tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post4413577579785707054..comments2024-03-27T21:15:22.992-07:00Comments on Heart of Light: Thanksgiving schedulingRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819528155575569595noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-80340306353208822652014-11-30T12:38:22.834-08:002014-11-30T12:38:22.834-08:00I did the Alton Brown method, no brining, with the...I did the Alton Brown method, no brining, with the aromatics he listed when I hosted Thanksgiving last year. I even bought a thermometer for the occasion. Most people said it was the best turkey they'd ever had, so I doubt I'll ever do it any other way. I thought you could taste the flavor of some of the aromatics on the innermost pieces, but it's also somewhat likely there was some placebo effect involved. Who's to say....<br /><br />My only complaint is that I did have some smoking/fire alarm action during the high heat period, despite using peanut oil as recommended.Emilyhttp://www.endlesslycreatingmyself.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-56842904609228466372014-11-26T03:28:56.184-08:002014-11-26T03:28:56.184-08:00You are amazing! Just saying!You are amazing! Just saying!Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06491911183161802394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-62212713619653581682014-11-25T08:09:18.585-08:002014-11-25T08:09:18.585-08:00I also don't add the aromatics, although there...I also don't add the aromatics, although there is solid evidence that this is good idea! Having a little something in the breast cavity (not stuffing, since it is SO dense) can help slow down the air flow and let the breasts cook more slowly, which is a good thing. Next year I plan to do the aromatics in the breast cavity but I haven't tried it so I can't vouch for it. Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819528155575569595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-37681314352283939632014-11-25T08:08:04.551-08:002014-11-25T08:08:04.551-08:00Yes, I don't bother with any of the brining, I...Yes, I don't bother with any of the brining, I just follow the roasting instructions. I know people swear by brining but I haven't noticed a huge difference with brined turkeys and the risk is that the drippings are so crazy salty that it can be hard to make a decent gravy (if you were planning on gravy from the drippings). <br /><br />I mostly just don't like wrestling a turkey into a vat of water! I did dry brine one year, and liked that a lot, although you still have the issue with the drippings getting salty. Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819528155575569595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-89901791685087457912014-11-25T08:06:17.411-08:002014-11-25T08:06:17.411-08:00Yes, this is such a good idea! I can't always ...Yes, this is such a good idea! I can't always follow it because our tiny apartment means that setting up the table ahead of time leaves us no space to live! But if we were in a house, you can bet I would have the table set a couple days early. Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819528155575569595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-91998196676973433652014-11-25T08:05:34.643-08:002014-11-25T08:05:34.643-08:00So smart!So smart!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819528155575569595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-19167587100358653662014-11-25T06:42:59.935-08:002014-11-25T06:42:59.935-08:00Since you don't brine, do you completly omit t...Since you don't brine, do you completly omit the brine ingredients when using Alton Brown's recipe? Or do you incorporate any of them into the aromatics? <br /><br />I want to try brining, but am concerned about over-salting. I have a frozen Butterball that's already been injected with a salt solution. Either way, I am using Alton's recipe. To brine or not to brine? Christinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-74342603292252780122014-11-25T01:33:19.855-08:002014-11-25T01:33:19.855-08:00I am not cooking Thanksgiving meal this year becau...I am not cooking Thanksgiving meal this year because we are in the UK this year where it is any other day. So we have work and I have my evening sewing class. However I love this schedule, and always create one like this for Passover which is often very stressful because I don't get the day off always and have to have a dinner for 16 ready in just a few hours after work. Only thing I would recommend is setting the table a few days ahead of time, to make sure you accidentally don't use the dishes you need for the table so you aren't washing dishes last minute, and to make sure all your linens are nicely ironed when you aren't stressed out. Sadiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09344815399862671844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-56377921325609077742014-11-25T00:39:48.447-08:002014-11-25T00:39:48.447-08:00Just wanted to share something that helps with tha...Just wanted to share something that helps with that frantic last half hour before everything needs to be served. Being British we don't celebrate Thanksgiving but I do use Jamie Oliver's 'get ahead gravy' recipe every year at Christmas. I swear it saves my sanity and stops me getting all flustered just before everything needs to be served. Basically, you make the gravy days (or even weeks) before out of chicken wings and veg and freeze it. You can then thaw it the day before you need it and finish it off with the juices from roasting the turkey. And no one can tell that it hasn't been made from scratch that day. It does mean buying some extra meat/veg and therefore works out a little more expensive and I guess it could be considered a little wasteful but as much as I dislike wasting food, I wouldn't ever consider making gravy any other way.<br /><br />http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/get-ahead-gravy/<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving!<br /><br />D xDonnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18374391255618929947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452621549434169941.post-74493952762710936402014-11-24T08:38:06.562-08:002014-11-24T08:38:06.562-08:00As a fellow "numbers person" with a penc...As a fellow "numbers person" with a penchant for planning, I must say THANK YOU! This is my first year hosting a major holiday dinner and, despite many dinner parties under my belt, something about hosting a holiday seems daunting. I've bookmarked this blog post for future reference :)Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10422587066608711472noreply@blogger.com