Turkey Tetrazzini

After three days of eating turkey, it needed a make over. So, I made turkey tetrazzini, it can be eaten with rice, boiled potatoes or pasta. I prefer egg noodles. This is a warm, cozy, comfort food-kind of dish. Waste not, want not.

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup flour

2 cups chicken broth

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup milk

Big sprig of thyme

Nutmeg

Cayenne pepper

Salt and black pepper

4-6 cups diced turkey

6 oz. Parmesan Reggiano or Asagio cheese

10 oz. mushrooms (I used half white and half shitake mushrooms)

1 tbsp. butter

Dash of chicken broth

1-2 lbs. egg noodles

Chopped parsley for garnish

Melt butter over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk until incorporated for a few minutes. Slowly add 2 cups heavy cream and 1 cup of milk. Add a nice big handful of thyme, nutmeg and cayenne pepper (use as much nutmeg and cayenne as you want -- always taste your product) and stir constantly until mixture has thickened. Basically, you have just made a bechamel sauce. Continue cooking sauce for about 5-7 minutes over medium-low heat, then remove thyme. Add 2 cups of broth, add the turkey and mix together. Turn up heat to medium-high and bring up to a low boil and lightly boil for a few minutes to incorporate flavors. Stir constantly so it doesn't burn. You may have to adjust your heat.

For Mushrooms:

In a separate saute pan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, a pinch of salt, and the dash of chicken broth. What I mean by a "dash" of chicken broth is a quarter of a cup. Continue cooking mushrooms by stirring until they are soft enough to add to turkey mixture.

Roasted Whole Branzino with an Herb Garlic Rub

A branzino is a European sea bass, ranging from 1-3 pounds and has firm white flesh. Great for grilling and roasting. Here, I roasted it with a garlic and herb rub and it is the easiest thing in the world to do. 

1 Branzino, gutted; if you don't know how to do this, have your fish monger do it; leave the head on for presentation

Rosemary

Thyme

Oregano, use as much as you want of these 3 herbs

3-4 garlic cloves

1 1/2 tsp salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Enough extra virgin olive oil to create a paste

1/2 lemon sliced into 4 slices

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees with rack in the center of the oven. 

Make 4 scores with a sharp knife in the fish on both sides. Remove desired amount of herbs from the stalks and process in a small food processor with garlic, salt and pepper and just enough olive oil to create a paste. It will take about 1/8 cup of olive oil. Smear the inside of the fish with the paste and then continue smearing the paste over both sides of the fish.

Place the 4 slices of lemon into the cavity of the fish and place in a roasting pan that is just large enough to hold the fish. Place in oven and roast for 25 minutes.