Mackay is not a turkey person and says he usually shows up at
his mom’s house with a roast beef! This year he might try slipping a
smoked turkey on the table. Regardless, he does have some sure fire
ingredients that make his stuffing stand out. Bacon fat is a must. “I save
bacon fat in the months leading up to Christmas, and use it in place of
other liquids to ensure a moist, flavourful stuffing.” Other ‘secret ingredi-
ents’ include sausage, apple cider and roasted nuts.
Doran Abra, Executive Chef at Emma’s Back Porch, says, “Why muck
with tradition?” Using mostly traditional ingredients he typically serves
turkey, mushroom and peas, stuffing, root vegetables, mashed potatoes,
and carrots. Occasionally Abra will deep-fry his turkey for something a
little different. His secret to a delicious stuffing is bacon fat and grapes.
He makes a mean pan gravy, following tradition of course, using all the
turkey drippings.
Visit Laura Bilechuk, owner of STIR Kitchen Store, and you will be as
prepared as a professional chef. One of the most essential tools at the
holiday table is a good carving knife. It should be long, thin, have a
non-serrated edge and above all, it must be sharp! Top brands STIR
Kitchen carries include Wusthof, Shun and Mac. Bilechuk says knives
should be sharpened once a year, and always handwashed. (STIR
Kitchen offers knife sharpening if you need it before this holiday!)
Also on Bilechuk’s list of essentials is a heavy gage stainless steel
roasting pan, with a rack. “The heavy gage pans won’t warp and can
be used on the oven for making homemade gravy, while you let your
meat rest.” And a wooden carving board is just the place for your
meat to rest! “A wooden carving board looks nice, is antibacterial and
sustainable.” If you make your side dishes beforehand, and want some-
thing that goes from freezer, to oven, to tabletop, to dishwasher, then
opt for the Emile Henry line of serving ware. It comes in a variety of
colours and designs to suit every table.
Last but certainly not least, don’t’ forget to use a wine aerator to give
your wine depth and a range of flavours, and it will look just the part on
your holiday table!
