Apple tarragon sorbet-to-be. Freezing the apples in a little lemon juice keeps the sorbet crisp and green. [ green apples, lemon juice, sugar, water, corn syrup, tarragon ]
If you see this stuff - buy it! Just delicious to dip apples or fruit into. Sweet spicy sour.
Starting the turducken process.
All three birds (turkey duck chicken) were de-boned and then brined overnight in a standard salt-sugar brine with allspice, clove, thyme, coriander seeds, black peppercorns.
The brids are then layered with a chorizo cornbread stuffing [ chorizo, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, oregano, chestnuts, cornbread, eggs, chicken broth, parsley ]
And then you sew it up! A bit of a Frankenstein at the front due to some necessary chicken containing needlework
This year we left the wings on. Others leave the legs on the turkey - but we like to fill them with stuffing instead.
Rubbed with oil and paprika and ready for the oven. We put it in a 500 degree oven, and after 15 minutes lowered the temperature to 225 F. It takes about 3-4 hours depending on the size of the birds. We cooked it til the centre was 155 and then let the bird sit for a good half hour.
Waiting for the guests...
Right out of the oven.
A chorizo gravy made with pan juices, rich chicken stock, white wine
And a veggie gravy
Potato celeriac mash with lemon zest, milk poached garlic, pecorino romano, parmesan, and butter
Slicing the beast. There are no bones so you just cut it into slices with a piece of each bird.
Angelo's Nana's Italian stuffing. Lots of basil, pine nuts, parmesan. Coming from an Italian grandmother, the recipe is of course secret.
Rachel and Dave's roasted carnival squash with goat cheese and parsnip. The tangy goat cheese was amazing with the sweet squash.
Sebene's minted rice pilaf with pine nuts.
M.O.T.H.E.R. was ruling with her Brussels sprouts
Action shot - cranberry sauce with port and spices. Fig and apricot preserve.
Also in attendance rainbow chard with ginger and fish sauce, and green beans.
Food in action
M.O.T.H.E.R. ruling again with her Mississippi mud cake
Other desserts included persimmon pudding, a ginger-tangerine-cardamom ice cream, and home made caramel sauce.
