Five Friday Favorites 03.25.16

Hello, hello!  It’s been a while since I’ve posted some favorites, but you know how it is when there’s a holiday coming up.  Everyone needs recipes!

In my cooking classes the last few weeks, we’ve been chatting a lot about the pros and cons of eating grain-free, avoiding BPA and plastics, the effects of the cattle industry on the environment and why I think grass-fed beef is the way to go if do choose to eat meat.  Lots and lots to talk about.  Please share any of your opinions here on these subjects to continue the conversation!

 

Neti Pot

neti pot | pamela salzman

I have noticed a crazy amount of allergies this year.  So many moms are complaining about colds and stuffy noses, as well.  I have no idea what is happening in the environment or what strains of viruses are going around, but congested noses are no fun.  Besides the obvious homemade stock, supplements and rest, I am a huge fan of the neti pot to help with nasal congestion.   A neti pot is a small ceramic pot with a spout used for nasal irrigation, essentially flushing out your nasal cavity with a saline solution.  It’s a lot easier than it sounds, in fact I taught all my kids to use a neti pot and they can do it just fine.  It is AMAZING for cleaning the nasal passages and providing relief as well as shortening the duration of a virus.  Nasal irrigation is especially good when the mucus is thick because it helps thin out the mucus and thus more effectively helps rid the nasal passages of bacteria and other irritants.  Nasal irrigation is also helpful with sinus infections.

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DIY Gift Boxes

DIY Gift Boxes | Pamela Salzman

Gifts that entail a little bit of thoughtfulness or some personalization are always the best.  With Valentine’s day a few days away, I thought it would be fun to show you how to make your own gift boxes.  Of course I give gift boxes all year round, not just on Valentine’s Day.  I find I am regularly assembling homemade gift boxes to bring to friends who invite me to dinner, do me a favor or just need a little pick-me-up.  I’m sure you’ve seen sites from which you can order gift boxes to be delivered and that’s great.  But they are also really expensive and what if you want to customize the box with homemade items?  They are super easy to do on your own and it will feel more special and thoughtful to the person receiving it recipient.  Follow my suggestions below for easy, cute, DIY gift boxes.

Purchase the gift box:

You can really use any kind of box/crate/basket that you have or that you are able to find locally.  I happen to love these 12 x 10 slide-top boxes from Poole and Sons which is a site my friend Jenni Kayne told me about.  Michael’s always has a huge supply of baskets if you don’t have time to order something online.  For filler, I like to use this wood shred from Nashville Wraps.  But this Kraft Eco Paper Shred is great, too.  If you want to use some twine or yarn to tie around it, amazon has this twine in a value pack with a multitude of colors.

DIY Gift Boxes | Pamela Salzman

Select the contents:

The possibilities are endless when it comes to items you could put in the box.  I like coming up with a theme.  Here are some boxes I have done in the last few years:

  • Beauty box with your favorite products
  • Gourmet food box with a small bottle great olive oil or truffle oil, aged balsamic, an unusual pasta, sundried tomatoes, a small basil plant
  • For the movie lover- popcorn kernels, gourmet popcorn seasoning salt, movie tickets/gift cards, a favorite dvd, gourmet candy
  • For the gardener- use packets of seeds, a small garden hoe, new gardening gloves
  • Fill the box with some cute, non toxic nail polishes, non toxic polish remover, nail file, gift card for a mani/pedi (teachers love this one)
  • A bottle of wine, a wine opener, cool coasters, some gourmet nuts, fruit spreads and crackers
  • One of your favorite recipes printed and the ingredients to make it (e.g. granola, cookies)
  • To welcome a new baby- organic toiletries, a cute onesie, a monogrammed bib, classic board books

Spread the love!

Meal Prepping 101: What You Can Do Ahead

 

glasslock containers
Thank you for all your feedback on the recent dinner planner posts!  I have had several readers reach out to me asking about prepping ahead techniques, such as what vegetables are okay to prep in advance and what should be done at the last minute.  Even though I try to give prep ahead tips with each dinner planner, I thought it would be helpful to write a separate post with more general guidelines which you can use when planning your personal meal plan for the week .

