some better gravy, thank goodness I saved the rest of the pan drippings.

BTW, if you want an invite to dinner, just ask...but don't expect turkey for at LEAST another year or so cuz geez it's just a heck of a lot of trouble and once a year is more than enough for me to spend all frackin' day in the kitchen ya'll! Love ya, but NO! Ya'll will be gettin' frackin' fajitas or something easy like chipped beef on toast.