November 21, 2007
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For me, there is no greater holiday than Thanksgiving; it’s all about cooking, eating, and the gathering of the family and friends I love. I’m not worried about buying gifts, shouting "Happy New Year" or sending flowers and chocolates. My only concerns are not staining yet another shirt, cooking, sipping wine, and then sitting down with my family for dinner.
While you may never have found my family throwing a Frisbee or playing a rousing game of touch football on the lawn on Thanksgiving Day, you would find a serious game of “Scopa” (an Italian card game) a lot of talking over one another, wine, oh yes, and you’d find my mother, her mother, my sister and me in the kitchen cooking around each other. We would cook two turkeys -- one for that day, and one for the next day so we had “leftovers.” We’d make butter-laden mashed potatoes, green peas, artichokes, stuffing, meatballs, and “Italian wedding soup” with parmigiano cheese. We’d spend hours caring for that big beautiful bird on Thanksgiving, and nothing pleases me more than a moist and delicious Thanksgiving turkey. I have included two of my best turkey recipes, one for Thanksgiving and one for leftovers the next day.
Comments
heidi wrote:
Rocco
thanks so much for all the thankgiving cheer..
just in time. Your new book looks terrific and i have already ordered it..
Can wait to see you as a regular on TOP CHEF next season!
posted on November 21, 2007 at 7:54 PM
lori wrote:
Dear Rocco,
Thanks for the recipes and the flashback inducing glimpses into your past holidays! Hope your day is great.
posted on November 21, 2007 at 11:18 PM
Elaine wrote:
Rocco!! I had no idea you were still blogging under Top Chef since we are between seasons, and I'm so glad you are!
The recipes you've posted here are truly gifts, and I've got them printing as I tap this out. (via my Treo) they all sound wonderful and I will try the turkey for the next turkey dinner, which should be in about a month or so. BTW- are garbage bags food safe? I guess another option might be those turkey oven bags and just double bag them?
If you want, I have a wonderful mincemeat pie recipe.
Thanks again Rocco, I ALWAYS enjoy your blog. -now I must backtrack your entries I missed all this time. Look forward to your next.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Elaine
posted on November 22, 2007 at 12:54 AM
adina wrote:
wish i could get invited to one of those family dinners... sounds fun. you get me laughing when you said about getting worried on staining your shirt and all. i feel the same way. holidays make me roll my eyeballs. anyway... gobble, gobble!
posted on November 22, 2007 at 5:40 PM
Laurie wrote:
Lovely of you to share your recipes. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
posted on November 22, 2007 at 8:49 PM
karen wrote:
Oh Rocco, thank you for continuing ur blog, I hope more people know that ur doing this since they would be back here in droves. You have a great gift of writing that makes it easy to understand, and appreaciate the fine cooking.( Sorry spelling isn't my strongest trait), but I love how you make cooking and eating it so so damm good, I love ur blogs best thing this year that came from Top chef 3. Glad u were such a joy to read and look at. Hey I'm female I have eyes, he's good looking, no he's hot! Anyway thanks for another great blog, I'll keep checking back to see if u have another blog.
posted on November 23, 2007 at 12:07 AM
thundercat wrote:
Thanks for the Thanksgiving day blog Rocco! My family's celebration is much like yours, only with 5 times as many relatives. Lots of hugs, kids underfoot, laughter, occasion chaos, but most of all... food!
Appreciate the sneak preview of your newest book. Guess what's on my Christmas wish list?
Have a great holiday season and don't forget to favor us with a blog entry for Christmas a la DiSpirito!
posted on November 23, 2007 at 3:50 PM
Sandy wrote:
Happy belated Thanksgiving to you and all of yours, Rocco! The recipes look delish.
posted on November 23, 2007 at 4:46 PM
Jerry wrote:
Aloha Rocco, Just wanted to tell you that you're an awesome chef. Your concern for people's health and not only that a dish tastes good really comes through on television. As a triathlete myself, I read an article that you have been bitten by the 'tri-bug'. I admire how you can fit training time into your already hectic schedule. I wanted to invite you to come to Hawaii to do the Ironman Hawaii 70.3. Maybe your scheduling team can contact some of our local chefs with TV shows, and you can do guest appearances. You can make the trip a business trip with some fun time doing a Half Ironman? Doesn't that sound great? Hope to see you next May 31,2008. I want to see fast you really are.....
