Christmas Dinner

So, here are the two cooked chickens we ate for Christmas dinner (lunch). Paul being the great husband that he is got me a crockpot for Christmas! I was so excited and had it plugged in ready to cook up these two fine chickens. I was on the phone with my mom when I was unwrapping the chicken on the left from its plastic wrapping (we bought these at the grocery store and not the market). I was rinsing it off under some water and as I flipped it around I had quite a surprise...the HEAD was still on the chicken!!! I threw the chicken into the sink and said, "Oh, mom, the head is still on the chicken!" She, of course, couldn't believe it. I quickly ran and asked Paul to cut the chickens head off for me...and he said, "Just cook it with the head on." Being a civil American I said, "I am NOT cooking our Christmas dinner with the head still on." So, he cut the chickens head off. As you can see in the picture the chicken to the left did keep his feet and toenails on while being cooked. We didn't even try to cut off his legs. It made for quite a sight but at least we didn't have to look at it's head! The other chicken came just as you would buy it in the States.
So, the story continues. Just as I was finishing up putting the chickens in the crockpot to cook, the power went out! So, I had to roast them in the oven. They still turned out good and our neighbors really enjoyed them but I was really looking forward to trying out the new crockpot! O well, life in Thailand...never a dull moment!
I had some firsts this Christmas. I am not usually a good cook, or rather a natural cook. I follow recipes to the letter and even when I do that they usually don't turn out. But, I am getting a little better, I think. Anyway, I ventured this Christmas to making homemade gravy from the chicken drippings...and it turned out! I also made a homemade pie crust for the cherry pie Paul requested I make for the meal. Pie crusts (until the other day) have been a vice of mine but this one turned out! It was fun to accompolish these small (yes, small) tasks but it made Christmas feel special and not so weird.