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What's Cooking November 2009?

This month's "What's Cooking" is special - November marks the beginning of the holiday cooking frenzy.  Sadly, this month is also special because it brings the last issue of...

PEGGY FALLON

Gather

Entertaining cookbooks abound, but this one by veteran food pro Georgeanne Brennan stands out from the rest-a refreshing blend of practicality and style.

The chapters are first divided into seasons-which...

SOPHIA MARKOULAKIS

In Season: Heirloom Apples variety choices and recipes to try

Apples are some of the most adaptable fruits in nature and in the kitchen. Throughout their lengthy history, the apple has reinvented itself several times over, often overcoming...

HEATHER JONES

I have always loved Bread; I was one of those kids who would happily walk around the house eating it by the slice, but it would be many years...

HEATHER JONES

Frugal Foodie - A Very Frugal Thanksgiving

For some, the idea of entertaining is positively frightening, especially during the Holiday season.  Once you have the guest list put together, you develop your menu, write up that...

VIRGINIA WILLIS

Thanksgiving Favorites: Don't Mess with the Mess

Written by Virginia Willis

Turkey is a given. Some families may experiment with some other form of roast beast for Christmas, but in our family,...

Thanksgiving Baking: The Next Generation

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Foodie Talk
Written by Team Project Foodie   
Friday, 20 November 2009

Written by Cindy Mushet 

ImageFor a food lover, there's no better holiday than Thanksgiving.  An entire day devoted to the preparation and enjoyment of a bountiful meal with family and friends - now there's something to be thankful for!  

Between a tumbling economy and a bumpy recovery, we're all counting our blessings extra carefully this year.  And our pennies.  In my home, the over-the-top Thanksgiving extravaganza will be a little less, well, extravagant.  That doesn't mean there won't be an abundance of good food, just a re-focus on the number of dishes and who prepares them.  This year I'm relaxing a bit, and inviting family to share in the preparation.  Best of all, the kids are helping, too.  My 11-year old daughter Bella and her cousins are making place settings as an arts-and-crafts project, and I can't wait to see what they come up with.  She already has ideas on how the tables should be set.  

She'll be helping me in the kitchen, as well, which she loves to do - just as long as she thinks it was her idea. Last night we sat down to plan out the desserts, and she opened "her" book to get some ideas.  Bella tested all the recipes in my new book (er, our new book), Baking Kids Love, and helped me choose and refine those that were included. There are even tips from her in every recipe, written straight to the kids using the book. So now that she's the "expert," she wanted to plan the baking for Thanksgiving.  I gave her the thumbs up and held my breath while she worked on the list. 

You see, if Bella had her druthers, there'd be no pumpkin pie.  She's unclear on her dislike for it, but there's no way it will pass her lips.  However, I - and many others in my large family - love pumpkin pie dearly, and can't imagine Thanksgiving without it.  As she worked, I prepared myself for a possible skirmish to keep pumpkin pie on the menu.

I was pleasantly surprised that she took her time making the list, and asked me several questions about the likes and dietary restrictions of various family members.  She knows I've long spoiled my parents, 5 brothers and sisters, and all their children with sweets galore on every holiday.  I love that she wants to continue that tradition, and is giving thought to what aunts, uncles and cousins might enjoy. 

In the end, I was impressed with Bella's list from the book.  She focused on fall fruits and recipes that will please all factions of the family.  There's a rustic apple pie, chocolate chunk bread pudding, chewy oatmeal cookies, and vanilla cupcakes she intends to top with chocolate ganache frosting and little candy pumpkins (or caramelized nuts for Grandma).  She even wants to make corn muffins to accompany the turkey dinner, and says she'll "supervise" some of the other kids and show them how to do it. 

At the top of her list is pumpkin gingerbread, a fragrant fall cake she can make all by herself by simply whisking together the liquid ingredients, then blending them into the dry ones.  Baked in a classic bundt pan and showered with powdered sugar, it's a beautiful, stress-free centerpiece for the dessert table.  Even better, it can be made ahead and stays moist for days.  That's my girl!  I've included the recipe for you here.  We're going to serve it with generous spoonfuls of whipped cream and warm caramel sauce. 

And the surprise for mom?  There, at the bottom of the list, is "mom's famous pumpkin pie."  Sigh. My little girl is growing up.  Now if only I could get her to eat it! 

Pumpkin Gingerbread

From Baking with Kids by Sur La Table and Cindy Mushet, Andrews McMeel (2009).

Makes a big 10-inch bundt cake

Note from Bella:  This cake always makes me think of snuggling in front of the fire on a cold night.  It's easy to whip up when you get the craving because you just stir everything together in a bowl.


Tools

  • Large bowl
  • Sieve
  • Whisk
  • Medium bowl
  • Silicone spatula
  • 10-inch bundt pan, well buttered or sprayed and coated with fine, dry breadcrumbs
  • Flat 10 to 12-inch serving plate or cake stand

Cake

  • 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1/2 cup canola or corn oil
  • 1/2 cup light, unsulphured molasses
  • 1/2 cup water

To finish

  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, for dusting the top

1.  Before you begin: Generously butter or spray the bundt pan and dust it with fine, dry breadcrumbs.  Position an oven rack in the center of the oven.  Preheat the oven to 350 F.

2.  Make the cake: Sift the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and salt into the large bowl.  Push through any lumps with your fingers.  Whisk to blend the mixture evenly.

Place the egg, sugar and pumpkin in the medium bowl and whisk until well mixed.  Add the oil, molasses and water and whisk until smooth and blended.  

Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients.  Whisk gently at first, and then, as the mixture blends, whisk faster, until it is a smooth batter and you don't see any more dry patches.

3.  Bake the cake: Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the top.  Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top feels firm and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for 20 minutes.  You need to turn this cake out of the pan while it is warm (but not hot).

4. Unmold and serve the cake: Set the serving plate upside-down on top of the cake pan.  Hold the plate and pan together like a sandwich, then flip them over.  Be sure to ask your adult for help if this is too tricky.  The cake will fall out of the pan onto the plate.  Serve warm, or let the cake cool completely.

