Classic Bread Stuffing

While Thanksgiving has come and gone, I still wanted to share this recipe, but I didn’t get the chance until now. This recipe is the one my mom always used, and she either got it from that 1960’s edition of the Betty Crocker cookbook, which is falling apart, or it’s the same recipe my grandma used to make (maybe both).

I am not sure about you, but when Thanksgiving comes around and I think Stuffing, I do not think about all those versions out there with nuts and meats and fruits. I think of plain ol’ classic bread stuffing with onions, carrots, celery and poultry seasonings. Plain and simple, but it is what my family and I like the best. Don’t get me wrong I like the other stuffing out there, but when it comes to Thanksgiving this is the only recipe I use.

1-2 loaves of bread (sourdough or French – I use a mix, the sourdough alone gets too tangy for me)
3T. poultry seasoning
1 large white onion
2 celery stalks
2 carrots
1/2 stick of butter
salt and pepper
6 cups of chicken broth

1. Cube or tear the bread, sprinkle 1T of poultry seasoning over the bread and allow the bread to dry out a day or two – tossing occasionally (so all pieces dry out).
2. Dice the onion, celery and carrots (mirepoix).
3. Melt butter in a large pan. Over medium heat, saute the veggies until the carrots are soft and the onion is translucent. Add salt and pepper and 1T poultry seasoning.
4. Toss the mirepoix with the bread in a large bowl.
5. Add remaining 1T of poultry seasoning to the broth.  Add 1/2 cup of the broth at a time to the stuffing (stirring between each addition). Continue doing this until the bread is sticky.
6. Place in a large baking dish and bake 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Notes:

Bread – I use the loaves from the bakery, if the loaves of bread are large I use about 1 1/2 loaves.

Store bought “Poultry Seasoning” is a mixture of sage, thyme, marjoram, black pepper, and nutmeg (I do not know the ratios – McCormick’s doesn’t give that  secret out.

Caramel Pumpkin Pie

Caramel Pumpkin Pie

This recipe is from Epicurious.com I did not alter the recipe except I used a different pie crust recipe. Today I have been working on Thanksgiving and deciding what desserts I will be making. There is another (but very time consuming) recipe on my “to try list,”  it is a three layered pumpkin custard, whipped cream and mousse pie. Should it turn out I will post that pie as well. As for this caramel pumpkin pie, it came out fantastic! Caramel adds a kick to this pie, if you make this pie and did not tell anyone it is caramel pumpkin everyone would probably just think you make the best tasting pumpkin pie. Just tell them you used a “secret” ingredient!

I had some left over filling because my pie crust shrunk more than I anticipated so I put the rest of the filling into custard dishes and cooked them for 30-35 minutes. You could make the whole recipe into custard dishes rather than a pie. Caramel Pumpkin Custard.

1c. sugar
1/3 c. water
2 c. heavy cream
15oz can 100% pure pumpkin (not pie mix)
1 ¼ tsp. ginger
1 ¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp cloves
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1-pie crust (precooked)

Preheat oven to 375°

Make Caramel:
Stir sugar and water in a heavy saucepan. Over medium heat bring the sugar to a simmer, and cook until the sugar turns to a golden brown color. (do not burn the sugar it will become bitter!) Do not stir during this part just swirl the pan a little and wipe down the sides with a pastry brush dipped in cold water if the sugar sticks to the sides of the pan. Stir in 1 cup of heavy cream and stir the mixture until the caramel is dissolved, it will boil vigourously. Stir in remaining cup of cream and bring the mixture to a simmer, turn off the heat.

Filling:
Whisk together the pumpkin and spices in a large bowl. Whisk in the hot cream mixture, then whisk in the eggs stirring until well combined.

Pour filling into cooled pie crust and cook for 55-60 minutes. The center will look slightly wet but the edges will be puffed and cooked. Allow to cool on a rack for 2 hours, during this time the pie will continue to set.

Apparently pumpkin pie is a “soft crust” pie which means you don’t pre-cook the crust, instead pour the filling into the uncooked crust and bake the pie all at once. While that is ok, I have found I really like the texture and flavor of a pre-cooked pie crust – in pumpkin pie or not.  Apparently the people over at Gourmet feel the same as me as their recipe calls for a pre-cooked crust. BUT if you prefer soft crust then by all means, you do not have to pre-cook the crust in this recipe.

Praline Topping
1/2 stick cold butter
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2T flour
1/2 cup coarsley chopped pecans

Mix the flour and brown sugar, then with a pastry blender or fork cut in the butter. Stir in the coarsely chopped pecans and sprinkle the mixture over the pumpkin pie before baking.

