Amelia and Denis's overly ambitious Thanksgiving

[abka]

This is our first time Denis and I are attempting to cook Thanksgiving dinner and we are going all out. Denis just returned from turkey hunting and cranberry (and pastry blender) gathering, and I ordered extra sets of wedding china and am going to use the nice tablecloth my mother-in-law gave us for our wedding. The current menu is:

-brined turkey with gravy
-sausage stuffing
-mlinci (a croatian side-dish traditionally served with turkey. They're dough squares you bake in advance then fry in the drippings. A pain to make, but so good.)
-fresh cranberry relish
-steamed asparagus with lemon
-apple pie
-pumpkin pie

I think I have most of the equipment I need, but I don't have a rolling pin. Does anyone (local) have one I can borrow, or has any good substitutions to suggest? We like creative alternatives.

This is going to be a fun cooking challenge because there are lots of things we've never made before (everything but the asparagus) and I really want to make things (including gravy and pie crusts) from scratch. (Excluding the pumpkin pie filling.) Since we're not having guests this seems to be the year to do it.

We eliminated a few things (green salad, rolls, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes), but we're still going to have way too much food. It's only going to be the two of us and the smallest turkey Denis could find that didn't look "mishapen" was 9 pounds. Leftovers are good. Would anyone like to join us for a post-Thanksgiving meal that Friday, Saturday, or Sunday? Help me justify spending money on wedding china, an electric knife, and a 9lb turkey.*

*note if everything turns out badly we reserve the right to cancel, remember this is our trial Thanksgiving.

Comments

[ellen-fremedon.livejournal.com]

Ooh, could you share the recipe for the mlinci? It sounds good.

(And I'd come by Sunday if you've still got leftovers.)

(And I need to get the email out, but I'm thinking Friday there will be an Ethiopian dinner excursion to which you and Denis are naturally invited. )

[lightgetsin.livejournal.com]

Oh, dude, like I won't come eat your food.

Re: rolling pin -- almost any round thing will do. I used a pringles can one time . . .

[abka.livejournal.com]

Ethiopian Friday sounds good as does Sunday leftovers. Do you have a rolling pin I could borrow?

Mlinci is pretty basic it's just:
350 g. (12 oz.) flour
salt
water
(and of course pan drippings)

Making the mlinci Prepare a softish dough from the flour and softish dough from the flour and salted lukewarm water. Divide the dough into 5 lumps and roll each lump into a circle (not too thin). Bake them immediately on a grid in the oven or on a hot plate. Properly baked mlinci should be firm, crisp and golden-brown in places.

To prepare the mlinci Break up each baked ‘cake’ into smaller pieces, but do not crumble them. Place the pieces into slightly salty boiling water. As soon as the water resumes boiling, remove the pieces of mlinci (i.e., they are scalded rather than cooked) with a slotted spoon, place them in a toasting tin, pour the juices from the roast turkey over them and bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes.

Tips:
1. If put aside for a period, the lumps of dough should be covered with a clean kitchen towel to prevent a crust from forming.
2. Store any surplus baked mlinci ‘cakes’ in a clean cloth bag, tightly closed at the top.

Background:
Mlinci is a kind of side dish prepared from fat-free dough, simplicity itself to make but quite delicious if prepared properly made—it should be cooked through but not to the point of being mushy. This is a specialty typical of Hrvatsko zagorje and its name originates from its shape which resembles in its uncooked state, a mill stone. Mlinci go particularly well with poultry. Hen turkey with mlinci is a dish that has become almost a synonym for the cuisine of Zagorje and the areas surrounding Zagreb. It is served at every festive gathering during autumn and winter, beginning with All Saints Day. Mlinci can be baked a few days in advanced, stored in a dry place and baked just before sitting down to a splendid lunch. It is an excellent side dish for unexpected guests as it also tastes superb with chicken or any other meat dish. Even better, it can now be obtained ready made from almost every grocery store of bakery.

[abka.livejournal.com]

oops, copying quickly from the cook book means a lot of typos. That would be a "roasting" not a "toasting" pan and just ignore the repetitions and strange grammar.

[mrsjadephoenix.livejournal.com]

As mentioned above, anything smooth and thick and cylindrical is fine as a rolling pin. For a while we used to use a thick glass flower vase that was about 14" long.

[ellen-fremedon.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that sounds yummy!

And, sure, I can lend you a rolling pin, though as they said, you can make shift with other objects.

[axiom_of_stripe]

ooh, that sounds tasty! also intimidating. good luck!

(& i would love to join you on sunday when i get back in town....)

reminds me!

[(Anonymous)]

I'm sorry I've been so delinquent in following up, but Ethan and I are still planning to be in the DC area for Thanksgiving! We arrive Wednesday and fly out Sunday at 4:30 pm. Sunday will probably be an insane travel day with so many people flying home, but maybe we could try to get together Saturday? The only sticky thing is that I'm not really sure what the fam has planned for when yet... and in particular since this is the first big family holiday that I'm bringing Ethan too, I want to be attentive to family obligations. Is it okay if we play things by ear? Also, could you email me your phone number(s) and address?

Re: reminds me!

[darhoratio.livejournal.com]

doh, I keep doing this when I post from work. you'd guessed i'm sure, but that was me posting : ).