Tuesday, November 18, 2014

What Does Thanksgiving Taste Like? Foodie Poll + Perfect Turkey Gravy via Cleo Coyle




What does Christmas taste like?

That is the question my coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi asks her quirky staff of baristas at the start of Holiday Grind.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=901186549894527&set=a.107584265921430.13885.100000095713933&type=1&theater
Published back in 2009,
Holiday Grind (Coffeehouse
Mystery #8)
reappeared on a
recent B&N.com bestseller list
Read more in my facebook
post here.


Their answers define their charactersand help Clare create a menu of wildly popular Fa-la-la-la-lattes for the season.




fa-la-la-la-lattes!   > > > 

Cleo Coyle has a partner in crime-writing, her
husband, Marc Cerasini. Learn more about them
and their books here.


Now Marc and I are using
the phrase from our own book!


What does Thanksgiving taste like?

*****************************





***************************
If you do not see the poll above, simply click this link
to take it 
at the PollDaddy site.




WIN BOOK AND MUG

Drawing 12 Noon
Thanksgiving Day!


Drawing is Over
Congrats to our comment winner:
Jim Elliott "Library Jim"

After you take the poll, tell Marc and me how you voted in the COMMENTS of this post (or the polldaddy comment area) and you will be entered in a random drawing to win a signed copy of ONCE UPON A GRIND, the new Coffeehouse Mystery, which Penguin is publishing in a beautiful hardcover edition this December 2nd.

You will also win this fun custom-designed mug with a favorite saying of the octogenarian owner of our coffeehouse (Clare's beloved boss and former mother-in-law) Madame...

"Survive everything. And do it with style."

~ Madame in 
The Coffeehouse Mysteries


As for me, my voting on the poll
was tough. I couldn't decide between
pumpkin and pecan pie...


You can get my favorite recipe for Pecan Pie Bars
in my 
November Coffeehouse Mystery Newsletter,
going out soon. (Sign up 
here.)

For my husband, Marc,
Thanksgiving would not be 

Thanksgiving without turkey GRAVY!

And that's the subject of
our recipe post today...



The Mystery of Perfect Gravy


When used correctly
(and Marc and I will show you how),
this secret ingredient will let you
serve smooth, velvety gravy to
your guests instead of a lumpy
turkey glue. And this method
(used by restaurants)
will give you enough gravy
to serve a crowd!
Anyone who's thickened gravy using the traditional method (aka, flour) knows that if you use too little, your gravy will be weak and thin, and if you use too much, your gravy will transform into a lump of gelatinous glue as soon as it begins to cool.

To solve this dilemma, celebrity chef Alton Brown recently reminded us what restaurants do to make the perfect Turkey Day gravy. Because this gravy is made with stock, you can make plenty of it--and it will be a smooth, velvety gravy.

So what is the secret ingredient? It’s potato starch! And, no, it's not used for thickening; it’s there to prevent clumping!

The potato starch will stop the flour from congealing, so you’ll be able to serve your guests a rich, smooth, lump-free gravy and not a ball of turkey-flavored glue!

Better still, you can divide the preparation by making the turkey stock the day before, and finishing the gravy right before the Thanksgiving Day meal.

Marc and I guarantee that your guests will (pun intended) gobble this gravy up!



How to Make Perfect Turkey Gravy 

(and enough to feed a crowd!)


Makes 3 cups of gravy! Woo-hoo!





To download this recipe in a free PDF 
document that you can print, save, or 
share, click here and enjoy! ~ Cleo
Click here for the
downloadable recipe PDF:
How to Make Perfect
Turkey Gravy.




















Ingredients and directions adapted by
culinary mystery author Cleo Coyle
from a recipe by celebrity chef Alton Brown

INGREDIENTS:

For the Turkey Stock (this will yield 3 cups):

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 turkey neck saved from the bird
1 bag of turkey giblets, saved from the bird
1 large yellow onion, quartered
1 large carrot, quartered
2 stalks celery, quartered
¼  teaspoon kosher salt
6 cups water
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

For the Final Turkey Gravy:

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon potato starch
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼  teaspoon ground black pepper

Step 1 - Make the fresh turkey stock: Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Cut the neck in half and sauté for 6 minutes or until browned. Add the giblets, the quartered onion, carrot, and celery, along with the kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 5 or six minutes. Add the 6 cups water and stir in the thyme, rosemary, bay leaf and the peppercorns. Cover and bring to a rolling boil over high heat, cooking for about 1 minute. Now uncover the pot, reduce heat to low and slowly simmer the stock for 90 minutes, until the stock reduces by half, to 3 cupsStrain the stock through a mesh strainer and let everything cool. Discard all solids. You can make the gravy now or refrigerate this stock for several hours or days.

