Thanksgiving-Bangladeshi style

So Turkey day is coming up (Actually at the time I wrote this it came and went...sorry about the delay!) and I hope that all of you are getting some time with your families. Let me wish you a hearty thanksgiving and let me impart upon you our thanksgiving story…

So a group of us decided to see to it that there were Thanksgiving festivities here in BD. I mean I have a lot to be thankful for…I haven’t gotten sick (knock on wood), I didn’t get killed by a mob (see previous story), and lets see….well I am thankful to be having turkey in Bangladesh. They are not common here, particularly in Dhaka. Trust me, we looked all over and it is exorbitantly expensive to buy a gobble gobble out here. However, as luck would have it, Steve found a field that had a small group of four turkeys back in October. We have been eyeing these birds for about a month and finally decided to go out there make the owner an offer. The plan was prepare the bird from scratch….and I mean scratch.

Here is the bird in as is (I mean was) condition….

This guy told us that he brought these birds up from Chittagong (Southern Bangladesh) and was breeding them here. I don’t think he expected three Americans to come up to him and ask him how much. After much haggling, we bought “Hasina” (that’s her name) for $15. It was still pricey, but the sentimentality of being able to eat turkey on t-day was a good feeling. I can’t tell you out right why she is named Hasina, but lets say if you have been following recent political events in BD, you would understand. Lets just say "asinahay siay unningray orfay residentpay". I am going to let you do your research on that one….There was a HUGE and gorgeous male bird, but we didn’t have the heart to take him b/c we wanted him to reproduce for future turkey days to come.

Hasina….

After we got home and had her inspected (Saeed claimed we got ripped off) we had to prepare for Hasina's demise. Clother were donned that would be conducive for what was to come next. What started out as a peaceful afternoon for Hasina was going to go very wrong. Here is Saeed gently cajoling Hasina. She was so calm. The rest as you can guess is obvious. I will spare the pics and details. Tim did the honors with Saeed's help as Steve and I looked on.



















THE AFTERMATH:

In true Thanksgiving style we prepared the bird. Thanks to the Robinson's for their recipe suggestions! It actually turned out a little gamey but the seasoning was great. Saeed and Neela had never witnessed two guys preparing a turkey to be roasted in an oven so they got a kick out of the whole thing. Tim and I prepared the bird.
















And Voila...the final result... The rest is history...a great time was had and we got our T-day. There were about 7 Americans and the rest were from Great Britain.

Random pics...
For some reason Bangladeshis don't like to smile in pictures. Jabbar only looks tough! They got all dressed up on my birthday. Saeed even gave me flowers....is that an enamored look on his face?

My mother and father dressed up to go out to dinner...