(Originally published in the Hamakua Times newspaper - Honoka'a, HI)
Do you usually feel like you’re completely overwhelmed when it comes to getting ready for the holidays?
Back in the day when I hosted large holiday get-togethers at our home, I learned that it was much easier if I mapped out a plan and then stuck to it. This means making lists… several lists!
Guest list. Menu list. List of ingredients needed for the dishes on your menu; list of ingredients already on hand and lists of those needed to buy, and a list of beverages you plan to serve. Remember to shop for non-perishables well in advance to ensure supplies are plentiful and the perishables can be bought a couple of days before they’re needed. Don’t wait until the day before the dinner to shop. Stores will be crazy and you might find they’re all out of crucial items needed.
Make a list of serving dishes, platters and tableware needed for each course. Of course, all of these last items depend on how formal or informal your meal will be served and how many people were invited. Is there room for a sit-down dinner or will it be served buffet style and everyone sits wherever they can?
If planning on cooking a traditional turkey, remember that the oven will be in use for several hours, so plan accordingly for any other dishes to be baked. There might be some dishes that can be made a couple of days ahead and then heated at the last minute.
Thawing the turkey:
There are three methods for safely thawing a frozen turkey, but the safest and most foolproof is in the refrigerator.
*To thaw in the refrigerator, you need to allow approximately 24 hours for every four to five pounds of bird weight. Place the turkey, still in its plastic wrapping, on a shallow baking pan and let it sit in the refrigerator the time it needs to thaw out completely. Make sure your refrigerator temperature is 40 F. You can easily check refrigerator temperature with a thermometer made especially for the job. You can find them in most kitchen gadget departments in the supermarkets or a restaurant supply store.
*To thaw the turkey a bit faster, it can be done in a sink full of cold water, still in its original wrapping. The water needs to be changed every 30 minutes and you need to allow at least 30 minutes per pound of bird weight.
*The third safest method is to thaw it in the microwave, but I have never tried this method and I'm not sure I ever would. I would not recommend it, but if you decide to do it, please look up in your microwave's manufacturer’s directions booklet for information. The turkey needs to be roasted immediately after thawing.
The Day Before:
*Look at your recipes carefully and decide what can be done ahead. Prep as much as you can; peel and chop veggies, wash and pat the greens dry, cook anything that can be cooked ahead, and store everything in sealed plastic bags or covered containers in the refrigerator.
*Plan the seating and set the table or arrange a casual buffet line the day or evening before, taking one item off your busy list on the day of the party. Set out as many decorations, in advance as you can, including candles and flowers. Candles should not be lit until dinner has been announced.
The Big Day:
When the day arrives, there's a lot to do before your guests arrive, but there is no need to panic.
*Check your recipes for preparation and baking times to make sure you begin baking early enough. If at all possible, plan your oven time for multiple uses. Since the turkey should sit out for a bit after it is baked, you can pop a pie to bake or even warm other items after the turkey is done.
*If your oven is large enough, you might be able to fit in other items, such as casseroles to cook alongside the turkey. Take whatever advantage you have to cook multiple dishes at the same time, but remember that some things take longer than others. This is the perfect time for a kitchen timer to become your BFF.
Five easy steps for a perfect roast turkey
*Thaw the turkey and remember to remove the plastic packages with the neck and giblets from the neck and body cavities. Place neck and giblets in a sauce pan along with onions, celery, and fresh thyme. Add plenty of water, season with salt and pepper (careful, you're reducing the liquid by a lot, so use caution in seasoning), and simmer for a few hours. Drain through a fine sieve and use this stock for making your gravy (instructions below). Remember you will need almost 3 cups of liquid for one batch of the gravy.
*Preheat the oven to 325 F for conventional or 300 F for convection ovens.
*Place turkey breast-side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. If cooking stuffing inside the turkey, fill the body cavity with stuffing now. I don't stuff the turkey (more about this below)
*Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, not touching bone. Juices from the turkey will baste the meat as it cooks. For added moisture, pour 1/2 cup water in the bottom of the pan and brush the turkey with oil or butter and seasonings.
*Roast the turkey, uncovered, until the meat thermometer registers 180 F. Use the roasting timetable to estimate approximate cooking time. If stuffed, make sure the temperature of the stuffing has reached 160 F to 165 F before removing the turkey from the oven.
