A Thanksgiving Photo Diary

By now I'm sure everyone is completely stuffed with Turkey, sides and dessert. My tight pants are proof that I am. Putting this post together is an unnecessary reminder that it is time to start exercising again. But this also reminds me how much I enjoyed cooking up a storm for our family on Thanksgiving.

Here is a photo diary of the recipes we tried this year... and will be pulling them out again next year. I know... I'm already thinking of next year's Thanksgiving. It was that good!

Monday, November 22:

Make: cranberry sauce

fresh cranberries, sugar, orange zest

30 minutes later: cranberry sauce

click here for recipe from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food 

Wednesday, November 24:

Make: gravy base, stuffing, brine turkey

Saute turkey neck and giblets with mirepoix until deep brown

straining gravy base

click here for Tom Colicchio's Herb-Butter Turkey and Gravy

toasted bread cubes (farmhouse bread from Russo's)

Sauteed leeks, apples, celery, herbs, & dried cranberries

New England Sausage, Apple and Dried Cranberry Stuffing ready to be baked

 
Click here for Bon Appetit's New England Sausage, Apple, & Dried Cranberry Stuffing

Turkey brine kit courtesy of Wilson Farm

Dissolve brine mixture in water

fresh 14 lb turkey from VT via Wilson Farm

Nighty-night turkey

Thursday, November 25:

T-Day

I am the Anal Retentive Chef

Turkey and carrots ready for roasting

Sauteed brussel sprouts with bacon

Turkey's done

Stuffing's done!

thickening the best gravy in the world

Finally - we eat!