Herbes de Provence Roast Turkey
Sausage, Corn Bread and Chestnut Dressing
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts
Molded Cranberry Sauce
Classic Pumpkin Pie
Thanksgiving Abondanza
These Thanksgiving recipes are courtesy of one of my favorite Napa Valley chefs, Michael Chiarello. Before I ever dreamed of donning a chef's jacket and clogs, I volunteered to work in the back kitchen of Michael's KQED cooking show Casual Cooking. He immediately made me feel welcome and his ease and confidence in the kitchen was remarkable. His philosophy and approach to food and la dolce vita is nothing short of inspiring. Here are a few of his specialties. One of my favorite pans is his cocorico. This is the coolest thing ever! When I'm in San Francisco, I use it all the time (it's too big to fit in my suitcase) and I've convinced most of my friends to buy one too. Tutti a tavola e mangia bene!
Roasted Pears with Cinnamon-Spiced Whipped Cream
Whole Roasted Turkey with Fennel Spice Rub
Pumpkin Ravioli with Turkey Scallopini and Cranberry Brown Butter
The Definitive Mashed Potatoes and Variations
Panettone Stuffing (my favorite!)
Cranberry Citrus Relish
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Yams with Toasted Spice Rub
Lasagna of Roasted Butternut Squash
Whole Roasted Turkey on the Cocorico
Pan Roasted Vegetables with Fennel Spice
Thankgiving Deja Vu
2005 was a year of many things to be thanksful for as well as many Thanksgivings - THREE in fact! Needless to say I haven't been able to look at turkey since then but here are a few killer, cholesteral-inducing, absolutely delicious recipes from last year that left everyone swooning. One involved a hammer....
Salt encrusted Turkey stuffed with Foie Gras and Port
Spiced Pumpkin Soup
Bresse Chicken stuffed with Foie Gras and Spice Bread
and the Thanksgiving Tree...my friends Kendall and Bob put this up and we all added leaves written with things we were most thankful for. A lovely tradition and a wonderful, creative way to remind us just what exactly we were celebrating, though it's not hard to forget when you are 6,000 miles from home...
<!--Thanksgiving a la Martha
And why not go to the diva of divine entertaining, Martha Stewart herself. She is prominently featured on Yahoo! Food but I thought it best to go direct to the source. So without further ado... Martha's Official Thanksgiving Menu 2006. It's a good thing....
Turkey-Tail Rolls
Mushroom Soup
Maple-Glazed Turkey
Chestnut and Apple Stuffing
Cider Gravy
Cranberry Grape Compote
Brussels Sprouts Vinaigrette
Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Apples
Cauliflower Gratin with Endive
Pan-Roasted Balsamic Onions
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
-->
Even the austere, sober Wall Street Journal took a break from wire taping scandals, option-price fixing, boardroom blow-ups and merger mania to get in on the festivites. Clare Ansberry reminisces, "Everyone can have a few dozen cookbooks and a subscription to Gourmet or Southern Living, but it's something else to have a handwritten bourbon-laced pudding recipe from a thrice-married wild great aunt."
Amen and pass the gravy!
