More on Thanksgiving
There's something very pleasing to me that the first six comments under today's Top Ten (and maybe more by the time you read this) aren't about eating Thanksgiving at a restaurant -- which seems sort of sad, although it almost happened to me this year, more about that in a moment -- but about where to buy a fresh-killed turkey locally.
The first Thanksgiving dinner I ever cooked started with a turkey, wings flapping, I bought at an outdoor market in Philadelphia. (Not that I enjoyed it much, although it was delicious. I was a little more squeamish in those days.) But I'm getting off topic here. ...
(Christopher T. Assaf/Sun Photographer)
The point is, eating out on Thanksgiving Day should always be a last resort. Luckily this weekend my family was saved from Thanksgiving dinner in a Washington restaurant -- because that's where my mother-in-law lives -- by a last-minute invitation. (The family we've traditionally invited over now has a newly extended family to go to.)
Still, if you have to eat out, here are a couple more choices in the Baltimore area I just heard about:
Corks in Federal Hill will have a four-course fixed price Thanksgiving dinner for $59, or $95 paired with wine. The regular menu will also be offered. The Thanksgiving menu is supposed to be posted on its Web site, but I don't see it yet. Reservations will be taken from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
I've heard that the Ambassador Dining Room in Homewood and Riverwatch in Essex are also going to be open, but neither has anything on its Web site and I haven't been able to talk to anyone yet. When I do, I'll post the details.
It occurs to me, judging from the Top Ten comments, that even though this is a restaurant blog, you'd rather be talking about other subjects when it comes to Thanksgiving, such as why my chestnut stuffing is better than your pecan stuffing. If so, please post below.
Comments
I can't believe you posted this photo. One look at it and I'm a vegetarian. Look at all of those innocent little turkeys bobbing around.
Posted by: Gailor Large | November 6, 2007 11:45 AM
I'll bite...why is your chesnut stuffing better than my pecan stuffing? :-)
Actually, we don't make pecan stuffing, but sometimes splurge and make an excellent oyster and sausage stuffing. I think we may have gotten the recipe from the Sun many years ago
Hypothetically speaking, of course (although it is better because it has chestnuts).
Posted by: Hal Laurent | November 6, 2007 12:41 PM
LOL at the previous comment!! Gailor
This is NOT the kind of photo you post before Thanksgiving, when most of these babies will end up on someone's dinner table!!
Posted by: Jennifer | November 6, 2007 1:41 PM
Perhaps you should have put a photo of Tofurkey up instead.
And innocent turkeys? If I find a turkey who committed a crime, Would it be okay if I ate him?
Posted by: Robert | November 7, 2007 8:54 AM
Hal - I'm in the market for a good, road-tested oyster stuffing recipe - care to share?
We're trying to make this year's Christmas dinner a true celebration of local bounty - from the turkey to the oysters (hopefully) to the veggies. Anyone else have any other thoughts?
Go Bucks!
Posted by: Bmore Buckeye | November 7, 2007 1:19 PM
Oyster, Sausage, and Spinach Stuffing
In a saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil and remove from heat. Add oysters and their juices and set aside.
Wash spinach carefully and trim stems. Place in pan, cover, and steam in the water that clings to the spinach. When limp, drain thoroughly, chop, and set aside.
Remove skin from sausages, crumble, and saute with onions and celery for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heaat. Stir in poultry seasoning and fennel seed. Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl (it may take two), mix oyster/chicken stock with eggs. Add the bread cubes and toss thoroughly. Add apinach, sausage mixture, melted butter, salt and pepper. Toss lightly.
May be used to stuff a 12 to 15 pound turkey or baked in a 325 degree oven in a buttered, covered casserole for 30 minutes.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | November 7, 2007 10:52 PM
Question (maybe more for your webheads): when I click on the link to your blogsite, this blog entry on Thanksgiving is the latest one that is showing up, how come? And when i click on the "Main" your most latest blogs are nowhere to be found. I also placed a post on the Yuck entry as well, not sure if you got that one. Just curious...thanks!
I can however get to your latest blog entries as long as I click on the link itself directly from the Sun homepage...
I'll bring this to the attention of my Web Masters. Thanks for letting me know. The only Yuck posting from you was two days ago.
Posted by: Eric | November 8, 2007 11:18 AM
Thanks, Elizabeth, it seems to be working for me now :)
On the turkey subject, anyone tried or know where to get "heritage" turkeys locally? Honestly I didn't know there was a difference with those versus the more common Broad Breasted Whites.
Posted by: Eric | November 9, 2007 12:01 AM