A Home Movies Thanksgiving Special with Alison Roman

Alison Roman

9 Nov 202152:57

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn this delightful and detailed transcript, we join Alison Roman for a Thanksgiving cooking extravaganza. Alison, known for her culinary creativity, shares her unique approach to a festive Thanksgiving meal. The day begins with preparation, emphasizing the importance of advance planning, from seasoning the turkey a day ahead to tearing bread for stuffing and making turkey stock for rich flavor. The menu is a blend of classic and inventive dishes, including a simple yet elegant apple tart for dessert, crunchy salads, and lumpy mashed potatoes. Alison's focus is on creating a meal that's not just about the turkey, but the full spread of sides to ensure a satisfying feast. As the day progresses, we see the transformation of ingredients into a bountiful table, with a special emphasis on the turkey's role as the centerpiece. The narrative is interspersed with Alison's personal anecdotes, humorous moments, and even some self-deprecating humor, making the cooking process feel like a conversation with a close friend. The result is a heartwarming and appetizing journey through Thanksgiving cooking, complete with tips, tricks, and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones.

Takeaways

🍽️ Alison Roman emphasizes the importance of side dishes in a Thanksgiving meal, especially when turkey might not be everyone's favorite part.
🧂 She shares her preference for a well-seasoned turkey with a balance of sweet and savory flavors, using brown sugar and kosher salt for the perfect skin.
🥧 Alison's Thanksgiving dessert choice is a simple yet elegant apple tart, highlighting the seasonality and simplicity over the traditional pumpkin pie.
🍞 For the stuffing, she uses a sourdough, crusty bread and focuses on creating custardy croutons rather than wet bread for a desirable texture.
🍗 The turkey stock is made from turkey wings, which provide a good ratio of cartilage, skin, and fat for intense flavor.
🥔 Alison combines Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes for her mashed potatoes, aiming for a fluffy and creamy texture.
🍄 She prepares a mushroom and green bean dish, inspired by the classic mushroom and green bean casserole but with a healthier roasting method.
🥬 Two types of salads are made for variety - a leafy, herby salad, and a fresh fruit salad to provide a refreshing contrast to the heavier dishes.
🧀 The gratin kale is a unique take on mac and cheese, using kale and parmesan cheese, topped with breadcrumbs for a crisp texture.
🍰 Alison's approach to Thanksgiving cooking is relaxed and flexible, with an emphasis on enjoying the process and not stressing over perfection.
🎉 The celebration of Thanksgiving is highlighted as a time for gratitude, being with loved ones, and enjoying good food without the pressure of consumerism or religious obligations.

Q & A

What is the significance of Thanksgiving for Alison Roman?
-Thanksgiving is significant for Alison Roman as it is a time to gather with family and friends, and to create a festive and memorable meal filled with creative ideas and delicious food.
What is Alison's approach to preparing for Thanksgiving?
-Alison's approach to preparing for Thanksgiving involves a two-day process. Day one is a prep day where she focuses on tasks like cleaning the fridge, seasoning the turkey, making bread for stuffing, and creating turkey stock. Day two is the cooking day, where she bakes the dessert, prepares the stuffing, and roasts the turkey.
Why does Alison choose to roast turkey wings to make turkey stock?
-Alison chooses to roast turkey wings for the stock because they have a good ratio of cartilage to skin and fat, which provides an intense roasted flavor. She prefers a robust turkey flavor rather than a delicate one.
What is Alison's opinion on the role of turkey in a Thanksgiving meal?
-Alison acknowledges that turkey is often the least favorite part of the meal for many people. To compensate for this, she emphasizes the importance of preparing delicious salads and sides to enhance the overall dining experience.
How does Alison's stuffing recipe differ from traditional versions?
-Alison's stuffing recipe is straightforward without any exotic ingredients or variations. She focuses on using a sourdough, crusty bread called a Campania loaf, torn into pieces and soaked in turkey stock and butter along with celery and onion. Her emphasis is on creating a custardy texture rather than wet bread.
What dessert does Alison decide on for her Thanksgiving meal?
-After considering options like pumpkin pie and an apple tart with a crumble, Alison decides on a simple apple tart with a shortbread crust. She believes it's the best version of a Thanksgiving dessert that is both beautiful and not overly complicated.
What is Alison's method for making the pie crust?
-Alison's method for making the pie crust involves mixing all-purpose flour, kosher salt, sugar, and cold unsalted butter with her hands until the butter is well incorporated. She then adds ice water and vinegar, mixing just enough to bring the dough together before shaping and chilling it.
How does Alison ensure the turkey is seasoned well before roasting?
-Alison seasons the turkey with a mix of brown sugar and kosher salt, ensuring an even coating. She also applies coarsely ground black pepper to add a peppery flavor to the turkey. The seasoning is applied both on the skin and underneath the skin where the meat is.
What is Alison's advice for cooking the turkey on Thanksgiving Day?
-Alison advises taking the turkey out of the refrigerator a few hours before roasting to allow it to come to room temperature for even cooking. She also suggests roasting the turkey on a sheet pan with vegetables like onions, leeks, and shallots to add flavor and create a steamy environment for the turkey.
How does Alison manage the timing and cooking of multiple dishes on Thanksgiving Day?
-Alison manages the timing by preheating the oven and starting with the dessert, which is baked first. She then prepares the stuffing and turkey, which are cooked in sequence. She also utilizes different parts of the day for various tasks, such as making salads and preparing vegetables, to ensure everything is ready for the meal.
What is the importance of using fresh herbs in Alison's cooking?
-Fresh herbs are important in Alison's cooking as they provide a vibrant and intense flavor that dried herbs cannot match. She emphasizes the use of fresh thyme and oregano from her garden in the stuffing, which adds a layer of depth and freshness to the dish.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Thanksgiving Preparation with Alison Roman