When it comes to prepping recipes for your week in advance, you really have to do what works for you. As a basic rule of thumb regarding produce, you have to be aware that it slowly loses its nutritional value beginning from the moment that it is harvested. So the fresher, the better.  If you buy foods locally and from smaller vendors you have a better chance of the food incurring less “travel time.”  There are other factors that affect that nutritional value as well. Any exposure to air, light, water, and certain temperatures can also affect the nutritional value.   So aside from planting an entire garden in our own back yards, there isn’t a ton that we can do to protect fruits and veggies from the process. But by the time we are consuming these foods there are still plenty of the nutrients in tact and this produce is still very beneficial to your health.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2015

Listen, I’m the first one to say that we shouldn’t focus so much on gifts and stuff and material things.  I especially try to convey to my children the idea of charity and being grateful for what you do have.  That said, giving a gift can be an expression of love or appreciation if there’s thought put into it.  I always listen to my cooking class students talk about what they would love to have or what they are putting on their wish lists this year.  Or I just take mental notes when lots of people ask me where I got something, etc.  I am most definitely not a shopper — don’t have the time or the patience.  So I actually love checking out gift guides which I find very helpful when I’m making my lists.  Here are some terrific gifts ideas for the special people in your life, although definitely female- and food-oriented:

 

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 10.35.39 AMFarmhouse Pottery Olive Oil Bottles  A few years ago, one of my friends gifted me a Farmhouse Pottery maple syrup silo and I became obsessed with this company.  I even put them on last year’s gift list.  For something new, I think these gorgeous olive oil bottles are so lovely and useful.  I especially love that they’re not clear since light encourages oxidation with olive oil.  You could even pair one of these with a bottle of good olive oil for a really great gift.

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 10.55.41 AMScreen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.55.37 AM Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.57.39 AMAttractive Loaf Pan (with or without a homemade quick bread in it)  A homemade gift with something that can be reused is such a great idea. Make a delicious and easy quickbread and gift it in one of these beautiful loaf pans, which are much nicer than a typical pyrex or metal one.  Here are a couple of loaf pans I like as shown above from left to right:

Le Creuset Heritage Loaf Pan

Emile Henry Ruffle Loaf Pan

Williams Sonoma Essential Loaf Pan

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 10.32.26 AMWorld Market Ceramic EcoSkillet  We have all ditched Teflon, right?   Not a class goes by when someone doesn’t ask me to please recommend an acceptable nonstick skillet.  From what I can tell, this ceramic coated, nonstick skillet from EcoSkillet is clean as well as affordable and I think the color combo is aesthetically pleasing.

 

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.01.47 AMInstant pot This pot is hot right now- it is a slow-cooker, pressure-cooker, and rice-cooker all-in-one, and it even has a sauté feature for browning veggies and meats and a setting for making yogurt!  I figured this was too good to be true, that it must have an aluminum or non-stick insert, but it’s stainless steel!  Dreams do come true.  I first saw it on my friend Kelsi’s blog, and I knew I needed one for myself.  I think this is the kitchen appliance of the season!

 

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.53.36 AMBreville Food Processor  This food processor is hands down my favorite appliance I have  in my kitchen and I just couldn’t live without it.  I used a Cuisinart for years before discovering this gem by Breville, and this is the perfect gift for the cook in your life.  I have the 16-cup which is great if you cook for large groups but I think the 12-cup is a great size as well.  The adjustable slicing blade is genius as is the reversible shredding disc, allowing you to have 2 discs instead of a dozen.  The buttons are metal so they don’t wear off like plastic.  There’s a spout on the bowl so you can pour and there’s even an LCD panel that has a timer and tells you what to do, e.g. “insert stopper.”  It’s amazing and everyone asks me about it.  This model is called the Sous Chef.

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 12.38.08 PM Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 12.37.55 PMStaub 2-Handle Paella Pan  First off, let me say I’ve never actually used this pan for paella, so don’t let the description deter you.  This pan has quickly become my favorite in the kitchen and it is the perfect gift for the cook in your life.  It is a generous size and I love the 2-handles that make it easy for transferring from stovetop to counter or table.  I also love how attractive it is, and often serve dishes out of here instead of transferring to a platter.  It is easy to clean, doesn’t stick, and distributes heat perfectly!  I have probably been asked and emailed by a hundred people what size is this pan, what’s the name, etc.  People want it.

