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 ownerās 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). Thereās a whole smoked turkey (hopefully not too smoky), mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans. Other stuff that I donāt 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.
Weāre having smoked turkey too! Though just a turkey breast because itāll 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 otherās company. Happy TāDay 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. Letās 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 - Iām 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. Itās the best I can do. Iām alive, though.
