My favorite holiday is fast approaching. A holiday defined by one massive eating orgy. The holiday of Thanksgiving.
For many of us, Thanksgiving break is a time to catch up on sleep, get some home-cooked food in our stomachs and get kveiled over by mommy and daddy. But this break, it’s time to shock your folks with your newly acquired culinary skills. How about offering to help cook on Thanksgiving rather than sleeping until mid-afternoon? Or getting up early to cook breakfast on Sunday morning? If any of this sounds appealing, here’s the game plan for you:
Thursday: Gravy
While I’m sure someone in your family has already perfected the stuffing recipe and another has been named the champion of carving turkey, I’m betting gravy is an area you can easily conquer. Gravy is a must on any Thanksgiving table, and I promise you, making this recipe is almost as simple as pouring some powdered mix into a pan.
After your parents nearly fall over when you offer to help cook, make sure to ask them to reserve the turkey drippings after they remove the bird from the pan. The drippings are essential for making your gravy kick some serious amounts of ass. First, pour the turkey drippings into a medium-sized pot and add about a quart of chicken stock. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
In another pan, over medium-high heat, sauté two chopped shallots in a tablespoon of butter and a teaspoon of olive oil. Once the shallots are translucent, reduce the heat to medium and add three more tablespoons of butter. When the butter has melted, add four tablespoons of flour and whisk the mixture for about three to four minutes, allowing the butter and flour to incorporate and form a paste-like mixture. Essentially, you are making roux, which is often used in French cooking to thicken sauces. After the three to four minutes, add the entire stock mixture to the pan and whisk vigorously until the mixture has thickened and resembles gravy. Whisk in salt and a generous amount of cracked black pepper, and reduce the heat to low. Cover it, and the gravy will be perfect when dinner is ready to serve!
Friday: Turkey BLT Panini
If your family is like mine, Thanksgiving means leftovers galore. And while I love having Thanksgiving dinner twice, sometimes it’s nice to put a new spin on leftovers. If your stomach is willing to handle more gluttonous indulgences on Black Friday, impress your family by whipping up this turkey BLT panini. I swear, this is 10 times easier than it sounds. It’s basically just a glorified BLT (but there’s no need to share that little tidbit).
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Remove the bacon (two to three slices per sandwich) from its package and place it on a baking sheet. Place the bacon in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until it is brown and crispy. When the bacon is done, take two slices of bread and spread a little bit of mayonnaise on either side. Then top with lettuce, tomato, leftover sliced white meat turkey and bacon.
Now for the panini part. If you are fortunate enough to have a George Foreman grill or a panini press, this part’s a cinch. Just place the sandwich in a grill and press for a few minutes until the bread is toasted and the filling is warm. If you don’t have a George Foreman grill, you can easily do this in a pan. Heat the pan over medium-high heat and add one tablespoon of butter. Once the butter is melted, place the sandwich in the pan and press down using a spatula. Turn the sandwich over when the bread is golden brown on one side and repeat. Once the panini is done, slice and serve to your adoring fans… I mean, your parents!
Weekend: Pumpkin Cranberry Pancakes
Farewell brunch anyone? Before it’s time to jump in the car or head off to the airport, make a breakfast to remember and ensure that your parents are still fond of you by the time you come home for December break. Now, while this recipe for pumpkin cranberry pancakes doesn’t actually use up any of your leftovers, it still lets you revel in the Thanksgiving spirit for one more day, not to mention that it is deliciously good!
You can easily cheat on this recipe by using pancake mix. Follow the instructions on the back of the mix box and, to make it extra special, add a cup of canned pumpkin purée and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Whisk all the ingredients and ladle onto a griddle. Right before the pancakes are ready to be flipped, sprinkle a handful of dried cranberries onto each pancake. To really make it classy, warm real maple syrup in a pot and add a half teaspoon of vanilla extract and a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Not only are these pancakes sinfully good, but they will keep you full for your long (or short!) trip home!
Whether or not you decide to lend a helping hand in the kitchen, I hope that your Thanksgiving meal is satisfying and memorable! And if nothing else, do not use powdered gravy! You, and your turkey, deserve better.