My 20lb Turkey Baby

Thanksgiving is on this year thanks to a local butcher shop that just happened to have the largest, fresh, raw turkey that I've ever seen. Let me go back a bit in this story.

Because I have no American friends here who always put on the annual American holiday, I felt it was my civic duty to carry on the tradition. I have lots of Serbian and other foreign friends here whom have never experienced it, so I thought, "Why not?" I went to the US Embassy to see what they had that could help me create the authentic meal. Low and behold, they had a freezer filled with 16pound turkeys and hams all for a reasonable price. After selecting my stuffing, gravy and pumpkin pie mix (I'm not crazy enough to make it all from scratch) I asked the checkout man when I should buy my turkey. He said, "We don't have any turkeys. You had to order them in September. All those turkeys are spoken for." I almost died. Where was I going to get a turkey? They don't have them in every store like they do in the States. My Serbian friend assured me that we could find a turkey somewhere in Belgrade. I had my doubts, but the tradition must go on. At the very least, we were going to have a turkey shaped meatloaf.

So after chatting with an American friend at a cafe today, she told me that the large butcher close by sometimes has turkey, or at least turkey pieces, so maybe we could order one. There in the glass case, right next to the pig's feet, sat a beautiful, big, naked turkey with my name on it. Thanks to the weak dollar, my bird cost me around $44, but it was a small price to pay for the happiness I felt at the time. Hopefully I don't ruin it.

It still had its neck on, so I asked the guy if he could cut it off. He said, "Of course, but you will have to take it home with you." We stared at him and asked if he could just throw it away. Nope. I had to take it home with me. Okay. I was confused, but it was rather funny. So he put it in two plastic bags and I had to carry it 1.5 miles to my apartment. It was squishy and very heavy. We joked that if we were attacked, we could whip out the neck and threaten to beat off our attacker with it. Imagine his surprise!

So I carried my raw turkey across town in a loving manner that only a woman who has carried 20+ pounds of matter in front of her must feel. (ps...Not having kids. I walked for 30 minutes with that weight. I don't think I could do that for several months.) I checked to see if it would fit in my oven and the roasting pan (just barely) and then showed it to its new home in my freezer. Thank goodness I still lead a college cuisine lifestyle (there is plenty of room in my fridge/freezer). I can't wait to bring it out to thaw.

I'll post pictures of my party on this site. If anyone is in town on the 24th of November, you are welcomed to the feast. Oh, and if any of my Weiler relatives know the recipe for that broccoli, grape, walnut salad that Aunt Doreen makes, I would love to get my hands on it.