Alison Roman is excited to share her Thanksgiving menu, emphasizing the importance of sides to complement the turkey, which she acknowledges as often being the least favorite part of the meal. She outlines her plan for a festive Thanksgiving, including crunchy salads, two pans of stuffing, lumpy mashed potatoes, and an apple tart. Alison stresses the significance of preparation, including seasoning the turkey in advance and tearing bread for stuffing to dry out overnight. She also discusses the importance of cleaning the fridge to make space for the turkey and other dishes.

05:02

🍗 Making Turkey Stock and Seasoning the Turkey

Alison begins by roasting turkey wings to create an intense turkey stock, which she considers a crucial part of the Thanksgiving ritual. She then details the process of preparing the turkey stock with vegetables and giblets. When it comes to seasoning the turkey, she uses a mix of brown sugar and kosher salt, along with coarsely ground pepper, to ensure a well-seasoned and non-sweet turkey. Alison also shares her thoughts on the importance of the presentation and the process of applying the seasonings.

10:03

🍰 Preparing Dessert and Preparing for the Next Day

For dessert, Alison decides on a simple apple tart instead of a pumpkin pie. She discusses the process of making the pie crust with all-purpose flour, butter, and ice water, emphasizing the importance of not overworking the dough. Alison also shares her thoughts on the dessert, stating that a small, beautiful apple tart is all one needs for Thanksgiving. She wraps up the day's preparations by ensuring everything is in place for the next day's cooking marathon.

15:06

🥄 Two Pans of Stuffing and Bread Tearing

Alison makes two pans of traditional stuffing without any variations, highlighting its importance as the most sought-after dish at Thanksgiving. She uses a sourdough, crusty bread for the stuffing, tearing it into pieces larger than bite-size to avoid a mushy texture. Alison emphasizes the balance between wet bread and custardy croutons for the perfect stuffing texture. She also shares her method of preparing the bread by tearing and drying it overnight.

20:07

🥔 Mashed Potatoes and Honey Nut Squash Preparation

Alison discusses her preference for using a mix of Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes for the ultimate mashed potato texture. She details the process of boiling the potatoes in salty water before mashing them with a mixture of heavy cream, buttermilk, and garlic. Additionally, she prepares honey nut squash, highlighting its benefits such as not needing to be peeled and its small size, which makes it a popular choice for the holiday meal.

25:08

🍄 Mushroom and Green Bean Gratin

Alison shares her love for mushrooms and incorporates them into a dish with green beans, which she considers a modern take on the traditional mushroom and green bean casserole. She emphasizes the importance of using different types of mushrooms for varied textures and flavors. Alison also discusses the process of roasting the vegetables together on a sheet pan, ensuring they cook down and fit without overcrowding.

30:08

🧀 Kale and Parmesan Gratin with Bread Crumbs

Alison prepares a gratin using kale, which she rips from the stem and wilts with the help of crushed red pepper flakes and cream. She then adds parmesan cheese to the mixture, creating a dish she refers to as her version of mac and cheese, made with kale. To finish, she combines bread crumbs with olive oil, salt, and pepper to sprinkle on top before baking.

35:14

🍽️ Thanksgiving Feast and Gratitude

Alison and her guests enjoy the Thanksgiving feast, expressing their gratitude for the delicious food and each other's company. The guests share their favorite dishes from the meal, with many praising the mushrooms, turkey, and stuffing. The host emphasizes the importance of the holiday as a time for non-consumerist and non-religious celebration, focusing on cooking, love, and gratitude.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in the United States, Canada, and Liberia, where people express gratitude and share a meal with family and friends. In the video, it is the central theme with Alison Roman preparing a festive Thanksgiving meal, emphasizing the importance of the holiday as a time for gratitude and togetherness.

