It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man in possession of a recently renovated kitchen must be in search of a wife!

So it was with my friends, Cindy and Chip. Cindy fully expected the installation of the double oven stove to signal an imminent proposal.

Cindy's finger was as unadorned on Halloween as it had been on October 1st.

Well, a Thanksgiving dinner cooked by her, hosted by him and encompassing both of their families would prove to everyone that Cindy was 'Grade A' wife material. Thus I was drafted as midwife to Cindy's first Thanksgiving meal. One laden with matrimonial expectations.

She turned to me for 'Turkey 101'. After 4 pages of notes and a near-tears moment over the 'to brine or not to brine' dilemma, I decided it was easier for us to cook the whole meal as a 'Turkey Trial Run' the Saturday before. Cindy cooked it alongside me. We all sat down and ate. It was a lovely night.

I left her with one important instruction: get up in the morning and get the bird out of the fridge; you cannot put a cold bird into the oven!

Dutifully, Cindy removed the turkey from the fridge on Thanksgiving morning and she nearly fainted:

The fowl was foul. Foul in a way that knocks the breath from you.

One hysterical phone call later, we were both on our way back to the supermarket, the turkey lolling around in the back seat; a chubby corpse in a body bag. The turkey was faithfully exchanged and we headed back up to Chip's to start over.

I left Cindy once the bird was in the oven. I had my own meal to get going. There were five calls from Cindy through the course of the day seeking reaffirmation that the roasting bird's antics were completely normal.

And then there was one call from Chip, around 9pm.He wanted to let me know that he had just proposed to Cindy!

This is the 'marry me' turkey.

Everyone has told me that I am taking undue credit in Cindy and Chip's marriage (the wedding was this past April), but I swear that turkey played a role...

Stuffed with pancetta and porcini and cornbread...

Golden and crispy on the outside.

Mmm!

I remember the first time I had to cook the Christmas turkey. It was the year that we had lost mum. Oh, the questions I had never asked about this big meal. I knew nothing more than the names and shapes of the beasts and haunches that I was supposed to transform itno Christmas dinner. I was terrified, not just by the size of the beast, but of the weight of the mantle that was passing into my hands. Luckily, I had my room mate, Brooke to hold my hand. She hugged me, dried my tears and taught me how to make the roast turkey my mother only dreamed of cooking.There were many angels and ancestors in that kitchen watching every move that I made. There are very few recipes that bring my mother back so closely to me that I feel her at my side, but this is one of them. Every year.

The Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey is as much a family heirloom as the silverware adorning the dining table.

So, to any Turkey Virgins reading this; remember that it's just a silly bird with outrageous cleavage.

As long as you don't poison anyone, most folks will be too grateful that you took on the burden of cooking the meal to complain.

Good luck!

Succulent, spicy and unexpected. I made this spice rub for a turkey breast and used a little in the stuffing too.

Sometimes a whole turkey is just too much. Cooking a breast is so much easier. It cooks faster and there is not an ocean of leftovers to wade through all weekend long.

You can simplify this by using few teaspoons of a good curry powder. I have all these spices in my drawer, so I was able to keep adding to the pestle and mortar. The turmeric, cardamom and cinnamon are my favourite ingredients here.

I have actually been on the road constantly for 6 weeks. I found myself with one night at home last week, so I cooked everything you are seeing in this newsletter, carved it up and put it in the freezer.

Any of my Thanksgiving guests reading this be warned: you are getting leftovers and casseroles on Turkey Day!

I'm planning on chopping all the leftover spiced turkey and stuffing. I'll steam up some cauliflower florets, toss them in some butter and curry spices, add some bread cumbs and bake it all until the cauliflower gets crispy and fragrant and golden.

A bottle of bright, dry red wine...

Some fresh naan or a yoghurt sauce...

it will be the best turkey curry buffet I've ever cooked!

So easy. So tasty and such a scene stealer!

These little babies bake away under the turkey.

You split them, sprinkle them with cinnamon spiced sugar, dab them with butter...

...dollop them with sour cream or creme fraiche...

Then douse them in bourbon and set them alight!

This has to be the easiest side dish, and it looks blisteringly delicious!

Slice a butternut squash in half, roast it in the oven with the turkey...

Crank up the oven whilst the turkey is resting.

Pour a cheesy rarebit sauce over the pumpkin and bake until it's crispy brown!

I must admit to being a little confused by Thanksgiving dinner. One invariably finds side dishes on the table that you would think belonged at the dessert end of the meal; melted marshmallows will always seem an odd sidekick for a roasted turkey.

This pudding will really fit in that niche

Made of sweet, light brioche, it is an old fashioned bread and butter pudding made with a pumpkin custard and topped with tangy cream cheese. It could be and alternative to either turkey stuffing or pumpkin pie.

These delightfully more-ish tea cakes are the perfect thing to have on hand on Thanksgiving day so that folks have something to snack on if the turkey is acting like a diva and keeping the stage curtain down on the dinner table.

I only had one madeleine tray, so I baked the second batch as regular cupcakes and frosted them with a buttery lemon and ginger icing.

Leftovers can soak in a little rum or brandy for the trifle sometime over Thanksgiving weekend.

After helping Cindy get her second turkey into the oven, I came home and pottered around with some ingredients and came up with this dessert.

Actually, I made two.

I dropped one off with Cindy on my way out.

To this day, her father starts every conversation to me or about me with a mention of this cake!

Of course, the Cindy in this tale is none other than the super singer songwriter Cindy Alexander. So talented and sweet and the best sort of friend. ( And an old hand with a turkey!) Check out her new music at her website:

The march to mid November is always a crazy one for me.

Thanksgiving has truly come to represent a time to slow down, take stock, taste the full flavour of life...

...and say thanks.

To everyone who helps make my life happen.

Cheers, Mannix

mannix@thelovebite.com