RE: Twenty-one Years, Twenty-two Turkeys and a lifetime in between
Fiona, you are a brilliant chef and a brilliant writer ... I cannot believe I just spent 10 minutes engrossed in a story about a dilapidated barbecue ... and yet, I did.
That 'roasted pork neck with gravy' ... I am salivating on my keyboard, and so, if I suddenly stop posting, I'm probably dead ... electrocuted. Tell @jaynie ... it's a pretty good excuse for missing a few daily 'support confirmations' although, knowing her, she probably won't care: "No Excuses means ... No Excuses!"
You know, I love turkey and cannot understand why we only eat it (in North America anyway) twice a year: Christmas and Thanksgiving. Part of my love of turkey is that it provides the pretext you need to eat with your hands. A drumstick will not suffer the indignity of being eaten with utensils and so you have no choice.
Oh, I know, you etiquette snobs are probably horrified, but here's the thing: Eating with your hands fires primal networks within our brains and triggers the secretion of enormous amounts of serotonin, opioids and endocannibinoids.
Reward.
I go where the science takes me.
Indeed, to further augment the experience, I will often growl at a good piece of meat. As a little girl, my daughter used to think this was funny. Now, as a young lady, she's become somewhat disapproving as everyone says she's her Father's daughter and is afraid of getting tarred with the same brush.
I don't care, I do lots of other nice stuff for her.
Indeed, I'm toying with the idea of getting down on all fours for my next Christmas Dinner ... snarling and yap-yap-laughing like a hyena at my succulent turkey leg, blanched green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. Hell, I may drink directly from the gravy bowl.
Congrats on the Curie. Well deserved. And Bon Apetit.
Quill
@Quillfire
Where do you get the idea that I am an etiquette snob? Because I set a pretty table and have improved my plating skills?
Oh ye of little faith!
No self-respecting South African eats a chop or a chicken leg with a knife and fork! Besides, how can one suck the bones - of anything - if one doesn't pick it up with one's fingers? Actually, in the days I jived in Soweto, to which I alluded here I learned how to eat more than just meat cooked on a fire with my hands. A skill that's stood me in good stead, I might add.
Now I've recovered from my pique, I agree with you about the infrequency with which we cook and eat turkey. And ham for that matter. I think I shall most definitely be doing another Christmas in July: it enables us to comfortably enjoy a "traditional" turkey roast with all the trimmings which is entirely impractical in the heat of summer at Christmas in South Africa.
If you follow through with this next Christmas, I fear you will have more than Katie to worry about. Some unsuspecting person (or people) might just decide to put you in a funny jacket with extra long sleeves and cart you off. If that happened, we'd miss you. Really.
Finally, I am delighted that my story of our delapidated barbecue was so entertaining. No, actually, I am thrilled.
Your congratulations are much appreciated!
slàinte agad-sa
@fionasfavourites,
Couldn't help but notice, yet again ... you are a very good writer
Arrgh ... Every time I visit your blog, I end up hungry. Off to the kitchen. :-)
Quill