The very best part of Thanksgiving is the day-after leftover turkey sandwich. We like ours on good white bread slathered with mayonnaise, a spoonful of turkey drippings or gravy, and cranberry gelée; a leaf or two of crisp lettuce; and a pile of thinly sliced breast meat seasoned with lots of salt and pepper. A cold glass of milk is our beverage of choice, although there may be a splash of last night’s Champagne left on the refrigerator door (with a small silver spoon hanging in the neck of the bottle to preserve precious bubbles). Better stick with milk.
Ingredients
Fresh kale is wilted ever so slightly by tender-crisp, hot onions -- and glazed with reduced vinegar before being graced with freshly made croutons, shaved cheese, and figs (fresh or dried). A single pan handles all the parts of this recipe that need heat, and the flavor that accumulates in there is absorbed by the bread as it toasts. Deliciousness builds, step by step, and the results are glorious. (My feelings about this dish are pretty much summed up in the yield estimate.)
Vegan and gluten-free
Okay, vegetarians (vegans too)! Here's a Thanksgiving entrée that even turkey lovers will want to fork into. If you plan ahead (for example, make the cornbread a few days in advance) all will go smoothly.
The simplest.
I had been tempted to do this for years and finally made the leap: combining two classic Thanksgiving side dishes into one.
Back in the day, home cooks used to clip recipes from women's auxiliary books and the Sunday papers, or they'd find them on the label of a trusted brand. My mom made her pecan pie from the recipe on the back of the Karo corn syrup bottle. She even called it "Karo pie." Our version of this classic pie is rich and buttery and features plenty of crunchy Georgia pecans and a shot of Kentucky bourbon.
This piecrust is revolutionary. It's a press-in crust, with no rolling or chilling required. Plus, it's buttery and flaky, and so easy to prepare it just may give you the courage to go forth and make a pie on a whim. You can use either granulated sugar or light brown sugar. Both are equally delicious here.
I cannot imagine a holiday without this traditional Southern pie on the table. I use almost every spice in the cabinet to add depth and warmth to the silky filling. Serve it with a big dollop of whipped cream, with a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg on top.