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 12.53.57 PM Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 12.45.44 PMScreen Shot 2015-12-03 at 12.49.12 PM  White Serving Platter  “I have too many serving platters!” said no one ever.  I’m in other people’s kitchens every day and believe me, this is an entertaining staple that no one has enough of.  I personally love white platters because they really make the food pop, but any neutral platter is a great gift and something that can be used for years.  And it doesn’t have to be anything too fancy, either!  Check out some great platters that I found that I love (can you tell I’m partial to oval?):

Marin White Oval Platter from Crate and Barrel 

Threshold Beaded Platter from Target 

Great White Oval Serving Platter from Pottery Barn

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.17.48 AMWest Elm Mid-Century Coasters  A new set of coasters is the perfect gift to spruce up someone’s coffee table and these will add just a little vintage touch, but still be classic.  I would pair this with a good bottle of liquor and you will be everyone’s favorite guest.

 

Coyuchi blanketsBlanket/Decorative Throw  Every year I give someone a blanket for Christmas and it’s always a welcome gift.  Obviously there are different types of blankets for different uses — to cuddle with on the couch, layer on top of a bed, bring to a ball game, throw down on the ground at the park, or just for show.  I personally use all my blankets, especially in the family room where we watch movies and read.  I am actually thinking about getting a few more since winter is here and the kids seem to fight over one in particular.  There are so many great blankets.  I have bought from Restoration HardwarePottery Barn, Best Made, Coyuchi, Williams-Sonoma Home and others.

jenni kayne gift box Jenni Kayne x Simone Le Blanc Gift Box  Jenni and Simone both have amazing taste so it’s no surprise that their collaborative gift box is perfection.  Their Signature Woods Gift Box is a carefully curated assortment of cool weather favorites. Included are: Herbivore Cypress Bath Salts, Incense of the West Pinon Incense Blocks, Farmhouse Pottery Mug and Milk Bottle Match Striker with Matches, Juniper Ridge Douglas Fir Spring Tip Tea and White Sage Bundle, Los Poblanos Pinon Soap, Materia Lumina Seaweed Platter, and Fig + Yarrow Woods Bath + Body Oil.  Perfection.

 

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 12.24.52 PMSneakers   Sneakers are not an odd gift!  Granted you have to know the recipient’s size, but everyone wears them and they are not just for exercise.  I am all about comfort and love the fact that sneakers are acceptable with skirts and proper casual attire, like jeans and a sweater.  Here are a couple of pairs that are on my list this year for me and some lucky peeps:

New Balance 620 in black, navy or grey

Adidas Originals Superstar in all white or white with black stripes

 

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.11.40 AM Chemical-Free Nail Polish This is a great gift for the ladies in your life, and it will spare them all of the super-harsh chemicals used in regular nail polish.  This is especially important if you have tweens/teens into polish!  Try these brands that are rated as safe by the Environmental Working Group:

Poofy Supernaturals 

Honeybee Gardens

Surcoat

Piggy Paint

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.29.26 AM Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.28.37 AM Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.28.59 AM Cuyana Products  This company’s motto is “Fewer, Better” and I couldn’t agree more with all of the beautiful products they have to offer.  These are timeless gifts that are chic and stylish yet classic and moderately priced.  Some of my favorite items include the totes, pouches, and scarves.  I have bought many gifts this year from Cuyana and I think the recipients will be mighty pleased.

 

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 12.10.01 PM Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 12.06.27 PMWorkout Wear I am always thrilled when I get a new cute workout top or pair of yoga pants.  It is always nice to feel good and be comfortable when exercising and I’m a little more motivated to go to the gym when I look a little more stylish.  I think workout wear is a great holiday gift.  Two of my favorites that I am loving right now are this Beyond Yoga tank, and these Lululemon Capris!

 

snow & graham desk calendar sugar paper letterpress desk calendarDesk Calendar  I love having a discreet, but pretty desk calendar at my fingertips.  Someone gave me this Snow & Graham calendar (left) last year and I still love it.  It has a clear plastic stand that looks like a CD case and contains a thick card for each month.  On the back of each card is a lovely design.  You could probably frame them after the year is over.  I have also had this Sugar Paper letterpress desk calendar (right), which I adored as well.  It’s a little fancier and quite a bit pricier, too.  Both are lovely.