Step 2 - Turn the stock into velvety gravy: Begin by placing 2 (of those 3) cups of your freshly-made turkey stock into a saucepan over medium heat. The remaining 1 cup of stock will be used to create your gravy. Here's how to do it...

Measure out ½ cup of your reserved stock and whisk in 1 tablespoon of flour until it completely dissolves and no lumps remain. You have just created a slurry. Gradually whisk this flour slurry into the 2 cups of stock warming in your saucepan. As you continue to whisk, bring the liquid to a boil and cook for 4 minutes or until slightly thickened. Now remove the pot from the burner and allow it to cool off a bit.

*WARNING NOTE FOR NEXT STEP: If the temperature is too high in the next step, the properties that make potato starch so useful are lost, so it is important to simmernot boil—the gravy once the potato starch slurry is added.

*Step 3 - Add the Secret Ingredient: Make a second slurry using that final 1/2 cup of your reserved, cooled stock and the 1 tablespoon of potato starch. (Make sure the potato starch dissolves into the slurry and no lumps remain.) On a low heat, whisk the potato starch slurry into the saucepan of gravy, along with the salt and pepper. While gently stirring, simmer but do not boil the gravy for about 5 minutes, it will begin to thicken. Continue to simmering until it reaches the thickness that you prefer.

Serve immediately or reserve in a gravy bowl or thermos until needed.
To store longer, place in fridge, in a covered container for up to 3 days.




For more Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas, 
including great tips on cooking your turkey,
be sure to visit our Mystery Lovers' Kitchen blog
"Savor the Season" Page by clicking here!







Click here for the
downloadable recipe PDF:
How to Make Perfect
Turkey Gravy, and...




Eat with (Thanksgiving-
Countdown) 
joy!

~ Cleo Coyle



New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries


Friend me on facebook here. * Follow me on twitter here
Learn about our books here.
 

On Sale
December 2nd!



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Clare Cosi as she solves the crime
against "Sleeping Beauty," opens
secret doors (uptown and down),
and investigates a cold case that's
been unsolved since the Cold War.


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Learn more by
clicking here.

* * * 


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122 comments:

  1. I voted for my adopted son Uri's Key Lime Pie. He's a Graduate Baker from the C.I.A. in upstate NY. He knows it's my favorite and always makes sure I get one along with the other goodies he supplies for the family's desserts.

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  2. I never heard of using potato starch, Cleo, but I do remember that every Thanksgiving my grandmother would tell my mother to "save the potato water," meaning the water the potatoes were boiled in. She would add some of it to the gravy. She also always said, "God sends the food, and the devil sends the cook," which never failed to irritate my mother, the cook.

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  3. I voted for Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, and Pumpkin Pie - all homemade from scratch for the big Thanksgiving feast (21 people in attendance at my Thanksgiving this year - family and friends!).

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  4. I voted for Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, and Pecan Pie! Yummy.

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  5. Always enjoy your Holliday books. They are so much fun, filled with information, and so different but with our good friends from the Coffee House Village Blend every year. The one CHRISTMAS dish that my family always expects at CHRISTMAS is our mushroom au gratin , with about 8 different kinds of mushrooms. LOVE THE MUG��

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  6. PS---wish you would write a cookbook with all your recipes in it together----PLEASE����

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  7. Turkey, Stuffing and Pecan pie. Hope you and Marc have a great holiday and the furbabies too.

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  8. Turkey got my vote. Have a wonderful holiday. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. Turkey, Stuffing and Apple Pie. Your recipes and posts are the most delectable ever. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  10. My must haves are turkey, stuffing and gravy. I of course want most all of the rest too.

    nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. My must haves are turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie. Dnrocker@yahoo.com

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  12. I voted for stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. Too bad we were limited to only 3 choices. I should have added lefse because that is another food that is always served at our Thanksgiving and it also is a favorite.

