My grandma's '5-minute' turkey gravy took me over an hour to get right because I didn't know you have to let the roux cook until it's the color of peanut butter. Anyone else have a family recipe with a hidden step like that?
My aunt's cornbread dressing recipe says to use "a couple of eggs." Turns out that means six jumbo eggs, and you have to beat them until your arm hurts. The bread just drinks it up. It's a workout they never warn you about.
Man that roux trick is exactly the kind of thing they assume everyone just KNOWS, drives me nuts. @jessica_miller I feel your pain on those biscuit instructions too, my grandma's "handful of flour" nearly ruined Thanksgiving one year.