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| NO ROOM AT THE INN… OR IN THE CART. |
For San Geraldo’s benefit, I will start off by explaining that the title of this post is a twisting of the song title “Turkey in the Straw” with the idiom “That’s the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
An 8-kilo (18-pound) turkey is not huge by American standards. But, by Spanish standards, it’s a monster. Our friends Tynan and Elena (especially Tynan, king of the one-liners) have had a wonderful time joking about San Geraldo’s gigantic turkey.
San Geraldo had planned to make Norwegian kransekake (click here and here) for Christmas Day. Tuesday night, however, while out with Tynan and Elena, it was suggested that maybe that was a bit much to take on at the same time as trying to shove an 8-kilo turkey into a 3-kilo-capacity oven.
Elena suggested San Geraldo wait until after Three Kings Day (January 6) to make the kransekake (which, coincidentally, is when she and the kids will be back in town after visiting her family in Bilbao).
Tynan agreed. “By that time, the turkey should be cooked all the way through,” he noted.
Christmas Eve Day, Tynan texted a video to me. It was Godzilla attacking Tokyo. Tynan’s comment: “Someone is looking for her baby.”
Neither Jerry nor Elena “got it.” After Tynan and I explained to each of them, they said they “got it,” but just didn’t find it funny. “But Godzilla wasn’t a turkey,” was what they both said. Never mind…
The turkey just barely fit in our oven. But it DID fit. San Geraldo cooked it perfectly and served it along with stuffing (dressing), a baked dish of layers of sweet potatoes and apples, Brussels sprouts, and mixed rice with raisins and almonds. Our dear friend Kristina (Swedish-Finnish) made blinis and brought all the fixings. Delicious! I was tempted to fill up on those before dinner was even served. Kristina’s son Matti (Swedish and living in Madrid until recently) brought “glogg,” Swedish mulled wine. Judyshannonstreetwhat (our oldest friend) arrived from Seattle in the afternoon. What a perfect day.
And, surprisingly, we even have left-overs.
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| “GODZILITA”… NOT A MILIMETER TO SPARE. |
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| BLINI FIXINGS. |
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| MATTI HOLDS A SERVING: BLINIS TOPPED WITH SALMON, ONIONS, MELTED BUTTER, SOUR CREAM AND TWO TYPES OF FISH ROE. |
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| “THERE’S NEVER ANYTHING TO EAT IN THIS HOUSE!” |
The original “Turkey in the Straw” performed by the Original Schnickelfritz Band.
