Non-traditional T-day
I went to the grocery store a little after noon today. I was expecting it to be deserted, for everyone to already have their food and be where they were going, but the parking lot was full and people were milling about inside. Some people were there on more predictable errands. One guy had nothing but a bag of potatoes - obviously going out for something forgotten or ruined, but most people were like me, buying a decent amount of somewhat random items. Very odd to be in a food store and buying that much food while on a fast, but I really wanted my cheap turkey. I kept wanting to explain to people that I wasn't actually naive enough to buy a frozen turkey on the day of thanksgiving and expect to eat it that day...
I am thinking that Sunday might be my day for turkey cooking. I figure it is a good time to experiment since there will be no pressure on me and someday I might actually need the skill to prepare a proper turkey. Plus I read an article on Turkey Day Chemistry in the Kitchen with advice from Harold McGee who wrote my favorite food science book On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen. "A couple hours (no more than three) before cooking, he moves the turkey from the fridge to the counter and places sealable plastic bags filled with crushed ice on the breast. As the legs warm up, the breast stays cool. When the breast meat is around 40º and the leg meat is close to 60º, he puts the bird into the oven. It's done when the breast meat reaches between 155º and 160º and the dark meat around 180º. Both meats are perfectly cooked. For perfect browning, McGee applies some final touches to the skin with a heat gun." The geek in me is totally excited by this recipe, if it only involved dry ice it would be perfect.
After I got back from the store I procrastinated going running by cleaning. I went through all the catalogues and junk mail that I never have time or patience to look through and recycled everything that I wasn't truly excited about. Finally I had to kick myself out of the house or I wasn't going to have time before dark. My goal was 5 miles, and while I did go that far, technically I only ran 4.8 and walked the last .25 It was a nice run though. The trails were very deserted, though there were a couple of nice family groups that I passed that looked like they were out for a nice post turkey walk.
After I got back, I treated myself to a long bath, hoping to mitigate some muscle pain from the running. I really have to try to work in a second run per week, to shake up my workouts a little bit, but it is hard to find daylight hours during the week when Van is with someone else, and even I am not crazy enough to run in the canyons at night...
I didn't feel focused enough to work so I texted my housemate and asked if I could raid her movies. I ended up watching "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Knocked Up". Not high art, but about the intellectual level I was feeling. (And I didn't have much choice - that's what I get for not planning ahead and renting my own movies... but I was happy for anything I could get at that point).
I broke my fast at 8:30, 48 hours after I started, which I figured was a good number. I could have waited until morning, but my body was telling me that protein would be a really good idea, especially if I wanted to be able to go to the gym tomorrow. I had one of those lovely TJ Tuna curry packets and some steamed broccoli and carrots. Mmmm. Very good T-day meal.
It was a nice Thanksgiving. I somewhat feel like I wasted some of my only solo time since I didn't really accomplish anything, but I feel very refreshed. And there was no silly family drama and stress. So nice and mellow. Definitely one of my best thanksgivings ever (competing perhaps with the one at Reed where my bf and I went sledding and decided to throw together dinner at the last minute - had to do chicken because we didn't have enough time for turkey - and couldn't buy alcohol because of the bizarre liquor laws in Oregon...). Anyway, it was a good day, hopefully setting the tone for the rest of the holidays. I could use some calm and stress free holidays this year.
I am thinking that Sunday might be my day for turkey cooking. I figure it is a good time to experiment since there will be no pressure on me and someday I might actually need the skill to prepare a proper turkey. Plus I read an article on Turkey Day Chemistry in the Kitchen with advice from Harold McGee who wrote my favorite food science book On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen. "A couple hours (no more than three) before cooking, he moves the turkey from the fridge to the counter and places sealable plastic bags filled with crushed ice on the breast. As the legs warm up, the breast stays cool. When the breast meat is around 40º and the leg meat is close to 60º, he puts the bird into the oven. It's done when the breast meat reaches between 155º and 160º and the dark meat around 180º. Both meats are perfectly cooked. For perfect browning, McGee applies some final touches to the skin with a heat gun." The geek in me is totally excited by this recipe, if it only involved dry ice it would be perfect.
After I got back from the store I procrastinated going running by cleaning. I went through all the catalogues and junk mail that I never have time or patience to look through and recycled everything that I wasn't truly excited about. Finally I had to kick myself out of the house or I wasn't going to have time before dark. My goal was 5 miles, and while I did go that far, technically I only ran 4.8 and walked the last .25 It was a nice run though. The trails were very deserted, though there were a couple of nice family groups that I passed that looked like they were out for a nice post turkey walk.
After I got back, I treated myself to a long bath, hoping to mitigate some muscle pain from the running. I really have to try to work in a second run per week, to shake up my workouts a little bit, but it is hard to find daylight hours during the week when Van is with someone else, and even I am not crazy enough to run in the canyons at night...
I didn't feel focused enough to work so I texted my housemate and asked if I could raid her movies. I ended up watching "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Knocked Up". Not high art, but about the intellectual level I was feeling. (And I didn't have much choice - that's what I get for not planning ahead and renting my own movies... but I was happy for anything I could get at that point).
I broke my fast at 8:30, 48 hours after I started, which I figured was a good number. I could have waited until morning, but my body was telling me that protein would be a really good idea, especially if I wanted to be able to go to the gym tomorrow. I had one of those lovely TJ Tuna curry packets and some steamed broccoli and carrots. Mmmm. Very good T-day meal.
It was a nice Thanksgiving. I somewhat feel like I wasted some of my only solo time since I didn't really accomplish anything, but I feel very refreshed. And there was no silly family drama and stress. So nice and mellow. Definitely one of my best thanksgivings ever (competing perhaps with the one at Reed where my bf and I went sledding and decided to throw together dinner at the last minute - had to do chicken because we didn't have enough time for turkey - and couldn't buy alcohol because of the bizarre liquor laws in Oregon...). Anyway, it was a good day, hopefully setting the tone for the rest of the holidays. I could use some calm and stress free holidays this year.