Giving thanks (that the turkey didn't burn!)

The last load of boxes from my old apartment barely made it in the door before it was time to cram them into closets in preparation of hosting our first dinner...Thanksgiving Dinner.

Luckily the second table on craigslist came through, so Wednesday night we finally had a place to put the turkey. And I got my Martha Stewart on to finish the napkins and tablecloth.

Things were coming together.

My girlfriend Jackie was also very excited to cook her first Thanksgiving dinner, so she came over early. To the soundtrack of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we tackled the meal prep.



It's just you and me bird...
I opened and cut and plunged my hand into the depths of the turkey with horror stories of rogue gizzard bags floating around my head. This was the basic meal:

Turkey

12 pounds, cleaned
stuffed with and on top of carrots, onion, celery, and parsley
drizzled with butter
salt and pepper
uncovered at 425 for 45 minutes, covered at 350 for 2.5 hours
leg measured 170 degrees...good to go!

Butternut Squash (definitely the fan favorite)

peeled and cubed - cooked in a pot for as long as the potatoes
mashed with parsley, butter, garlic, and fresh parmesan cheese

Acorn Squash

cut in half, scooped out the seeds
sprinkle with brown sugar, drizzle with maple syrup and melted butter
bake for about 90 minutes at 350, scoop and mash

Sweet Potatoes

wrapped in tinfoil; bake at 350 for 90 minutes

Mashed Potatoes

peeled and cubed - cooked in a pot until tender
mashed with butter, salt, pepper

Rolls + gravy + cranberry sauce from package


A few hours later and the turkey was golden brown!


The ladies finished up in the kitchen...


...while the boys played rock'em-sock'ems with the babies.

Then the beau carved the turkey


And it was time to eat. The babies were both angels. Isabella got a little sleepy and nodded off partway through dinner.



She woke back up for some carpet play-time with Gabby


...and munched a little on Gabby...


We all found it pretty humorous to watch giant Rich handle the tiny baby


So they added another baby into the mix. I believe the dialogue of this picture is Gabby: "mi amour!" Rich: "thats my girl, Isabella, always up for a meal"



Eventually everyone retired home and Rich went after the leftovers



Our first Thanksgiving...a success!! (Rich: "mmm, you smell like turkey")


Happy Thanksgiving!