    ElaineE246(at)msn(dot)com

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  13. Turkey, mashed and sweet potatoes. Unable to add cranberry sauce in the poll but, of course, there has got to be gravy. Thanks for the recipes. Judy

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  14. Turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. (I don't eat gravy except biscuits and gravy.)

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  15. Wow, Cleo, what a delish looking meal! I adore cranberry sauce. Congrats on the new release. The cover is gorgeous.

    Daryl/ Avery

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  16. I chose turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce. But there also needs to be pumpkin pie and potatoes and gravy and and and and---so much good food on Thanksgivig.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  17. I voted for sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and alka=seltzer. I like the other foods too, but those are must-haves.

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  18. To me the taste of Thanksgiving is a bite of stuffing slathered with gravy, and a hint of the cranberry sauce that always melts into everything else! I love the bourbon choice as well. At my parents we have champagne with grapes in the glass and cream cheese stuffed celery (sprinkled with black pepper).

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  19. Turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. Thank you for this awesome giveaway! I love your books!

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  20. We always have to have Chicken and Dressing for major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Looking forward to seeing what the Coffeehouse gang is up to in this upcoming installment.

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  21. It was hard to choose just three - turkey, stuffing, and sweet potatoes (soufflé)

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  22. I voted for Turkey, Dressing and Gravy. I mentioned ham the other day as a possible option and I thought my family was going to roast ME instead. So turkey it is. :)

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  23. I voted for turkey, stuffing and gravy.

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  24. I voted for turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. Everything else may or may not get made.

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  25. I voted for turkey, dressing and pecan pie. Should have been able to vote for more items! I'm not a cranberry lover except on the sandwiches afterwards.

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  26. I chose cranberries, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pudding (which is pretty much pumpkin pie without a crust.

    ozsulin@dwx.com

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  27. I voted for turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. They are delicious hot on Thanksgiving but are superb together on your favorite bread the day after. If there is any of my Mom's nut bread, I use that as my bread of choice.

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  28. Turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce---always on the table. llblalock(at)prodigy(dot)net

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  29. Our family expects corn casserole with jiffy corn bread mix.
    They also want home made yeast rolls.

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  30. I voted for turkey, stuffing and gravy. Yum!

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  31. I voted for turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes. My grandma always made them candied.

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  32. I voted for turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy! YUM! Can't wait!

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  33. I voted for turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce It was hard to pick just three.

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  34. Homemade duchess potatoes (and turkey, and pecan pie...although we usually make a chocolate pecan pie). YUM.

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  35. mashed potatoes, stuffing, and apple pie

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  36. Here's what I wrote when I voted: We always have chicken-sausage gumbo first. My husband and 1 of my brothers don't care for turkey (weird, I know) so when it's just hubby & me we have a small ham or Cornish game hens. When I cook for the whole family (like last year and this one) we have both a turkey & a big ham with lots of side dishes and ALWAYS cranberry sauce. Besides an apple and usually a pecan pie, for years I've been making a Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie, that's terrific!

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  37. Turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce! YUM!

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  38. I chose turkey, gravy, and apple pie. I'm always assigned the apple pie for our big family gathering, because I make a good one :) I'm going to try your gravy hint too. I have your book pre-ordered, but I'd love to win it, along with the mug! Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  39. stuffing, stuffing and more stuffing!!!

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  40. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I like all the traditional foods, but we like to try a few new ones every year.

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  41. Turkey, stuffing and gravy are my must haves

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  42. All of these and so much more.Thanking people and kindness and can't forget pumpkin pie and who can't forget some yummy coffee

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  43. We don't have Thanksgiving over here in Austria, but if I hear the word "Thanksgiving", I automatically think of turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, so that's what I voted for. I'm not sure if non-US residents can take part in the book give-away, but I would really love to win a copy of Once Upon a Grind. Keeping my fingers crossed! :-)

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  44. In addition to turkey, mashed, and stuffing, we have homemade cranberry sauce, peas, squash, and homemade pies - lemon meringue, pumpkin and one other that is never the same year to year as he likes to get creative with the pies :-)

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  45. Every one has a favorite dish that means Thanksgiving to them. The best part is sharing it with family and friends.