Just before serving, place the powdered sugar in the sieve and hold it over the cake.  Tap the side of the sieve gently as you move it slowly over the top, showering it evenly with sugar.

Playing Around

If you LOVE ginger, you can bump up the flavor by stirring 1/3 cup candied ginger pieces into the batter, or adding a tablespoon of grated fresh ginger after you add the eggs.

About Cindy Mushet

ImageCindy Mushet has been a pastry chef, instructor and author for over 20 years.  Her new book, Baking Kids Love, is a collaboration with Sur La Table, and was released in September.  Her previous book, The Art and Soul of Baking, won the IACP cookbook award for best baking book 2009, and was a cookbook club pick for Gourmet Magazine.  She is currently a patisserie instructor at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in LosAngeles.

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 November 2009 )
 

Talking Turkey: Why Breeding Matters?

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Foodie Talk
Written by Team Project Foodie   
Thursday, 19 November 2009

Written by Joy Manning

ImageEvery year, the Thanksgiving Day table is set hours ahead, bowls and platters at the ready, marked with notes so nothing is forgotten. Scraps of papers bearing lists, recipes, ingredients, timelines, flutter around the kitchen like so many fall leaves. It's the feast of the year and in most homes a dozen or more dishes are served. But in the mad dash to cook an unforgettable holiday meal, the star of the meal, the turkey, is often an afterthought. Sometimes it's even a freebie. Many grocery chains give away turkeys to customers who have accrued sufficient points by shopping there all year. One nibble of these birds make it clear why it's so easy for the stuffing, dressing, roasted vegetables, cheese plate, canapés, spinach dip, mashed potatoes, marshmallowed yams, and pumpkin pie to steal the show. These birds taste like nothing. They have had the flavor bred out of them.

But the dry-and-flavorless reputation turkey has is the least of its problems. Mass market birds are all one variety: the broad breasted white. A Frankenstein of a turkey bred over generations for grotesquely large breasts. These factory-raised specimens are not even able to breed naturally; roaming the land, pecking at bugs, and enjoying any quality of life is out of the question for them. Like all factory farmed animals, they are gorged on commodity corn so they reach slaughter weight fast. They present the familiar set of environmental health concerns of all factory farmed animals, and they taste bad to boot.

Before the broad breasted white was coaxed into existence, there were other breeds of turkey, such as the magnificent Bourbon Red, that tasted better and functioned as a natural part of the farm ecosystem. These birds, known as heritage breeds, were driven near extinction in recent years, but now food enthusiasts have renewed the demand for their robust flavors. They don't require brining or a coating of bacon to make them appetizing. Finding one takes a few minutes of research and, naturally, heritage breeds costs significantly more, but if you take the time to find and cook one this year, you'll be rewarded with a main dish that finally puts those roasted Brussels sprouts in their place. LocalHarvest.org is a good place to start looking for a heritage turkey source near you. Don't forget to make a batch of turkey stock the next day to maximize your investment; the roasted bones of a heritage turkey make for delicious soups, stews, and sauces all through the holiday season.

About Joy Manning

Joy Manning is the coauthor of Almost Meatless (10 Speed Press, 2009). She is also the restaurant critic for Philadelphia Magazine. Her work has also appeared in Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Relish, and Inked magazines. She blogs at OysterEvangelist.com.
 

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 November 2009 )
 

A New Thanksgiving Favorite: Quince and Butternut Squash

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Foodie Talk
Written by Marie Simmons   
Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Written by Marie Simmons 

ImageWalking through the neat rows of vegetables at La Cocina Que Canta (the culinary school at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, where I teach cooking classes) Salvador, the head gardener, regales me with his enthusiastic review of what's at its peak in the 7 acre organic garden adjacent to the school.

"Look at the quince," he exclaims with his unbridled enthusiasm. "Look how many are on the tree."  His hands move fast through the heavily laden branches as he fills his arms and mine with as many as we can juggle. Immediately, my mind is racing to the kitchen as I try to imagine how I can cook the quince for the mystery recipe I need to pull together for the afternoon cooking class I'm teaching in a few hours.

Although the menus for the classes are planned in advance, guest chefs at the school have an opportunity to teach an extra recipe based on what looks fabulous in the garden on any given day. I happen to love the spontaneity-and challenge-of making up a recipe at the last minute. Calling it a "mystery" is appropriate because the students don't know ahead of time, nor does the teacher, which makes it fun - and a great teaching moment.
 
After making the rounds, the quince now comfortably nestled in my bunched up apron, Salvador, leads me down the steps to his "cold cellar." It's a Norman Rockwell painting. On roughly contrasted shelves along two walls and lined up on a big wooden table in the center of the small space are even rows of winter squash: butternut, acorn and spaghetti squash organized by type. Along a third wall are perfectly stacked rows of bunched garlic. When I see the curvaceous butternut squash - a personal favorite - the mystery recipe pops into my head: I'll cube quince and butternut squash, toss them with olive oil and seasonings and roast them in the oven.

I'm excited and curious because I've never roasted quince, but my intuition tells me if the pieces are small enough and they're roasted tightly covered, they should take about the same time to cook as the squash. It turns out I'm right.

Seasoned with broken cinnamon sticks, long thin strips of orange zest and a splash of fresh orange juice that gently perfume the vegetables, the students love the dish. They unanimously agree they want the recipe for their 2009 Thanksgiving menu.

I discover when I repeat the recipe for a different class the next day, the time-consuming peeling and cutting of the squash and quince can be done ahead of time, a bonus when prepping and cooking a Thanksgiving menu.

I also confirm the fact that peeling a whole squash is tough, so I first cut it in thick slices. Gosh, it's easier this way. I also discover the brittle buff colored skin comes off in long smooth strips without cracking when I use a swivel blade vegetable peeler, especially the newer serrated blade marketed as a tomato peeler, although they work well on peaches, pears, and apples, too.

