Turkey Day!!

Turkey Day has arrived!!

We started the morning with cinnamon rolls that I had started last night. If you remember I had decided to use the Alton Brown recipe and they turned out to be a disappointment. They did not rise as they should have. This could be because I kneaded them incorrectly -- or possibly because I used a buttermilk substitute rather than actual buttermilk -- next year real buttermilk all the way!!

After a quick shower it was time to begin the stuffing. We used just two loaves of bread this year as everyone here does not love stuffing as much as my family did when I was a child. Our favorite part of the stuffing is the sauteed onions, garlic and butter. I even allow everyone to have a piece of toasted with the butter mixture on it -- because that was my favorite thing as a child...

It was not yet time to stuff the bird -- so Miranda and I made the artichoke dip --a favorite with everyone!! Then time for stuffing the bird. We brought it up and took it out of the brine. It was less blue than in past years-- but looked quite good. I stuffed both the stomache cavity and the neck which took the entire amount of stuffing -- just as we had planned. Then I put butter under the skin of the breast of the turkey and sprinkled the bird with paprika -- before wrapping it in cheese cloth. Then into the oven at 325 degrees. The estimate was about 5 hours to cook (19 lb. stuffed turkey)-- it took only about 4 hours!! (We put the turkey in at 11:00am)

Next we cooked the artichoke dip while wrapping up the bacon cheese crackers. About 11:30 we served artichoke dip and vegies and dip. ( I had sent Miranda downstairs to get some more of my pampered chef things and we used the bamboo serving pieces for appetizers.) I also made mojitos to go with it!! A short rest and then back to the kitchen.

Bacon cracker into the oven to cook (takes about 2 hours). Then I made the crust for the tarts -- which need to chill in the frig for a while. Next PW mashed potatoes. The secret here is to use just under 5 lbs. of potatoes -- that way they fit perfectly into the casserole!! I also mash the squash soufle -- but only a half recipe as Dennis and I are the only ones that eat this.

Next we served the shrimp mold and the bacon crackers. The verdict was that the addition of red peppers to the shrimp mold is a winning combination!! Another short rest -- watched the end of the dogs show -- and back to the kitchen.

This time it was mincemeat tarts, and mini apple pie tarts. For the apple pies one I should only use 2 apples instead of 3. By now it was about 3:00 and I took the turkey out to baste again. It looked quite done --so I quickly checked with my new PC meat thermometer -- and sure enough it was done!! But nothing else was quite ready. SO I covered it with foil -- turned the oven off and let it sit for another 45 minutes. Meanwhile as soon as the tarts cane out of the oven -- I put in the potatoes -- the squash -- and the green bean casserole. When they were almost done it was time to carve -- TERRY!!!!!

A couple of carving notes -- the whole process takes about 25 minutes -- Terry would like to remember to remove the breasts first next year -- before carving up the dark meat.

There is more to say -- but I think I remember all of the important things that we wanted to remember for next year. More later...