COVID-19: Thanksgiving recipes A student’s By LILLI ELLEN | Contributing writer t Thanksgiving, we want our pie, mashed potatoes, green-bean casserole and maybe we want it in that order! No two spreads are identical, but there are quite a few things that come to mind immediately: perspective turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and dressing. Let’s throw some tamales and pumpkin pie in for good measure. I’ve been cooking for large groups for years, and I like to write out the sequence. If you happen to purchase a frozen turkey, just remember that the safest way to thaw it will be to put it in the Local grad talks college Arefrigerator at least four days before you’ll need to cook it. That gives it time to thaw without being exposed to a temperature zone prone to bacteria. The pie and cranberry sauce can be made days in advance. and COVID coverage Once I have that bird in the oven, I can focus on side dishes. By TONY BURNS | Sports Editor TURKEY MOM’S CRANBERRY MEME’S DRESSING JP’S TAMALES or high school and college students 1 (15-18 pound) whole turkey ORANGE SAUCE 1 ½ cup cornmeal (yields 50)3 ½ pounds pork in Arkansas who wonder if the coronavirus ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into ¼ cup fresh squeezed orange juice ½ cup flour shoulder (or pork butt) trimmed of cubes Zest of one orange 1 Tbsp Baking powder fat and cut up is only hovering over them, COVID-19 Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup sugar 1 tsp salt 10 cups water 1 ½ quarts turkey (or chicken) stock 12 ounces fresh cranberries ½ tsp baking soda 1 medium onion, quartered hasn’t played any favorites. It’s a world-wide 3 apples cut into thick slices pandemic and has left campuses barren all 3 yellow onions, quartered In medium saucepan, combine 1 ½ cup buttermilk 3 garlic cloves, minced orange juice, zest, sugar, and 8 eggs 3 ½ tsp salt over the country. F Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. three-quarters of a cup of 1 medium onion, chopped 4 cups red chili sauce water over medium heat. Cook, 1 whole chicken without gizzards ¾ cup shortening or lard The Utah County Health Department instituted a county-wide mask Place rack in lowest position of oven. stirring occasionally, until sugar 2 tsp Knorr chicken flavored 6 cups masa harina mandate with restrictions recently moving back to a moderate level, Remove turkey neck and giblets; is dissolved. Stir in cranberries bouillon 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder from yellow to orange. Lorin Utsch, a 2019 graduate of El Dorado rinse turkey; pat dry with paper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat Black pepper to taste 50 dried corn husks about 8” long High School, is a sophomore at Brigham Young University. She said towel. Place breast up on a rack and let simmer until sauce has 1 onion, quartered In a large Dutch oven, bring COVID-19 has changed everything on that campus. in the roasting pan. Loosely fill thickened (about 15 minutes). Let 1 carrot, rough chop pork, water, onion, garlic and 1 “The start of the semester here saw a huge spike in cases, and the body cavity with apples and cool completely before serving. 1 stalk celery, rough chop and a half teaspoon of salt to boil. everyone seemed to know at least one person that had it,” she said. onions. Rub the skin with butter 1 bay leaf (optional) Simmer until meat is tender. Drain “Luckily, the rate of positive cases has slowed significantly and so I and put a few cubes under the skin MASHED POTATOES 1 can cream of chicken soup and reserve broth and cool pork do not expect that they will switch us entirely online or remote. This if possible. Season with salt and For fluffy mashed potatoes that 1 can cream of celery soup and liquid. If you refrigerate broth, being said, most people already are taking online classes, or classes pepper. Loosely place some foil really soak up gravy and butter, Heat oven to 400 degrees and the fat will form a cap on top of that are online some days and in person the rest. A handful of classes over the bird. I reach for Russets. If you desire put a 9-inch cast-iron skillet inside the liquid that is easily removed. are operating in person, but you are socially distanced and wearing Place in the oven; pour 2 cups stock in the bottom of roasting a richer, heavier version, go for to heat while you make the batter. Shred the meat using two forks. masks the entire time, and you have to wipe down your area before pan. You do not need to baste the a recipe that uses Yukon Golds Combine cornmeal, flour, powder, Strain the broth and reserve 6 and