There are some trends or social phenomenon for which for I will never quite understand the appeal. For instance, Michael Bolton, the recent fad of bowling shoes worn as street shoes and, as I’ve said before, acid washed jeans, frizzy perms and anything having to do with Madonna. This time of year my thoughts on this subject often  turn to turducken.  What is turducken you ask? It is turkey, duck and chicken all stuffed together. I’m not sure exactly which part is stuffed into what or how exactly it is done because I’ve never had it and don’t ever want to, but I guess you could bill it as a veritable “mixed meatia” of meat. Now I’ve had my occasional bacon wrapped scallop and assorted sausages cassoulet, but I’ve never really been inclined to try three different kinds of poultry deboned and shoved up each other’s ass. I can’t explain it, but for some reason, this  just does not  appeal to me.

I’ll never forget the first time I ever heard about it. My sister Jill was dating some guy and his family was serving it for Thanksgiving one year and we were totally grossed out by the whole idea. “How does it all fit together and why would you want to eat it?”  we wondered. Why stray from the traditional turkey? I guess some people are either adventurous or they simply can’t  make a decision. Mmn. Should I have turkey? Chicken? Duck? How about all three? What a wonderful compromise! I guess.

What’s my point in all of this you wonder? (I’m wondering myself.) Well… from where I sit, I can say from experience that blended families are a lot like turducken.  Things that you think don’t go together are often forged together and, even though at first seem like unlikely combinations, they can fit together just right once you get used to the idea. Add a little gravy, some stuffing and some cranberry sauce and you’ve got a feast. The main dish may not be exactly what you planned, but it’s  still tasty, (albeit unusual) fortifying and cause for celebration.