Do you remember the Friends episode at Thanksgiving when Monica made Joey his own entire turkey?
The situation was that Monica decided she was not going to make a turkey at all.
Phoebe doesn’t eat meat.
Rachel was pregnant and having meat aversions. (Oh, and by the way Brad Pitt was a guest in this episode too).
Ross didn’t really like turkey (she made him a chicken).
And she didn’t really care.
But, Joey did.
He cared. So she made him a turkey, just for him.
He put on Phoebe’s maternity pants and went to town!
The turkey became his Everest.
Then stuffed to the brim, he couldn’t force another bite – until dessert.
My two very favorite quotes from that episode are:
Monica: Joey, you don’t have to finish that.
Joey: Oh yes I do. Otherwise what’s next? Today I’m just a guy who can’t finish a turkey, but tomorrow I’m the guy who eats half a Powerbar, wraps up the rest, and puts in the fridge? No! No, I just…I just—I gotta change my pants. (Gets up and heads for the door.) Jeans have no give.
And then…
Joey: Whoa—hey—wh-wh-what do you got there? What is that? Pie?
Monica: Yeah, you want some?
Joey: Ah, just cut me a little sliver. (Monica prepares to cut a little sliver.) A little bigger. (Monica prepares to cut a bigger piece.) Little bigger. (Monica moves the knife again.) What?! Are you afraid you’re gonna run out?! Cut me a real piece!
So, a Cornish game hen is no where near the size of a turkey, but it certainly is a meal on its own and the fact that I can smile, laugh, and giggle thinking about Joey from years and years ago makes me really happy.
Enjoy.
(By the way, my hubby fondly refers to me as Monica, at times – and I call him Chandler Bing right back!).
Lemon Parsnip Cornish Hens
4 large parsnips, sliced
2 Cornish game hens, thawed
4 Tbs. butter
juice and zest of 1 lemon
sea salt and pepper
Pile all the ingredients in a large baking vessel – seasoned well with salt and pepper.
Bake at 375 degrees for about an hour, covered. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes, uncovered, to allow the skin to brown.
That’s it!
Happy Thanksgiving…sort of…
Yes, you are my beautiful, creative, brilliant, and OCD cleaning Monica. Maybe next year we can play tribute to the episode where Monica dances with the turkey on her head.
Ummm…maybe.