after the lecture. Because all but one of my classes are online, I turkey. Every time you open the instead. salt, soda, buttermilk, eggs and cups. Heat the chili sauce and add usually do class from my apartment, which gets a bit hectic when my oven to baste, all the heat escapes! Ingredients (serves 8): 6 large onion and beat vigorously for meat. Simmer five to 10 minutes, other roommates are attempting to do the same. I think everyone is About an hour in, open the oven, Russet potatoes, peeled and cut in 30 seconds. Grease your skillet covered. getting a bit of cabin fever, but it has led to a lot of creative ways to lift the foil, pour the rest of the half lengthwise and pour the batter in. Bake until Soak the corn husks in warm socialize and decompress, usually involving going on drives in the stock over the bird and place the ½ cup butter golden brown (about 20 minutes). water for around 20 minutes while mountains or playing games online.” foil back on. Remove foil after two 1 cup whole milk Crumble into a big mixing bowl. you do the next steps. The National Merit Scholar Finalist has maintained a 4.0 grade point and a half hours. Roast until a meat Salt and pepper to taste Prepare chicken broth by For the masa, beat shortening average. The pandemic didn’t hurt her concentration on academics. In thermometer inserted in the thick Place potatoes into a large pot placing chicken in a stock pot and on medium for one minute. In a fact, it might have helped. part of the thigh reads 165 degrees. Cook time is a grand total of three and cover with water. Bring to a cover with water. Throw in the separate bowl, stir together masa “All of our classes switched online in March, so I finished up last to four hours. Transfer the turkey boil, reduce heat to medium low, quartered onion, carrot, celery harina, baking powder, and 2 semester entirely from home,” said Utsch. “It was definitely difficult to to a large serving platter, and let it cover, and simmer until tender (20 and bay leaf. Bring to boil and teaspoons of salt. Alternately add stay motivated and find a good schedule, but I also had less distractions rest for 15 minutes before carving. to 25 minutes). Drain, and return take down to a simmer. Cook until masa harina mixture and broth to since all social events were cancelled. I think the professors also were Above: potatoes to pot. Crank the heat to chicken falls off the bone. Drain shortening, beating well after each scrambling to switch their curriculum online, so most of my classes El Dorado High School grad Lorin high and allow potatoes to dry for the broth and reserve the chicken addition. Add just enough broth to were very understanding and lenient about the entire situation.” Utsch is in her second year of studying 30 seconds. Turn off the heat. meat. make a thick, creamy paste. A journalism major, Utsch is an avid writer who has paid attention to journalism at Brigham Young University. Mash potatoes with a potato Mix the bouillon into the broth Drain the husks and remove any She said studying, often virtually, has the media’s coverage of the coronavirus. masher (or whisk) just twice and pour over the crumbled corn silk. To assemble, spread 2 been an interesting experience this year, “I feel that some journalists are inputting too much opinion into their around the pot, then add butter cornbread. Add chicken and both tablespoons of masa mixture in and coupled with her observations of reports — on both sides,” she said. “While commentary can be helpful and milk. Continue to mash until cans of soup. Stir up really well. the center of husk and smear close COVID-19 coverage in the media, she’s to give context to the situation, I also think that readers and citizens smooth and fluffy. Whisk in the Add the black pepper to taste to the edges. Place 1 tablespoon had a strange learning experience. should be able to analyze the facts for themselves, and journalists salt and black pepper. Be sure not and stir. Pour into a 9-by-13 inch of meat and sauce mixture in the just have the responsibility to report those facts to help them stay CONTRIBUTED PHOTO to over whisk or you’ll end up baking dish (I use glass). Bake at middle of the masa. Fold in the informed. I have not written anything specifically on COVID-19, but with gluey potatoes (yuck!). Just 15 375 degrees till it loses the jiggle in sides of the husk and fold up the other papers I am working on do emphasize the effect that it has had seconds will do. the middle (around 60 minutes). on specific world events.” n RECIPES continue on 22

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