Last-minute Thanksgiving this year at our vacation house in RI. Mom and dad, who live down the street from our place in RI, are getting eye surgeries on Tuesday so my brother and his family are driving up from Westchester County and we are gathering in RI so mom and dad can recuperate at home. We decided to order Thanksgiving dinner this year from a local BBQ place, Blue Ribbon BBQ and will drive that down Wed evening. Not the most well-regarded place but B made an executive decision to do whatever is easy. Plus, we happened to meet the ownerâs sister and BIL while we were vacationing in Puerto Rico this year, so we feel happy to support a good guy and his business (we get a big takeout order every few months to share with friends). Thereâs a whole smoked turkey (hopefully not too smoky), mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans. Other stuff that I donât know. Pies have been ordered from a local favorite organization, where not only can you order pies for yourself, you can also order pies for clients.
Weâre having smoked turkey too! Though just a turkey breast because itâll be just us two here. Some years back we had a whole smoked turkey when hosting guests. The convenience factor let us focus on each otherâs company. Happy TâDay to you and the family.
All right, I confited four wing flats and two thighs in duck fat and shallot oil, and roasted the remaining bird parts and turned them into stock which is cooking down now. Letâs thanks some giving.
I made my gravy today, but went off-course from Plan A when I saw an appealing recipe for Umami Gravy in the New York Times (link is a gift link).
I made a few minor changes, subbing homemade chicken stock for the vegetable stock, and then subbing 25% of that with apple cider. I used shallot instead of red onion and sage instead of oregano. I did include the nooch, along with a splash of good soy sauce. Absolutely delicious, and I love all the caramelized onion bits in it. Happy to have made it.
So will I. First there was the pandemic, then my hospitalizations this summer - Iâm not up to doing Thanksgiving dinner for guests. I have ordered a split turkey breast for myself, and some fresh cranberry relish. I will make stovetop stuffing with apples celery onions and sausage crumbles and eat in my recliner. Itâs the best I can do. Iâm alive, though.
I ALWAYS cook my turkeys upside down - if upside down means breast down first. This does a couple of things - the breast is protected from the direct heat of the oven and the fat from the dark meat internally bastes the meat. I do flip it breast side up for about the last 30 minutes to brown the skin. I have two old turkey-decorated towels I use pick up the turkey.
The cornbread stuffing is made and the turkey is on the counter. (Pepperidge Farm cornbread stuffingâobviously you can make your ownâwith Jimmy Dean sausage, corn frozen from the summer, roasted green chiles, garlic, onion, celery, turkey stock, sharp cheddar, and some freeze dried corn powder.)
Iâm roasting the turkey tonight because you know what, why not, itâs just us. Weâll have various combinations of turkey and sides and probably do the âofficialâ meal with all the trimmings on Wednesday.
First, thanks for all the good vibes and support on my earlier posts. Family, what can we day.
My parents will be driving up here and joining us for a few days. Weather pending as always in MN at this time of year. No idea what my in laws are doing and not worrying about that
Onto the menus
Spatchcocked turkey with make ahead gravy
Simple Classic Stuffing (Epicurious)
Mashed potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Something green- Mr Autumm wants green beans but will see what looks good
Pumpkin pie and apple vs cherry pie.. My dad doesnât like pumpkin
Need to dig around in the root cellar for some wines, sparkling cider for the girls. My mom will have a glass of milk. Because one will get osteoporosis and collapse if one does not have milk with every meal.
Now i just need to itemize out my prep list and get to work
My mom did this many decades ago, by accident ⌠and hermother was visiting us âBaby, doesnât that turkey look a little âŚfunny?â It was good, though. Oops.
