Yesterday started out as the perfect holiday. The parade balloons made their stately way down New York streets, family and friends called to wish us good turkey and the weather held... during the morning anyway. The monsoons came later.

Everything was wonderful really till it came time to take the turkey out of the oven... My little 10 lb bird with one wing and the slightly scuffed up leg refused to cook!! Directions for this unstuffed fresh turkey said 3-3.5 hours in a 325 degree oven so, after 3.5 hours in the oven, once the self timer popped and the clock had backed up this claim of doneness, we felt confident that our turkey would be perfectly cooked. However, once I made the first slice, we could plainly see that it was still raw enough for sushi!

All the side dishes were ready and waiting for the guest of honor to be carved but they wandered dejectedly back to the pantry to await their reheating.

After five hours (yes, I said FIVE) in the oven, and enough rough language (mine) to make a long shoreman blush, that bird was finally done! And though it was a picture of perfection, moist and delicious, I harbor malice in my heart towards this turkey...

My husband made all the right comments about my cuilinary abilities. He's a bright man and most likely figured out that all the swearing and slamming of cabinets going on in the kitchen didn't bode well for him should he decide to be the least bit critical of the meal.

For Christmas we're having a ham...