It’s almost Thanksgiving!
I love the holidays, even if they come with their own special brand of stress. Right now my stress is the question of will the turkey thaw in time? It’s been in the fridge since Saturday, and I swear it still has ice crystals. If it is thawed by tomorrow I’m going to use my industrial strength shears to cut the backbone out and then butterfly it onto a baking sheet. I’ve always wanted to spatchcock a turkey and this is my year. The only thing I’ll miss is the in the bird stuffing, but I’m willing to take the hit in exchange for more even cooking, which according to my online reading, is the benefit of spatchcocking.
I don’t know yet it I’ll collect enough fat to make gravy, but if not, I’m not above breaking out the gravy mix, something that would have horrified me a decade ago, because I was deeply into “the way things are supposed to be done”. In other words, tradition.
Well, family traditions start somewhere, and new ones can be added. This year, in addition to the spatchcocked turkey, I’m making cranberry sauce with a healthy dose of bourbon and ginger, bread stuffing that incorporates mashed potatoes, and gluten free pumpkin cupcakes for dessert—all new dishes. If they work out, great! They may be added to the repertoire. If not, so be it. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m going to have a fearless Thanksgiving and maybe find something to add to tradition…if that darned turkey ever thaws. ?
Do you have a special tradition for Thanksgiving? Have you added a new tradition in recent years? I’d love to know.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Be safe! And please drop in for Cowboys and Mistletoe, coming next week! It’s going to be so much fun!