posted on November 23, 2007 at 5:04 PM
Jo wrote:
Oh Rocco: The memories you bring back of my family and our Thanksgivings! I can't tell you how much I appreciated reading your day with the family. Ours falls into the same pattern, including the turkey carver, who stops to eat tidbits as he goes along. The son who can't stay away from the stuffing and the little ones who think they can eat way more than they have on their plates. The conversations that we get into wouldn't be understood by anyone else, including the interrupting each other and each talking louder than the other. Thank you, Rocco. Your family and mine would fit together nicely. lol
posted on November 23, 2007 at 8:22 PM
donna wrote:
Rocco,
I always love your blog and I can promise I will be making that soup before Monday.
On a different subject, my husband and I are exploring the gourmet world. Having both come from poor families we've never had the opportunity to try a lot of things. We are older now and can afford to splurge about one a month. Our first foray was The Oceanaire where Brian Malarkey presides. It was great. Now comes my question... is there a book, guide or listing I can use. If we only do this once a month I don't want to waste time and money on places that are going to disappoint.
Any suggestions?
Happy Thanksgiving,
Donna
posted on November 23, 2007 at 9:38 PM
Dina dV wrote:
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you, Rocco, for being a part of Top Chef this season. It was a pleasure reading your blog entries and seeing you on the show. It's a tough balancing act of being both critical of the chefs as professionals, but not being cruel in your criticism. Plus, your personal entries have, at least on one occasion, brought a tear to my eye. I never would have thought that Rocco Damn DiSpirito could be such a genuine and endearing person.
I hope you and your family had a lovely holiday.
posted on November 25, 2007 at 11:13 AM
angelo pontrelli wrote:
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ROCCO DID YOU WORK AT ADRIENNE IN THE PENNISULA YEARS AGO THANK YOU
posted on November 25, 2007 at 5:34 PM
adina wrote:
hey chef,
i just had my december issue of food and wine mag and i still can't find their feature on top chef's season 3 winner. i thought one of the prizes would be a feature on the said mag; i've read harold's and ilan's feature the previous years. what happened to hung's? dana didn't even mention top chef on her column. what's she up to?
posted on November 25, 2007 at 8:59 PM
adina wrote:
hey chef,
i just had my december issue of food and wine mag and i still can't find their feature on top chef's season 3 winner. i thought one of the prizes would be a feature on the said mag; i've read harold's and ilan's feature the previous years. what happened to hung's? dana didn't even mention top chef on her column. what's she up to?
posted on November 25, 2007 at 8:59 PM
Jeanette Marlar wrote:
Dear Rocco,
We were at the Ellen show Wednesday and to our surprise you were there! My daughter and I had our picture taken with you after the show and you kindly signed your new book, "Real Life Recipes". I have been perusing the book and can't wait to try the recipes. You sure made our day.
We are looking forward to your new show coming up.
Jeanette
Banning, CA
posted on November 29, 2007 at 3:49 PM
Yvonne McKenna wrote:
Just wanted to say that I saw you on the Ellen show today. I have changed my whole opinion of you. You are a changed person and are very humble. I'm glad you got rid of the additude. I look forward to seeing you being successful again and happy! I also come from an Italian family and welcome new dishes to make for the holidays. Can't wait to get your new book! Happy Holidays!
posted on November 29, 2007 at 5:51 PM
Kellie wrote:
Rocco:
Just wanted to say thanks for all the great blogs. I can't wait to try out the latest from this one. I got your real life recipes book, and it's now my go to book for weekday dinners. I have yet to repeat any of the recipes, and they've all been great! I now have the only 11 year old boy that asks for more mushrooms! Thank you from my whole family!
KF
posted on November 29, 2007 at 11:12 PM
Ashley Yu wrote:
Hello Chef Rocco,
Love reading your blogs and can't wait for the next one.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Ciao :)
posted on December 2, 2007 at 3:27 AM
Ashley Yu wrote:
Hello Chef Rocco,
Love reading your blogs...
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
ciao :)
posted on December 2, 2007 at 3:32 AM
Rose wrote:
Can you recommend a substitute for the wine in the turkey recipe?
posted on December 6, 2007 at 1:43 AM
Yolanda wrote:
Rocco--I appreciate the recipes. Thanks! I love reading your blog, hope you post more often.
posted on December 11, 2007 at 4:36 PM