Killing Kenny
Josey and I had killed Kenny 10 times already before this year, but just like in South Park, Kenny the Turkey comes back every year. The first year we thought we would be smart, because neither of us wanted to pluck the guts out, and asked for a "bontàtt pulyka". The butcher then decided to complicate the matter and asked if we wanted "szèpen bontàtt" which literally translated means "nicely gutted." The alternative being an ugly gutting, we answered <!-- pagebreak -->yes. Much to our horror, the butcher started sheering off wings and cutting the turkey to pieces, but our cries were too late, and we had to start over with another turkey. You can order turkeys at poultry butchers at Lehel ter, Hunyadi ter, and Fovam ter markets amoung others, but you should give them a week's notice. 10-11 kilos is plenty for 25-30 people. The non-fail recipe comes from photographer Stephen Spinder: Get a big brown bag, preferably without writing on it, cover the inside with margarine (easier out of the tub than the foil squares) until the bag is transluscent, cover the turkey with margarine and any herbs you would like, slip Kenny into the bag, fiold the end over and staple well shut. It does not matter if Kenny is 10 or 18 kilograms. He will be done perfectly in 3 hours.The first year we did this, we had only 3 burners and three pots, and the 18kg Kenny would not fit in the oven. We had to plan very well so that everything was done in time and came out hot and ready over a three-day cooking period. It has gotten easier over the years, but we have always wanted to just do it in a restaurant. We were luckily enough this year to be able to rent out one of our favorite eateries, Kishunyadi Vendeglo last Sunday and cook on two stoves with plenty of pots and pans. With the help of Josey's dad who made the cornbread, and Josey's mom who made the devilled eggs, we made the usual pumpkin pie, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, beans, etc. It went so smoothly, probably also because we were not terribly hungover for once, we will probably do the same next year when Kenny offers himself up for slaughter again.