Gussied Up Gravy Food

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the turkey pieces on a rimmed baking sheet, and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Roast until browned and cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the roasted turkey pieces to a medium saucepan; scrape up any brown bits from the baking sheet, and add them to the saucepan. Add the stock, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 30 minutes to enrich the stock with roasted-turkey flavor. Strain the liquid into a heat-safe bowl, and keep warm.
• Melt the butter in the saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour, and whisk until the mixture is smooth, toasted and a deep golden brown. Slowly pour in the warm broth, whisking continuously, and continue whisking until the mixture comes to a simmer. Continue to cook, still whisking, until the gravy is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Let the gravy cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag, label and date, and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve, reheat the frozen gravy in a saucepan or a microwave. Be sure to whisk vigorously as the gravy heats up to keep lumps from forming. Adjust the seasoning as needed.

GUSSIED UP GRAVY

Steps:

• Add the caramelized mirepoix, sage and thyme to a saute pan, mix together and heat over medium until hot. Add the gravy, turkey pan juices, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer--don't boil it--and simmer until reduced slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a dish, let cool and then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• When ready to serve, bring the gravy back to a simmer. Stir in the chopped eggs and pour into a pitcher.
• Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• In a saute pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon each of the butter and oil. When the butter is melted, add the celery, carrots, onion and fennel (mirepoix) and saute until caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and stir through. Scoop out 2 cups of the caramelized mirepoix and reserve for the gravy. Put the remaining caramelized mirepoix in a large bowl (you should have about 4 cups).
• Heat a second saute pan over medium heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon each butter and oil and heat until the butter is melted. Add the celery root, parsnips and turnips and saute until caramelized, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the mirepoix and add the stuffing mix. Add the chicken broth, parsley, salt and pepper and toss together. Transfer the stuffing mixture to the prepared baking dish.
• If baking right away, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover with foil and bake until the stuffing is heated through, about 1 hour.
• If making ahead of time, cover the unbaked stuffing with foil and refrigerate overnight. The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring the stuffing to room temperature, then drizzle with 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Bake, covered with foil, until heated through, about 1 hour.

GUSSIED-UP RAMEN

Steps:

• Add 2 cups of water to a small pot over high heat. Add the seasoning packet from the instant ramen, along with the ginger, chili paste, mushrooms and garlic. Bring to a boil.
• Add the ramen noodles, green beans and chicken and cook until the noodles are softened and the chicken is heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the spinach and butter. Stir until the butter has melted and the spinach has wilted, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Garnish the edge of the bowl with the hoisin sauce, bean sprouts and carrots. Drizzle over the sesame oil and enjoy.

SAUSAGE GRAVY

Steps:

• With your finger, tear small pieces of sausage and add them in a single layer to a large heavy skillet. Brown the sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Sprinkle on half the flour and stir so that the sausage soaks it all up, then add more little by little. Stir it around and cook it for another minute or so, then pour in the milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook the gravy, stirring frequently, until it thickens. (This may take a good 10 to 12 minutes.) Sprinkle in the seasoned salt and pepper and continue cooking until very thick and luscious. If it gets too thick too soon, just splash in another 1/2 cup of milk or more if needed. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Spoon the sausage gravy over warm biscuits and serve immediately!

JAZZED-UP GRAVY

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, saute onion, thyme and pepper in butter for 3 minutes. Stir in gravy. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.