Kitchen Conundrum

Thanksgiving Preparation Begins- A Brining Conundrum

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Today we started the grocery shopping for Thanksgiving. The grocery store was a little crowded, but not overwhelmingly so.  We don’t have so many guests this year but it doesn’t really affect the menu that much. I think I will leave off just two items I usually made- the Cranberry Apple Crumble and (shudder) the Apple Pie. I know, I know, I really should make the Apple Pie. But three pies just seems like a bit of overkill- there will of course be a Pecan and a Pumpkin. Those are traditional to me. We will see how I feel as the week gets on.

Anyway, Thanksgiving snuck up on me this year. I am usually much better at planning and having my entire shopping list in place for one go. I just have been so busy and honestly, so tired lately that I completely waited until right before I went to make my full list- of which I still have a few items left to get this week.

I had grand plans of buying a farm fresh turkey but that didn’t happen. Then I thought I’d just pick up whatever the grocery store had on sale. But then when I got to the store I couldn’t bring myself to buy a bird that wasn’t at least organic. So I passed the $0.59 a pound ones in the freezer case opting instead for the $2.79 a pound organic Bell & Evans fresh turkeys in the refrigerator case.  I spent my time going through each one and chose a nicely proportioned 15 pounder. Not too small and not too large. Of the organic brands, this seemed to be the best  available. I haven’t had one of their turkeys before so I am curious how it will turn out. I do like their chickens so I am guessing it will be close to the same quality. I also love the fact that at 15 pounds, you are actually getting 15 pounds of bird and not an ounce of injected (mystery) liquid. I am perfectly capable of injecting it myself- and I will. Plus, I was thinking of brining it.

But here’s the conundrum- Do I use a dry brine or a wet one?  I really have no idea at this point- but better figure it out quick!

What do you do?  Any suggestions? Favorite recipes?

 

NaBloPoMo-ReThanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is coming. It will be here before we know it. It’s my most favorite holiday of the year. I make a big deal out of dinner and always invite lots of people. I hate to think of anyone who doesn’t have a place to go that day. Some years it’s just us, and some we have to pull out another table, but I prefer to have guests.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you may remember the year I gave in and unwillingly went to the ex-laws and how my ex-sister-in-law went bezerk because my husband, who was carrying in a sleeping child and a lot of bags of food neglected to say “hello” to her the second he stepped inside his parent’s house. THAT was a fun dinner (she says shaking her head “no”). AND to top it off the B#(&@ took home ALL of the leftovers!  I was actually amused by the whole “hello” ordeal, because, that was typical behavior and a tall glass of wine helped me get through at least the dinner part of the day.  But I was really mad that we didn’t even get one turkey leg or anything back that we had brought to the meal. Nothing, nada!  No leftovers! What?, you say. That’s insane! (Yes, yes it is!)

I needed a serious Do-Over.

And so ReThanksgiving was born.

The next day I went shopping for supplies. So while everyone else was out getting their Black Friday on and snagging giant screen tv’s for a steal, I was at the grocery store buying cranberries, potatoes, and the last turkey they had in the freezer section.

I am pretty sure I stayed up all Friday night cooking and baking but when that meal was set down at our own table on Saturday, never have I been happier.

It may have been just my little family that year- us and three kids who barely eat, but I went all out. Turkey, two kinds of stuffing, cranberry sauce, cranapple oatmeal bake, corn pudding, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green beans, braised Brussels sprouts, honey carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Plus a pecan pie, pumpkin pie and an apple pie. Oh, and a butternut squash soup, salad and homemade bread.

All washed down with Beaujolais Nouveau. It was gluttonous and I was truly Thankful.

There were enough leftovers that we had breakfast (who doesn’t love stuffing and gravy on a roll?), lunch and dinner for the next week.

After that year, I vowed to never go to anyone else’s house for Thanksgiving again-especially if they are related.   But, you are ALL more than welcome to come to my house. I promise there will be tons of food,,,,..and the best part?  I’ll send you home with leftovers.