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  46. One of my favorite holidays - so thankful for many things.

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  47. Tangy cranberry sauce and roasted turkey....heaven!

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  48. There are any number of "required" Thanksgiving dishes, but for me, the taste of Thanksgiving will always be pumpkin. Preferably in the form of pie. With a cup of coffee. OK, now I am hungry!

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  49. My fav is to layer all the dishes, like turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole and stuffing in a pan, pour gravy over the top, then bake , it's a delicious way to use up the leftovers ! kathambre@yahoo.com

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  50. Turkey, Stuffing and Cranberry sauce because you can put all of these in a sandwich as leftovers and yum! Lois

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  51. Mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce rule the day.

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  52. I voted for turkey, stuffing (which for my family is cornbread dressing) and sweet potatoes. Typical southern choices.

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  53. Turkey, mashed potatoes, and apple pie

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  54. I had to vote for stuffing! My Mom makes the best stuffing using three of her old cookbooks, lol! One of them is held together with a rubber band. :) The good thing is I think I've finally managed to pin down the recipe, yay!

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  55. Ah, my patience is rewarded. I kept checking yesterday, but the post didn't show. But now here you are in all you gloriousness!
    Only 1 tablespoon of flour? Impressive. And the potato starch is a brilliant addition. Gravy glue is not appealing at all!

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  56. Stuffing (corn bread and sausage), cranberries, pumpkin pie. It seems that my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is the sides.

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  57. I voted for turkey, stuffing, and pecan pie. I plan to try the potato starch.

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  58. Everything on the poll sounds like an item I need on my Thanksgiving menu, but I voted for turkey (Cajun deep fried the last few years, trying table top fryer this year), my mother's, delicious, wonderful stuffing recipe, and of course the pumpkin pie.

    Thanks for the gravy tips. I usually do a pretty good job with the gravy but it's a tough job, will try this.

    And that mug is fabulous!

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  59. My top three are turkey (obviously,) and mashed potatoes with gravy. Though I do love green bean casserole. Being the odd ball that I am, I have never been a fan of pumpkin pie, but I do love me some pumpkin spice lattes. :)

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  60. My top three were turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. As a child, I was a very picky eater so those three have always stayed with me for Thanksgiving. I do have to say, when I first read the question "What Does Thanksgiving Taste Like?", my immediate thought was "home". Though not a food, I know many will understand that taste : ) Happy Thanksgiving!

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  61. I voted for turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie. For some reason it would not let me add my daughter's to die for sweet potatoes. She is not let in the door without them. The food is all great but the best moment is when everyone sits around the table. It always brings a lump in my throat and I remember those who are no longer here.

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  62. Thanksgiving tastes like my birthday, stuffing and pumpkin pie! I was born on thanksgiving and Mom always celebrated my birthday on thanksgiving! As a kid I couldn't understand why my birth date kept changing :-) I had pumpkin pie along with birthday cake (chocolate cake with fudge icing of course). My favorite was the Pennsylvania Dutch bread stuffing that was my Dad's family recipe from Lancaster PA. I'm allergic to poultry (of all things!) but Thanksgiving is not ruined! I always have an amazing baked Virginia ham for my birthday feast. Peace!! Cath

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  63. I voted for turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. When I was younger I would have said gravey but since I started making my own cranberry sauce I've grown to like it.

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  64. I voted turkey, stuffing and gravy although I have to say I could easily add a few more to the list, lol.
    momzillasteel at gmail dot com

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  65. I voted for Turkey, of course, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, there were so many others but I only got three. Of course if my Mother made it, that was all it needed although our cranberry sauce was Ocean Spray jellied. I also love Watermelon pickles, candied apple slices and Waldorf Salad for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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  66. I voted for apple pie, pecan pie, and stuffing. That's what I grab to place on my plate :)
    lenikaye@yahoo.com

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  67. I voted for turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. I only take a small serving of the stuffing, so that I have room for pie!

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  68. I voted for turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. My favorite warm and cozy foods are just like the mysteries I love to read.

