Posted by Ginger Moreno on November 24, 1998 at 09:20:39:
When Frankie was around 8 or 9 (I am not sure how old) Mami decided she would cook the turkey on an electric rotissierie. Well, she had a pretty big turkey (we were expecting company) and so she made enough stuffing for the entire US Army - she loved to cook BIG and there was always enough food to feed whoever came over.
She finished stuffing the bird (and I mean - stuffing) at around 7 AM. At first I thought the motor wouldn't be able to turn it - how wrong I was! Well we had the rotissierie in "la marquesina" - for those of you who can't figure that one out - I think it translates into "a porch" - but it was on the side of the house. Anyway - she and I cooked all of the other stuff and the turkey was giving off an aroma that was bringing the neighbors over to see and, of course, sample some hors d'ouvres. We had neighbors from WAY down the street showing up. I kid you not - it was a great day - we met neighbors we didn't even know we had! I remember Mami asking me if I knew these people! The next door neighbors (who were some of our invited guests) came over early and sat down (in la marquesina) and made themselves at home. Mami was relaxed (because the bird was cooking - and all of the other stuff was done) and Frankie was happy - he had all sorts of friends to play with - and I just munched along and watched TV (trying to find a channel that was in English).
Well, 4PM came and went - and Mami thought the turkey should be done any time. In those days we did not have these "Instant Thermometers" they have today - you had to rely on your "6th sense" to tell you if something was done or not - especially if it was on a revolving spit. Mom turned off the motor - cut into the turkey and voila - it looked done - TIME TO EAT!!!
Mom took the turkey off the rod - placed it in this lovely platter. Let it rest while we set up more plates, chairs, etc. The time had come - it looked absolutely beautiful - we said prayers of thanks and one of our neighbors (I think) cut into the turkey. Well, the white meat was done - well - that was until you got near the bone - then it was still as raw as the time it went in! The stuffing was raw! I expected the turkey to pick itself up and run down the street. Mami was besides herself! (She did that often) What to do? That's when neighbors, family and friends all came to the rescue! Somebody went down and bought "un lechon". Somebody went back to their house and brought back leftovers of "arroz con pollo", another neighbor brought over some "tembleque" she had made that morning - and so on.
We had the best unorthodox Thanksgiving we had ever had! All due to the still raw turkey - and the generosity of some neighbors we had just met that day!
I still remember that day. Whenever you ask my brother about "Thanksgiving" he usually thinks about my recent "Thanksgivings" when I usually forget one main ingredient in our meal, and the time I kind of burned the turkey! However, when I think of Thanksgivings - I think of that time in Bayamon when the turkey took until 11PM to cook - but we had one of the happiest Thanksgivings I can remember!