Cooking
When you love Thanksgiving as much as I do, you want it to prolong it. One year instead of the traditional Thanksgiving feast at my parents house, we ended up at someone else's house. All was well and good until the following day--no leftovers! One of the best ways to relive the joy of the holiday is by eating a nibble of what you had the night before. So I suggested a second night of Thanksgiving, much like many Jewish holidays that are celebrated two nights in a row. "Who would come?" asked my mother. "We have a turkey" said my father and with that I made a few calls and the first second night of Thanksgiving was born.
Now that I am married, Lee and I spend at least part of the holiday weekend with my parents and part of the weekend with Lee's family. So two nights of Thanksgiving has become the norm for us. But I don't know whether I will ever host Thanksgiving at my house. Our apartment is too small, we only have four chairs and in any case it would be a serious break with tradition.
Cooking a whole or even half a bird for two people is not such a great idea. Too much turkey for two people to eat. My solution is to either roast a turkey breast and feast on turkey sandwiches and soup or to cook turkey legs. Cooking turkey legs mean that both Lee and I get the skin and dark meat we crave. Turkey legs can also be stewed or braised much like a lamb shank until the meat melts off the bone. This week we will have a cranberry relish (the raw one with oranges recipe right on the package) garlic mashed potatoes and probably brussels sprouts. If you want to make Thanksgiving stretch out into next week, consider doing the same. Here's my recipe for braised turkey drumsticks (apologies to Mark Bittman who I stole the idea from)
Turkey Drumsticks Braised in Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
2 turkey drumsticks
Salt and pepper to taste
1 medium onion peeled and sliced
1 cup stock or water, or more as needed
1 can of cranberry sauce, smooth or chunky
Instructions
Heat oil in deep skillet or casserole large enough for turkey legs to fit comfortably. Turn heat to medium high add turkey legs and cook for a minute, brown on both sides (they will brown unevenly, because of their shape), sprinkling with salt and pepper. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft. Add 1/2 cup liquid and cranberry sauce. Bring to boil, cover and adjust the heat for to a simmer. Cook about 1 1/2-2 hours, checking every 30 minutes and adding more liquid if necessary, until meat is very tender. Taste sauce, and add more salt, pepper, if necessary.
Enjoy!
- Cooking Turkey For Small Gatherings
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Here is a favorite post from a couple of years ago--what to do with all that leftover turkey... Leftover turkey, even dry, overcooked turkey, is good in soups, salads, sandwiches, stews, smothered in sauce or topped with a poached or fried egg. Here...
- Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Thanksgiving
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- Thanksgiving Tips & Techniques
I have a confession to make. I've never made a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I always cook something for the feast at my parent's house, but not the whole meal and certainly not the turkey. I'm not sure I could take the pressure! Thanksgiving...
Cooking
Turkey Drumsticks Braised in Cranberry Sauce Recipe
When you love Thanksgiving as much as I do, you want it to prolong it. One year instead of the traditional Thanksgiving feast at my parents house, we ended up at someone else's house. All was well and good until the following day--no leftovers! One of the best ways to relive the joy of the holiday is by eating a nibble of what you had the night before. So I suggested a second night of Thanksgiving, much like many Jewish holidays that are celebrated two nights in a row. "Who would come?" asked my mother. "We have a turkey" said my father and with that I made a few calls and the first second night of Thanksgiving was born.
Now that I am married, Lee and I spend at least part of the holiday weekend with my parents and part of the weekend with Lee's family. So two nights of Thanksgiving has become the norm for us. But I don't know whether I will ever host Thanksgiving at my house. Our apartment is too small, we only have four chairs and in any case it would be a serious break with tradition.
Cooking a whole or even half a bird for two people is not such a great idea. Too much turkey for two people to eat. My solution is to either roast a turkey breast and feast on turkey sandwiches and soup or to cook turkey legs. Cooking turkey legs mean that both Lee and I get the skin and dark meat we crave. Turkey legs can also be stewed or braised much like a lamb shank until the meat melts off the bone. This week we will have a cranberry relish (the raw one with oranges recipe right on the package) garlic mashed potatoes and probably brussels sprouts. If you want to make Thanksgiving stretch out into next week, consider doing the same. Here's my recipe for braised turkey drumsticks (apologies to Mark Bittman who I stole the idea from)
Turkey Drumsticks Braised in Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
2 turkey drumsticks
Salt and pepper to taste
1 medium onion peeled and sliced
1 cup stock or water, or more as needed
1 can of cranberry sauce, smooth or chunky
Instructions
Heat oil in deep skillet or casserole large enough for turkey legs to fit comfortably. Turn heat to medium high add turkey legs and cook for a minute, brown on both sides (they will brown unevenly, because of their shape), sprinkling with salt and pepper. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft. Add 1/2 cup liquid and cranberry sauce. Bring to boil, cover and adjust the heat for to a simmer. Cook about 1 1/2-2 hours, checking every 30 minutes and adding more liquid if necessary, until meat is very tender. Taste sauce, and add more salt, pepper, if necessary.
Enjoy!
- Cooking Turkey For Small Gatherings
I've cooked whole turkeys when developing recipes for clients, but a Thanksgiving feast? I’m most thankful that I can spend the holiday at my parents house and let them take care of cooking the bird. Some years I return home with leftover turkey,...
- Last Minute Thanksgiving Tips
Thanksgiving cocktail Ruby Sparkler Recipes from the archive Chutney Cheese Puffs Brussels Aprouts with Brown Butter and Hazelnuts Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Apple & Walnuts Grapefruit Radicchio Salad Savory Roasted Pears Curried Butternut...
- Leftover Turkey
Here is a favorite post from a couple of years ago--what to do with all that leftover turkey... Leftover turkey, even dry, overcooked turkey, is good in soups, salads, sandwiches, stews, smothered in sauce or topped with a poached or fried egg. Here...
- Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is hand's down, my favorite holiday of the year. I think I even like it better than my birthday, which is really saying something. So here's why: 1. There is nothing you have to do on Thanksgiving, other than share a meal. There...
- Thanksgiving Tips & Techniques
I have a confession to make. I've never made a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I always cook something for the feast at my parent's house, but not the whole meal and certainly not the turkey. I'm not sure I could take the pressure! Thanksgiving...