Smoke Gets In Your Gravy (Warning: ZOMBIE Gravy View)

[wntrlnd]

I think the turkey gravy I made tonight was the best gravy I ever made.  Ever.

And I think what made it so great was I used chicken stock that I made last week from smoked chicken skin and bones.

The smoke came through the gravy and really added a fantastic flavor.  I can't wait to try this again.

I also used the smoked chicken stock for the turkey stuffing, but the smoke, while still detectable, got lost in the rest of the stuffing flavors.

And this gravy almost didn't happen.  While cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner, my assistant threw out all the turkey drippings.  There was not a drop to make gravy for leftovers.  

The gravy train was derailed. 

But then I remembered I still had a heck of a lot of turkey skin.  So, I gathered up all the skin, put it on a cookie sheet in a slow oven, and rendered the fat out of the skin.  I got a good tablespoon or so.  Made a nice roux, seasoned with salt and pepper, added the smoked stock...

Next thing you know, back from the dead, it's Zombie Gravy!

Tragedy narrowly averted!

After dinner, I used my fingers to get every last bit of this gravy out of the pan!

 

[adiochiro3]

I hope your assistant got a heck of a tongue lashing!!!  Nice save! 

  My wife turns those smoked drippings into phenomenal gravy every time.  Keep up the good work!

 

[tjohnson]

Very Quick Thinking!

Todd

 

[sqwib]

Was the assistant fired lol

 

[squirrel]

Great looking gravy! Don't be too hard on the assistant, I'm sure he/she learned a valuable lesson, and the cook learned one too - Always assume the assistant doesn't know to save the drippings! LOL! Nice save!

 

[richoso1]

Nothing like being resourceful. It's all good my friend.

 

[wntrlnd]

I hope your assistant got a heck of a tongue lashing!!!  Nice save! 

  My wife turns those smoked drippings into phenomenal gravy every time.  Keep up the good work!

Thanks, adiochiro3!   It was a miracle save.  And, yeah, I agree, those drippings are like liquid gold! 
 

Very Quick Thinking!

Todd

Thanks, Todd!    Gravy matters!  LOL!
 

Was the assistant fired lol

 LOL!  Thanks, SQWIB!   Really, it was my fault for not putting the drippings securely in the fridge.  I see that now.  Needless to say, I don't think I'll neglect to secure my precious drippings again.

Great looking gravy! Don't be too hard on the assistant, I'm sure he/she learned a valuable lesson, and the cook learned one too - Always assume the assistant doesn't know to save the drippings! LOL! Nice save!

Thanks for the comment, and you are exactly right, Squirrel!  It was totally my responsibility. 

But it all turned out OK.  The gravy supply lasted exactly long enough to cover the mashed potato and stuffing supply.  Whew!  LOL! 

Nothing like being resourceful. It's all good my friend.

Thanks, richoso1!  When it comes to gravy, I can be very resourceful.  Lord have mercy, a man has got to have his gravy! 
 

 

[smoke 2 geaux]

Great save. That's the good stuff right there.

 

[raptor700]

Good job wntrld, You gotta have the gravy!! and I love the smoke flavor in my gravy, I guess the assistant wasn't the only one that came away learning a valuable lesson! Great save and keep on smokin

 

[smokinstevo27]

I'm happy when Amelia helps me cook...although she goofs up once in a while. I'm glad it turned out well for you buddy, sounds awsome, I'm a gravy nut. Probably not a good thing since I'm slowly but surely losing my youthful metabolism.

 

[meateater]

Half turkey and half chicken, I bet that was a poultry goodness.

 

[wntrlnd]

Great save. That's the good stuff right there.

Thanks, Smoke 2!  Gravy makes everything better.

Good job wntrld, You gotta have the gravy!! and I love the smoke flavor in my gravy, I guess the assistant wasn't the only one that came away learning a valuable lesson! Great save and keep on smokin

Thanks, raptor!  You're exactly right about the lesson learned! 

I had no idea you could get smoke into gravy.  It still blows my mind.  And it was so good, I'm just itchin' to try it again.  I mean, seriously!  

That's a whole nuther lesson right there: always save smoked chicken skin and bones!!!
 

Quote:

I'm happy when Amelia helps me cook...although she goofs up once in a while. I'm glad it turned out well for you buddy, sounds awsome, I'm a gravy nut. Probably not a good thing since I'm slowly but surely losing my youthful metabolism.

Thanks, smokinstevo!  Whenever I hear the phrase 'the pursuit of happiness' I think of gravy.

I guess that makes me a gravy nut, too! 

 

Half turkey and half chicken, I bet that was a poultry goodness.

You are exactly right, meateater!  Thank you very much!    They're very complementary.

When I finished with the turkey carcass I made stock out of that, too.   Then I use the turkey stock when I'm making chicken and other soups.  Turkey stock is like liquid gold!

Thanks again for the comment, and the points!