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Saving Thanksgiving (3rd Thanksgiving post!)

 I love Thanksgiving, in case you didn't know from prior posts on the old blog. Over the years I've been a vocal defender of my second favorite holiday. While Halloween is my absolute favorite, I'll go all out for some costumed mischief and pranks, I will go completely crazy to make thanksgiving right. 

Case in point - I make thanksgiving dinner three times a year just for practice. Thanksgiving day is my Super Bowl now. I make the turkey that makes people who traditionally shun and dislike turkey, love turkey. So now on to this holiday's story! 

Due to my complex life situation I had some last minute plan changes. At the last minute I was added into an invite list at a friends house where I would be able to run the kitchen! The family didn't cook much - their patriarch who does bailed last minute. To continue the Super Bowl analogy, it was as if the star QB went down and I got the nod from coach, I was going in. I put my helmet on and got into the kitchen!

Wait it gets better! (Yes, I know I used too many !!! already...) 

I was under the belief that the family I was cooking for had ordered all the necessary food and didn't like to eat turkey. I planned to make a side turkey if I could get to the store and brine it in time. Operating under the idea that everything was handled I almost didn't get the turkey. But as a guy who usually has a back up in the freezer just in case, I got one in time to prep. I intended to only make a small side turkey as a sampler for people who didn't traditionally like turkey, to convince them to give it a second chance.  

When we started unpacking the fridge we noticed there was no meat! No turkey, no ham, no anything. Just sides and way too much gravy. Single handedly I was able to save turkey day! My friend's family was deeply appreciative and I felt like I won a Super Bowl. It was pretty amazing. For years to come I get a fun story to tell with that group, a great new memory. 

So that is now my favorite Thanksgiving ever, how do I top that? 

Special thanks to the friend and her family for the invite and wonderful companionship which kept me from having to be alone. Thanks you guys!

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