House of Cards DVD setHouse of Cards” DVD’s  The holidays are for binge watching tv, am I right?  If you know anyone who hasn’t been following House of Cards, I am so jealous of him or her!!  That lucky person gets to watch all three seasons for the first time!  “House of Cards” is one of my favorite television series and is seriously addictive.  Buy seasons 1 and 2 here and season 3 here.

le labo santal 26 candleLe Labo Santal 26 Candle  I actually don’t love a strong fragrance in the home because it can be overwhelming, especially during mealtime.  But the first time I smelled this candle was in a New York hotel and I had to have it.  Later I found out that everyone already knows about this Le Labo candle and I am not as cool as I thought.  But that is not a reason to buy a candle. You buy one because it smells amazing, not overpowering and has an understated look to it.  Voila!  There’s something about this scent that is neither masculine nor feminine, but a little smoky and sexy and earthy at the same time.   I love it.

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 1.16.40 PM Healing Crystals These healing crystals from local LA company Energy Muse are a unique gift for the mindful person in your life.  Gift them to someone who can appreciate the energy that these crystals emit.  This website has several options and a description of the powers that each crystal holds.  And even if you don’t buy into their healing powers, they look beautiful and cool on a coffee table.

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 10.42.30 AM  Thrive Market 1-year Membership  A one-year membership to this website gives you access to hundreds of health-concious products at discounted prices.  I personally have saved many hundreds of dollars this year from my Thrive Market purchases and will continue to sing this site’s praises.

Homemade Gifts from the Kitchen are always my favorite gifts to give.  Check out this post from last year to get some ideas.

And last year’s Gift Guide of Edibles is also still relevant.  Read over here.   Happy gifting!

Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2015 — 1 week and counting

This post has been edited from the original which was published on November 17, 2011.

Is it just me, or have the last few weeks flown by??  I am getting super excited for Thanksgiving.  We have a great group joining us this year, although I am still unsure about how many we’ll be.  The latest count is 27 peeps!   I am also looking forward to some one-on-one time with the kids, especially my older daughter who will be home from college!    I used to get all of them in the kitchen Thanksgiving morning to help me with pies or trimming green beans or whatnot, but my two daughters have taken to sleeping until noon on days off.  However I had a stroke of genius four years ago, which was to tack my Thanksgiving to-do list on the refrigerator and have everyone sign up for three tasks.  Even my husband helps out!

My last class is Monday night, but I will be getting busy this weekend.  I always plan Thanksgiving day down to the last detail because I don’t like forgetting things and a schedule makes me feel more relaxed, which equals more fun for me!   But just because Thanksgiving is the star of the show this week doesn’t mean that I can forget about normal life on very other day.  So I think about regular meals and activities, too.  Here’s what my schedule will look like from Sunday until we eat on Thursday at 4:00 pm (-ish).  This shouldn’t make you feel exhausted, but merely show you what you can do ahead for your own Thanksgiving!

IMG_7558

Here’s my menu for Thursday and after that is my timeline so you can see how everything can get done.

BREAKFAST

Struesel coffee cake (I’ve been making this for 20 years, but it’s from an old, out-of-print book.)

 

LUNCH

Butternut squash soup

Mini Cornbread Muffins

 

HORS D’OEUVRES

Crispy cauliflower

Zucchini cheese tart

Small cheese board

 

DINNER

2 Whole Roast Turkeys and Gravy (18 pounds each)

Cranberry Sauce (x2)

Applesauce (x1)

Mashed yukon gold potatoes (10 pounds)

Sweet potato casserole (x 1 1/2)

Stuffing (mushroom and leek) (x1)

Stuffing (sourdough, chicken sausage, apple, fennel)(x1)

Delicata Squash Salad with Roasted Apples (x3)

Crispy Stove-top Brussels Sprouts (4 pounds)

Green Bean Casserole (x4)

Spinach Gratin (x1)

 

DESSERT

2 Apple pies

2 Pumpkin pies

2 Pecan pies

Gingerbread Muffins

Homemade vanilla ice cream

Whipped Cream

Apple-Caramel Sauce

Fresh Fruit Platter

I have two friends bringing another dessert.

butternut squash soup and mini corn muffins

Schedule:

