Thanksgiving Pioneer-Style Herb Roasted Turkey

Ingredients

Turkey:
One 17-pound whole fresh turkey, rinsed well and patted dry
1 1/4 stick (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, slightly softened
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 large stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large onions, quartered
8 cups homemade chicken stock

Sage Gravy:
Turkey neck
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup white wine
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage

Directions
For the turkey: Remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.

Combine the butter, sage, rosemary, thyme, and parsley in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper and fill the cavity with half of the carrots, celery, and onion. Rub the entire turkey with the herb butter and season liberally with salt and pepper.

Put 4 cups of the chicken stock in a medium saucepan and keep warm over low heat.

Place the remaining vegetables on the bottom of a large roasting pan. Put the turkey on top of the vegetables, put in the oven and roast until lightly golden brown, 45 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue roasting, basting with the warm chicken stock every 15 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh registers 160 degrees F, about 2 to 2 1/4 hours longer.

Remove the turkey from the oven, transfer to a baking sheet, tent loosely with foil and let rest 20 minutes before slicing.

For the sage gravy: Strain the cooking liquid from the roasting pan into a medium saucepan (should be about 4 cups, if not, add more stock to make 4 cups). Add the neck, bring to a boil, add the sage leaves, remove from the heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Remove the sage leaves.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until reduced. Whisk in the sage-infused stock and cook until thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes. Season with the salt and pepper and chopped sage.

SOURCE

Cornell Chicken with Grilled Steak Fries

Ingredients
Brine:
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
8 whole cloves
8 black peppercorns
8 sprigs fresh rosemary
8 fresh sage leaves
8 sprigs fresh thyme
Two 3 1/2-pound chickens, halved, keel bones and wing tips removed
Canola oil, for brushing

Spice Mixture:
3 tablespoons dried sage
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground celery seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Sauce:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons clover honey
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions
For the brine: Whisk 8 cups cold water, the vinegar, salt, sugar, cloves, peppercorns, rosemary, sage and thyme until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Add the chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Do not brine any longer than 2 hours or the chicken will start to break down.

For the spice mixture: Stir the sage, marjoram, pepper, rosemary, thyme, celery seeds and ground cloves in a small bowl.

For the sauce: Whisk the vinegar, mustard, honey, rosemary, thyme and sage in a bowl until smooth.

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling. Rinse under cold water and pat dry. Brush the chicken with canola oil. Sprinkle the skin side of the chicken with half the spice mixture and some salt and pepper.

Prepare a charcoal grill for direct and indirect cooking. On the direct side, have the coals at medium-high heat. Arrange the chicken skin side down on the grill, over direct heat. Rub the bottom of the chicken with the remaining half the spice mixture. Grill the chicken until well browned, about 10 minutes. Flip the chicken skin side up and baste 1/3 cup of the sauce.

Move the chicken to indirect heat, cover, and cook until the thigh meat registers 165 degrees F, about 40 minutes longer. Baste with 1/3 cup of the sauce every few minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Brush with the remaining 1/3 cup of the sauce and sprinkle with parsley. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Arrange on a platter with the Grilled Steak Fries.

Grilled Steak Fries:
5 large Yukon gold or russet potatoes, par cooked in salted water
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
Finely chopped fresh chives

Heat the grill to medium heat. Cut each potato into eighths. Brush the potatoes with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the potatoes until lightly golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 4 minutes each side. Transfer to a platter and immediately drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with more salt and chives.

SOURCE

Cornell Chicken with Grilled Steak Fries

Ingredients
Brine:
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
8 whole cloves
8 black peppercorns
8 sprigs fresh rosemary
8 fresh sage leaves
8 sprigs fresh thyme
Two 3 1/2-pound chickens, halved, keel bones and wing tips removed
Canola oil, for brushing

Spice Mixture:
3 tablespoons dried sage
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground celery seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Sauce:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons clover honey
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Grilled Steak Fries, for serving, recipe follows

Directions
For the brine: Whisk 8 cups cold water, the vinegar, salt, sugar, cloves, peppercorns, rosemary, sage and thyme until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Add the chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Do not brine any longer than 2 hours or the chicken will start to break down.

For the spice mixture: Stir the sage, marjoram, pepper, rosemary, thyme, celery seeds and ground cloves in a small bowl.

For the sauce: Whisk the vinegar, mustard, honey, rosemary, thyme and sage in a bowl until smooth.

