Happy Thanksgiving!

smallest crowd in decades

my family is spread out across North and South America this Thanksgiving. So it is by far the smallest crowd I've had in decades. My wife got enthusiastic with getting a bunch of jars of the Bicentennial Rub at Penzy's then left me with it to be with our daughter in Alaska. I have this smaller turkey already in the oven. Rubbed thoroughly and I did brine even though I have read here that it is passé now. Also started my turkey stock yesterday and it smells unbelievable. Overall pretty humble affair today only 5 of us. Past years it has been 80-120+ !
 
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80-120! Did you hit an extra zero there, Paul? Is the aroma of turkey stock sending you into

mathematical quantum space?

If you put ALL the people I KNOW in this world together, I still don't come up with 120 people.

(geez...I may be a bit too shy)

 
big family then friends and it adds up quick

especially when your brother in law is an acclaimed chef and he's contributing. The "friends" factor gets exponential then.

 
Only two of us this year, but the gang will arrive on Saturday. A few years ago

I told our kids, no more wondering who was doing Thanksgiving, who would go where, what about him or her, etc. grandkids are involved in sports, jobs, college, it all got so complicated. Then my hubby is no longer driving and I am unwilling to make the three hour trek down to the big city I dislike driving in. So I told them to come up for the holidays, a week early, on the day or a week after. It has worked great, and most of the time everyone brings up a dish, something that did not happen much in earlier years. Our day yesterday was a little boring, but we had an awesome dinner. Cornish game hen, cut in half, marinated, then rested on top of a simple but delicious dressing which included apple, this year. It was very delicious, along with home made cranberry sauce, a new green bean recipe which included wine and a load of garlic, and were very happy at the end of the meal.

 
I had dinner at the neighbors. They had ham with collards and asparagus. Good meal but now

I'm craving turkey and gravy and I'm not even crazy about turkey and gravy.

 
I had dinner with friends and now I'm craving a turkey and stuffing sandwich for lunch but alas, no

leftovers were offered.

 
Thanksgiving Leftover Soup.

This year I made a stock from the neck and giblets (minus liver). Day before. The stock I added to making my gravy along with pan drippings.
I always add a ton of vegetables to the bottom of my turkey pan which I add to gravy. Usually onions, shallot, carrot, celery and maybe some peppers and mushrooms. There is always a lot more gravy than needed but this is all part of the plan. The turkey carcass I make another stock which is the base for soup.
The leftover gravy and vegetables goes into the Turkey Leftover Soup which I promised my wife on her return.

 
We do "holiday" this way, too

and have been able to squeeze more "special" dinners together with everyone. We love turkey in March - I have an extra one in the freezer smileys/wink.gif Colleen

 
Too much amazing gravy = holiday leftover casserole

When we make the full turkey dinner, sometimes in March smileys/wink.gif, I usually pig-out on appetizers looking forward to leftovers layered in a casserole and covered with amazing gravy. As leftovers run out, we make more mashed and baked sweet potatoes, more stuffing, add Costco rotisserie chicken, green beans, etc. until the amazing gravy is gone. Dh and I stand together at the stove and make the most gravy possible. Colleen

 
I just realized that the one T-Day photo text from YS was of his gravy

- Younger Son - and this made me smile again smileys/smile.gif Colleen

 
That sounds good - what is your preference for sauce, red or green?

I know they use a lot of mole-type sauces with turkey.

 
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