Location: At the dude ranch / above the sea Gender:
Posted:
Nov 28, 2025 - 1:40pm
Just finished making some turkey broth + chicken + leeks/onions/garlic/carrots/parsnip/celery soup with homemade egg noodles.
And I bet that makes me like 75% of the population today.
Modern turkeys are bred for fast growth and enormous size. The biggest we ever raised was 60 lb dressedâsome of these we had to split in half to get into the oven. This was at about 8 months age. Most farm-raised turkeys are butchered much younger than that.
A neighbor raised a pair to see how big they'd get. I don't remember the exact weight but the male of the pair hopped off the fence it was roosting on and broke its leg on landing. This was at about 1 year of age.
Is that done just through selective breeding? I'm a little freaked out at how big the chickens have gotten.
roasted the turkey which came out great because it was only a ten pounder, not some steroidal giant.
That's not 'roids, it's genetics.
Modern turkeys are bred for fast growth and enormous size. The biggest we ever raised was 60 lb dressed—some of these we had to split in half to get into the oven. This was at about 8 months age. Most farm-raised turkeys are butchered much younger than that.
A neighbor raised a pair to see how big they'd get. I don't remember the exact weight but the male of the pair hopped off the fence it was roosting on and broke its leg on landing. This was at about 1 year of age.
My sister made 90% of the dinner, all the sides, roasted the turkey which came out great because it was only a ten pounder, not some steroidal giant. I made the gravy, mashed potatoes, and dinner rolls which were the best I've ever done but were superfluous. Made 30, brought home half of them and most of the rest went home with leftovers; almost no one ate them in real time. Oh well. Honey Butter Rolls. I probably used less honey than it calls for because I doubled the recipe and it is confusingly written so anyway they're good but not King's Hawaiian sweet. I made the dough yesterday, did the first rise and rolled the balls out last night, then onto a baking sheet, covered with foil and put them on the BBQ outside to freeze (about 25° overnight). Brought them indoors and let them sit for a few hours (covered with a damp towel). I didn't brush the tops with honey butter like the recipe says; I gave it an egg wash and sprinkled them with coarse kosher salt. Way better.
We did a 10 pounder as well and it was probably the best turkey we've ever had. We had cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, corn casserole and a sweet potato souffle to round things out. I ate so much that I don't think I'll need to eat again until Saturday.
My sister made 90% of the dinner, all the sides, roasted the turkey which came out great because it was only a ten pounder, not some steroidal giant. I made the gravy, mashed potatoes, and dinner rolls which were the best I've ever done but were superfluous. Made 30, brought home half of them and most of the rest went home with leftovers; almost no one ate them in real time. Oh well.
Honey Butter Rolls. I probably used less honey than it calls for because I doubled the recipe and it is confusingly written so anyway they're good but not King's Hawaiian sweet. I made the dough yesterday, did the first rise and rolled the balls out last night, then onto a baking sheet, covered with foil and put them on the BBQ outside to freeze (about 25° overnight). Brought them indoors and let them sit for a few hours (covered with a damp towel). I didn't brush the tops with honey butter like the recipe says; I gave it an egg wash and sprinkled them with coarse kosher salt. Way better.
Location: On the edge of tomorrow looking back at yesterday Gender:
Posted:
Nov 29, 2024 - 9:23am
geoff_morphini wrote:
Making a marathon drive from Eugene to Phoenix for my dear uncleâs memorial. His wife, my aunt, lost her brother, my dad, just a few weeks ago. Iâm so thankful I can be there for her. Havenât missed T-day dinner with E for a long time but this is worth it.
