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Regardless of what dietary resolve you have, let's face it. Dinner is the best and most looked forward to meal of the day. It's the one time of the day where we can leave the worries of work or school behind us and relax to a good meal and family. Throughout history we have heard of all the celebrated dinners. From the Last Supper during the days of Jesus Christ to the Pilgrims and Native Americans with Thanksgiving, we have always found places in history where dinner was recognized through tradition.
Falling on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving is celebrated in both Canada and the United States. Like all the big holidays, the decorations for Thanksgiving are displayed in the shops well before they are due, usually arriving several weeks before Halloween is even over. Whether you stock up on fall leaf decor or buy stuffed turkeys to decorate your house with, most of us can agree that the hustle and bustle of this holiday is nothing compared to the worry and stress of making Thanksgiving Dinner for the relatives.
Hosting this dinner is a big deal, especially when it comes with such high expectations--such as the famous green bean casserole, the turkey being basted to perfection with a slightly crunchy golden crust, the sweet potato dish with its light caramelized topping drizzled on just right, the steaming pile of mashed potatoes whipped up to its fluffy perfection, and of course, the homemade gravy.
No one can forget the homemade gravy. Regardless of who you are or how your family is, you will never live down the endless tips that bombard you on how to make the "perfect home made gravy" on this special day. Chances are, if your family is anything like mine, these tip-givers will unmercifully relent with their special and unique ways of making the best gravy. You will also likely hear stories about how these techniques have been handed down from generation to generation, how their special touch has made the gravy immaculate, and how you will not create the perfectly perfected gravy unless you follow their strict guidelines.
Whoa, take a step back! Doesn't this seem a bit odd for some good old gravy? The answer is a resounding NO! While I have gone through my share of relatives giving me advice on the best gravy your taste buds will ever lay their lickings on, I must say I take my gravy making very seriously. Without good gravy on the lot, you may as well be serving up a cake without its frosting, or lemonade without real lemons. While the analogies are odd, I think you get my point. And besides, who doesn't just mesh up all their food and top it off with a boat of gravy?
The trick is to take all these ideas, techniques, and recipes in with some consideration. Trying to mix a few ideas into one batch can be hazardous and disastrous, especially to those taste buds you are so desperately trying to please. Trust me on this one, I know. But regardless of which tips you decide to take, if any, keep one thing in mind that may help you perfect your gravy: That none of it matters if you do not put your heart and soul into it.
Among the tips I received when I hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner with the family, I would have to say that the one my mother gave me was the best. She explained to me that instead of using broth or any additional canned liquid, to use instead the leftover boiled water from making the mashed potatoes. When the turkey is ready to come out, you scrape off all those bits and pieces stuck to the bottom of the pan and put them directly into the potato water. In the meantime, put about a half a cup of flour into a large plastic bag with water and shake it until it is foamy and pour it into the potato water while stirring. If you like thicker gravy, simply add some more flour little by little after mixing it in the bag with water. Adding in additional flavor can be done by putting in salt and pepper, bits of the fat from the turkey, or meshed up vegetables in small portions. All of these can be added into the boiling gravy, and end up being a pretty tasty addition.
So whatever the method, or however you decide to add in your special touch, always remember that it will never taste the same twice. But take solace in the fact that regardless of how it turns out, that you can always try again at Christmas.
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