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling. Rinse under cold water and pat dry. Brush the chicken with canola oil. Sprinkle the skin side of the chicken with half the spice mixture and some salt and pepper.

Prepare a charcoal grill for direct and indirect cooking. On the direct side, have the coals at medium-high heat. Arrange the chicken skin side down on the grill, over direct heat. Rub the bottom of the chicken with the remaining half the spice mixture. Grill the chicken until well browned, about 10 minutes. Flip the chicken skin side up and baste 1/3 cup of the sauce.

Move the chicken to indirect heat, cover, and cook until the thigh meat registers 165 degrees F, about 40 minutes longer. Baste with 1/3 cup of the sauce every few minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Brush with the remaining 1/3 cup of the sauce and sprinkle with parsley. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Arrange on a platter with the Grilled Steak Fries.

Grilled Steak Fries:
5 large Yukon gold or russet potatoes, par cooked in salted water
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
Finely chopped fresh chives
Heat the grill to medium heat. Cut each potato into eighths. Brush the potatoes with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the potatoes until lightly golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 4 minutes each side. Transfer to a platter and immediately drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with more salt and chives.

SOURCE

Open-Faced Pitas with Rotisserie Lamb with Pomegranate and Mint, Grilled Tomatoes, and Greek Slaw

Ingredients

Rotisserie Lamb with Pomegranate and Mint:

• One boneless half leg of lamb (about 4 pounds), butterflied
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 cup red wine
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary1 Spanish onion, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cup pomegranate molasses
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• Juice of 2 lemons

Greek Slaw:

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill, plus for garnish
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped to a paste
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup finely shredded red cabbage
• 1/2 head green cabbage, shredded
• 1 large carrot, grated
• 6 ounces crumbled Greek feta
• Cherry tomatoes, on soaked skewers, for serving
• Canola oil, for brushing
• 8 warmed pita breads, with or without pockets, for serving
• 2 lemons, for serving

Directions

For the rotisserie lamb with pomegranate and mint: Sprinkle both sides of the lamb with salt and pepper. Roll the lamb and tie with twine. Cut small slits over the entire lamb, using a paring knife. Fill each slit with a slice of the garlic. Put the lamb into a large plastic resealable bag.

Whisk the pomegranate juice, wine, olive oil, oregano, rosemary, onions, bay leaves and lemon juice in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the marinade over the lamb, in the bag. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Place the bag into a large bowl. Refrigerate the lamb for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours, turning the bag a few times during that time.

Remove the lamb from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat the grill to medium-hot heat.

Whisk the pomegranate molasses, mint, mustard and lemon juice in a medium bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Skewer the lamb onto the rotisserie and grill until a meat thermometer registers 135 degrees F for medium doneness, 1 1/2 hours to 1 3/4 hours. Begin brushing the lamb with the pomegranate molasses mixture after about 45 minutes of grilling.

Meanwhile for the Greek slaw: Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, dill, honey and garlic in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the red and green cabbage, carrot and feta. Toss to combine. Cover the slaw and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and loosely tent with foil. Wait 15 minutes before slicing.

While the lamb is resting, brush the tomatoes with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the tomatoes until they are charred on both sides and just soft, about 4 minutes.

Slice the lamb. Lay the warm pita breads on a large platter. Top with sliced lamb, grilled tomatoes and the Greek slaw. Squeeze the lemons over the top and serve.

SOURCE

Grilled Lamb Chops with Rosemary, Salt, and Tapanade Aioli

Ingredients

For the tapanade aioli:

• 1/2 cup prepared mayonnaise
• 1 lemon, zested
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 anchovy fillets, drained
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 tablespoons pitted nicoise olives
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the lamb chops:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary plus sprigs, for garnish
• 1/4 cup kosher salt
• 12 bone-in baby lamb chops, Frenched
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper

For the tapanade aioli:

Directions

Combine the mayonnaise, zest, juice, anchovies and garlic in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the olives and salt and pepper and pulse a few times just to incorporate the olives, not puree them. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Can be made 8 hours in advance and refrigerated.

For the lamb chops:

Combine the rosemary and salt in a food processor and process until combined.

Heat the grill to high.

Brush the chops on both sides with oil and season with a few teaspoons of the salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place on the grill and grill until golden brown and slightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes.Flip the chops over and continue grilling to medium-rare doneness, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Top each chop with a dollop of the aioli. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

SOURCE

Lamb Chops