Talking Turkey

OH and I have been engaged in discussions for most of the week as to what we were going to have for Christmas Dinner this year.  He had been umming and arghing quite a lot about whether he wanted to go for Turkey this year and so I narrowed the options for him either a Rib of Beef or Turkey.  Turkey is his absolute favourite and only eaten once a year apart from all the cold cuts it gives off which is part of the charm for us as a family with buying a Turkey.  After all I make all the preserves to go with cold meats either served platter style or accompanied by something hot such as Bubble n Squeak.  Much loved favourites around here.  This is a family tradition as well, as I may have mentioned many times before.  It is a tradition from both the paternal and maternal sides of the family and which OH seems very much to like.

There was then consideration of which supplier to use.  The Turkey we had last year was lovely.  However I was keen to have a look around to get a feel for prices.  We looked at another Farm Shop that we use regularly, but baulked at £15.99 a kilo.  We then looked at Johnsons of Old Hurst as the Turkey we had from them in the recent past has been the best  Turkey we had ever had.  On looking at the website, their pricing was much more sensible and more within our budget.

I suggested to him that we go on Saturday to Johnsons of Old Hurst which is our most favourite of Butchers to place our order as I did not want to be hopping around sourcing a Turkey that we were possibly not going to be happy with long term.  Have been there and worn the sweatshirt with his Highness on this one before.  We use other very good Butchers as well but Johnson's set up is second to none and the food is absolutely delicious. 

So a decision was made to go to Johnsons on Saturday to make our booking for Christmas dinner and other bits and bobs so that we had a firm order.  They do online orders as well for placing the order but you do have to collect.  The website is here: 

Johnsons of Old Hurst

This morning we got up and realised that we are going to Oundle Farmer's market tomorrow which is in a slightly different direction to Old Hurst.  We therefore decided on the spur of the moment to go to Johnsons this morning, which really made more sense as being the weekend it is likely to be more crowded than it would of a week day.

So off we tottled; it was a beautiful sunny day out in the Fens with great expanses of flat open land dotted by clusters of wind farms scattered every so often.  Old Hurst is about 20 miles from Peterborough.  We call the Ramsey road the "bouncy" road as I am sure the weather affects the "springiness" of the road.  Sometimes you can go along and the road is hard going and tends to bump a lot.  Another day it is more spongey and more pleasant to drive, such are the vagaries of Fen roads.

We took Missy with us which always entails some juggling as she hates being left and gets into a right stress if we do leave her.  We tried to leave her in the car, but the incessant barking and turning the car alarm on, led us to retrieve her and bring her into the outer part of the shop.  OH went and got the order form whilst I babysat, and we ended up sorting out the order between us.  He then went in to get what meat he was after.  I then went in on my own and came back with the goodies that I thought would do us for the week or a little more.  I will do a separate post about that later on, but needless to say the Christmas Order is all done and dusted and we are going to collect a couple of days before Christmas.  So that is another thing off the list.  No doubt there will be other things that I think of as I go along but the basic order is sorted.  That is another one of my practical traditions has been ticked off the list, along with the Christmas cake and Christmas puddings.  The Turkey is ordered.

However this year, I will strip the Turkey down.  OH is not quite as practiced with this, and this year I will get it sorted, and the carcass used for stock as well. He overlooked this valuable asset last year, despite it being mentioned. The cats and the dog will also get some of the meat as well as that is their Christmas treat.

So another job off the never-ending list at the moment.

And a trip out tomorrow to the Oundle Farmer's market to look forward to.  Makes a little trip out and something to look forward to.

Now back to reality.  Housework and the kitchen call.

Catch you later.

Pattypan

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