Sunday

Grocery shop for everything other than turkeys and produce

Arrange tables & chairs

Make cranberry sauce and applesauce

Write placecards

 

Monday 

Prep for tonight’s class

Make salad vinaigrette for salad

Make 2 qts. ice cream

Dry mix for sweet potato casserole with a note about adding butter

evening:  Cooking class

 

Tuesday

Pick up turkeys and produce

Buy and arrange flowers (last year I made arrangements with white hydrangeas, flowering kale, roses, and snapdragons)

Brine turkey for 24 hours

Set tables

Wash and dry greens

Shred cheese for tart, salad

Toast pumpkin seeds for salad

Dry bread cubes for stuffing

Chop onions for soup, stuffings, gratin

Defrost spinach for gratin

Make apple caramel sauce

Dinner:  pumpkin and black bean chili, spinach quesadillas

Wednesday

Make butternut squash soup

Steam cauliflower; bread and refrigerate

Make sweet potato casserole
Clean mushrooms and slice for bean casserole

Make stuffings

Prep Brussels sprouts
Prep zucchini

Blind bake tart crust

Defrost turkey stock and chicken stocks

Prep delicata squash for salad

Blanche green beans

Make pumpkin pies

Make pecan pies

Make spinach gratin

Bake gingerbread muffins

Set up coffee and tea service

Check powder room

Uncover turkeys

Leave butter, eggs and sour cream out for cake

Dinner: spice-rubbed salmon, brown rice, sautéed Swiss chard

Before bed:  make sure garage refrigerator door is closed! (Five years ago, I left the door open to my extra fridge in the garage all night long.  OMG. Disaster!  Needed to buy two new turkeys on Thanksgiving morning!)

Let's eat!

Thursday

6 am Wake and shower

Make coffee cake

Make decaf coffee

Make cornbread

Make apple pies – All pies must be out by 10:45AM

9:00 Take turkey out of refrigerator

Roast delicata squash and apples for salad

Prep turkeys

11:00 Put turkeys in oven

Get dressed and do hair

Make crispy onions for bean casserole

Prep coffee machine for after dinner

12:00 Reheat soup

Herb oil for tart

Prep gravy ingredients

Remove salad dressing from refrigerator

Add melted butter to sweet potato topping

Blanche brussels sprouts

Assemble fruit platter

2:00 Peel potatoes; make mashed potatoes; keep in bowl over simmering water

Prep tart

2:15 Bake tart

2:30 make cauliflower and serve hot

3:00 sweet potato casserole in small oven

start green bean casserole

3:15 Take turkey out to rest, oven to 350

Reheat stuffings at 450

Make gravy

3:30 remove foil and add topping to sweet potatoes

Add green bean casserole to oven

Bake gratin for 20 minutes at 425

Sear brussels sprouts

Light candles, water, butter, cranberry sauce, applesauce, assemble salad

3:45/4:00 Carve turkeys

After dinner: whip cream, coffee and tea, sparkling water

After everyone leaves, write notes for next year!

apple pies

Friday

Segment on Thanksgiving leftovers on KTLA Morning News.  Stay tuned for time!

 

 

Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2015 — 2 Weeks and Counting

This post was originally published on November 10, 2011.

Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away!  Is the exclamation point there to emphasize panic or joy?  I’m excited!  I’ve been teaching quite a few Thanksgiving-themed classes as of late and I’m feeling spirited.  Don’t let these Thursday posts stress you out.  The whole point is to show you what you can do in advance, not what you must do in advance.  All these tips and strategies are most relevant to the hosts and hostesses who are preparing most or all of the meal themselves and who have a busy schedule leading up to the holiday.  If I didn’t get a lot of these tasks completed early, I don’t see how I could pull off this meal without tons of stress.

Here’s what you can get done this week:

  • Get your knives sharpened Especially your carving knife.  A razor-sharp knife is the most important tool in your kitchen.  In my area, you can get your knives sharpened at Sur La Table, the farmer’s market and at the local cutlery store at the mall.  I think Sur La Table charges $1/inch.
  • Make your grocery lists  I make three lists:
  1. Non-perishables (e.g., flour, spices, wine, nuts, dried fruit)  I buy these now.
  2. Perishables to buy one-week ahead (e.g., winter squashes, butter, hard cheeses, potatoes)
  3. Perishables to buy two days before (e.g., turkey, dairy, bread for stuffing, all other fruits and vegetables)
  • Buy to-go containers  I always make too much food and I like sending care packages home with my guests to enjoy the day after, especially our single friends.  This year I am definitely packing up all the extra desserts so that they aren’t tempting me the next afternoon when I’m shopping for holiday gifts online.  I love the idea of having people bring their own reusable containers, but for me it’s easier to get these disposables from my local Smart & Final.  I also saw some brown paper to-go boxes on amazon.

