Thanksgiving Leftovers
John and I were lucky enough to be together for Thanksgiving, and if with his conversion to SoCal sun he experienced any disorientation from the northeast's cold northern light, he didn't let on. It was important for us to be together, for as often as we've celebrated this holiday, this was our first year of doing so as married men. Thanksgiving together dates to the earliest days of our relationship. One year, I noticed how many of our friends didn't go home for Thanksgiving and, knowing how much food I was preparing, invited them over. Those earliest Thanksgivings were held in a Brooklyn brownstone attic apartment. We played games and had crafts and ate and drank too much and I never heard a single attendee complain over the lack of costly china. As I've written, we soon migrated Thanksgiving to the Harlem home of our beloved Mama Diva, who along with my grandmother and John was the profoundest influence on my life. When Mama passed, Thanksgiving migrated to our urban home, and I think I'm right that it has become as important a day for our friends as it is for John and me.
One thing that Mama had in common with all Thanksgiving hosts was the problem of what to do with the leftovers. Early on, I got in the habit of answering attendees who asked what they could bring with one word: "Tupperware." That is still good advice that I dispense this time of year. Not everyone cooks but everyone who attends wants to contribute, so anyone who doesn't want to bring wine or something for the sideboard can bring plastic containers so that everyone can depart with a bit of the proceeds. That way, everyone has lunch or a midnight snack during the Black Friday weekend, and whoever thought to provide a conveyance for it was thoughtful indeed.
Everyone forages throughout the Thanksgiving weekend. Most of us believe that roast turkey is better the second day, and even after departing guests have filched some for their own sandwiches, there is plenty left for that great American food: the fresh turkey sandwich. The hot open-faced turkey sandwich of countless lunch counters is a classic of slabs of white toast, pulls of roasted turkey, and a dousing of gravy, but any Black Friday quarterback knows that the refrigerator turkey sandwich is the official food of this weekend. Everyone knows how to make a turkey sandwich, but Urban Home's official procedure for one is below. Pile your turkey onto good bread, introduce some thick slices of good deli cheese, and crown the plate with some leftover cranberry sauce.
It is a compliment for people to treat your kitchen as an open house of sorts, which they almost certainly will do this weekend. Leave shredded turkey in a bowl in the fridge, and make sure all of the sandwich fixings are within reach. If you wish, make a big pot of soup and leave it on low simmer on the stovetop. Urban Home's section on soups and stews includes recipes for lentil, minestrone, clam chowder, and turkey noodle. Keep plenty of cold beer in the fridge, and in preparation for the moment when the pie is all gone, prepare a tray of bar cookies with a rich apricot filling or a decadent toffee topping. Prepare a spicy, autumnal pear coffee cake to accompany cups of hot coffee, and don't forget a big bowl of popcorn for gametime. If someone is looking for fresh greens, leave arugula and a lemon in the crisper for a simple salad.
Black Friday has gotten intertwined with the togetherness that is the core of Thanksgiving -- hopefully with the gratitude of the holiday as well. Whether we are shopping or sleeping in, putting up decorations or taking in the ones on downtown streets, this long weekend of time together has been precious. Realities of plane, train and auto will dawn soon enough, and soon after that the holidays will be in full swing. But from hardcore celebrants to those who'd just as soon avoid the December holidays altogether, this weekend has been one of time together, and that is precious indeed.
Fresh Turkey Sandwich
Pulled fresh turkey meat
2 slices white deli cheese, such as white American, Muenster or Havarti
2 slices sandwich bread, such as country white or sourdough
Mayonnaise
Freshly ground black pepper
Cranberry sauce
1. Place bread in a toaster set to medium.
2. Once the bread is toasted, spread each slice with mayonnaise.
3. Layer the bottom slice of toast with fresh turkey meat. Sprinkle the turkey with several grindings of fresh black pepper.
4. Place the cheese on top of the peppered turkey.
5. Place the top slice of toast on top of the cheese.
6. Use a serrated knife to cut the sandwich in half diagonally.
7. Place the sandwich on a plate along with a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
8. Serve.
One thing that Mama had in common with all Thanksgiving hosts was the problem of what to do with the leftovers. Early on, I got in the habit of answering attendees who asked what they could bring with one word: "Tupperware." That is still good advice that I dispense this time of year. Not everyone cooks but everyone who attends wants to contribute, so anyone who doesn't want to bring wine or something for the sideboard can bring plastic containers so that everyone can depart with a bit of the proceeds. That way, everyone has lunch or a midnight snack during the Black Friday weekend, and whoever thought to provide a conveyance for it was thoughtful indeed.
Everyone forages throughout the Thanksgiving weekend. Most of us believe that roast turkey is better the second day, and even after departing guests have filched some for their own sandwiches, there is plenty left for that great American food: the fresh turkey sandwich. The hot open-faced turkey sandwich of countless lunch counters is a classic of slabs of white toast, pulls of roasted turkey, and a dousing of gravy, but any Black Friday quarterback knows that the refrigerator turkey sandwich is the official food of this weekend. Everyone knows how to make a turkey sandwich, but Urban Home's official procedure for one is below. Pile your turkey onto good bread, introduce some thick slices of good deli cheese, and crown the plate with some leftover cranberry sauce.
It is a compliment for people to treat your kitchen as an open house of sorts, which they almost certainly will do this weekend. Leave shredded turkey in a bowl in the fridge, and make sure all of the sandwich fixings are within reach. If you wish, make a big pot of soup and leave it on low simmer on the stovetop. Urban Home's section on soups and stews includes recipes for lentil, minestrone, clam chowder, and turkey noodle. Keep plenty of cold beer in the fridge, and in preparation for the moment when the pie is all gone, prepare a tray of bar cookies with a rich apricot filling or a decadent toffee topping. Prepare a spicy, autumnal pear coffee cake to accompany cups of hot coffee, and don't forget a big bowl of popcorn for gametime. If someone is looking for fresh greens, leave arugula and a lemon in the crisper for a simple salad.
Black Friday has gotten intertwined with the togetherness that is the core of Thanksgiving -- hopefully with the gratitude of the holiday as well. Whether we are shopping or sleeping in, putting up decorations or taking in the ones on downtown streets, this long weekend of time together has been precious. Realities of plane, train and auto will dawn soon enough, and soon after that the holidays will be in full swing. But from hardcore celebrants to those who'd just as soon avoid the December holidays altogether, this weekend has been one of time together, and that is precious indeed.
Fresh Turkey Sandwich
Pulled fresh turkey meat
2 slices white deli cheese, such as white American, Muenster or Havarti
2 slices sandwich bread, such as country white or sourdough
Mayonnaise
Freshly ground black pepper
Cranberry sauce
1. Place bread in a toaster set to medium.
2. Once the bread is toasted, spread each slice with mayonnaise.
3. Layer the bottom slice of toast with fresh turkey meat. Sprinkle the turkey with several grindings of fresh black pepper.
4. Place the cheese on top of the peppered turkey.
5. Place the top slice of toast on top of the cheese.
6. Use a serrated knife to cut the sandwich in half diagonally.
7. Place the sandwich on a plate along with a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
8. Serve.
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