Foolproof Gravy Recipes

Steps:

• Pour drippings from roasting pan into bowl, leaving brown particles in pan. Return 1/4 cup drippings to roasting pan. (Measure accurately because too little fat makes gravy lumpy.) Stir in flour. (Measure accurately so gravy is not greasy.)
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Stir in liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in salt and pepper.

Steps:

• In a large (10 to 12-inch) saute pan, cook the butter and onions over medium-low heat for 12 to 15 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. Don't rush this step; it makes all the difference when the onions are well-cooked.
• Sprinkle the flour into the pan, whisk in, then add the salt and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock mixture and Cognac, and cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes until thickened. Add the wine and cream, if desired. Season, to taste, and serve.

Steps:

• Remove turkey from the roasting pan. In a small jar, shake flour with water until smooth; set aside.
• Leaving carrot, onion, and turkey neck in the pan, remove 2 to 3 tablespoons of fat from the bottom, using a baster.
• Place pan over medium heat; add chicken broth. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Simmer the mixture until the sauce has darkened, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the vegetables and the turkey neck from the pan, and discard. Strain the sauce into a large measuring cup; discard any solids. You should have approximately 3 1/2 cups of strained liquid; add more stock if needed.
• Return the liquid to the pan; bring it to a simmer. Whisking constantly, gradually add the flour mixture.
• Cook mixture until gravy is smooth, has no lumps, and is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, 10 to 12 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Stage 1 MAKE BROTH.
• Up to 3 days ahead cut turkey neck and heart in half.
• Put into a large saucepan along with gizzard and remaining broth ingredients.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours.
• Add liver and simmer 30 minutes longer or until gizzard is very tender.
• Remove giblets to a cutting board.
• Strain broth into a large cup measure, pressing vegetables to extract as much broth as possible.
• Discard vegetables.
• Add water to broth if needed, to make 6 cups.
• Chop giblets and neck meat.
• Refrigerate.
• Stage 2 THICKEN BROTH.
• Mash butter and flour with a fork until blended to a paste. Break into 4 chunks.
• Bring broth to a boil, reduce heat to low and gradually whisk in flour mixture, 1 chunk at a time, until blended.
• Whisk until thickened and boiling. Boil 3 minutes minutes longer to cook out any "floury" taste.
• Cover surface of gravy to keep skin from forming.
• Refrigerate.
• Stage 3 FINISH GRAVY.
• After turkey is removed from roasting pan: Spoon fat off pan drippings and discard.
• Stir juices in pan (add up to 2°C water if juices have evaporated), scraping up brown bits on bottom of pan.
• Add no more than 2 cups of drippings to gravy or it will be too thin.
• Stir in giblets and neck meat.
• Heat and season to taste.