💡Stuffing

Stuffing, also known as dressing, is a traditional Thanksgiving side dish made from bread, herbs, and various other ingredients such as celery, onions, and broth. In the script, Alison Roman makes two pans of stuffing, highlighting its significance as a favorite dish that everyone wants seconds of.

💡Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a classic side dish made from boiled potatoes that are then mashed with butter, cream, or milk, and often seasoned with salt and pepper. They are depicted in the video as a comfort food that complements the turkey and other dishes, with Alison Roman discussing her preference for a chunky and creamy texture.

💡Turkey

Turkey is the centerpiece of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The script details the process of preparing, seasoning, and roasting the turkey, which is a labor-intensive but rewarding task for the host. Alison emphasizes the importance of a well-seasoned turkey with a crispy skin and juicy meat.

💡Apple Tart

An apple tart is a dessert made with a pastry crust filled with apples and baked until the apples are tender and the crust is flaky. In the video, Alison Roman describes making an apple tart as a simple yet elegant dessert option for Thanksgiving, which she prefers over the traditional pumpkin pie.

💡Gravy

Gravy is a sauce made from the juices that come out of meat, especially roasted turkey, and is a staple at Thanksgiving. Alison Roman's script describes making a well-balanced gravy using turkey drippings and broth, enriched with butter and seasoned with mustard, which adds acidity and depth of flavor.

💡Roasting

Roasting is a cooking method that involves dry heat in an oven. It is the primary technique used for cooking the turkey and other vegetables in the video. Alison Roman discusses the importance of roasting the turkey wings to make stock and the process of roasting the turkey itself to achieve a crispy skin.

💡Herbs

Herbs are leafy green plants used to flavor food. In the script, Alison Roman uses a variety of fresh herbs such as thyme and oregano in her dishes, emphasizing the importance of fresh herbs in adding a burst of flavor to the Thanksgiving meal.

💡Side Dishes

Side dishes are additional dishes served alongside the main course. The video features several side dishes like salads, squash gratin, and mushrooms, which add variety and complement the turkey. Alison Roman stresses the importance of side dishes in enhancing the overall dining experience.

💡Candling

Candling refers to the process of holding a raw egg up to a light source to check its freshness. While not explicitly mentioned in the script, Alison Roman's mention of checking the turkey's doneness by its color and temperature implies a similar attention to detail that would apply to candling eggs.

💡Tablescaping

Tablescaping is the art of arranging and decorating a table, often for a special occasion or event. In the video, Alison Roman's friend Seshie adds a personal touch to the Thanksgiving table by creating a tablescape with succulent leaves, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Highlights

Alison Roman emphasizes the importance of preparation, suggesting to season the turkey and tear the bread a day in advance for optimal flavor.

The use of a high-heat oven (450 degrees) is recommended for roasting turkey wings to achieve a deep, roasted flavor for the turkey stock.

Roman makes a point that the turkey, despite commonly being the least favorite part of the meal, should be complemented with robust salads and sides.

The significance of cleaning out the fridge before preparing for Thanksgiving to make space for the turkey and other dishes is highlighted.

A detailed process of making turkey stock from wings, giblets, and vegetables is provided for a rich and flavorful base.

Seasoning the turkey with brown sugar and kosher salt in equal parts is suggested to balance saltiness and achieve a crispy skin.

The decision to make a simple apple tart instead of a pumpkin pie for dessert, emphasizing the desire for a crisp and tender apple dessert.

The process of making pie crust with all-purpose flour, butter, and ice water is described, focusing on achieving a flaky texture.

Roman's preference for using a sourdough, crusty bread for the stuffing and her method of tearing the bread to ensure it doesn't become mushy.

The turkey is taken out of the refrigerator a few hours prior to cooking to take off the chill and ensure even cooking.

A unique approach to roasting the turkey on a sheet pan with onions and shallots is presented for added flavor and a steamy environment.

The technique of trussing the turkey legs for better browning and crispy skin is discussed.

Mashed potatoes are made using a mix of Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes for a combination of fluffy and creamy textures.

A honey nut squash gratin is prepared with brown butter, toasted walnuts, and sticky dates for a sweet and savory side dish.

The creation of not one, but two salads for Thanksgiving is highlighted—one with leafy greens and the other a fresh fruit salad.

A mac and cheese alternative made with kale and parmesan is introduced as a creative take on a traditional dish.

The importance of patience and attention to detail when making gravy from turkey drippings and the use of Grey Poupon for added flavor is emphasized.

A tip for hosting Thanksgiving is shared: using more candles than necessary to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The enjoyment of having very little leftovers after the meal is mentioned as a sign of a successful Thanksgiving dinner.

The celebration of gratitude and the act of giving thanks is highlighted as the core of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Transcripts

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Thanksgiving Feast Alison Roman Creative Cooking Roasted Turkey Apple Tart Stuffing Recipes Mashed Potatoes Holiday Cooking Culinary Tips Family Gathering Gratitude Practice Friendsgiving