Daily Archives: March 15, 2010

… gauges. Ah, but yes, we do. What is the cook’s handiest implement (except for a brain?), the hands. I use that as a gauge for steaks et al. When it is a larger piece of meat another gauge may be needed. I don’t want you to get a turkey with the pop-out button because the turkey breast, well first the turkey doesn’t resemble any turkey known to humankind. Its’ breast is horrifically large. It still gets dry.

As to an entire turkey, you’ve a novice here as I’ve assisted but have gone elsewhere the past ten years so have not done one on my own. Can I roast a 3-4 lb. chicken and know when it’s done? You bet. All I need is to stick my boning knife into the thigh and see that the juices run clear, after basting it ever 20 minutes.

A turkey is a different thing. Given the chance (and I don’t want that chance because it’ll mean our dear Nanny is gone and 60 of us won’t go to Thanksgiving at her home any more) I’d break it down, and again, if I had a small group would look for capon instead.

So, Jim used his new instant read thermometer for the steaks grilled outdoors in the snow, and with one steak we even have enough left for me to make him steak and eggs tomorrow. Tonight is chicken, but roasted, more later. Dee

My grandfather played violin, and concertina. Dad learned violin from his father at an early age and managed a US Army symphony overseas before heading back home, getting married and raising a family.

Dad worked his way through college (the first of his generation to gain a higher education) by playing square dances at local dance halls, then after college for a brief time he taught all instruments at a school on Long Island.

He gave us not only rented and owned instruments, he gave us music, music from his family for all to sing and enjoy. My grandfather died weeks before I was born, a refugee from Germany. I don’t think Dad even got his violin, concertina, or accordion after he died because three of my grandparents died before I was a year old, and he sold his father’s home fully furnished with his Dad’s carpentry intact.

I’ve given up guitar for the time being, but am still interested and studying on my own without the guitar. I’m listening, now music from Crazy Heart, but am working out the tunes in my head. I don’t have the skill yet to play them as I’d like but want some time alone to figure things out and decide if/when I’ll return, and to whom, after some music theory kicks in. See, Dad had that.

I was dumb enough to give it up at age 12 because the mall was more interesting. I grew up in a small village and had never seen a mall! And going for a couple of hours after school with girlfriends was great, especially after I could buy an extra shirt or pair of jeans with months of saved babysitting money!

Our Edelweiss

Everyone, even the poor, had multiple talents in those days. The rich had pianos in their homes but everyone learned a musical instrument. Thanks, grandfather I never got to meet, and thanks Dad, for introducing me to music via records and instruments. I love you, Dee