If you know me, you know I love sweet potatoes. So, when it came time to create a Thanksgiving menu, the question wasn’t whether I was going to serve sweet potatoes, the question was simply what recipe to choose.
I wanted something fairly simple to make, but that would nonetheless impress. I also wanted it to be something unique and fun. This recipe met …
In addition to cranberry sauce, cornbread and turkey just seem like one of those perfect pairings.
Cornbread is a so-called quick bread, because it doesn’t contain yeast, and doesn’t require any rising or kneading. These traits make it perfect for Thanksgiving, when the number of dishes and burners going at once can be overwhelming. Beyond being quick and easy to prepare, its hearty, yet uncomplicated – requiring basic pantry staples.
Another advantage to cornbread is its adaptability. Cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt are a given, but beyond that, …
During the Thanksgiving rush, the night before can sometimes be your only friend.
Wednesday night, I made this cranberry sauce in a matter of minutes. It was quick and it was easy, but it still meant one less burner, one less pot, and one less thing on my mind come Thursday. A full day in the refrigerator also gives the sauce and its flavors time to come together. It’s the perfect complement …
Thanksgiving is no time for experiments. On any regular Thursday, the pizza parlor is just a phone call away. But on Thanksgiving, there is no such luxury.
This year, I stuck with Ina Garten’s recipe for roast turkey. Though, unlike the two previous years, I decided to brine my turkey – a technique which I had not yet tried. Brining – the process of immersing the meat in a salt-water mixture – works to dry and salt the meat by osmosis. That is, excess salt from the juice flows into the meat, while excess water from the meat, flows into the juice. Which doesn’t sound great: who wants dry, salty meat?
Fortunately, the osmotic process is not finished. As the salt enters the meat, …