Foiled Turkey

I enjoy Thanksgiving.
I get up early that day, and start....rather, continue cooking.
It's a fun, quiet time for me.

We had a small gathering this year.
One son had to leave shortly after lunch to travel, and be at work Thanksgiving night.

No problem!
I was up at four thirty, and put Mr. Turkey in my faithful roaster.
I like using the roaster -
the ovens are then free for pies and other things.

I was so pleased.
I was ahead of schedule.
Everything would be ready before twelve.
We would be able eat right on time, so my son could enjoy the meal before he had to run.

I got dinner rolls ready, and left them to rise. Then I went to work on sweet potatoes.
I set the table, and did a few other things.

Seven o'clock, I thought I'd baste Mr. Turkey again.

Something appeared to be terribly wrong.
My featherless bird looked the same as it did when I first put it in the roaster.

No way.
Yes way.

My roaster, my faithful roaster had died.
That roaster had seen many football banquets through the years, and graduations, and holidays.

No matter what I tried, I couldn't revive it.
Time was ticking away, and Mr. Turkey had a time limit.
He had to be ready by noon.

Since I used my roaster all the time, I had no deep pans big enough for my huge bird.
I had no cooking bags.
There was no time to run to the store, not with the time limit.
Besides, it was too early for stores to be open in our little town.

So, I scrounged through pans from every cupboard.
I found a big sheetcake pan...long time in storage.
I pulled out the Reynolds Wrap.

It was going to have to do.
I plopped Mr. Turkey in the shallow cake pan, wrapped it up the best I could,
and placed it in the oven.

I didn't open the oven but once - to be sure it was working (you know how it is - I call it appliance conspiracy.)

Everything was ready.
I asked my dear husband to check the turkey.
Good news - it was browned, and looked done.
Bad news, the timer button on the turkey hadn't poked out yet.

We waited a little longer, and tested it again.

I didn't meet the twelve o'clock deadline with the turkey, so we began feasting on all the other food.
Twenty minutes later, the timer popped.
So, we got to enjoy turkey together as family.

When my son left, I sent him off with containers of food.
Since we had turkey at the end of the meal,
I also sent a pumpkin roll for dessert.

That evening I reflected on the day.
You know,
Foiled turkey wasn't bad at all.

Sometimes we have to detour from our plans, but it's all right.
Things work out.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Now it's onward to Christmas adventures!

Relax my friends.
Enjoy the heart of the season.