TurduckenFest '05!!

After much hype, hooha, a large grocery store run, and far too much internet research, Turduckenfest 05 commenced around 5:15 yesterday afternoon.


The turducken as it appeared before it went into the oven yesterday:




One of the official Turduckefest appetizers: (Cream cheese with cocktail sauce, shrimp and Krab over it.) Notice the official Turduckenfest fancy garnish. I found them at the grocery, even though they're peacocks, I figured, "Hey whats one more bird?" We also had chips and salsa, pretzels, and a nice little cheese tray that Obbie put together.



The guests showed up around 6:00. Bringing their best company manners:




Much hilarity ensued (No photos of hilarity for fear of legal reprisals)

I think I checked on the bird(s) too many times, but I didn't want them to burn. The guys named me "Turduckencam" since I was sitting on the stool by the oven keeping an eye (and camera) on the bird(s)


Finally, after obsessing for almost 4 hours, it was done!! YAY!! (The guests said the same thing. Munchies had set in, and the appetizers were almost all gone) There is a fair amount of drippings in the pan, but not nearly what I had anticipated from my research.

This one had a net around it, like they put around a pork roast to keep it together. I cooked it with the net on, but next time I won't. In getting the net off, all the good crunchy skin went along.

However, it still seemed to be done properly. I decided to make gravy in the same stoneware pan it roasted in. I figured if it's oven safe, it's stovetop safe too. Alas alack, my judgement was impaired on that call, and the stoneware pan cracked when I was bringing the gravy to a boil. What do you do with a scalding hot ironstone dish and about 2/3 of a cup of near boiling turkducken gravy that is leaking out of the pan? Why you get rid of it of course. Put it outside. I threw the whole thing off the back porch. Truly it flew thru the air with the greatest of ease. Obbie was suitably impressed. Nobody got scalded, and perhaps the wildlife will stop in for a snack later. Mmmm...turducken snow cones. Still it pissed me off a little, that was a good dish from IKEA. Oh well.




Crisis averted, Obbie sliced up the bird(s) for serving. It was beautiful. We also served corn, green beans, stuffing and I whipped up a fresh cranberry relish. Herve' brought a loaf of fresh bread:



And then there was none:



I've never had duck before, and the darkest of all the meat was duck. In my opinion, it tasted a little like liver, but it wasn't unpleasant. The turkey and chicken parts tasted just like it, and the whole thing wasn't exactly juicy, but it was moist and very tender. There was a little bit of stuffing in between the birds, but it wasn't very pronounced. Everyone liked it very much.

We all sat around like stuffed pigs, or birds in this case, and shot the shit awhile, Herve' brought a piece of jewelry for me to fix, so I did that while we digested. It's a terrible thing to remember at the last minute there is no dessert! Terrible.


(Scot doing his Unibomber impression)

In conclusion, I highly recommend a turducken. It's good eating, and lots of people have never had one. Walk on the wild side, your friends and family will approve. Just don't try to bring gravy to a boil in a stoneware pan on top of the stove!!

Carry on.