A free range turkey is running around at a farm fifty miles away with my name on it.  And as soon as my local Whole Foods starts taking holiday orders, I will be placing mine for an organic turkey breast to supplement it.

Thanksgiving is a big deal in my food-lovin’ family and I am hosting again this year.  Today’s group Facebook message asking who all is coming marks the official count down.

This will be my third year in a row making Anne Burrell’s Brined Herb Crusted Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy.  It’s that good.  And again this year I will be roasting it in my #117 Romertopf.  It holds up to a 17 pound bird, which is exactly what I ordered.  This is last year’s beauty:

I’ll be making my annual sweet potato rolls again, too, but  I’ll save that picture for another post.

Today is also the first day of NaBloPoMo and I am participating.  Big undertaking for a new blogger you say?  Well so is cooking Thanksgiving dinner for a family of 30, but I’m doing it.

So let the cookbook reading, past and present issues of Martha Stewart Living Thanksgiving edition perusing, centerpiece making, blogging extravaganza begin!