Every year, after a splendid Thanksgiving feast at my dearest friend L's house, I am gifted with the turkey carcass. When I am lucky it still has plenty of meat clinging to it. This year was no different other than that the feast was over the top and the gathering was missing some key members (missed you I, D, A and Z!) But back to the carcass.. Izzy always groans as we slide it into a giant plastic bag that L.purchases just for this purpose. Will my Uber rating diminish because the car smells like turkey he wonders... Do you think I care? I must have my carcass as it has now become a treasured Thanksgiving ritual. My recipe has changed from many years past but has only improved. But that is for another day. Meanwhile..
Once safely home, I placed the carcass in a giant stock pot and placed it on a chair in the backyard (no room in the fridge for a 20 lb turkey carcass) and I went to sleep.
I was awakened by a presence in my room at 4 a.m. and then the following conversation ensued:
"I awoke to go pee and heard a crash. I looked out the window and saw the stockpot knocked over and the carcass on the patio," whispered Izzy quietly. "
What?" I asked, bleary eyed. "You woke me to tell me that? Go take care of it."
"You expect me to go out there? I 'm not dressed"
EYE ROLL..
So I made my way downstairs to save my precious turkey carcass from the raccoons, feral cats, or possums that may have knocked it over. The bag looked torn and potentially bitten but all of the meat and carcass looked unscathed. I decided to bring it inside and somehow managed to stuff it into my already over-burdened fridge. I made my way back to bed and as I lay there wondered.. what if a rabid raccoon had gnawed at the bag? Or perhaps a sickly cat? A hawk with bird flu? Would I still be able to eat the turkey tush which I had hoped to savor? Would I still be able to make my turkey broth for the yearly congee? I did a bit of googling to see if heat kills rabies and washed my hands a second time and thankfully I fell back to sleep.
This is the second year in a row that the turkey carcass spelled disaster. Is this a sign? In light of the gnawed bag, what should I do? Cook it or toss it?
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