If you're tempted to make this dish for Thanksgiving dinner I suggest you get the labor intensive stuff out of the way first:  peel and cube the squash and quince, toss them-in a heavy duty self closing plastic bag-with the olive oil and all the seasonings and keep in the refrigerator until ready to roast. (The quince may darken slightly, but don't worry, it'll be fine once roasted.)

Another preparation hint is to divide the roast time into two steps: roast the first half hour (covered) with foil until the vegetables are fork tender, remove from the oven, and let stand a few hours until about 30 minutes before serving. Then pop the sheet pan, this time uncovered, back in the oven for about 30 minutes, allowing a little extra time to warm up before they continue to toast and finally get a warm toasted glow along the edges.
 
For this recipe I thank Salvador, the brilliant garden manager at La Cocina Que Canta for his constant inspiration. 

Roasted Butternut Squash and Quince with Orange and Cinnamon

Recipe exclusive from Marie Simmons 

  • 2 pounds butternut squash
  • 1 pound quince (about 2 small)
  • 4 garlic cloves, trimmed, bruised with side of knife
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 strips (3 x1/2 inch) orange zest, cut into long thin slivers
  • 1 (4 inch long) cinnamon stick, broken in half
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or thyme leaves (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Cut the butternut squash into large chunks. Discard seeds and pulp. Quarter the quince and remove the cores. Remove the skins on the squash and quince with a vegetable peeler. Cut into cubes somewhere between ¼ and ½ inch, not larger. There should be about 6 cups squash and 3 cups quince.)

3. On a rimmed sheet pan (approximately 15 ½ x 10 ½ x 1 inch) combine the cubed squash, quince, garlic, olive oil, orange zest, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Toss with tongs or your hands to blend. Spread in an even layer on the sheet pan and cover tightly with foil.

4. Roast 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, uncover, and with a spatula turn the vegetables and stir to redistribute. Return to the oven and roast, uncovered, and roast 20 minutes or until the vegetables begin to brown slightly on the edges.

5. Vegetables can be roasted ahead and reheated in a warm oven. Sprinkle with fresh orange juice just before serving. Add a little rosemary or thyme, if desired.

About Marie Simmons

Image Marie Simmons, an award-winning cookbook author, recognized food writer, talented cooking teacher and a lively story teller has made a love of cooking, teaching and writing into a career rich in breadth and scope. She won a James Beard award for The Good Egg (Houghton Mifflin, 2000) and her latest book Things Cooks Love , the first cookbook from Sur La Table, was nominated for an International Association of Culinary Professionals Award.

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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 November 2009 )
 

Thanksgiving Favorites: Don't Mess with the Mess

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Foodie Talk
Written by Virginia Willis   
Tuesday, 17 November 2009

Written by Virginia Willis

Image
Photo by Kathy Waites
Turkey is a given. Some families may experiment with some other form of roast beast for Christmas, but in our family, as with many, serving turkey is constant. We've brined it, fried it, and smoked it. Served mass-produced birds, wild birds shot by a hunter in the family, and more recently, started using heritage birds as the beast for our grand feast. Funny part is, none of us are exceptionally fond of turkey, but simply put, it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it.

The amusing thing about Thanksgiving is it's the one meal that's almost immovable in terms of menu. Each family member has that one dish that is their favorite, and for some it's like the entire holiday is absolutely positively ruined if the sweet potatoes are topped with something other than toasty brown marshmallows or the Squash Casserole is missing. A day which is supposed to be a joyful gathering of family and friends instead becomes a day without sunshine. This I know. The deal is, dishes can be added, but nothing can be removed from the menu. I learned this the hard way. As a chef and now in charge of most of the savory aspects of the Thanksgiving meal (Mama still does the desserts) I have tried to branch out a bit. I once put panko breadcrumbs on the squash casserole and I sincerely felt like an enemy of the state.

One dish I absolutely won't mess with is the mess of greens. I have had, without fail, some form of cooked winter greens at every Thanksgiving meal of my entire life. I dare say even longer than turkey because my grandmother, whom I called Meme, cooked them for hours until they were meltingly soft. They were indeed as appropriate as pablum for an infant. During the fall, I generally like them a bit more toothsome (see recipe below), but I know better. For Thanksgiving I cook them just like Meme did, in a salty smoky broth flavored with hog jowl (see recipe below). The fat melts and the pot likker is oily and slick, perfect for sipping later and enjoying with a wedge of cornmeal.

In late November, the fields have been kissed with a touch of frost, something that Meme said brings out the sweetness in the bitter collard, kale, or mustard greens. They are at the beginning of the peak of the season and absolutely the epitome of eating local and in season. Sweet potatoes and panko are one thing. Messing with the greens is quite another.
 
If it's not broke...

Collards with Hog Jowl

Recipe by Virginia Willis

Serves 4 to 6

Kale, collards, turnip greens, and mustard greens are dark leafy winter greens that are nutritional powerhouses and familiar friends on the Southern table. Look for brightly colored greens free of brown spots, yellowing edges, or limp leaves. Try flavorful seasonings such as smoked turkey or ham hock for the meat eaters and smoked salt or chipotle chiles for the vegetarians.
 
The best way to clean greens is to first remove the tough stalks and stems. Fill a clean sink with cold water. Place the greens in water and swish around, allowing the grit to fall to the bottom the sink. Lift greens out of the sink and transfer to a large bowl and rinse the sink. Repeat the process at least three times or more as needed until no grit remains.

  • 2 pounds assorted greens, such as collard, kale, mustard, or turnip
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 medium Vidalia onions, chopped
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 pound hog jowl or fat back, sliced
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the water and hog jowl and bring to a boil, gradually stir in the greens, allowing each batch to wilt before adding more; season with salt and pepper.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook, until greens are tender, stirring occasionally, about 60 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, transfer greens to a serving dish.

Spicy Collards with Smoked Turkey - Not Meme's greens!

Recipe by Virginia Willis

Serves 8

  • 5 pounds assorted greens, such as collard, kale, mustard or turnip
  • 2 medium Vidalia onions, chopped
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
  • 1 smoked turkey leg, about 1 1/2 pounds
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Fill a clean sink with cold water. Tear greens into large pieces and place in water to soak.  Lift greens out of the sink and transfer to a large bowl, allowing grit to fall to the bottom the sink, rinse sink. Repeat process at least three times or more as needed.

