Traditionally,ourfamilygetstogethereveryChristmasEveforouryuletidemeal.Aunties,uncles,children,parentsandgrandparentsallunderoneroofdevouringthespoilsoftheChristmasseason.Thensomeyearsago,mycousinsstartedanewtradition:theCousinsChristmasDinner,which,unliketherepastthatourolderrelativescreate,isalwaysalittlemoredecadent.lotsofredmeatandsomemanneroffoiegras.Lastyearwebought120oysters,whichwehadtoshuck.We&39;reneverdoingthatagain.Afewyearsagowehadamassivecotedebouef,ontopofaroastedporkbellyandagiantpastapie.Andthisyearwasnodifferent—exceptsomeonecameupwiththeideaofaturducken,andtherest,asthesayinggoes,isfamilyhistory.ThankstogoodforesightonthepartofouryoungestcousinG,wegotade-bonedchickenandduckfromabutcher.AndhavingreadandrereadJeffreySteingarten&39;saccountofhissearchfortheauthenticturduckeninhisbookItMustHaveBeenSomethingIAte,IdecidedthatitwasimperativeImakethreedifferentstuffingsformaximumflavour.Sohereitis,ouraccountofourfirstturduckeninpictures.Itwasn&39;tasmuchworkasIhadimagineditwouldbe(thanksinlargeparttothealreadydebonedchickenandduck),andtheprocesswaswonderfullyhilariousandjustthethingtoputusintheChristmasspirit.EverytimeIlookedattheturduckenIjusthadtolaugh,itwasridiculouslymassiveandamiraclethatitfitinmyoven.
