Thank you, Chickenbutt

IamMrsG · ‎08-29-2010

Chickenbutt, as I type this it is about eleven thirty on Thanksgiving morning. Not to say I won’t be in a few hours, but, right now I am relaxed and rested. I feel no sense of urgency and, in large part, I have you to thank for it. You see, based on your encouragement, I roasted and carved our turkey last night. I have been preparing side dishes for three days. Everything that could be done in advance was done. All pots and pans are clean and put away. All I have to do in a few hours is to bring everything out of the refrigerator and re-warm in a low oven. Wow, I haven’t had a Thanksgiving Day like this since I was a child and had no responsibility beyond eating as much turkey and pie as I could manage. I might even turn on the television and watch a parade. : )

It bears repeating: I thank you. My husband thanks you. ${#emotions_dlg.blush}$ My guests thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving, Chickenbutt and all other generous helpers out there!

--Mrs. G.

Strive for respect instead of attention. It lasts longer.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Hey Mrs G! Oh, I'm so happy that it was helpful. Once I started doing that it was so freeing. Now, today, I don't have any back-breaking, work-intensive stuff left to do. My kitchen is all clean (for now, but it's only 8:30am here). No having to think about finishing to carve the turkey while I eat and rest.

I just barely made it through yesterday. I was so beat. But the best part is that today I won't be all beat up by the time I finish.

Happy Thanksgiving and Best Wishes to you, my dear!

AnnMarie-1 · ‎03-09-2010

I am so happy I read this, I am doing this next year, too many pots & pans & last minute cooking jobs...and the dishes...I do not use a dishwasher, so many to wash

Hi Chickenbutt, Happy Thanksgiving!!

IamMrsG · ‎08-29-2010

AnnMarie-1, this dinner was a success. I brought all the dishes out about an hour in advance, to bring them to room temperature. After that, I put them into a 250º oven for ~an hour. At serving, everything was sizzling hot all at the same time. That was a first, I think.

As I mentioned earlier, I roasted and carved the turkey last (Wednesday) night. I did drain out most of the fat/juices from the pan, but keeping them "just in case,", then returned the carved turkey back to the roasting pan, covered it with foil and refrigerated overnight. When it was time to re-warm today, I just popped the covered pan back into the oven. Nothing dried out.

I would urge anyone to use this method anytime there is a large, important meal to prepare. I know I certainly will from now on!

Strive for respect instead of attention. It lasts longer.

cookie5 · ‎03-10-2010

What a great idea! Thank you chickenbutt (love your name)!! I am glad to hear it came out so well, thank you MrsG for that info.

There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Hey Ann Marie! Long time no see.

Hi Cookie! I like your name too.

Mrs G - glad you had a nice, restful and easy, day. Mine went ok. All I had left to do was make gravy, make the mashed potatoes, and make the veg, plus bake the dressing and heat up the turkey.

I made the gravy around noon so it would have plenty of time to cool (with cellophane wrap fitted over the top to preclude gravy skin, of course) and then I put some in one small dish to heat up and the rest could go into a Lock & Lock in the refrigerator.

Made the mashed potatoes a couple hours later so they were out of the way and the only kind of last minute thing I had was my green bean dish and that's pretty easy - sauté some pancetta, then mushrooms, almonds, herbs, and butter, then just toss in the green beans with some lemon juice and zest. Easy dish for the last minute thing.

Man, I only have vague memories of having to crank out that PLUS the gravy and mashed potatoes as last second, so they will all be hot, dishes, in addition to having to carve the turkey. No more of all that for this chicken!

After four days of work I'm not doing anything today except wash the few dishes I left in the sink last night. After I put everything away and cleaned the stove and counters, I just had nothing left to wash the couple of casseroles and one pan in the sink. I'll get to it.