Using a large pot over high heat, combine onions, oil, jalapeno and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, gradually stir in the greens, allowing each batch to wilt before adding more.  Add the turkey leg and cover with greens, season with salt and pepper.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook, until greens are tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes, being careful not to over cook.  Remove the turkey leg, cool slightly and remove meat from leg. Dice meat and add to greens. Using a slotted spoon, transfer greens to a serving dish.

About Virginia Willis

ImageVirginia Willis is a French-trained chef, television producer, food stylist, cooking teacher and food writer. Formerly Martha Stewart Living's kitchen manager. She is the author of the wildly popular, Bon Appetit Y'all, and is currently working on her second book. She makes her home in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 November 2009 )
 

Tryptophan and Cheese

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Foodie Talk
Written by Team Project Foodie   
Monday, 16 November 2009

Written by Liz Thorpe

ImageThanksgiving is a tricky holiday for me. Though I host every year, I lack any kind of adventurous impulse. When the food mags come out with their pornographic close-ups of homemade sausage-sage stuffing and colonial cranberry sauce I settle in for some transportive reading. But I never actually make the stuff. For me, Thanksgiving is about recreating what my mother made, as accurately as humanly possible, which means Pepperidge Farm stuffing from a bag and a liberal shake of Bell's turkey seasoning. Thanksgiving is about ease and comfort. It's the glass of Gamay that remains half-full from noon onwards, and sitting down to eat at 4PM just as the dusky clouds roll over Brooklyn. Typically, I'm sautéing onions and celery in three sticks of butter by 8AM and I don't eat anything until I fall famished on the afternoon table. I'd like to think that my guests enjoy a somewhat more civilized experience, though sweatpants often reign supreme.

Given the rhythm of the day, cheese appears, though atypically for my house, before the meal. I rarely serve cheese as an appetizer, preferring to offer a lovely little mid-course between dinner and dessert. I tend to be of the opinion that big, limp slabs of Brie only fill you up, preventing the enjoyment of a carefully constructed meal. But at Thanksgiving it's all day grazing. Turkey sandwiches are being made at 9PM to soak up half a day of drinking, so why not a cheese course when everyone arrives? I like flutes of champagne, too, with merry little pomegranate seeds settled at the glasses' cleft.

There are two ways to go. The simplest, like all straightforward things, requires a total unwillingness to compromise on spare ingredients. It's a celebration of season, and the ecstatic consumption of that rare winter treat, Vacherin Mont d'Or. Vacherin is hard to find, and shrouded in the seductive mystery of illegal raw milk. It appeared around New York City last week, and will sprout like elusive morels until mid-March when it disappears for another year. Traditionally, Vacherin is made with the higher fat and protein milk of the valley-bound cows of France's Franche-Comte region. These milkers spend their summers aloft in the Alps, fuelling enormous wheels of mountain cheese like Comté. When cold weather sweeps through, they are ferreted away to protected towns where they gorge on dried hay and their thick, luscious milk is formed into spruce-bound patties contained within wooden boxes. A proper Vacherin should have a bulging, undulating rind the perfect shade of blushing bride, with an even coat of powdery white mold. It needs a solid two to three hours to come to room temperature, when the whole box can be dumped, ceremoniously or otherwise, on the coffee table, beside a platter of freshly sliced pears (Bosc, not Bartlett) and bright, crunchy apples (Honeycrisps or Macouns, ideally). Guests can dunk fruit in cheese, rind and all, and take turns scraping woodsy bits from the powerfully aromatic spruce.

The more complicated, but perhaps more sophisticated, alternative is an all American cheese board. You'll want a range of texture and milk type (though with American cheeses sheep will be hard to find), with no more than 3-5 selections. Things I find to be really good for blustery autumn days are:

Sweet Grass Dairy Green Hill (Georgia): The rind is thin and mild, not snappy and bitter the way so many bloomies can be. There's still a high note of acidity, a tart, cultured taste to what is otherwise a mouthful of mild, buttery, richness.

River's Edge Up in Smoke (Oregon): A hand-squashed ball of goat cheese, smoked, and then wrapped in a maple leaf that looks to have been plucked from the ground. The whole package is smoked a second time and then spritzed in bourbon to tease out woody, barrel-aged nuance. It tastes like New England fall.

Dancing Cow Sarabande (Vermont): So thick and creamy it bulges at the perimeter, in constant danger of splitting its perfect, cantaloupe-colored, brine washed-rind. The core remains lactic and crumbly, the exterior is meaty and pungent.

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar (Vermont): The sweetness just hangs there, and the first bite is like baked potatoes, tight in their papery jackets, with melted lumps of butter tucked inside. There is just enough acidity, enough pluck and tang, to maintain balance, but the roundness calls to mind an elusive spoonful of perfectly, patiently browned butter, tasting of nuts though there are none to be found.

Rogue River Blue (Oregon): An intensely creamy, mellow blue that is permeated with the essence of golden autumn pears, the kind that juice down your arm when you bite into them. The salt and sweet, fruit and minerally smoke, co-exist in perfect, tenuous balance.

About Liz Thorpe


ImageA Yale graduate, Liz Thorpe left a "normal" job in 2002 to work the counter at New York's famed Murray's Cheese. She managed and expanded their wholesale business, designed cheese menus for the country's best restaurants, coauthored The Murray's Cheese Handbook, and followed her passion for cheese. She is now the vice president of Murray's, and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two cats. Here latest book is "The Cheese Chronicles: A Journey Through the Making and Selling of Cheese in America, From Field to Farm to Table" (Ecco, 2009)

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Last Updated ( Monday, 16 November 2009 )
 

Liquid Thanks…giving

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Foodie Talk
Written by Kathy Casey   
Monday, 16 November 2009
List of viewable recipes from "Sips & Apps" by Kathy Casey

Written by Kathy Casey

ImageFirst let me say, I think that when having a Thanksgiving get-together, or any kind of party for that matter, offering too many choices of cocktails can become overwhelming - the Cosmos, Martinis, Manhattans.... Oh, the choices to drink and make! What I like to do is pick just one signature cocktail for my party. To start off the festivities this year, why not welcome friends and family with Warm Spiced White Wine (see recipe below)!