Caramel Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Praline Streusel

Pan Dripping Turkey Gravy

This recipe is a traditional type pan dripping gravy, with a twist. The turkey stock is made with roasted turkey wings to add depth to the stock. This gravy recipe is a collaboration of difference sources. I was watching Tyler Florence on Food Network one year and Tyler made gravy with a roasted turkey wing stock and I have made my stock for gravy with a roasted turkey wing stock ever since. Roasting wings is much easier than making an enitire roasted turkey or chicken. The wings have a lot of flavor so you will not miss out on using the entire bird. The base for my gravy I learned from my mom, which she learned from my grandmother. The milk idea I picked up from a friend one Thanksgiving and the brown gravy mix I have heard numerous people say they add to their gravy for added depth. So this recipe is a melting pot of tips and tricks I have picked up over the years. Enjoy!

Serves 6-8

Turkey Stock:

• 2 Turkey Wings
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 bay leaf
• 2-3 sprigs thyme
• water
• salt and pepper

Gravy:

• pan drippings from roasted turkey
• butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 cups turkey stock (see above)
• 1 packet brown gravy mix
• 1/2 cup milk
• salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400°
2. Roast wings for 2 ½ hours.
3. Chop onion, celery, carrots and sauté in butter.
4. Add thyme bay leaf and wings (with drippings from the roasting pan). Cover with water and bring to a boil. Skim any foam and reduce the heat and simmer for 1 ½ – 2 hours until the water reduces.
5. Strain off the solids and cool the stock if you will freeze it, or use it right away.

Turkey Stock

1. GRAVY:Once you remove your roasted turkey from the pan, place the whole roasting pan over the med-low heat on the stovetop (my roasting pan takes up two burners so I turn both on med-low heat). Or transfer the pan drippings to a pot.
2. Once the pan drippings are bubbly add enough butter to make about ½ cup of fat. Whisk in the flour and cook stirring frequently about 2 minutes.
3. Once the roux is golden brown whisk in the turkey stock, milk and gravy mix packet, salt and pepper to taste. Whisk until the mixture is smooth. (I add the milk to help cut the greasiness from the turkey drippings but keep the flavor of the drippings).
4. Simmer until the gravy has thickened to your likeness, about 10 minutes.

I submitted this recipe for a contest with Food52 which all winners will be added to the Food 52 cookbook that results from the year of contests. As well as the chance to win some money to Williams Sonoma, and other gift packages from Viking cookeware, and OXO. Wish me luck! Hope you try this gravy this holiday season, it’s super good! I will be making my wing stock shortly!

Here is a link to my Food52 submission: http://www.food52.com/recipes/7482_pan_dripping_turkey_gravy#ixzz144ahjBs7

Thanksgiving

A little catch up since I didn’t have the blog up and running for Thanksgiving. Here are a few of my recipes…My yummy turkey salt rub and cranberry sauce. I posted the pumpkin cheesecake which was also on the menu!

SALT RUB
½ c. kosher salt
1 ½ T. chopped fresh sage
1 ½ T. chopped fresh thyme
1 ½ T. chopped fresh rosemary
1T crushed peppercorns
2 mandarin oranges or clementines, zested

MIX ingredients in a glass bowl. Sprinkle all but 3T of the mixture over the turkey or chicken. Place poultry in a roasting bag and set in fridge overnight.

 RINSE off the poultry. Sprinkle the cavity with some of the rub. Then cover the poultry with softened butter. Sprinkle with remaining rub.

CRANBERRY SAUCE

3 mandarin or clementines oranges (or 2 regular oranges)
½ c water
¾ c sugar
1 bag cranberries

ZEST of 2 of the oranges (1 if using regular oranges) and juice 3 oranges. Mix all ingredients, except cranberries, in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add cranberries. Simmer for 20 minutes, cranberries will pop. Using a wooden spoon press on cranberries that have not yet popped. Simmer another 10minutes or until desired consistency.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

This is the BEST cheesecake I have ever made. I combined both my own and Gram K’s recipe for plain cheesecake and then added the mixture of pumpkin and spices to it for a beautiful yummy moist cheesecake!

CRUST
1 ½ c ground cookie crumbs (Vanilla wafers)
2T. brown sugar (or granulated)
5T. melted butter
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

MIX all together and press into the bottom of a spring form pan or a deep pie dish. Bake @ 375 degrees for 7 minutes or so.

FILLING
3- 8oz. pkgs cream cheese (softened)
3/4c granulated sugar
1T van illa
5 eggs
1/8 cup heavy whipping cream
1tsp lemon zest (optional)

BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until combined. Add eggs one at a time and make sure incorporated. Beat in whipping cream and zest.

Pumpkin Mixture
15 oz can pumpkin puree
¼ t. ground ginger
1 ½ t ground cinnamon
¼ t. ground nutmeg
¼ t. ground cloves
1/8 c. sour cream

Whisk the pumpkin mixture together, then fold into cheesecake filling.

BAKE cheesecake at 300-degrees for 1 hour and 5 min (or until middle set).