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  69. Turkey, sweet potatoes and green bean casserole.

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  70. turkey,stuffing, and pumpkin pie. jchizmar01



















    turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie jchizmar01@windstream.net


    2

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  71. Turkey & cranberries are the base for the meal, however, they are year-round stars. The stuffing makes it Thanksgiving.

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  72. For me, Thanksgiving tastes like Ham with Cornbread Dressing, Cranberry Sauce and Pecan Pie.

    kvmatlock (at) gmail (dot) com

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  73. I voted for turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. I have to have these 3 things along with cornbread dressing every year.

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  74. Making me hungry. But I had to vote for the main 3. Turkey, dressing and mashed potatoes although there are a couple others on there that are necessary like green beans and pie. And cranberry sauce.

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  75. I voted for turkey, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole.

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  76. I voted for turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce!!

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  77. I voted for turkey and stuffing and pumpkin pie

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  78. I voted for turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes but we call it dressing (cooked outside the turkey)

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  79. Turkey, stuffing and any kind of pumpkin dessert are always going to make it to my Thanksgiving table. It 's one of the only times I 'll serve meat in front of my vegetarian daughter -in -law.

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  80. Turkey,Mash potatoes and pumpkin pie. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.

    xzjh04@ gmail.com

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  81. I voted for turkey, stuffing, and pecan pie!

    myrifraf(at)gmail.com

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  82. We (my wife and I) voted for Turkey, Sweet Potatoes (so versatile! Casserole, pie, etc) and Cranberry Sauce.

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  83. THREE!?!? I didn't get to looking like I do by eating three-ingredient meals! With that said, I voted for turkey (how could anybody NOT vote for turkey?), mashed potatoes, and gravy. I did it very quickly, because otherwise I would have never made a decision to submit.
    tigermathteacher(at)gmail.com

    jamie

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  84. I love turkey, pumpkin pie, and sweet potato pie and green bean casserole oh and mince pie if we can find it, it got so we can't find it any where we ask our local store they said they don't have it as it never sells.
    I can't wait to read your new book and I love the coffee mug.
    Penney ***Happy Thanksgiving*** (Thanks for the recipes)

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  85. Stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie! mmmmm

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  86. Stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes

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  87. Turkey (or course!), stuffing and home made cranberry sauce. Can't wait.

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  88. I voted for turkey and mashed potatoes and chocolate meringue (sp?) pie. It was my Granny's signature pie. She tried to teach me how to make it, but I could never get it right. Though, every couple of years I get brave and try it, but it never lives up to her.

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  89. Thanksgiving must have mashed potatoes!

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  90. I voted for turkey, mashef potatoes, and cranberries. I love cranberries! After the holidays I buy bags of cranberries on sale and make desserts and sauce for as long as they last.

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  91. I make spiced cranberries and can them! If they are not on my Thanksgiving table...there is mutiny! Not to mention "Watergate salad"!

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  92. The only time we had my mother's fruit salad was Thanksgiving. It had mandarin oranges and Queen Anne cherries an crushed pineapple. Then we cut marsh mellows up and it was all held together with whipped cream. Definitely not gourmet but it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it and kids love it.

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  93. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  94. About the effectivity of advertising ... Even as I know I can't win one of your giveaways I followed your page - and my eyes fell on the booktitles on the right side. Now I ordered Cate Price's "A dollhouse to die for" and her first book, too.
    Wintergreetings from the North of Sweden,
    Glitzerblitz

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  95. Turkey, stuffing, and gravy. It was hard to choose. I wanted bourbon too! Thanks for sharing.

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  96. I voted for Turkey, dressing and Cranberry sauce but really we eat real cranberries in my Family. I absolutely love the real thing.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  97. It has to be turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. But really, family is the most absolutely essential part of Thanksgiving Day. I think we could be eating toast and it would be okay as long as we were together. Thanks for the delicious recipes and the fun opportunity to win!

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  98. Stuffing made fresh with sage is what makes me think of Thanksgiving for me.

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  99. Turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie (but really you need my homemade cranberry sauce, too).
    dmskrug3 at hotmail dot com

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  100. Turkey, stuffing and gravy...yum!


    patucker54 at aol dot com

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  101. I may sound like a broken record but it's turkey ,stuffing and gravy. My second three things would be mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. After all, Thanksgiving dinner only comes once a year!

