I was very pregnant with my first son when I went to the rummage sale at the Orthodox synagogue in Binghamton, NY (in 1987). My husband and I were graduate students living on $5,000 a year with some parental help (especially with medical bills and clothes). Earlier that year we joined a synagogue (Temple Concord, a Reform synagogue) for the first time in our married life. We were starting a family and being a member of a synagogue was important to us.
I went into the rummage sale looking for baby clothes (I was at least 8 months pregnant and I knew it was a boy). I think my husband was with me. The Orthodox ladies must have known that we were Jewish (actually Randall wasn't yet) and poor. They helped me find baby clothes and charged me very little. Actually they tried to not charge me at all but I insisted. Then I saw it. An old magnificent turkey pan. It even had a lid. It was really sturdy. I added it to my baby clothes and walked out, having spent $5 or $10 dollars. At the time I did not feel bad about unkashering (cooking unkosher food in) the pan. Later I would. This pan is so much part of my celebrations.
Every turkey I have ever cooked since has been roasted in this pan. I keep it in the garage (it doesn't fit well in my kitchen). Every time we use it we clean it again before putting the turkey in it. I don't need aluminum foil because of the lid. The turkey always comes out yummy and juicy. The kids probably think it is an old family heirloom. A couple of years ago I noticed that one of the handles broke. I do not know how to fix it but it still makes wonderful turkey. I wish I could thank the family who donated it.
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