The Turkey Has Landed

I woke up this morning with a smile on my face! Today was our early Thanksgiving, and I had an 11am pick-up time for our turkey from Sam Woo. This November has been alot warmer then I remember, and I snapped this photo as I was out walking the "Boyz":

That's Fiesta Island, Mission Bay, and the Mission Bay Bridge; such a good reminder of why we live here.

I left for Sam Woo at about 1045, while the Missus started on her Dan Bing - Mandarin Pancakes; we'd decided on making this for the turkey. It is classically served with Peking Duck, minced squab, roast duck, and such. We were also aware that turkey can be a little dry, especially since this turkey would be roasted "duck-style." The recipe we used as the based on the one in Pei Mei's Chinese Cookbook Volume1:

We have always had good results from recipes in Pei Mei's Books. We did have to make several changes, and we'll note those. But as complicated as it may seem; these pancakes have only 4 ingredients!

Dan Bing

3Cups White Enriched High Gluten Flour (The English translation says Wheat Flour, but the Chinese version says High Gluten White, in cases like this we always go with the original.)
1Cup Boiling Water
1/3 Cup Cold Water
1Tb Sesame Oil

1 - Add 1 Cup of boiling water to the flour and mix well. Slowly add 1/3 Cup cold water to "dough", you may not need all of the water. Today the Missus only needed a few tablespoons. Knead dough until smooth. Cover and let rest for at least 30 minutes (the recipe says 15, but this  was not nearly enough).

2 - Working on a lightly floured board, divide dough into 2 parts and roll each into rolls 15 inches long and 2 inches round. Cut and pinch dough into 1 inch pieces. Flatten each piece with your hand.

3 - Lightly oil the whole top surface of one of the flattened pieces with sesame oil.

4 - Lay a second the second piece of dough on top of the oiled surface of dough. Pat down and, then roll the dough out, until both layers are very thin, to about 5 inch "pancakes".

5 - Cook pancake(s) in an unoiled pan using medium heat, until you see bubbles rise. (This will take anywhere from 10 - 30 seconds) Turn and cook until second side is slightly brown.

6 - Remove and separate the two pancakes. (Believe me, it does work!!!)

You can stack these pancakes and cover with a dry towel. Pei Mei also notes that you can make this in advance, stack, covered, and refrigerated. You then heat them in a steamer.

Oh, what about the turkey you may ask?

I arrived at Sam Woo, turned in my receipt, and the bird was brought out on a hook, just like the duck and chicken. It was then wrapped in foil, placed in a bag, and I was on my way. The entire car smelled of roast duck. And indeed the skin tasted like that of roast duck, though the texture was a little tougher.

The white meat was dry as anticipated, the dark meat had much more flavor. The white meat, with a piece of skin, green onion brushes, hoisin sauce, in a pancake:

Altogether delici-yoso!!! BTW, I received a quart of the duck "jus, sauce", or whatever it's called; but it's pretty heinous stuff. You'd be better off with hoisin. Altogether not bad, for a $20 Turkey. I also made some Gailan with Oyster Sauce, in addition to the other side dishes I had made earlier. We somehow managed to finish off half of the duck turkey, and the Boyz got a healthy share.

Tonight, I'll have a night of blissful Tryptophan sleep!

Comments

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - You can find MEalcentric at:

http://mealcentric.blogspot.com/

I think you'll love his posts on his visits to Thailand and Vietnam.

[Jo]

THANK YOU! Actually, I found him with a single word on GooGle ;o) I really hurt for the price he paid for what he didn't get! I've been hearing about these things for a lot of years now. The cajun folk I know are CRAZY about them!

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - Too bad he didn't get to eat it, huh?

[Jo]

::sighs and shakes her head:: Oh man, is it ever! I know I've been bragging that NEXT year we will be eating a turkey we've raised ourselves. But I'll tell you true, if we suddenly become the epitome of farming perfection and make a million at the farmer's market OR I write the Great American Novel in the next few months, I'll be eating turduken next year!

[Jo]

OH yea, nearly forgot... I'm doing our turkey in a brine with star anise, cinnamon, and some dry red thai chilies. Tomorrow I'll try your pancakes but I'm going to add a bit of sweet potato to the dough. Whaddya tink?

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - I'm sure we'll hear about your meal soon - hope you have a good ne!

[Jo]

ummm... YES! I'm doing the leftover bird with the sweet potato pancakes tomorrow, I hope! Boy was our bird sweet and tasty and juicy!!!