For this recipe white wine is steeped with fresh apple and pears, scented with cloves, cinnamon and allspice and spirited with Grand Marnier. It makes for a crowd-pleasing sipper… and I don't know about you… but sometimes I think we all could use a little "something to sip" at family holiday parties - the drama, the over cooked turkey, who's not carving it right, who's making the gravy, the "pie wars"… you know what I'm talking about! So dish mama, grandma, uncle and the big kids a little cup of Thanksgiving's little helper ;-)

And we all know pumpkin pie for dessert is a Thanksgiving staple - but why not try something different and drink your pumpkin this year! Harvest Pumpkin Toddy (see recipe below) is a super fun recipe from my book Sips and Apps - who knows, you may just start a new tradition!

So raise your glasses and join me: Here's to wishing you a tasty, sippable and "sane" Thanksgiving!

Warm Spiced White Wine

Reproduced with permission from Sips & Apps by Kathy Casey, Chronicle Books 2009

For large parties, this recipe can easily be increased, made in advance, and then gently reheated before serving. Keep it warm in a slow-cooker on low heat or in a deep, pretty chaffing dish. If you are a die-hard fan of spiced red wine, you can substitute it here.

Makes 7 cups, or enough for about 8 servings

  • 12 whole cloves
  • 1 small red apple, such as Pink Lady or Fuji
  • 1 small ripe pear
  • 5 allspice berries
  • 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 (750 ml) bottles light, dry white wine, such as chenin blanc
  • 1/2 cup Grand Marnier or Cointreau

For garnishing: Orange-zest twists

Poke the cloves into the apple and cut it into 5 slices. Cut the pear into 6 slices. Combine the fruit and remaining ingredients in a stainless steel or heat-proof glass pan and stir well to incorporate the brown sugar. Warm the mixture over low heat. Do not let it boil! Let the flavors steep for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve warm in mugs, glass coffee cups, or tempered glasses. Garnish each serving with an orange twist.

Harvest Pumpkin Toddy

Reproduced with permission from Sips & Apps by Kathy Casey, Chronicle Books 2009

This should be a first-choice to serve at your next Halloween jack-o'-lantern carving party, Thanksgiving get-together, or fall celebration dinner.

Makes 1 drink

  • 1 lemon wedge
  • 1 ounce brandy or bourbon
  • 1/2 ounce Frangelico (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons Spiced Pumpkin Mix (recipe follows)
  • 1/2 cup boiling water

For garnishing
  • Cinnamon stick (optional)

Squeeze the lemon wedge into a coffee mug, cup, or heatproof glass, then drop in the rind. Measure in the brandy, Frangelico, if using, and pumpkin mix, then add the boiling water. Stir until evenly mixed. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, if using.

Spiced Pumpkin Mix

Reproduced with permission from Sips & Apps by Kathy Casey, Chronicle Books 2009

Makes 3 cups, enough for 24 drinks

  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree

In a mixing bowl, whip the butter, brown sugar, and spices with an electric mixer on high speed for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Stop and scrape the bowl as needed. Add the pumpkin and continue to whip until pumpkin is totally incorporated and mixture is fluffy, about 5 minutes more. If not using immediately, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months.

About Kathy Casey

ImageKathy Casey is a celebrity chef, mixologist and pioneer in the bar-chef movement. An accomplished writer, she is the author of nine cookbooks, her newest book is, Sips & Apps. Catch her blog, Dishing with Kathy Casey, which is the companion to her weekly radio spot on KOMO.  Kathy is the owner of Kathy Casey Food Studios® and Liquid Kitchen™ and also owns Dish D'Lish "Food to Go-Go" cafes - as well as Dish D'Lish branded retail products.  

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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 November 2009 )
 

Thanksgiving Tailgate

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Foodie Talk
Written by David Joachim & Andrew Schloss   
Saturday, 14 November 2009

Written by David Joachim and Andrew Schloss

Image
Photo by Alison Miksch
Thousands of people travel for Thanksgiving. And some have to cook the big bird when they show up at their destination. Let's say you're traveling to your Aunt Betty's or to a football stadium to attend your favorite team's game on Thanksgiving Day. Either way, you can make Thanksgiving a movable feast. The trick is planning ahead and bringing along one or two coolers.

Our menu features a turkey cooked under a metal trashcan (a makeshift oven), which allows you to indulge in a full Thanksgiving dinner even if you're cooking in a football stadium parking lot. We also call for grilling most of the food at home, so when you get there, you just cook the bird, heat up the gravy and stuffing, and simmer the cranberry compote.

Set the table with a few decorative pumpkins and apples, and let the celebration begin!

Tailgate Thanksgiving Menu
(Serves 12 to 14)

Menu Time line

One Day Before You Go
At Home (refrigerate everything overnight):

  • -Brine turkey
  • -Make gravy
  • -Grill vegetables for stuffing
  • -Grill pears for pear and cranberry compote

The Morning Before You Go
At Home:

  • -Remove turkey from brine; discard brine
  • -Rub turkey with oil and herb rub

When You Get There

4 Hours Ahead:

  • -Prepare area for Trash Can Turkey
  • -Light charcoal

3 Hours Ahead:

  • -Start cooking turkey

1 Hour Ahead:

  • -Check turkey temperature and adjust heat so that turkey will be done in 30 minutes

30 Minutes Ahead:

  • -Finish cooking stuffing
  • -Remove turkey to a carving board and keep warm

10 Minutes Ahead:

  • -Finish cooking cranberry compote
  • -Reheat gravy

Trash Can Turkey

Makes 12 to 14 servings

1 turkey (12 to 14 pounds), thawed if frozen and giblets removed and reserved for gravy

Apple Chai Brine:

  • 1 1/2 gallons cold apple cider
  • 2 quarts cold chai tea concentrate
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons cracked black peppercorns

Sage and Savory Rub:

  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon dried savory
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1. Before You Go: Thaw the turkey if frozen (2 days in the refrigerator or 12 hours in continually replenished cold water in the sink).

