We set out two days before Thanksgiving to venture to the nearest grocery store to scope out prices. We didn’t want to spend massive amounts of money, especially since we are living in such a poor town. Before going, we mapped out possible dishes we could make so that we could find what ingredients were feasible. Our goal was to keep the meal at about $3.00 per person.
After a trip to the grocery store in the next town over, we reconvened to hash out a menu within budget. The plan was to find a live turkey and Christopher volunteered to slaughter and butcher it for us. We asked our contact to estimate how much a turkey would cost so we could factor that into the decision making. The treasurers and team leaders agreed on a menu of:
Turkey
Garlic Mashed Potatoes w Gravy
Macaroni and Cheese
A Mix of Sautéed Veggies
Toast
Popcorn Balls
Pineapple
First things first: Finding a turkey.
Multiple people had mentioned that they remember seeing turkeys roaming around town, so we set out with money in hand to buy a turkey off of a local. I stayed behind, but heard of the great adventure it was. The first turkey they found was not for sale, but KK conversed with it while the discussed. They then found themselves on the other side of town at a "farm" that had several turkeys to pick from. They looked at several and decided to buy the biggest they had. The turkey cost C650 (~$27).
They returned with the turkey and it was time to get down to business. We had talked a bit with our contact about the feasibility of getting a turkey and he had told us that it was possible, but the meat would be a lot tougher than in the US. In order to reduce the toughness of the meat, he advised us to get the turkey drunk before we slaughter it so the muscles are more relaxed. We obliged, buying a half a liter of something [we aren't even sure what we bought exactly] that was 35% alcohol.
The turkey was sitting in the wheelbarrow and Ed forced a syringe of alcohol down its throat. After a while, it was openly drinking it to the point where we were just pouring the bottle down its throat. We used the entire bottle of alcohol.
[disclaimer: skip this paragraph if you do not want to read somewhat graphic details of the slaughtering]
The turkey passed out, changed colors, and as it's head flopped down, alcohol came pouring out of its mouth. Those that did not want to see the actually slaughtering went inside while the rest of us followed Christopher to a nearby tree where he strung up the turkey by its feet. With a few swift motions, Christopher had cut its jugular and all there was to do was wait for it to drain. Once it was drained, we all helped pluck it. Christopher was a champ and did most of the work. I pulled out ten or so feathers and called it quits. Once plucked, Christopher gutted it while Erin watched. [greatest story of the gutting was when Christopher handed Erin turkey testicles without telling her what they were. Erin's quote on the matter: "they went from warm to cold in my hand."]
Once the turkey was fully prepared and looked like a turkey you would buy in the supermarket [although this turkey's legs and wings were a lot skinnier than the meaty American turkeys], Christopher and Erin walked the turkey to Jaime's house to keep it in the fridge until the big day!
A few of the girls from Team Mates volunteered to go buy all the groceries that night. They took the list we all had agreed upon and bought everything, plus a little extra. They took a taxi into the next town and got in and out of the store right before closing time. We were finally all ready for Thanksgiving!
