Lol. Make/buy some more?
(In past years, we have been cleaned out of stuffing or mashed potatoes occasionally by others taking home leftovers without thinking that the cook might want a few bites later 
)
2 Likes
We had the opposite. Niece insisted we needed Stovetop Stuffing and mashed potatoes (instant!) despite the dish of stuffing I brought in addition to what was under the bird.
After she and her beau left it went straight in the trash.
So thr best PS is that my mom texted me yesterday to tell me how much she and my dad have enjoyed the turkey, as it was so moist and tasty.
Yāallā¦this is a huge thing, as they usually avoid turkey.
(For the record it was a standard Butterballā¦but going forward? Spatchcock it is.)
11 Likes
Great job!
1 Like
Thatās all that matters, right?
1 Like
For anyone whoād like to have it ā¦ I typed up an easier to understand final recipe for Turkey; itās a combo of parts of Woks of Life recipe and Petrini recipe (upscale grocery store in SF and Bay that is no longer in business):
Combo Woks of Life Turkey & Petrini Recipe
12 ā 14 pound Butterball
4 carrots (cut into 2-inch lengths)
3 stalks celery (cut into 2-inch lengths)
2 onions (cut into wedges)
2 lemons, cut into quarters, tuck into cavity
1 cup dry white wine and Ā½ cup brandy heated slightly to pour over turkey halfway through cooking
Paste to rub over turkey after baking the first hour breast side down:
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter (soft)
2 Tablespoons Salt
2 Tablespoons Paprika
2 Tablespoons White Pepper
If your turkey is frozen:
4 ā 5 days before roasting, start thawing your turkey in the refrigerator. Takes about 1 day of thawing time for every 5 pounds.
On the day before you plan to roast it, wash the turkey inside and out with cold water and dry thoroughly with paper towels. (I give away to toss out the neck and innards that are in the cavity.) I stuff a lot of paper towels into cavity and leave there until ready to roast. Place in a foil pan in refrigerator uncovered so skin will dry out. Before roasting, pat dry with paper towels again. Let turkey sit on top of counter one hour to come more to room temperature. Place cut lemons into cavity and tie legs together. Tuck wings back.
Preheat Oven to 425
Put carrots, celery, onions into roasting pan. Make a rack with a circular piece of foil for the turkey to sit on top.
Add 2 cups of chicken broth or water to the pan.
Roast breast side down for one hour, rotating the pan halfway through.
In the meantime, make your paste in a small bowl.
Lower temp to 325, grab paper towels in each hand and flip turkey right side up. Use a spoon to spread the paste over the turkey. Wet a double layer of cheesecloth, wring out, then dip it in a small pot of a stick of melted butter. Drape this around the turkey.
After the first half hour, heat slightly, do not boil, 1 cup dry white wine and
Ā½ cup brandy, then pour over turkey. This makes your gravy great!
Every half hour, baste turkey and rotate it. When the temp gets to 165 itās done. Remove and discard the cheesecloth.
Transfer to a serving board and wait an hour before carving.
7 Likes
NOW you tell us 
1 Like
HA HA
I just finally typed it up last night ā¦ it was hard for me to follow both recipes at once and I wanted to make this copy for two friends ā¦ so, posted here for all!
I have another bargain (.99 lb Costco) Butterball in the freezer for Christmas Dinner.
I feel capable now of teaching a class in how to do T Day Dinner. I canāt understand people who refuse to learn (at least try) to roast a turkey.
4 Likes
According to the CDC, you should not wash poultry.
Iām aware. I prefer to wash poultry with cold water.
People are free to choose not to wash.
(I know someone from Jordan who also uses white vinegar, thatās the way she was taught there.)
1 Like
OnionsāNot gonna lieā¦my holiday was a good one and we purchased the main event from a local BBQ joint, so I only had to warm things up, but Iām still exhausted.
Hosted my brother and his family driving up from Westchester County, NY (my SIL and my 11-yo nephew and 9-yo nieceā¦they and my almost 11-yo kid had a fun 3-night sleepover) and my 80+ parents, who live down the street from our vacay house in RI, so I basically prepared food for 9 people over 3.5 days, which I am not used to.