(inserting slices of starfruit/carambola and sage leaves between the skin and breast)
Roasting chart at 325 F:
Weight - Hours (stuffed) - Hours (unstuffed)
8 - 12 pounds 3 or 3-1/2 to 2-3/4 or 3 hours
12 - 14 pounds 3-1/2 or 4 to 3 or 3-3/4 hours
14 - 18 pounds 4 or 4-1/4 to 3-3/4 or 4-1/4 hours
18 - 20 pounds 4-1/4 or 4-3/4 to 4-1/4 or 4-1/2 hours
21 - 24 pounds 4-3/4 or 5-1/4 to 4-1/2 or 5 hours
To stuff or not to stuff:
I know that many cooks cannot conceive of roasting a turkey and not stuff it, but my personal preference is to cook the stuffing as a side dish of dressing and not inside the turkey. Instead of filling the cavities with stuffing, I prefer to fill them with quartered onions, slices of lemons or oranges, and bunches of aromatic fresh herbs.
Whether you stuff it or cook it as a side dish, care needs to be taken to follow proper food safety with the raw ingredients, both during preparation and during cooking. If you prefer to stuff the turkey, please follow the simple safety guidelines below:
* Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and all packages of giblets and neck from neck and body cavities have been removed. Rinse well and pat dry.
* The stuffing should be prepared and fully cooked just before you fill the bird.
* Do not stuff the turkey the night before. Always stuff it just before placing the bird in the oven.
* Do not use raw ingredients to stuff the turkey. Be sure to sauté your vegetables such as onions, carrots and celery beforehand. Sauté or boil the meats used such as livers or sausage ahead of time. Due to the possible danger of bacteria developing in stuffing that does not cook completely while the turkey is roasting, use pasteurized egg products instead of raw eggs.
* Stuff the turkey from both the neck and body cavities. Allow 1/2 to 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound of turkey.
* Do not pack stuffing too tightly into the turkey cavities. To guarantee even cooking, stuffing should be packed in loosely.
* Return legs to original tucked position, if you untucked them for rinsing or stuffing.
* Use a cooking method that allows the stuffing to cook at the same time as the turkey.
* Do not stuff turkeys when cooking on an outdoor grill or water smoker or when deep-frying the turkey.
* Do not leave roasted turkey sitting around for more than one hour with stuffing in it.
* Remember to always take out the stuffing to store any leftover turkey. Store separately.
Making the gravy:
This is the simplest method I have found for making gravy. The flavor will increase by using the turkey pan drippings and stock made with the giblets and neck that came with the turkey. This method will guarantee gravy without lumps:
3 cups of pan juices and turkey stock made with the neck and giblets
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Sprigs of fresh sage or thyme
Bay leaf
1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Strain pan juices into a large measuring cup. Spoon fat from juices. Add enough stock to make 3 cups. Transfer liquid to a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil.
Make a paste with the butter and flour and cook it in a saucepan with a thick bottom, until it acquires a soft caramel color, but don't let it burn. This is called a roux. By cooking the roux, you eliminate the taste of raw flour in the finished gravy.
Whisk the roux while slowly pouring in the broth. Add the sage or thyme, bay leaf, and wine (if using). Boil until reduced and slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste (remember, the turkey stock was seasoned already). Discard the bay leaf at this point.
I like to cut up the cooked giblets, except for the gizzard, and add it to the gravy after the gravy is finished.
While the food is cooking:
*Take a few moments before your guests arrive to go through your house. Are there plenty of places for them to sit? How is the lighting? Are drinks and appetizers easily accessible? Are there clean hand towels and soap in the bathrooms? This is your chance to correct any earlier oversights.
*Set out beverages, pupu or finger food first, so your guests will have something to entertain them until dinner is served. If you enjoy having company in the kitchen while you cook, serve the pupus in the kitchen, otherwise place them on a table in another room, and you will not have to remove anything when the time comes to serve the main meal.
(Chicken liver stuffing baked in muffin tins, the sauce is made with carrots and ginger. Servings of homemade whole cranberry sauce in compote dish)
Finally, last but not least, as you plan for your dinner, remember to make enough to have leftovers and have some disposable containers available for your guests. Many of us look forward to that turkey sandwich or extra servings of desserts and many of our guests love to take home a plate of goodies for the evening supper or even next day's lunch! Rule of thumb is to prepare at least 25 percent more food than you will need for the number of guests invited to dinner.
If you plan carefully, you won’t get frazzled and will be able to enjoy the meal and your guests. After all, this is a time to be thankful for all we have received, the bounty we’re able to share, and for the love of our family and friends.
I wish everyone a Hau’oli Lā Ho’omaika’i!
A hui hou!
Sonia