I asked my mom one year when I was planning a fancy sit down party around the holidays " what did your Mom serve at Christmas?" here was her response and recipe:
whole good sized goose fresh if you can get it.of coarse they raised their own on the farm like everything else!
My mom use to complain they never had sugar for lots of things as it was something they had to buy at the grocery..they raised sorghum molasses so that's what they had most of the time..but I digress!
So you clean and dress the goose ( and not in any of that silly made for outside weather yellow plastic raincoat stuff). This means to probably defrost eh goose unless you can get one fresh...just let it sit in a sink of cold water overnight..the old fashioned way brine.check neck cavity and inside the bird for parts.if you have cars they love these parts slowly cooked in spot big enough to add a little water. My mom's favorite part of any bird was the neck meat.have no idea why..maybe it came from the days back n the farm and the good parts went to the boys andnher dad...Frank Clodi ( by all her reports ot a nice man..wealthy tho as her mother came fro Ireland with money.but the minute she married everything she had was her husband's.) this is all according tomy Mom.
Anyway you generously salt and pepper then inside of the goose I actaully insert my pepper grinder..if you knwi what I mean?!euuuhhh!She always stuffed this bird as she would a turkey.
You salt and pepper the outside of the bird as well an tuck in all the parts and tie All up with kitchen string( if you are unfamiliar with this process look it up on math's Stewart..everything you need to know about cooking and keeping house is on her website).
And next is the most important part- know how you keep the breast meat moist..place large fat celery sticks over the breast securing them with toothpicks. Just be aure to remove them after cooking in toto( all the pieces together).
This will be the best goose you ever had..I cook everything pretty much in 350 oven.and you need an instant read thermometer to insert in the fleshiest part of the bird( not near a bone as that will give you a false reading!
When you think of it this Christmas meal is right oout ofmthe christmas carol...I read it every year and keep it in my purse for stolen moments..always savor the moment! As you get older you realize that is what is important in life..this moment when all things are Dorsey and warm..the lunch with a "partner in crime" the best girlfriend or if Yakuts really lucky your sister..mine is way out in California tho.
Bring back the best of Christmas and don't swerve a food network new and improved gourmet dinner...eat your Mom's best Roasted Duck and maybe even wear her special necklace she left you..take your family with you everywhere ( esp. The ones who are o longer with us). I'm sure they will be looking down at ou and saying.."Look Freddy( my Dad's name) she made my goose again.
Here's hoping your holidays are full of family and warm and cozy moments..savor them.and as Julia would say Bon Appetit!
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