So this new cookbook arrived last night; J wants to try Middle Eastern foods, to which I say, ‘Great!’ But it’s weird—we’re trying a recipe for roasted, stuffed turkey—to which I again say, ‘Great!’ but the recipe calls for a 5# turkey.

That’s a good size roasting chicken, but a mighty small turkey. My butcher laughed at me and asked if I wanted a turkey breast that size and brought out his smallest turkey—20#s.

So I got a 5# chicken (shoulda got a capon, duh!), and this recipe seems pretty damn good. Onion, pine nuts, almonds, and currants all sauteed together, then add ground lamb (J doesn’t eat lamb so I’m using ground turkey) and a little cinnamon, rice, and chicken stock. That cooked for 15 minutes, then I stuffed the bird.

My house now smells great, and in two hours we dine.