OK Boop I'm going to give you my family recipe I use and my disclaimer and warning, I never measure so I will try to get as close as I can but most of the time I follow the rule of start small and keep adding to taste. If you can get 2 cups of drippings, add 1 to 2 cups of chicken stock. Then add the turkey neck and the turkey butt to the pot. Next add poultry seasoning, sage, salt and pepper to taste. Normally I add a bit of poultry seasoning and sage, let it simmer for awhile and then add more to taste. Next add 3 to 4 boiled eggs cut up, about a tablespoon of butter and let the whole thing simmer on low to slightly medium until it finally starts a good rolling boil. During the cooking process, stir every now and then mostly to make sure that it is not sticking in the pan. When you have a good rolling boil, then add a little water to a cup and slowly add a tablespoon, possibly two, depending on how much gravy you wind up making, of flower and stir in the cup until it is smooth. If you add the flour slowly and stir into the water quickly, it won't be lumpy. Once you have a smooth non lumpy flour misture, pour this mixture into the gravy and again cook slowly until it comes to a boil. At this point then begin adding the additional poultry seasoning, sage and salt and pepper to taste and cook until thickened and that's it! It is really easy peasy and if you feel you have to measure the seasonings start with a teaspoon and keep adding until you get to get just the right taste level. If you get really stressed email me and I will give you my home number and I can walk you through it! Gobble gobble!!

Flour makes gravy thick. Cooling gravy gets very thick too. However, what has been said is that floured gravy that is cooked at a high heat for a long period of time will eventually lose its thickness. The key is that the floured gravy is cooked at a high heat for a long time. Something happens that results in a breakdown of the flour's ability to keep the gravy thick. If you normally don't heat your gravy at a high heat for extended periods of time, you would never encounter this situation. It's similar to the idea that browned flour, such as is used for making a traditional dark roux, doesn't have the thickening power of a lighter colored roux. So boiling a thin, floured gravy may not result in a thicker gravy. Not unless it is boiled enough to actually reduce the liquid quite a bit. "Sauces thickened with starches should be reheated carefully, as they will lose some thickening ability if reheated to a full boil."

Like Linda I always made gravy from a brined turkey. Also with a presalted turkey. If you haven't tried pre-salting you might want to try that instead of brining. I was a big fan of brining until I was introduced to presalting. Better and much easier than dealing with a big pail of water. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Pre-Salting =========== Judy Rogers' Zuni Cafe method Servings: 11 to 15 Note: This is more a technique than a recipe. It makes a bird that has concentrated turkey flavor and fine, firm flesh and that is delicious as it is. But you can add other flavors as you wish. Minced rosemary would be a nice finishing addition. Or brush the bird lightly with butter before roasting. ADVERTISEMENT 1 (12- to 16-pound) turkey Kosher salt 1. Wash the turkey inside and out, pat it dry and weigh it. Measure 1 tablespoon of salt into a bowl for every 5 pounds the turkey weighs (for a 15-pound turkey, you'd have 3 tablespoons). 2. Sprinkle the inside of the turkey lightly with salt. Place the turkey on its back and salt the breasts, concentrating the salt in the center, where the meat is thickest. You'll probably use a little more than a tablespoon. It should look liberally seasoned, but not over-salted. 3. Turn the turkey on one side and sprinkle the entire side with salt, concentrating on the thigh. You should use a little less than a tablespoon. Flip the turkey over and do the same with the opposite side. 4. Place the turkey in a 2 1/2 -gallon sealable plastic bag, press out the air and seal tightly. Place the turkey breast-side up in the refrigerator. Chill for 3 days, turning it onto its breast for the last day. 5. Remove the turkey from the bag. There should be no salt visible on the surface and the skin should be moist but not wet. Place the turkey breast-side up on a plate and refrigerate uncovered for at least 8 hours. 6. On the day it is to be cooked, remove the turkey from the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 7. Place the turkey breast-side down on a roasting rack in a roasting pan; put it in the oven. After 30 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and carefully turn the turkey over so the breast is facing up (it's easiest to do this by hand, using kitchen towels or oven mitts). 8. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees, return the turkey to the oven and roast until a thermometer inserted in the deepest part of the thigh, but not touching the bone, reads 165 degrees, about 2 3/4 hours total roasting. 9. Remove the turkey from the oven, transfer it to a warm platter or carving board; tent loosely with foil. Let stand at least 30 minutes to let the juices redistribute through the meat. Carve and serve. Each of 15 servings: 564 calories; 77 grams protein; 0 carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 26 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 261 mg. cholesterol; 856 mg. sodium. . Notes: This same method can be used for chicken, chicken pieces, pork roasts, ribs, chops, etc.. With the smaller cuts just pre-salt 4 or five hours in advance. Even this short period of pre-salting makes an amazing difference. Don't cover, just refrigerate and then remove from the fridge in time for the meat to come to room temperature before cooking.

I have 3 turkey legs I just bought this morning. I'm getting ready now to cut 3 celery stalks into 1/4's; 1 large diced onion & 3 lg carrots cut into 1/4's. I saute them for a few minutes and add parsley, salt & pepper. Then I brown the legs into this mixture until brown on all sides. Then add water to more than cover the legs & veggies, add a hpg 2 Tbs of chicken soup base & simmer until legs are tender. I then freeze this mixture when cooled, until the day before the big day. (I also remove the meat from the legs & dice real fine & add to my broth for extra full flavor for the gravy.