  • Clean out the refrigerator  I’ll get to this over the weekend.  Now is a great time to get rid of food past its prime or to get creative with the last spoonful of nut butter or those four olives just to make more space in the fridge.  I have a second, inexpensive refrigerator in the garage which really comes in handy for big dinners.  If you don’t have the extra space, see if one of your neighbors is going away for the holiday and can store your chutney and jam collections for a few days.

  • Check your instant read thermometer   This tool the only way you’ll be able to tell if your turkey is cooked properly, so it’s important that it’s accurate.  If you’re unsure, stick the tip of the thermometer into boiling water.  If the temperature reads 212 degrees Farenheit, you’re good to go.

Check my last two posts for help with menu planning and stocking up on the proper equipment.  If you haven’t decided on your menu yet, that’s a good place to start.  Then you can create your timeline and purchase your non-perishables.

A little announcement: I just joined Periscope and did my first live-streaming video yesterday.  You can read a little more about Periscope here, but essentially it is a free app that allows you to share and watch live video broadcasts from your mobile phone.  I demonstrated how to carve a whole roasted turkey.  You can still view the video until about 2:45 pm PST today, at which point it will expire since periscope videos only last 24 hours.  I’ll be doing many more over the next two weeks!

Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2015 – 3 Weeks and Counting

thanksgiving decor ideas | pamela salzman

This post has been edited from the one originally published on Thursday, November 3, 2011.

If you followed the advice in my post last Thursday, perhaps you now have a general idea of how many guests you will be hosting on Thanksgiving.  If not, it’s time to get on the phone and do some inviting!  Do you have a good, balanced menu and have you taken guests up on their offers to bring something?   This week we have a few more tasks that we can check off the list.

3 weeks before thanksgiving

  • Order the Turkey  If you eat turkey on Thanksgiving, it’s a good idea to order it now.  I have always ordered a fresh, free-range, organic turkey, because in my opinion it has a tasty turkey flavor and is higher quality than most other alternatives.  The only thing that may be better is a heritage turkey, which has a much stronger turkey flavor and supposed to be more moist.  It will have less breast meat though and will be more expensive.  If you want a heritage bird, you need to order this ASAP since they sell out fast.  Avoid “self-basting” turkeys which are injected with anything from chicken fat to salt to chemicals.  True, they are easier to cook, but I think they taste more like salt than turkey and they are just full of stuff you don’t want to feed your family.

Here are some questions that will help you decide what size to order:

How many ovens do you have?  If you have one large oven that can accommodate two turkeys side by side and an extra oven to spare (you’re so lucky!), then you have the option of cooking two smaller birds versus one large one.  But with two small ovens, you may not want them both being monopolized by turkeys.

Are your guests dark meat-eaters or white meat-eaters?  You will get more white meat by weight from one large bird than from two smaller.  Likewise, you will get more dark meat from two smaller birds than from one large one.

How big a turkey should you buy?  The rule of thumb is one pound of turkey per person.  So if you are expecting 16 guests, you should order a 16 pound turkey.  That doesn’t mean that you will have 1 pound of meat per person, though.  Personally, I think this is only a good rule if you don’t want leftovers, if your guests are not big eaters, and/or you have a good number of dark meat eaters versus all-white meat eaters.   Two years ago I cooked two 17-pound turkeys for 20 adults and 5 kids and I had just enough leftovers for the five of us for dinner the next day.  Last year I cooked two 18-pound turkeys for 24 adults and 5 kids and we had the same amount of leftovers.   My point is that I think 1 1/4 pounds per person is a safer bet.

Do you have a bad back?  What does this have to do with anything?  A very large turkey is mighty challenging to keep pulling out of the oven to baste.  I find two smaller turkeys much more manageable, if you have the oven space.

