Dad - The Turkey Master

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My memories of my Dad cooking were limited to Sunday morning breakfast, which was the one day that my Mom relinquished control in the kitchen! And they were so yummy! When it came to Thanksgiving, we have many home movies of my Mom proudly carrying in a perfect turkey, and my Dad then carved it table side. When my Mom passed away my Dad decided to take over the holiday meals.

We have turkey for both Thanksgiving and Christmas in our house. He attacked it with the same passion, brilliance and determination that he brought to everything. I mean it was down to a science! The engineer in him came out with the temperature probes and minute calculations to make sure the turkey was always perfect. He also made the stuffing and the gravy, leaving the sides to the rest of us.

And he never wanted any help, in fact one year he put caution tape over the entrance to the kitchen so none of us would bother him! My sister Chrissy was his favorite assistant, and one year we painted “Yes, Chef!” on her apron because that was how you answered Dad on turkey day.

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One year a family member wanted the recipe written down, and thankfully he did. The first year we had Thanksgiving without my Dad he was in the hospital, and passed away a few weeks later. But when I went to see him on Thanksgiving, he was horrified I wasn’t home tending to the turkey.

The first time we did the turkey without him was bittersweet at best, but when the turkey came out looking just like Dad’s, I realized something: he taught us by example, giving us the perfect guide to cook by and to lived by!