New Year's Feast + The Best Turkey EVER
Happy 2018!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope y'all had a fantastic first day of this new year - I certainly did, and not completely because we got to shoot off fireworks in our friends' backyard or that we stayed up until 2:00 - no, probably the main reason for the spectacularity (is that a word...?) of the new year so far is because we had our annual New Years' Feast! Every year for 4 years now we have cooked a turkey and several other special dishes on New Year's Eve and then stayed up watching movies until 12. This year we decided to celebrate on New Year's Day, and have someone else over.
New Year's Eve was great.
We spent almost nine hours at our friends' house, eating, laughing, playing games, and just having a great time. We even got to blow up a few fireworks, so the night was a smashing success. We got home at around 2:00 AM. When I awoke the next day, I fulfilled day one of my resolution to work out every day/very often or at least until I'm in good shape. Afterwards my legs were a bit wobbly (there was a lot of emphasis on the right leg for some reason?) but I was ok - especially as smells came wafting out from the kitchen, such smells as I had not smelt for a year.
This year I'm going to share our gameplan with you for an amazing feast. You don't need to have the same dishes as we do, nor do you have to use the same recipe for a turkey - this is just how to put together a lovely night - you do the rest.
1 ~ Have a centerpiece.
This is where the turkey comes in. Our food centerpiece is the turkey, and (when made well) that is almost always a favorite. Four years ago we stumbled upon the greatest turkey recipe in the history of ever, courtesy of the (surprisingly not spouting profanity) top chef Gordon Ramsay. After you eat this turkey you won't want to eat turkey any other way ever. You stuff the skin with a homemade garlic butter stuff, stuff the turkey with lemons and spices and all that good stuff, and (here comes the best part!) put strips of bacon over the top! All of the drippings from the turkey and the bacon go into the gravy. Oh. My. Gosh. So. Good. Definitely consider trying it.
(You can get the recipe here)
2 ~ Have good company.
Family, friends - anyone who can make your night amazing - invite them. Even if it's just your immediate family, try and make sure you can have great company, great food, and a great time. I know, it's kind of a given, but think about sitting over a gorgeous turkey and having awkward conversation. That is not my idea of a good time.
3 ~ Set the table.
No, no, not just setting the table like you do every single day - dress it up. Tables want to dress fancy on holidays, too! Try to make it elegant, exquisite, and fabulous. After all, if you're having company you want to impress.
4 ~ Have good side dishes.
Turkey can't rule the table and your tongue alone. You have to pick the perfect dishes to accompany and compliment your centerpiece. What we do stays about the same every year - Bread Filling (a family recipe, maybe I'll share it later?) and sweet potato casserole. This year I'm thinking of making bread. Sparkling grape juice/sparkling cider is always a good idea.
5 ~ Pick good movies.
If you're going to stay up until midnight like we do, skip the games. Pick movies that you know everyone will enjoy: a classic, a new comedy, even binge watching your favorite show together. As long as everybody approves, go for it.
6 ~ Delectable Dessert.
If you don't have dessert I'm already thinking about leaving. A good cake, or homemade ice cream - just make sure it's more on the light side and that you let dinner settle first. Top off the night with a flourish.
7 ~ Dress Up.
Ok, ok, not exactly necessary. But doesn't it just look awesome when everybody's a bit more fancy than usual? I love it. Then again, you do you. Just a suggestion.
Those are my steps to an awesome feast that everybody will enjoy! It takes some work, but it's worth it in the end. You won't regret it. Trust me.
Happy New Year! Do y'all have any new year's traditions? Do you do a feast at Christmas? Have an awesome Tuesday!
