Jacques Pepin's Thanksgiving Celebration

Jacques is fond of saying that Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday after all, it's the one holiday devoted entirely to cooking and eating. In this tribute to turkey with all the trimmings, we get a peek at how one of the worlds greatest French chefs prepares Thanksgiving dinner in his American home. It begins with two appetizers made from Jacques Instant Home-Cured Salmon: Salmon Tartare with a delicate cucumber salad and salmon caviar; and velvety Salmon Gravlax cured with cognac, served with cucumber, sweet onion, and rye bread. Then, it's on to the main event: a plump, juicy Roasted Turkey with apple cider glaze and buttery Bread-and-Mushroom Stuffing. On the sideboard, there are Jacques Brussels Sprouts, a creamy, bubbly, decadent Gratin of Butternut Squash, and an alternative to traditional cranberry sauce, a spicy Cherry-Ginger Chutney. Two sensational desserts complete the feast: a Chocolate-Bourbon-Prune Cake with Caramelized Pecans and whipped cream; and Pears Poached in Citrus Juice with a simple, country style home cake.