Must Haves For Preparing Thanksgiving Dinner

There are so many kitchen utensils, gadgets, and appliances on the market today, the line
between "needs" and "wants" often becomes blurred. Personally, my eyes glaze over when I enter the kitchen-gadget section of most any store. Over the years, I have acquired an embarrassingly large array of kitchen equipment. Some I use almost daily, other things mostly take up valuable space. When it comes to preparing a massive meal like Thanksgiving Day dinner, I have learned (often the hard way) there are some tools I would not want to do without.

Here is a list of my top must-haves:

·Heavy bottomed Roasting Pan-buy the best you can afford. Roasting a turkey in one of those throwaway aluminum pans, you will not have very good drippings for flavorful pan gravy. Thin aluminum is not a good conductor of heat, and so you also risk burning your bird. Years ago, I took the plunge and purchased a heavy duty roasting pan. I have never regretted it. I use it for roasting chickens, rib roasts, crown pork roasts, beef tenderloin, pork loin, ham, and of course, turkey.

·Fat separator-when you pour pan drippings into a fat separator, the fat and flavorful juices are almost immediately separated. Then, you can easily pour the drippings into your gravy, giving it true depth of flavor (something you can never get from bottled or powdered gravy). You can pour the drippings into a glass bowl, and then spoon off the fat, but a fat separator makes the task easier and more precise.

·Meat thermometer-if you have ever cut into a main dish, and had it be raw, you know the importance of reliable thermometer.

·Oven safe serving containers-for a huge dinner like Thanksgiving dinner, I avoid using grandma's heirloom bowl, simply because I want to minimize cleanup and streamline preparation. Whenever possible, use cook and serve containers.

·Carving Knife and Fork-my mother always used (and still uses) an electric knife, but we prefer a sharp carving knife and fork. A good set is not cheap, but with proper care, will last a lifetime. Whatever you prefer, make sure to have your carving set handy.

·Lovely platter-whether you carve the turkey at the table, or in the kitchen, remember to purchase (or borrow) a large enough platter. Garnish, garnish, garnish. A garnished turkey platter is certain to receive plenty of oohs and aahs. Use fresh herbs, cranberries, kumquats, or whatever else you have on hand.

Adlen Robinson is a free lance food writer and columnist. Feel free to send her an email with your questions at [email protected].