Don't Salt The Gravy

 And so another Christmas Day has passed as Santa heads off to the North Pole to begin making more toys.  He really needs to stock up on little yellow squeaky balls for Cooper.

It was still dark outside, so we waited patiently by the fireplace for the sun to come up before tearing into our stockings hung by the fireplace with care.  In case you were wondering why there is a blanket on the floor ...that's where Cooper hides his ball, only to dig it up and hide it again.  If the blanket wasn't there, he would practically dig a hole in the rug in order to cover it up.  He has also been known to pull my slippers off and hide the ball in there.  I try to avoid that since slimy wet slippers are not my thing.

At last it was time.  Jonathan actually got out of his toasty home to play with the paper roll, which he promptly dropped on the floor.  Parrots are afraid of anything and everything "new".  

He did however enjoy the banana, getting it all over his beak.  They are definitely not the neatest, as evidenced by all the sunflower seeds on the floor around his cage.  He doesn't get out very often, since if you don't keep an eagle eye on them, they will chew a hold in the sheetrock in 30 seconds.  

At long last, Cooper got his new toys.  The ball wins every time.  Once he grabs it, he smells it to be sure it's not one of the old ones, then goes crazy burying it, digging it up and rolling it under furniture so I'll have to get down on my knees to retrieve it.  It's what keeps me limber.

Suddenly, he switched to the new purple dog.  He's just waiting for me to throw it for him.

Tug of war is fun too, but I don't pull very hard.  He's thirteen and needs all his teeth.  We played this game for about two hours while I watched football.  It's sad that the Washington Redskins care nothing for history or the proud players that went before them.   They changed their name to Commanders.  Sorry, but that's a dumb name ... surely they could have come up with something better.  They lost ... probably due to previous players rolling over in their graves.

Soon it was "turkey in the oven" time.  I tested the small oven first, to see if it would even heat.  I know the thermostat is off by around 50 degrees, so I set it to 400.  When the ready bell went off, it was all of 300 according to the oven gauge I put inside.  

Not wanting the turkey to take all day to cook, I jacked it up to 500 degrees.  At long last, the temp read 350.  In went the turkey.  

Every thirty minutes I would check the temperature and adjust it accordingly.  I went from 400 to 550 degrees about every thirty minutes, trying to keep it at a steady 350.  Thank Heavens I have a meat probe that works perfectly!  At long last it's DONE!!  Yessirree this is a Butterball turkey breast (both sides) totaling 15 pounds.  It could feed an army!

As usual, I put some chicken broth in the bottom made from that Better Than stuff.  I probably should have measured that a little more carefully since that and the turkey juice are what make up the gravy.  Of course I also seasoned the turkey GENEROUSLY.  

There was a little scrambling when I discovered I forgot the brussels sprouts.  The table top oven had a pie in it.  Out came the turkey, in went the sprouts as I mashed the potatoes and made the gravy.  I couldn't wait!!!!!

First big bite ..... OH MY AUNT CATHERINE!!!  It's a good thing I forgot to salt the potatoes because that gravy has enough to float a battleship!!  Woohoo!!!  There was definitely no need to salt the gravy!  Of course that didn't keep me from eating every single bite!!

I was full, but not too bad.  Still, I waited for pie, knowing it would put me completely over the top into miseryland.  I swear, no one makes pie crust like Marie Callenders.  I actually ate this for dinner and I was STILL too full.  I watched the next football game in misery!!

In fact, I did nothing but watch football all day ... except for when I was crawling around on the floor with Cooper.

In no time Cooper was asleep.  I think it was the turkey he got for dinner.  

I hope everyone's Christmas was a fabulous one.  I am now on snow watch until my departure date.  Sunshine please .... I need some gorgeous brilliant sunshine to appear over Tehachapi Pass!!!