2. For the brine: Combine all of the brine ingredients in a clean 5-gallon bucket (line the bucket with a clean plastic bag if you like). Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve, about 30 seconds.

3. Wash the turkey inside and out with cold water and remove any visible pockets of fat. Add to the brine, weighting down the turkey if necessary to keep it completely submerged. Cover and refrigerate (an iced cooler is a good spot) for 8 to 12 hours.

4. For the rub: Combine all of the rub ingredients in a small bowl. Remove the turkey from the brine and pat dry; discard the brine. Rub 1 tablespoon of the rub onto the walls of the bird's interior cavities. Rub the oil all over the skin of the turkey then sprinkle with the remaining rub. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours. You can also cook the bird right away if you're in a hurry.

5. When You Get There: Choose an area of level ground and clear a spot that's about 4 feet in diameter. Cover the area with aluminum foil. Set a large roasting rack on a large baking sheet or roasting pan and set the turkey breast-side up on the rack.  Prop up the racked turkey on a heatproof Dutch oven, cinderblock, or other heatproof base that will position the turkey about 1 1/2 feet off the ground.

6. Light 10 pounds of charcoal (half a large bag) in a pyramid or in several chimney starters. If lighting batches of coals, they should be ready within 15 minutes of each other.

7. Cover the turkey breast loosely with aluminum foil and invert the trashcan over the turkey, positioning it so that the turkey is in the center of the can. Put a shovelful or two of hot coals on top of the inverted can. Shovel the rest of the coals around the bottom of the can, raking them 4 to 6 inches up the sides of the can.

8. Cook for 1 1/2 hours. Meanwhile, light another 10 pounds of charcoal (half a large bag) so that the coals will be ready after 1 1/2 hours of cooking. Rake or shovel away the old coals and, wearing insulated grill gloves (preferably heat-proof silicone), carefully lift the hot can off the turkey. Remove and discard the foil from the breast. Insert an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey breast; if it registers 170°F, the bird is done. But it should register below that number. To continue cooking, replace the can, and shovel the old coals and the new hot coals on the top and around the bottom of the can. Cook for 30 to 45 minutes more, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey breast registers about 170°F (total cooking time should be about 2 hours, depending on weight).

9. When the turkey reaches temperature, remove it to a platter, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for about 15 minutes before carving.

Tips

  • *A 20-pound bag of charcoal should be plenty to cook the turkey. But if the weather is cold, the coals may burn out before the turkey is done. In that case, just add more hot coals until the turkey is finished cooking.

  • *We did some research about the safety of trashcan turkey because the FDA recommends against cooking any food on galvanized steel. The question is: can you safely cook near galvanized steel, as could happen with trash can turkey? The answer, from Richard Tavoletti, Executive Director of the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), is yes. Some trash cans are made with galvanized steel and others aren't, so the easiest way to sidestep the issue is to use a can that's not galvanized. But even if you use a galvanized steel trash can, the zinc coating on the steel (the galvanizing material) will not get hot enough to become airborne and migrate from the can to the food. In the trash-can turkey method, the can never touches the food, so it is safe. Even if the trash can grazes the turkey slightly (which is unlikely), the food will not have been in contact with the hot steel long enough to impart any significant zinc residue to the food. We figured trash-can turkey was safe because Boy Scout masters have been roasting birds this way for decades. But researching the issue gave us the reassurance we needed to pass the recipe along to you.

Bacon Giblet Gravy

Makes 6 cups (12 to 14 servings)

  • 3 slices thick-sliced bacon
  • Giblets from 1 turkey (heart, gizzard, liver, and neck)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 celery rib, minced
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup apple cider (or apple juice, dark beer, or white wine)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 3 sprigs thyme
  • 6 sage leaves
  • Coarse salt and ground black pepper to taste

1. Before You Go: Cook the bacon in a medium heavy pot over medium heat until its fat has been rendered and the bacon is crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove bacon to paper towels to drain; set aside.

2. Raise the heat to medium-high. Add the turkey giblets and cook until browned, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the onion, celery, and carrot and sauté about 3 minutes more until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the garlic and flour and cook until the flour is lightly browned, about 1 minute, stirring constantly.

3. Add the apple cider (or alternative) and deglaze, whisking to incorporate the flour and liquid while you scrape any brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add half the broth and whisk until lightly thickened and smooth.

4. Tie the thyme and sage leaves together in a little bundle. Add to the pan along with the remaining broth, stirring to incorporate everything. Simmer until the giblets are fork-tender and the gravy has thickened somewhat, about 15 minutes. Remove the herb bundle and discard. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

5. Remove the turkey giblets and discard the neck. Chop the remaining giblets (liver, heart, and gizzard) into small pieces along with the bacon. Return the pieces to the gravy then remove from the heat and let cool until warm. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

6. When You Get There: Warm the gravy in a pan on the side of the grill while the turkey rests after roasting.

7. Serve the gravy along with the sliced turkey. 

Grilled Vegetable Stuffing

Makes 12 to 14 servings

  • 2 large onions (about 12 ounces each), cut in 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • 1 pound mushrooms, cleaned
  • 4 ribs celery
  • 4 large apples, peeled, cored, and halved
  • 1 large loaf (about 24 ounces) good-quality white sandwich bread, about 18 slices
  • No-stick spray oil
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 3/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. Before You Go: Heat a grill for direct, medium-high heat. Oil a grill screen (vegetable tray) and put it on the grill.