 

  • Planning Your Table Decor  I don’t do anything fancy for my table decorations, but it’s nice to make the table look special.  Now’s the time to check your linens for stains and make sure you have enough napkins, plates and glassware.  I generally like to do something simple with fresh flowers in autumnal colors and add in a few of the kids’ Thanksgiving art projects from years past.   The top image is a collection of pins from my Thanksgiving Pinterest board.  I just adore Jenni Kayne’s table setting which is the largest image at the top of the post and below.  Check out all her lovely holiday photos and ideas on her ripplustan.com blog — beautiful!  But you can put out bowls of apples and pears or gourds and nuts, add in a few votive candles and it will look lovely.  If tablescape isn’t your thing, you can always order from your local florist or full service market.  Just get on it this week.  The succulents glued onto pumpkin arrangements last quite a while, so why not order them now to enjoy through Thanksgiving  and not have to worry about doing it in two weeks.  Last year, I needed a change from the succulents and pumpkins and I went to Trader Joe’s and bought lots of hydrangeas, roses, and snap dragons and ornamental kale from Whole Foods and I made the arrangements below with some leftover burlap I had.  Rustic, pretty, easy and very affordable.

succulents in pumpkins via Ripplustan.com Screen Shot 2013-11-06 at 3.57.35 PM

succulents in pumpkins via Ripplustan.com  DIY Thanksgiving table decor | pamela salzman

 

  • Make your pie crusts and freeze them  You can freeze them in disc form or roll them out, fit them into pie plates and freeze them, well wrapped.
  • Make your homemade stock and freeze it  I use over a gallon of chicken stock on Thanksgiving for soup, stuffing and gravy.

  • Make your dry mixes for pie fillings, cornbread and other baked goods.  Not only are there never enough ovens on Thanksgiving day, but there are never enough measuring cups and spoons either.  I measure out the dry ingredients, store them in a glass jar and label each jar, e.g. “Dry Mix for 2 Pumpkin Pies.”  I didn’t label them the first year I did this and let me tell you — pumpkin pie spices smell A LOT like apple pie spices.
  • Check your inventory of helpful tools and appliances  Here’s my list of Thanksgiving essentials:
  1. Instant-read thermometer — the only way to know if your turkey is ready.
  2. Roasting pan(s) and rack(s)
  3. Fat separator
  4. Twine for trussing
  5. Baster
  6. Potato Ricer — for making the best mashed potatoes (recipe coming soon)
Lots of options!
More recipes to come, but look here for my Thanksgiving recipes.  And also check out my Pinterest boards for more recipes and table decor ideas.  Last but not least, I’ll be sharing lots of tips every day on Instagram so be sure to follow me there!

Thanksgiving 2015 Menu Ideas

Lots of options!

Guess what today is?  It is exactly 4 weeks before Thanksgiving!  Don’t panic.  We are going to plan and get organized and have so much fun doing it.  “Right after Halloween!” you’re thinking.  Yes, of course.  Halloween is on Saturday and if you’re like me, you still have to buy candy and figure out your son’s costume.  All I know is that there is duct tape in the laundry room and that means lots of costume possibilities!

But as per previous years, I do like to start the Thanksgiving planning posts 4 weeks prior to the holiday and each Thursday after.  My cooking class students have found these weekly strategies to be helpful in spreading out the workload and reducing stress, especially if you host Thanksgiving and do most of the cooking yourself.  You can look back on last year’s post which was titled “Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2014 — 4 Weeks and Counting.”  It will list a few things you can get done now, such as invite your guests and plan your menu.  I have had a lot of requests this year for suggestions on how to put together a great Thanksgiving menu and how to make sure it’s balanced and doable.  So that’s what I’m going to do for this post.

I am obviously going to express my personal opinions about what should be on a Thanksgiving menu, so if you’re looking for “alternative” recipes, like Chipotle-glazed Turkey and Thai Butternut Squash Salad, I’m not your girl.  I keep things pretty traditional with the turkey and the remaining sides will complement it.  I also use seasonal ingredients (tomatoes and melon will not be making appearances) and keep things almost all homemade (no cream of mushroom soup, canned sweet potatoes or canned cranberry sauce.)  I did not say however, that I am counting calories on Thanksgiving.  So I do use butter in my mashed potatoes, whip heavy cream to serve with pies and make pie crusts with all-purpose flour.

