A true Guilty historian knows that many great Guilty Pleasures have been borne out of successfully coping with extreme weather conditions. The Great Blizzard of 1995 was inspiration for the famed "House of Happy" and the feeling of contentment that follows. This sense of wintertime fulfillment was reportedly the motivation behind the highly-acclaimed episode of the Sopranos where Paulie and Christopher are desparately running through the snowy forests of the Jersey Pinelands. We've all been lost and famished in the snow.Here's how Happy happened and the remarkable relounging results were quite by accident:
Before heading to the streets to recover my aging Audi, I put a tray full of marinated Turkey Drumsticks and thighs into our oven to slowwwwwww cook. Preparing dinner at daybreak seemed like the perfect way to start the day. Dark turkey meat has always been one of my all-time Guilty Pleasures. From the Thanksgiving drumstick to my award winning dark meat turkey salad to tender cheeks, the moist and flavorful is constantly calling my name.
Shoveling out of the snow in Blizzard conditions was a painful and grueling experience. The strain of digging out from sixty inches of snow led to shear exhaustion and an urgent need for Guiltorious rejuvenation. After two hours of FEMA-like duties, I trudged through the snow and crawled up the stairs to our loft apartment looking for a miracle.
Then Happy happened! Upon entering into our toasty abode, I was overcome by the incredibly delicious aroma of a slow-cooked Gobbler. Since I had forgotten about my bird in the oven, the enticing smell of the roasted turkey really made me smile. My entire disposition and energy level changed. Suddenly I felt happy. The house smelled happy. As you know, scrumptuous food aromas have that magical uplifting power. The anticipation of devouring a mammoth drumstick made me the Guilty creator of the "House of Happy."
