Sweet Potato Eggplant Gravy - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup dripping, from the turducken plus the reserved duck skin
4 cups eggplants, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cups onions, chopped
1 cup sweet potato, peeled and finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
3 bay leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons white pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
8 8 cups turkey stock or 8 cups duck stock
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 cup sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1/2 cup green onion, finely chopped

Preparation

Place the drippings and duck skin in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 cups of the eggplant and saute until eggplant starts to get soft, translucent and brown, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the onions and remaining 1 cup eggplant. cook until the onions start to brown, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the finely chopped sweet potatoes. Continue cooking and stirring for 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the bay leaves, 1 teaspoon of the salt, 1 teaspoon each of the white and red peppers, the mustard and thyme. Stir well, scraping the pan bottom as needed.
Stir in 1 cup of the stock into the vegetables and cook 2 minutes, then add 1 more cup of stock. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/4 cup of the sugar and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add another 1 cup of stock and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1 cup more stock. Cook 10 minutes, then add another 1 cup of stock and cook 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer 13 minutes. Stir in another 1 cup stock and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and strain well, forcing as much liquid as possible through the strainer.
Place the strained gravy in a 2 quart saucepan. Add the diced sweet potatoes and 1 cup stock. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes, skimming any froth from the surface. Stir in the Grand Marnier and continue simmering for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the green onions, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, white and red pepper, and the FINAL cup of stock. Bring gravy to a boil and simmer until it reduces to about 3 cups, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Yield: About 3 cups.