White Wine Gravy for Your Turkey

Yes, yes, Thanksgiving is fast approaching and you may want to have this delicious white wine gravy for your turkey available just in case. This Thanksgiving tip and  recipe is by Martha Stewart, a source you can trust!

For a silky-smooth gravy, whisk constantly as you gradually add flour to the pan. You can make this recipe to accompany any turkey, but it's particularly delicious with Martha Stewart's Herb-Rubbed Turkey!   *taken from http://www.themomsbuzz.com

Prep: 35 minutes
Total: 35 minutes

Ingredients

Serves 8

• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions

1. While the turkey rests, place the roasting pan on the stove across two burners (if using a disposable roasting pan, scrape drippings and browned bits into a medium saucepan). Heat drippings over medium-high, scraping up browned bits, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
2. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until syrupy, 5 to 6 minutes. Gradually whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, until incorporated, about 1 minute. Gradually add 1 cup broth; cook, whisking, until flour is a deep caramel color, 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Gradually stir in remaining broth and 4 cups water. Bring to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until gravy reaches desired thickness, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove neck and giblets, and strain gravy through a fine-mesh sieve; discard solids. Season generously with salt and pepper.

Countdown to Thanksgiving Checklist by Rachel Ray

 

We are only 7 days away from Thanksgiving, just in time to prepare our checklist and start thinking about our menu. But you must start today so that you can use this great countdown Thanksgiving Checklist by Rachel Ray. Plus, it works really well with 'a big bird and small budget Thanksgiving menu' that she recommends, but you can certainly adapt it to whatever dishes you are planning on making for your own feast. Here is the checklist:

7 Days Before

• Bake layers for the cake you are planning on making; let cool, then wrap in plastic wrap and freeze.
• Prepare crusts for the pies, then wrap in plastic wrap and freeze.

3 Days Before

• Clean out the fridge to make room for the ingredients.
• Place the turkey on a tray in the refrigerator to thaw (if frozen).
• Bake, toast and soak cornbread or other key ingredient for the stuffing.

2 Days Before

• Make the salad dressing and toast any nuts you may be using for the salad.
• Prepare the stuffing and bake up to the last 15 minutes.
• Measure out ingredients for the turkey and gravy and place together.

1 Day Before

• Set the table and put out serving platters, bowls and utensils.
• Bake and refrigerate the pies, cakes or desserts you are offering.
• Make and refrigerate the filling and frosting for the desserts.

Last Day & Last Minute

• Assemble the desserts for eating.
• Cook the bird, stuffing and potatoes.
• Assemble the salad.

Happy planning!

- Found on The Moms' Buzz, Originally from : www.rachaelraymag.com

Grateful Heart

Turn on the television these days and you’ll find just about every kind of makeover show possible. We seem to be drawn to this makeover madness by our desire for something fresh and new in our complicated, and sometimes disorganized lives.

I’ve recently become aware of a makeover I can do every day. It doesn’t cost a dime. It doesn’t require an expert. And it takes very little time.

Rather than the external makeovers we see on television, this is an internal makeover that starts in my head and moves to my heart. It is initially unseen by the outside world, but if I stay focused on this “inside job” it will eventually become very apparent to those around me.

This might be called an “extreme heart makeover,” because it moves my heart from grumbling to gratefulness.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’m pursing this makeover as it pertains to the work I do for my family everyday. I sometimes exhibit an ungrateful attitude in doing these tasks when I forget what blessings the tasks actually represent. This week I'm working on a shift in thinking. I'm considering a different perspective.

As I evaluate all my responsibilities, I’ve discovered I'm thankful for:

■Laundry…because it means that my family has clothes to wear.
■Dishes…because it means that my family has food to eat.
■Bills…because it means that we have financial provisions.
■Making Beds…because it means we have a warm, soft place to rest at night.
■Dusting…because it means we have furniture to enjoy.
■Vacuuming…because it means we have a home to care for.
■Picking Up Toys…because it means I have children to bring joy to my life.
■Homework…because it means my children can learn and progress through life.

Would you like to join me in this exercise? What part of your life seems to be the most overwhelming? What do you grumble about most often? What tasks, responsibilities, or challenges bring about frustration or anger? Once identified, ask yourself what blessing you haven’t been able to see. Now focus on the blessing and thank God for what it means in your life. Watch your perspective change from grumbling to gratefulness in no time flat. The “extreme heart makeover” is available to every person, every home, and every family every day.

I can’t think of a better way to capture the essence of Thanksgiving.

By Jill Savage, founder and CEO of Hearts at Home