Brooklyn1 wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> cshenk wrote:
> >
> > If you have a 13-18lb Turkey, it needs to be in the fridge now. If
> > it is bigger, you are late!
> >
> > Carol
>
> My 12 pounder went from freezer to fridge this afternoon.

Thanks for fixing my typo Sheldon! My 13.5lb Turkey went in
yesterday morning. My fridge is set a little lower (maybe 38.5F or
something) so always takes a little longer.

I'd rather have a smaller Turkey but that was smallest I could find at
the time of shopping. I prefer around 11lbs for our sized family.
Keep in mind we are low-meat eaters (not vegetarian by any means, just
less meat and a higher vegetable component).

The Turkey is next to 6.5lb ham I had to defrost (cooking that today)
so I could make room for one final set for the Mayflower event here.
Thats a huge food drive (20th year of it) where we locals donate and
fill the food bank for the Hampton Roads area. I dropped off my usual
set which is 2 20lb Turkeys, and all the sides needed to feed 2
families of 8. It won't be distributed quite that way, but at least I
know I matched up things. I even add a lb of real butter each and 2
pie shells each plus organic pumpkin can and apple pie can each. 10lbs
potatoes. Rules for the drive is it has to be freezable or shelf
stable and potatoes are ok because they can use them quickly but other
veggies are pretty much needing to be in canned form.

I just got back from dropping that set off.

Earlier in the week, our local Yahoo Freecycle group got into the act
as well (normal, we've been doing that for the last 6 years or so):

-with 5 full family meals (all the sides to match from 10-22lb Turkeys)
and 5 small 1-2 person meals.

The smaller ones were Ham steaks or Cornish hens paired with a box of
stuffing, gravy jars and packets, instant mashed potatoes, fresh
carrots and a large sweet potato, pie shell and filling, stick of real
butter, jarred asparagus, extra canned veggies.

The larger family ones were similar but Turkeys and sides.

It was kinda funny as Susan (co-owner with me of the VB Freecycle) were
eyeing one another's freezer space in email to make it match what we
could store for pickups and also have room for the Mayflower sets.

Well, now after my final drop off, I have room to store the turkey
stock and such and freeze the leftover cooked ham for us for the next
few weeks.

--