Thanksgiving

courtesy of my blog: http://cjferrara.blogspot.com/

My heart's first passion is Music. But since man cannot live on bread alone, or music for that matter, I have developed a new passion over the past 12 years or so, cooking. I love to cook. When I was a kid, and my mother went back to work, I'd come home to a bunch of ingredients and instructions on how to get dinner started. That's how I first learned to cook. That and my father's example.

To this day, people who don't really know me well, believe that I, being male, should not be able to cook. That's one of the worst stereotypes of the world. If you envision the person who cooks in your family, you imagine your mother, or Grandma - a woman; but if you envision a chef or someone who cooks professionally, you tend to imagine a male. Even my first job, at Roy Rogers restaurant, the men were on the line, and the women worked the register. I wonder how many people are discouraged from properly feeding their family or a career in the food industry because of this stereotype.

My real passion for cooking began when I discovered the Food Network. It was at my house in Roscoe, where we didn't have cable, but rather had a satellite service. Up there, I was introduced to many new channels including HA! which became Comedy Central, and the aforementioned Food Network. Once we got it on Cablevision, I was hooked, easily logging in 20 hours a week watching. (And yes, I actually logged in.)

I didn't realize it until later, but I was being programmed, but in a good way. The Food Network chefs always insist on the best ingredients, and never buy what they can make. Ketchup? Tomato puree, vinegar and spices. Packaged Crescent rolls? Not if I have flour and butter! Through their example I started trying new recipes and techniques, and basically re-taught myself to cook. When I had my big cholesterol scare a few years ago, what saved me was cooking my own meals with good ingredients that were lower in bad fat and cholesterol.

Ever since, I'm the cook of the house. My wife cooks also, but my biggest joy is coming home and feeding my family. Which brings me to Thursday - THANKSGIVING.

Usually, we go to either my aunt's house or my wife's cousin's house for turkey day; depending on whose parents we choose to spend the day with. Two years ago, it was my parent's year, but they went upstate for the weekend to spend Thanksgiving with my uncle. Rather than tip the scales towards one family or the other, we decided to cook dinner for ourselves that year. I LOVED IT!!! I made a bunch of sides. Crammed with hours of Food Network's Thanksgiving episodes. Nearly memorized the big turkey episode of Good Eats. Finally, I was ready. I cooked the meal, brining the turkey and everything. IT WAS AWESOME.

Well, this year, we're doing it again, but not because of a scheduling conflict, but to try and pass the torch to our house being the place for this holiday. VERY EXCITED! I have the menu all planned:

Tuesday: t-minus 2 days - Prep for Twice-Baked Potatoes. Bake the taters, then cut the tops off, and scoop out the insides, whip with butter and ricotta and seasonings. Then restuff, and refrigerate for Thursday when the second baking will commence. Also: Precook the Green-bean casserole, Alton Brown's recipe with real mushrooms and onions, not soup and French's

Wednesday: Day before: In a cooler in the bathtub, defrost the turkey under running water from 2pm-10pm. Then use the cooler to brine the turkey overnight starting at midnight. Meanwhile - Pre-do the Sweet Potatoes. The Todd Wilbur recipe for Boston Market Sweet Potato Casserole. Roast the sweets, then mix together, and make the crumble. Wrap and store for the next day. Also, Mr. Wilbur's recipe for Starbucks' Pumpkin Cheese Muffins.

THE BIG DAY! - Parade, Dog Show, then Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life. My patented Thanksgiving day mix on the radio. Meanwhile, DO THE TURKEY THE WAY THE TURKEY SHOULD BE DONE! Sorry, got excited there. Make some gravy afterwards. Reheat the sides, and begin the Lemon Meringue pie. Serve HOT and Fresh to everyone's rejoicing. I'm salivating as we speak.

May the Lord make us truly thankful and happy, and merry and bright. And let the COOKING BEGIN!!!!!!!!