B.O.A.R. Living

BobOnARoll decided to host a small Christmas 'orphans' dinner this year.  The dinner was small. The orphans were regular sizes, mostly M's and L's.

If I can do it, you can do it. Here are the ingredients for a successful Xmas dinner:

Turkey, breast only (not de-boned), approx 1 lb per person, unless you're feeding my cousin Sheryl's family.  I cooked a 6 pounder.

Unsalted butter.  Lots of it.  Julia Child was right; it's ALL about the butter.  Grab the bird and butter it up inside and out.  Slather on the butter, girls. Don't be bashful, boys. 

Kosher or sea salt. I opted for coarse sea salt.  Salt liberally.

Ground pepper.

You want gravy?  Line the roasting pan around the turkey with veggies such as celery, carrots, onions, a few garlic cloves, whatever.  Once the turkey is cooked you'll degrease the drippings and use the remainder as base for your gravy.

Heat the oven to 325, cook for 20-25 minutes per pound, remove bird when meat thermometer reads 160 and tent bird under tin foil for half an hour.  Make your gravy in the roasting pan, adding a few cups of chicken stock and some flour, heat and stir on the burner.  Strain it or serve it full-bodied, as I did.

Other essential ingredients for a successful orphans dinner:

a friend to bring the cornbread
a friend to bring the salad
a friend to bring some nibbly things
a friend to bring dessert

Have a good time.  Merry Xmas to all and to all a good meal.....