Thanksgiving 2011 - Prep

We are enjoying this holiday week at Scott's sister and brother-in-law's home in Virginia.


The traditional meal has been a co-op between Scott, his Mom, his Sister and myself.


The Menu:

• Turkey 
• Williams Sonoma Pear & Cranberry Chutney
• Quadruple-Bypass Mashed Potatoes
• Walt's Mushroom & Wine Gravy
• Jeremiah's Turkey/Vegetable Gravy
• Stuffing
• Mixed greens salad
• Grandma Virginia's Sweet Potatoes
• Green Bean Casserole
• Apple Pie
• Pumpkin Cheesecake

Turkey - Scott and his sister are team-cooking this, the turkey sat in a brine made of low-sodium soy sauce, salt, brown sugar and red wine for two days. They are putting 1/2 lemon, onion, sage, rosemary and butter in the cavity, and a few sprigs of rosemary here and there under the skin. They are rubbing a sage-butter on the outside.


Jeremiah's Vegetable Gravy - Turkey drippings with a little flour to create a roux, then the veggies (carrots, celery & onion) that were roasted in the pan alongside the turkey get "mashed in."


Stuffing - two loaves of white bread, cubed and left in a bowl to dry out a bit the day before. Vegetable broth, onion, celery, sage, butter and a few other things.


Grandma Virginia's Sweet Potatoes - peeled and cut into chunks, baked at 350F with orange zest, brown sugar and a few other secret items.


Pumpkin Cheesecake - I still couldn't find my recipe, and apparently the one I used last year I never wrote down my modifications, so I adapted another existing recipe.