2. Coat the onions, mushrooms, celery, apples and bread slices on all sides with spray oil. Put the vegetables on the grill screen and grill until browned and tender, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a large bowl or baking sheet. Grill the bread slices for 1 minute per side. Add to the bowl or baking sheet. Let cool slightly then cut the vegetables and bread into bite-size pieces. Transfer to a large zipper-lock bag, press out the air, seal, and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

3. When You Get There: Heat a grill for indirect medium heat (for a gas grill, turn on the burner(s) on only one side; for a charcoal grill, pile the coals on only one side). Spoon the grilled vegetables and bread into a large disposable aluminum roasting pan. Add the chicken broth, apple cider, parsley, sage, salt, pepper, and melted butter and toss until well combined. Cover with foil and place on the unheated side of the grill. Cover the grill and cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through. For a crunchy top crust, remove the foil for the last 15 minutes of cooking.

Grilled Pear and Cranberry Compote

Makes 12 to 14 servings

  • 4 Bartlett pears or 12 seckel pears
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1 pound cranberries, fresh or frozen
  • 1 1/3 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla vinegar (or 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract)

1. Before You Go: Heat a grill for direct medium-high heat. Oil a grill screen (vegetable tray) and put it on the grill.

2. Peel the pears, cut in half lengthwise, and remove the core (a small melon baller works well). If using Bartlett pears, cut each pear-half in half lengthwise to make quarters. Toss the pears in a bowl with the oil until well coated.

3. Put the pears on the oiled grill screen, cover the grill, and cook until the pears are browned and barely tender, about 3 minutes per side (6 minutes total for seckel pears, 9 minutes total for Bartlett pears).

4. Let cool slightly, then cut the pears into bite-size chunks and transfer to a zipper-lock bag. Press out the air, seal, and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

5. When You Get There: Heat a grill for direct medium heat. Combine the cranberries and sugar in a saucepan or disposable aluminum pan and put the pan directly on the grill (or on a side burner). Cook over medium heat until the cranberries burst, about 4 minutes, stirring now and then. Taste for sweetness, and add a little more sugar, if needed. Add the pears and simmer 1 minute more. Stir in the vanilla vinegar. Serve warm or at room temperature.

About David Joachim and Andrew Schloss

ImageDavid Joachim and Andrew Schloss are the authors and editors of more than 40 cookbooks, both alone and in collaboration, and have run successful food writing businesses for the last 25 years. Their first collaboration, Mastering the Grill (Chronicle, 2007) was a New York Times bestseller featured on "Emeril Live!" and other national television cooking shows. Their latest collaboration is The Science of Good Food (Robert Rose, 2008), winner of the 2009 International Association of Culinary Professionals Award and finalist for a 2009 James Beard Award in the culinary reference category. They blog about grilling at Fire It Up .

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Last Updated ( Sunday, 15 November 2009 )
 

A Potluck Thanksgiving with Friends

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Foodie Talk
Written by Peggy Fallon   
Friday, 13 November 2009

ImageI've been a host and I've been a guest. I've experienced Norman Rockwell moments at home with my family, and dreary afternoons in crowded restaurants. Tabletops have run the gamut from fine damask to tacky turkey-patterned paper. But regardless of ambience, some of my happiest memories are the Thanksgivings spent with friends.

Hosting a holiday meal while holding down a full-time job can be a daunting combination. For guaranteed success, divide and conquer-explore your inner pilgrim and organize a communal feast. Assign each guest a specific recipe-or-two so that shopping and prep won't take more than a few hours-and the grocery bills won't break the bank. Ask kitchen-challenged friends to bring a special pre-dinner cocktail (apple martinis, anyone?), or wines to serve along with the meal.

This is no time to mope or get homesick. Remember that common DNA does not ensure a good time. This is an opportunity to share all the foods you like with all the people you like, at whatever time you feel like serving them. Yes, it's a family-free Thanksgiving! Savor the moment.

- A Potluck Thanksgiving -
 
Elaborate appetizers are unnecessary before a large dinner. Instead, set out bowls of roasted nuts and good olives. If you suspect dinner may be delayed, add a basket of crudités and a favorite dip.
 
With friends, you can be a little adventurous with the first course-no iceberg wedges or canned bouillon here. This salad is crunchy with jicama and pumpkin seeds; a little creamy from cheese; slightly spicy from cilantro and onion; and juicy with tiny tangerine segments. Serve alone, or with corn muffins or bakery-style dinner rolls.

Clementine Jicama Salad

(Gourmet, November, 2008)

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On November 13, 2009, 8:17 pm peggy said:

I have served this colorful, refreshing salad to people of all ages, and it is always a hit. Great for potlucks, too.


It makes sense for the host to roast the turkey; and your guests will enjoy the appetite-inducing aromatherapy. Take the turkey out of the refrigerator about 1 hour before you plan to roast it; this way it will cook faster and more evenly. In fact, this (unstuffed) 12- pound turkey is done in about 2 1/2 hours. As Ina might say, "How good is that?"


Perfect Roast Turkey

(Barefoot Contessa, Episode: The Holiday Meal, Season: 11)

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On November 13, 2009, 9:30 pm peggy said:

This recipe proves how easy it is to roast a turkey...a good reminder that we should serve it more than once a year!


I don't stuff the bird. If your friends consider this concept too radical, drizzle some of the turkey drippings over the dressing during the last 10 minutes, as it bakes uncovered. No one will be the wiser. If you prefer a dressing without sausage, simply omit it.


Escarole, sausage and mushroom dressing

(Mercury News, November, 2007)

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On November 13, 2009, 8:30 pm peggy said:

This savory bread pudding is a variation on a vegetarian recipe that appeared in Gourmet magazine several years before. It makes a great side dish at Thanksgiving, but can also be served as an entree, along with a green salad.


It's hard to go wrong with cranberry sauce…unless you start with a can. Just about any recipe will do-including the ones on the bag they are packed in.


Perfect Cranberry Sauce

(Food Network Magazine, November, 2009)

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On November 13, 2009, 8:42 pm peggy said:

I like the idea of reserving some of the berries to add toward the end of cooking, for added texture. The total cooking time of 22 minutes may be right for frozen berries, but I think fresh ones are cook considerably faster.


I can take or leave sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving; but they have such a devoted following, I wouldn't dare plan a dinner without them. Drizzle them with bourbon or throw marshmallows on top-whatever will keep everyone happy. They are indestructible. Just be sure to buy red-skinned sweet potatoes (usually called yams), as they have a much creamier texture. (You'll probably never see a real yam in your lifetime, so don't concern yourself.)


