Can't Miss It: Thanksgiving Eve

"Wild Turkey male displaying" courtesy of dracobotanicus

It's a slower day than usual in the Emerald City, as many of us mentally prepare ourselves for dealing with travel, family, and gluttony. So instead of our normal list of events around the city, we're presenting a list of "can't miss" opportunities to prepare for the big day tomorrow.

BRINE THE TURKEY: Whether cooking a classic roast or deep frying a turkey, a saltwater bath will yield a juicy, fully seasoned bird. After brining the turkey for about four hours, it needs to be rinsed, patted dry, and left to air dry in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight. The turkey is now ready to be cooked. Those that read the post about cooking a turkey sous vide recall that breasts are fully cooked before thighs. Breasts should register 165 and thighs should register 170 on a thermometer.

MIX THE PIE DOUGH: Once pie dough is mixed, it needs to rest in the fridge for at least an hour, or up to two days. To ensure a flaky crust, large pieces of butter need to be cold in order to hold the dough apart long enough to set, creating layers within the crust. Cold dough is also easier to work with.

SIDE DISHES: Take advantage of the opportunity to make any side dishes that won't suffer from being made a day in advance. Cranberry sauce is an ideal make-ahead dish since it isn't typically served hot. If you choose to make a gravy with the turkey neck and giblets, those can be simmered with chicken broth for an hour and refrigerated. Then on Thanksgiving Day the broth can be reheated, thickened, and combined with turkey drippings to complete the gravy.

WINE PAIRING: We wish all the cooks out there the best of luck and hopefully these tips will make your Turkey Day a little less stressful. But if you get nothing else done, please make sure your wine/beer/cider pairings are planned out. An abundance of alcohol will buy you time in kitchen if you're behind--and in the unlikely event that you overcook the turkey, it will make it a little easier to swallow.