Check out my bird!
It was an intimate gathering, just two other people. The menu consisted of a selection of cheeses, crisp flat bread, medjool dates, and charcuterie to snack on before dinner. Then we had a radicchio, endive and frisee salad with sweet slices of red pear, candied walnuts, shavings of parmesan and a maple balsamic vinaigrette (a Tyler Florence recipe). The center piece of the meal was a herb roasted organic, free-range fresh turkey (a Barefoot Contessa recipe using an Alton Brown trussing method that I had to watch on YouTube several times to get down just right). To go with it I served Grainy Mustard Mashed Potatoes (another Tyler Florence), Creamed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon (a disappointing recipe from the Two Dudes, One Pan cookbook), and Sausage, Fennel and Apple stuffing (a combination of a Barefoot Contessa recipe and one I found in the Gourmet Cookbook).
Of course you have to have cranberry sauce. Mine was a sweet and tart Cranberry Chutney made from stewing fresh cranberries in red wine along with sugar, orange zest, a cinnamon stick and a couple grindings of black pepper (a combination of two Tyler Florence recipes). It's a shame I forgot to serve it with dinner. It's also a shame that I sort of burnt the stuffing. I was keeping it warm in the oven, which was off. I then realized that it might be nice to serve the dinner rolls warm, so I turned the oven back on, forgetting the stuffing was still inside. Tens of minutes later I remembered, but not before the top had gone from beautiful and golden to a harsh dark brown verging on black. Despite my well-planned minute-by-minute schedule, mini tragedies happen. Curses.
Fortunately I redeemed myself with dessert, a pumpkin cheesecake topped with softly whipped cream and a warm, toasted pecan praline sauce.
The recipe will be posted shortly. Happy belated Thanksgiving.
looks delicious!
Posted by: Mona | December 04, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Happy belated Thanksgiving and Birthday, Grant!
Posted by: Tamara | December 08, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Hey there,
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Posted by: Health News | March 13, 2011 at 11:30 PM
That turkey looks absolutely delish! I know that this post is from ages ago, but may I ask how's everything going there in your new house? Could you share some pictures? Seeing "new house" just made me curious, and it made me wonder how your new home looks like. Anyway, keep up the good work!
Posted by: Kurt Palen | June 23, 2011 at 11:14 AM
well done
Posted by: Juicy Couture Outlet | July 17, 2011 at 08:05 PM
How does your new home look like? You must really feel happy that you're able to celebrate Thanksgiving in a completely new environment. Did you put up your old house on the market?
Posted by: Cleveland Critzer | September 26, 2011 at 06:57 AM
The first you encounters definitely the ones that stick in your memories, just like that one happy Thanksgiving that you had in your new house.
Posted by: Minneva Carker | October 18, 2011 at 06:49 AM