Thanksgiving at Japher's

[Mrs. Tuberski]

I dislike menudo as well. The seasoning is like chili powder but has a different kick to it. It doesnt taste like menudo but rather a richer chili flavor.

[Spaced Cowboy]

Originally posted by Deity Dude
I have a tremendous gravy recipe but it takes a little work.

When you buy your turkey buy 4 or 5 turkey wings. The butcher will be practically giving them away because everyone buys either whole turkeys or breasts.


Take the turkey wings and put them in a roasting pand Add lots of thyme sage and basil (fresh is best but dried is OK) Cover in olive oil and roast until brown.

In a stock pot put in a little olive oil (enough to coat the bottom of the pan) Add 2 onions cut in 1/2, about 6 carrots and 6 celery stalks all rough chopped 3 garlic cloves, 12 peppercorns to the pot. Add 1 cup of sweet to semi-sweet white wine. Braise for about 15 mins. Add the turkey wings and whatever grease/juice is in the pan. Cover with water and boil. Reduce to medium for 2-3 hours. Check every once in awhile and remove any foam that collects at the top.

Strain the liquid into a saucepan. Thicken with cornstarch/water mixture. It's awesome - but a little work.

Similar to what I do, but I put all that stuff under the bird itself and use one of them there roasting bags. The juice for the turkey and veggies makes an awesome gravy.

[Imran Siddiqui]

For the stuffing, I do a traditional celery, onion, carrot mix cooked in a pan with butter. I cheat on the bread and get Williams-Sonoma stuffing mix (basically their croutons with basil and whatnot in it). I also like to throw in some apples (Granny Smith works well) and enough turkey stock to moisten the thing. Never cook it in the bird (too dangerous as a result of varying heats in the bird).

I'm doing the turkey myself this year, and I'm going to brine it the night before

[Dinner]

Sausage is a must for any good stuffing as well.

In the upper cavity (where the lungs were) my mother used to stuff it with oyster stuffing but that was mainly because my grandfather liked oyster stuffing.