I missed it. The turkey. The stuffing. The cranberry sauce.
I truly enjoyed my casual makeshift Thanksgiving in Philly's Chinatown with Mama Vamp, but I still longed for the classic tastes of T-Day. And so, I decided to invite a passel of pals over for a faux Thanksgiving celebration with all the trimmings.
As you can see from the photo above, Mr. P had quite a time carving the bird. It was dry brined for 24 hours and then made even more divine with the addition of truffle butter under the skin, before I slipped in the oven for a three hour, skin-browning roast.
Homemade Sourdough Stuffing with Pancetta and rich brown Gravy accompanied, as did a Celery Root and Apple Puree, Haricots Vert with Toasted Pinenuts, and a Cranberry and Pomegranate Relish.
I cooked enough for an army.
My table ate enough for an army.
People actually took thirds. I wept with joy.
Even dessert went off without a hitch -- Pumpkin Flan served with fresh Whipped Cream.
The only think left at the end of the meal was the turkey carcass. And, right now, that's being put to good use too. Adding it to some water, carrots, celery, onion, garlic and fresh herbs, it is all bubbling away in the name of soup.
So, in conclusion: When it comes to diamonds, I only accept the real thing. When it comes to Thanksgiving, I'm perfectly content with a facsimile.
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