Turkey Test Run

Now that it's nearly Christmas, I figured I'd finally post some pics from my sister's (the chef) Turkey Test Run Dinner. The whole thing came into fruition when my cousins in Michigan volunteered to host Thanksgiving out there. That said, Brittny offered to make sides, but still needed sate her chefly desire to cook a perfect holiday bird. So she cooked twice the sides and appetizers (some for Michigan, some to accompany her turkey) and invited the immediate family over to sample everything early. Some of the main players included, baked homemade ricotta with a lemony, garlicky olive tapanade, mashed potatoes, baked mac and cheese (my Mom actually made this dish), and my personal favorite, creamed spinach with roasted parsnips. Mmmmm... I can't take too much credit for anything that went out, but I can take credit for photographing it, writing about it, but most importantly eating it.

Baked Ricotta

Heaven in Progress

The Bird

Note: We enjoyed the much anticipated butternut squash, thyme and goat cheese in pastry puff canapes on the actual holiday. They were so freaking good and fairly simple.

Brittny's Butternut Squash Canapes with Caramelized Shallots and Goat Cheese

1 medium butternut squash
3 cloves of garlic
4 shallots
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 pkg puff pastry
1 tube goat cheese
1 egg
olive oil
sea salt
white pepper

1. Roast squash until fork tender, but still firm enough to peel and chop. Let cool
2. Sautee garlic over medium heat, add shallots when garlic becomes fragrant cook until sweet and translucent, add chopped thyme just before removing from heat. Set aside
3. After squash is cooled, remove the skin and chop into a small (1/4 inch) dice.
4. Mix squash into shallot mixture. Salt and pepper to taste.
5. Cut puff pastry into 1 inch rounds using a cookie cutter
6. Spoon 1/2 table spoon of the mixture onto the puff pastry and pinch the edges to create a ridge to keep the filling in.
7. Balance a teaspoon of goat cheese on top of the canape.
8. Bake at 375 degrees until pastry is cooked through and cheese is slightly browned.
9. Serve immediately

These are really good with a good crisp white, like a sauv blanc.