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  102. You can never have too much gravy

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  103. Your gravy recipe sounds really good.

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  104. Thanksgiving must have turkey, dressing and gravy. A few years ago my grown children decided the wanted to do a southern seafood boil for Thanksgiving instead of the traditional dinner. So each brought an ingredient for the boil. Everyone enjoyed the meal but Friday they decided it had not seemed like Thanksgiving. So on Sunday we had the traditional turkey, dressing and gravy.
    Benglish@whro.net

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  105. I have to have some 'cornbread dressing'.... my mom's recipe. It's the southern version of stuffing. Happy thanksgiving!
    afarage(at)earthlink.net

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  106. For my family, which is Czech in heritage, potato dumplings are what makes me think of Thanksgiving. The gravy you describe would go wonderfully with the dumplings. dbahn@iw.net

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  107. I thought that I had already entered but I don't see it now....I am from the south so I love dressing(stuffing), turkey and rice and gravy!!!! Oh and I always have pecan pie as well. mwutsey@aol.com

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  108. Making turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce brings happiness and fabulous memories of my grandmother teaching me these delicious recipes, I miss her very much but the Italian American Tradition lives on!

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  109. Love mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes---seeing a theme here:) And pecan pie!
    Thanks for the great giveaway and Happy Thanksgiving!

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  110. Turkey, dressing and noodles. My mom always made homemade noodles. What I wouldn't give to have her with us again.
    Thanks.
    BWparent@gmail.com

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  111. Happy thanksgiving��. I just feel blessed that my family and I can choose something yummy for every Thanksgiving when there are starving people in this country. Let's not forget to share with others. PS, I love the Coffee House Mysteries too. Blessed to have books to read too��. Ronnalord(at)msn(dot)com

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  112. Turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. My choice for 3 favorites.
    Really love gravy and mashed potatoes, too.

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  113. My grandmother always used potato starch now I can duplicate her gravy

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  114. I voted for mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. It's not Thanksgiving for me without green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. thanks for the contest and Happy Thanksgiving!

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  115. I voted for turkey, gravy, & pecan pie. However, in our family, we always had/have cranberry relish made from my grandmother's recipe (fresh cranberries, oranges, orange peel, pecans, sugar) which I have adapted by using only organic ingredients. The relish goes well with ham, too. Yum!

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  116. It reminds me of eggnog and bourbon that my grandfather made. I no longer drink, but that is what Thanksgiving tasted like.

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  117. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy are the standards with my sons. You can forget stuffing, cranberries and sweet potatoes. All those "fancy things" just go to waste with them. They do have a dab of green bean casserole, but chow down on the turkey and gravy. They don't even eat dessert !! (that's ok - more for me - I love pie - all kinds of pie !).

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  118. I'm sorry if this posts twice... I don't see my post from before! I voted for turkey, stuffing, and gravy. It's generally only once a year I have roasted (as opposed to deli-meat) turkey and stuffing, so those scream Thanksgiving to me. And of course, you need some gravy to top them off. Thanks for the great recipe for some smooth, velvety gravy goodness! I will definitely have to try it next time I make gravy from scratch.

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  119. I voted for stuffing. Mashed potatoes and gravy. My favorites because of memories of the special dose of love my Mom included in her stuffing and gravy . They were delicious and a secret family receipe. Her gravy was a meal by itself that would send you to dreamlike state of bliss. Her stuffing was the best I ever had . Have a great Thanksgiving.

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  120. Turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing are what I voted for. I love gravy over all three. I also love dinner rolls and pumpkin pie with Cool Whip. We just use Heinz gravy from the jar. Easy to make!
    catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

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  121. I voted turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole, altho I like everything.
    We need more days like this in a year.

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  122. Thanks to EVERYONE for entering our Thanksgiving contest. Marc and I enjoyed seeing your answers and how our poll turned out.

    Congrats to the winner of the comment contest, by random number generatore - Jim Elliott ("Library Jim")!

    Cheers for playing along. I'll have more contests coming up, and I hope you are all enjoying this year's holiday season!

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter
    www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

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