The plan was that everyone would congregate Thursday noon-ish so in my head, I thought we could have the main event mid-afternoon, which I suggested on Wednesday. But while they were driving up, my bro suggested that we have a ālightā lunch and then an early main event. Um, ok, but I had almost nothing for lunch (we keep our vacay house pretty minimal and we had to transport a lot of kitchen supplies and essential ingredients, like onions/garlic/kimchi but no extra food, except for fancy cheeses/crackers and bread. I called mom and fortunately she had prepared some Korean-style soy-braised beef (galbi-jjim) and she and dad still hadnāt cracked open the Korean banchan from HMart that I brought up to them at the beginning of the week when I took them to eye surgeries. She made a pot of rice and we put out a Korean spread when they arrived. Forgot to take photos. We had the galbi-jjim, spicy braised tofu, vinegary bean sprouts, black beans in soy, kkaennip (perilla leaves), ssam, kimchi.
I had woken up very late that morning (9 am, which is late for me). As the morning wore on and we were getting ready for our guestsā arrival, I felt strangely sluggish. Lunch was fine, and as I was starting to put together the Thanksgiving meal (smoked whole turkey, smoked ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, mac and cheese with crusty rosemary top, gravy, cranberry compote, rolls), I started feeling yucky. Achy, my face felt hot and I started intermittent chills. Around 5:30 pm, everything was pretty much ready and I announced that I had to lie down and explained how I was feeling to everyoneās dismay. Around 6 pm, my husband (a physician) came to check on me. I told him that I felt bad but not flu-like bad. He checked my temp (no fever), brought water, and advised me to sleep. It was killing me to hear the kids laughing and playing and not being able to get out of bed. So sadly, I missed out on the main event. I stayed in bed for nearly 12 hours and I felt like a new person in the morning. Had no idea what it was. Luckily, Iām careful in the kitchenāI wash my hands often, never touch my face, etc., so no one got sick, but we donāt even know what the hell it was. I forgot to ask B to take photos of the meal, but everyone raved. Weāll definitely purchase future Thanksgiving meals from the restaurant.
Friday breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon for the kids, Japanese milk bread toast, organic blueberries and blackberries. From the French shop near us in MA, a mushroom + emmental quiche and an assortment of pain au chocolat/almond croissant/dark chocolate flaky twisty baton thingies. French press coffee. Lunch was leftovers (managed to remember to take a few bad photos). Added some Maine Homestead pickled asparagus and pickled carrots that B didnāt realize I had intended to serve on Thursday and were a nice counterpoint to the rich food. More pumpkin pie, and my bro and SIL brought a fruit tart (I didnāt try either). . Still had an untouched apple pie. We decided on takeout sushi for dinner (lotsa salmon avocado rolls for the kids, rando rolls/sashimi for the adults, edamame, seaweed salad). Beer and wine throughout the day.
Saturday breakfast was a repeat. And we had āthe gameā to watch (Ohio State v. ichiganā¦yes, the first letter is intentionally missing), so something casual and stress-free. Friday evening, had made a slow-cooker turkey chili so everyone helped themselves during the game. I warmed up mac and cheese for the kids. For myself, I made a pot of rosemary white bean soup. Buckeyes won handily! More leftovers for dinner and soup + bread for me. More beer or wine throughout the day.
Sunday breakfast was the last of my breakfast supplies. Bro and family left around 10 am. Mom and dad went home while we cleaned up and came back to join us for takeout pizza and a chat.
It was a fun drama-free weekend (except for my 24-hour āillness,ā whatever the hell it was). We started to think about Xmas plans. Weāre probably heading to broās house (theyāre both good cooks). But in the meantime, work/school/reality beckons tomorrow.
4 Likes
Glad you are feeling better!
I was a little hyper-vigilant during the big day and wore a mask after eating when I noticed BIL wiping his nose and sneezing 
.
I have a cough from asthma that becomes a huge ordeal when I catch a cold, and I was really trying to avoid that.
I used the cough as my excuse for putting on the mask and an aunt said āweāre all right! You donāt have to do that!ā. I donāt remember what I said but she didnāt say anything more. 
1 Like
