Twenty turkeys, more than 650 pounds of vegetables and more cooking at Cyd’s

Cooking just one turkey on Thanksgiving can feel overwhelming. 

Cyd Ryle, with help, is cooking 20 turkeys. And that’s not to mention the sides and desserts she’s got in the works for the holiday at Cyd’s Grab & Go. 

She was busy in the kitchen with several people helping on Sunday — a day her business is usually closed.

This week, she’s getting ready to send out 162 Thanksgiving meals to the Bourne Senior Center, full dinners for four families, plus additional meals for seniors and other customers.

She’s preparing 160 pounds of turnips, 125 pounds of carrots, 180 pounds of butternut squash, and 200 pounds of mashed potatoes — that’s more than 650 pounds in total!

And then there are the pies in a dizzying array of flavors: Apple, pumpkin, peach, blueberry, strawberry rhubarb, cranberry apple, pecan, chocolate cream, banana cream, coconut cream, chocolate-banana cream, and coconut custard. There are also, of course, some savory options: mincemeat, chicken pies, and chicken pot pies.

She’s making about 130 pies for the holiday, and has baked 1,800 pies since January 1. 

Pies weren’t always a specialty of Ryle’s, but they’ve become a staple at her kitchen, where the freezer is full of pies ready to be brought home and cooked up fresh. She said her favorites to make are the cream pies, which she creates entirely from scratch — no pudding mix. 

Managing to prepare and store all the food has been “a game of tetris,” Ryle said. 

At times, she’s cooked six turkeys or 20 pies at once. 

Cyd’s Grab & Go is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3 Tremont Rd. near the intersection of Main Street and Cranberry Highway.