@CIEE83 I wonder that too! And it’s the home of the town fire chief, believe it or not.
Wow. I planned a 80th surprise party for my mom, on a Friday night. I asked her friends to park around the block. Two women I never met came early. I gave them aprons, and they got straight to work, while I finally had a chance to change clothes. We had the best time ever.
We used to invite one family to share our holiday dinner. They were vegan, gluten free, kosher AND AWAYS LATE. One year they asked us if we would have a kosher turkey (they are VERY EXPENSIVE) and I couldnt find one big enough for the # if guests we had coming. So after checking 3 different places and striking out on a big bird (which would have cost over $100 if I could have found it), I asked them to please bring their own kosher turkey breast. They arrived late (as usual) and the family member who was the one who wanted a kosher bird… was a no-show. Apparently didn’t feel well so decided not to come (no one told us in advance so their place was set).
Okay, @jym626, I give up - why would someone who’s vegan want a turkey?
A vegan turkey I could understand (yes, there apparently is such a thing!), but a kosher turkey???
They are different members of the same family-- some are vegan, some gluten free, some will eat only kosher. The Vegan usually brings a piece of tofurky and some pumpkin pie variation that is always runny (maybe that thing is vegan and gluten free-- not sure - never ate it). We had to color code food labels for the table.
Ohmygosh, sounds like you couldn’t make them all happy even if you had a staff of chefs to help you!
Be as picky as you want when you’re in your own home, but when you’re a guest in someone else’s home, unless it’s actually a health issue, be gracious enough to eat what you’re served. And if you’re not willing to do that, don’t accept the invitation.
It was a challenge. But even if I had found a 23# kosher turkey, it would have cost almost $200. Um, NO.
I made a sincere effort. And found out the cost of kosher turkeys at 3 local stores. Glad we are not kosher!
One of these family members and I were invited to a baby sower recently. She decided we’d drive together (and that I would drive, which was ok). But, when it was obviously time to leave, and the family clearly wanted to have time together, she wouldnt leave, and kept talking to one family member. I slowly inched away towards the door and she grabbed me and PULLED ME IN to her and the family member to continue her conversation. I couldnt break free from her grip! When she came up for air I politely indicated that it was late and the family wanted some time together and she ignored me and kept yakking. I was very embarassed. I finally was more direct and diplomatically said we needed to leave. Wont be carpooling with her again!
Jim, u r just too nice and polite.
What should I have said-- time to leave to start shopping for a kosher turkey??
We’d love the pleasure of your company, but unfortunately due to lack of time, I am barely able to get the menu I have prepared to the table on time. But you are welcome to supplement the menu.
Totally related, but what good is the kosher turkey if the oven and utensils are not kosher?
Different people have different comfort levels. That, and she may have brought her own utensils and paper plates. I honestly dont know as she didnt come that year. Sher did come one year and brought her own turkey breast-- I dont recall what utensils and dishware she used. She (this is the mother of one of the guests) expects meat that is koshered (ie killed/prepared a certain way) but may be more flexible on the other stufff. Not my circus, not my monkey.
@skieurope - I was making a joke about getting her (the person I was at the shower with) out of the friends’ house.
Self-cleaning your oven makes it kosher. Running a burner for a while (I forget how long) makes it kosher.
And the microwave is always kosher. You can cook a bacon cheeseburger (the ultimate anti-kosher food) in it and it’s still kosher. I learned not to ask why. 
When DW’s sister lived on this coast, we kept a box of dishes and pots in the basement for her. Apparently after some amount of time, pots and dishes become kosher again.
When DW’s brother and family come, they bring a lot of their own food and use paper plates and plastic utensils. They don’t come very often, maybe twice in 20+ years.
The irritating aspect, which jym626 touched on, is other people expecting you to adapt to their dietary quirks and beliefs, instead of having a “when in Rome” mindset. They all came to DS’s wedding last December, and the kids went through a lot of trouble and expense to provide them kosher meals at the reception.
Touched on? I thought I hit it with a sledgehammer!
So I should stick the utensils and dishware in the microwave, then in the oven while its cleaning itself, and top it off by putting them on the burner. Check!
I understand that, but expecting the host to self-clean the oven would be more over the top than asking them for a kosher turkey.
One of my freshman roommates (who claimed to keep kosher) has a habit of going to BK and ordering a bacon double cheeseburger, extra cheese, cheese-meat-cheat-meat-cheese. I’ve also stopped asking why. 
Sounds entertaining! If you burn your house down doing that, will they become kosher?
Actually, self-cleaning the oven is very simple, easy, and quick (and cheap), you should do it every once in a while anyway to clean your oven. With our ovens it is done by pushing a single button and waiting an hour for the cycle to run.
Self cleaning makes the kitchen VERY hot- and dulls the finish of the racks if you leave them in the oven so you have to manually clean them anyway.
I get lectured by my manager and dinged on my evaluations if I don’t comment on your purchases. It’s stupid and I’d rather not, but Corporate is obsessed with the idea that it’ll open up a conversation so I can try and sell you related items, and they harp on it constantly.
Bestfriendsgirl: Or perhaps these hat wearing infidels might be religious Jews? Marian: Ask for help to your car. Most markets are there to feed and help. Any markets…not just the fancy ones. You don’t have to tip…just ask.