Candied Yams

(Saveur, November/December, 1995)

Whether you call them yams or sweet potatoes, these turn out buttery, sweet, and brown.
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On November 13, 2009, 8:47 pm peggy said:

Candied but not cloying...a nice alternative to recipes with all those gooey marshmallows on top. Sometimes I'll drizzle in a little bourbon before baking, just for an added dimension.


Serving these will also give you the opportunity to share a little Thanksgiving humor:

Q: What do sweet potatoes wear to bed?

A. Yammies.

Guests tend to be more open-minded about eating Brussels sprouts when the house doesn't reek of them. These nutty-flavored nuggets, slightly crisp and browned at the edges, cook completely in the oven...emitting only the most wonderful aromas. If needed, make them in advance by undercooking slightly; then reheat in a hot oven or on the stovetop before serving. If you simply can't embrace the sprout, serve fresh green beans…sans the cream o' mushroom soup. If you're entertaining a crowd, add another veggie to the menu, like glazed carrots, pearl onions, or whatever the majority enjoys.


Roasted Brussels Sprouts

(Barefoot Contessa, Episode: Thanksgiving, Season: 11)

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On November 13, 2009, 8:53 pm peggy said:

I'll never boil or steam Brussels sprouts again--this is simply the only way to go.


No last-minute boiling and mashing in the kitchen! Yippee! The cream cheese is barely discernable, and acts as a stabilizer so the entire dish can be prepared a day in advance. (Just cover and refrigerate. Before serving, return to room temperature and bake uncovered until heated through.) Like most good mashed potatoes, these are anything but low-cal. But hey, it's Thanksgiving. Deal with it. 


Big Martha's Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese

(Martha Stewart Living, November, 2008)

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On November 13, 2009, 8:58 pm peggy said:

There are many variations of this recipe around, and they're all good. You don't really taste the cream cheese; these just taste like the best mashed potatoes you've ever eaten. Great for entertaining, too, since they can be made up to a day ahead.


Gravy is the lifeblood of Thanksgiving. It's the silken elixir that marries the various flavors and textures on your dinner plate. If you want to avoid the frantic last-minute drama of making gravy while your guests have all the fun, prepare it in advance. Just buy some inexpensive turkey parts at the supermarket and roast them the day before; then use those drippings to make this luxurious gravy. Cover with the plastic wrap touching the surface of the gravy, and refrigerate overnight. The next day, stir over low heat just before serving.


Homemade Gravy

(Barefoot Contessa, Episode: Thanksgiving Countdown, Season: 11)

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On November 13, 2009, 9:03 pm peggy said:

I first tried this recipe several years ago, and now make it every Thanksgiving. It is utterly delicious...and can also be made in advance and reheated. If you have homemade turkey or chicken stock on hand, by all means use it--the flavor will shine through.


For dessert, it's got to be pumpkin pie. Not pumpkin chiffon or pumpkin with a chocolate swirl or pumpkin with a streusel topping or some gelatinous no-bake pumpkin goop or even pumpkin cheesecake. Classic pumpkin pie. If you or one of your guests belong to that strange cult that eschews the greatest dessert of all time, then add (but do not substitute) an apple or pecan pie to the menu. Either way, don't scrimp on (real) whipped cream to serve alongside.


Perfect Pumpkin Pie

(Bon Appétit, November, 2006)

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On November 13, 2009, 9:12 pm peggy said:

This is a very good pumpkin pie recipe to have on hand. I happen to prefer a bit of shortening in my pie crust, but this filling is definitely a keeper.


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The perfect recipe for a Thanksgiving beach picnic

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Written by Rosemary Mark   
Friday, 13 November 2009

ImageFor years I've fantasized of escaping the traditional thanksgiving dinner table and heading to the beach for a relaxing day breathing salty ocean air. Where I live in Northern California, the beach in November isn't a sun-bathing adventure (usually), but as long as it's not stormy, sitting by the crashing waves is a beautiful way to enjoy a picnic basket filled with turkey sandwiches.

Since it would be a sacrifice to miss the aroma of roast turkey on the fourth Thursday of this month - and cold sliced turkey will be needed - roasting a turkey is still a necessity. Plus, I wouldn't mind a Thanksgiving eve dinner of hot turkey, gravy, and a side of Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes, without the fuss of entertaining.  Simple Roast Turkey basted with apple cider, will be perfect when sliced for the sandwiches.


Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

(Southern Living, September, 2006)

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Simple Butter-Rubbed Roast Turkey

(Fine Cooking, October/November, 2002)

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Assuming there is more than one attending this gala picnic, a selection of sandwiches makes it a festive feast, and everyone can sample a variety. Turkey Sandwich with Spiced Cranberry Spread layers asiago cheese and turkey on whole wheat bread with canned cranberry sauce blended with horseradish and Dijon.


Turkey Sandwich With Spicy Cranberry Spread

(Health, November, 2007)

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Rachey Ray's Roast Turkey Sandwich with the Works transforms a day-after-Thanksgiving turkey sandwich into a new experience: pumpernickel bread spread with scallion cream cheese, sliced turkey, cucumber, Swiss cheese and sprouts.


Roast Turkey Sandwich With The Works

(Every Day with Rachael Ray, August, 2008)

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Whole grain bread, smoked gouda, sliced pear or apple and chutney add a fresh touch and a little crunch to Turkey Chutney Sandwich.


Turkey Chutney Sandwich

(Sunset, August, 2001)

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A long hike along the shore will work off the calories, so there's no holding back on indulgent desserts, but they'll need to be packable. Take your pick from these sweet ideas, or make them all! Brown Sugar Pecan Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting should carry well in a covered container. Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites can be carefully placed in a sealed bag. And not to miss out on pecan pie, a good stand-in is Double Nut & Date Tassies, mini tarts filled with dates, pecans and light cream cheese.

Brown Sugar-Pecan Cupcakes With Caramel Frosting

(Bon Appétit, November, 2009)

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