We hosted Thanksgiving dinner at the Sac-to house last night. It was a traditional meal, in a totally un-traditional manner. At first we were going to be a party of 6, then later that number increased to 8, and then, a few hours before dinner, we were 10. Mary vetoed my idea of ordering dinner from Whole Foods, so we started cooking at 8am. Over the course of the day, and the preparation of the many, many courses, I learned some valuable lessons which I think I must pass along.
- If you get a 23 pound turkey, make sure it can fit in your fridge, roasting pan and most importantly, the oven.
- While the turkey is cooking, use a timer to remind you to baste it. Basting a turkey regularly, maintains juiciness. Saturating the turkey with a quart of stock 20 minutes before the bird is done, does not achieve the same desired outcome.
- Having an accurate head count is helpful, preferably the day before. Having enough chairs for your guests is ideal too.
- Start celebrating once the turkey comes out of the oven, rather than when it goes in. This will delay intoxication and allow you to avoid falling asleep on the couch next to the guy you used to see for a short period of time/roommate’s brother. You also probably won’t at one point tell said person, Don’t hate the player, hate the game!
- If you decide to take wine to your neighbors, make sure you ring the right door bell. If you happen to ring the wrong door bell and barge into a strangers house and family gathering, play cool. PLAY IT COOL. Use the line, We wanted to say hello and bring wine over before you sat down to eat! Say, We don’t want to interrupt! a bunch of times too.
- Small dogs should not be given a large turkey neck to gnaw on.
- Make all items before the guests come over and before your blood/alcohol level goes over the legal limit. This will prevent you from dumping way too much vanilla into the homemade whip cream, and making it turn brown. If this does occur, again, PLAY IT COOL. Taste test, then serve it to your guests and say, This is a new whipping cream recipe that I am trying out, it’s much richer than others. Then, divert the attention from the brown pie and announce Oh! I am so grateful for all of you being here!At that point, people will toast, drink more, and probably not have the ability, or heart, to identify that your pumpkin pie is crap.
