This year I decided to cook a Thanksgiving meal for the first time on my own. As good fortune winked my way a couple-friend of ours found an airline flight deal and came down to visit. In hindsight I now know that a rookie Thanksgiving-day-meal-cooker should always have a veteran by their side. As a team we successfully pulled it off.
Turkey: I ordered a fresh heritage turkey, the farm recommended cooking it like this, Heritage Turkey Recipe. The almost ten-pound turkey fit in my large Pyrex dish so I was not forced to purchase a roasting pan. (I love Pyrex, another post altogether.) I also successfully made gravy last minute without a recipe, I remembered the method for roux and tried to follow it as best as I could remember.
Stuffing: Since the turkey farm recommends not stuffing a heritage turkey I tried this Ciabatta Stuffing with Chestnuts and Pancetta Recipe which was incredible. I am not sure if I will ever try another stuffing recipe and will likely make it again throughout the year.
Mashed Potatoes: no recipe needed, of course. I used redskin potatoes (leaving the skins on) and roughly mashed them (leaving good chunks) with real butter, sour cream, milk, salt and white pepper. I love rustic mashed potatoes and white pepper blends much better than black.
Vegetable: I've never liked traditional green been casserole, but a number of years ago my newest sister-in-law made Alton Brown's Best Ever Green Bean Casserole and it really was the best ever. His recipes are notoriously laborious and this one indeed had a number of steps but ended up wonderful. The leftovers only re-heated well for a couple days though so it's best to consume quickly.
Pie: Thank you Whole Foods for a delicious pecan pie, a.k.a. "candy in a crust" -- I enjoy the art of cooking more than the science of baking.
Wine:lots. Due to my work schedule I could not enjoy a glass of wine with each dish as I was hoping. I did open a dry Riesling, a Beaujolais Nouveau (of course) and something else I don't remember. In hindsight I should have taken some tasting notes.
The day was not without it's snafus of course. I left the thermometer in the turkey only to find out an hour later that it was not a leave-in thermometer. Then as I was basting the turkey I tapped the end of the glass baster against the side of the Pyrex dish and the tip broke off.
As a whole, Thanksgiving Day this year was fantastic -- a day spent with friends being grateful for what we have and, more importantly, who we have.
Turkey: I ordered a fresh heritage turkey, the farm recommended cooking it like this, Heritage Turkey Recipe. The almost ten-pound turkey fit in my large Pyrex dish so I was not forced to purchase a roasting pan. (I love Pyrex, another post altogether.) I also successfully made gravy last minute without a recipe, I remembered the method for roux and tried to follow it as best as I could remember.
 |
| [Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM] |
Stuffing: Since the turkey farm recommends not stuffing a heritage turkey I tried this Ciabatta Stuffing with Chestnuts and Pancetta Recipe which was incredible. I am not sure if I will ever try another stuffing recipe and will likely make it again throughout the year.
Mashed Potatoes: no recipe needed, of course. I used redskin potatoes (leaving the skins on) and roughly mashed them (leaving good chunks) with real butter, sour cream, milk, salt and white pepper. I love rustic mashed potatoes and white pepper blends much better than black.
Vegetable: I've never liked traditional green been casserole, but a number of years ago my newest sister-in-law made Alton Brown's Best Ever Green Bean Casserole and it really was the best ever. His recipes are notoriously laborious and this one indeed had a number of steps but ended up wonderful. The leftovers only re-heated well for a couple days though so it's best to consume quickly.
Pie: Thank you Whole Foods for a delicious pecan pie, a.k.a. "candy in a crust" -- I enjoy the art of cooking more than the science of baking.
 |
| [Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM] |
Wine:
The day was not without it's snafus of course. I left the thermometer in the turkey only to find out an hour later that it was not a leave-in thermometer. Then as I was basting the turkey I tapped the end of the glass baster against the side of the Pyrex dish and the tip broke off.
 |
| [Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM] |
As a whole, Thanksgiving Day this year was fantastic -- a day spent with friends being grateful for what we have and, more importantly, who we have.
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