Ok, let’s get into it.  First figure out approximately how many people you are having, how much cooking you would like to do yourself and most importantly, curate a menu based on how many ovens you have.  The reason the number of ovens is an issue is because we can come up with your perfect Thanksgiving menu, but if you have one oven and you are monopolizing it with a turkey, we need to make sure you don’t have 8 other oven recipes on your menu.

delicata and apple salad | pamela salzman

Then think about the recipes you absolutely must include no matter what.  In my house, there MUST be:

Turkey and gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Crispy Cauliflower, Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie, and Apple Pie.

Ironically, I never eat any of the above, except the cranberry sauce.  Most of the items in that group are pretty standard on Thanksgiving, except the cauliflower and I serve that as an hors d’oeuvre.  Other Thanksgiving classics include:

Sweet Potato Casserole (skip the marshmallows and opt for this deliciousness instead)

Green Bean Casserole

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Pecan Pie

Thoughts:

  • I think most Thanksgiving menus are lacking salads and non-starchy vegetables, in general.  Salads are the easiest to add onto a menu because they can be prepped way ahead and they don’t require an oven.
  • Whenever I plan my menu, I try not to repeat ingredients too many times.  Even though I love Brussels sprouts, I usually try to make them in either a salad or a side dish, but not both.  If they’re part of a mixed vegetable medley, that’s fine.  But if I have pecans in the topping of the sweet potato casserole, I won’t use pecans in a salad, too.  Maybe I’ll use toasted pumpkin seeds instead.
  • It’s ok to outsource.  You can accept a friend’s offer to bring something or buy a pie from a local bakery.  What’s the big deal?
  • If you are short oven space, consider using a toaster oven for baking small 8 or 9-inch dishes and using an outdoor grill for reheating or keeping things warm.  My sister swears by this countertop commercial turkey roaster oven for cooking her turkey since her oven is too small to cook a large turkey.  The turkey is brined the night before and cooked in this contraption like you would a normal oven.  She says her turkey turns out amazing.  I have never used it, so I would read the reviews and if you buy it, do a test run with a chicken or small turkey in the next couple of weeks.  You can buy it on amazon, but not prime, so don’t wait until the last minute.
  • Opt for at least half as many or equivalent non-starchy sides as starchy.  If you have mashed potatoes, stuffing and sweet potato casserole, you need 2-3 non-starchy sides like a salad, green beans and cauliflower.

turkey dinner | pamela salzman

Thanksgiving Menu for a Small Crowd

Whole Roasted Turkey or Turkey Breast with Gravy

Cranberry Sauce and/or Applesauce

Mashed Potatoes (recipe coming soon)

Stuffing (mushroom and leek or traditional cornbread)

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with or without bacon

Green Salad with Delicata Squash and Apples (image above and the perfect salad) or Butternut Squash Salad with Pomegranates and Pumpkin Seeds

Pie (either pumpkin or apple)

cranberry sauce with apples and raspberries | pamela salzman

Thanksgiving Menu for a Larger Group

Main:

Whole Roasted Turkey or Turkey Breast with Gravy (oven)

Cranberry Sauce and/or Applesauce

Starchy Sides:

Mashed Potatoes (recipe coming soon)

Sweet Potato Casserole (oven)

Stuffing (oven)

Non-Starchy Sides:

Green Bean Casserole (oven) recipe coming soon

Brussels Sprout Hash with Capers, Hazelnuts and Lemon

Green Salad with Delicata Squash and Apples or Butternut Squash Salad with Pomegranates and Pumpkin Seeds

Dessert:

Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie and/or Pecan Pie

Whipped Cream

perfect apple pie | pamela salzman

Here are some other recipes which would be a fantastic part of any Thanksgiving menu:

Starchy Sides:

Roasted Delicata Squash with Pomegranate-Pistachio Relish (recipe coming soon)

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (oven)

Potato and Celery Root Gratin (oven)

Warm Barley and Caramelized Mushroom Salad from Food & Wine

Honey-Glazed Acorn Squash by The Healthy Apple

Pumpkin Leek Stuffing by Feed Me Phoebe

Ina Garten's Spinach Gratin

Non-Starchy Sides:

Maple-Mustard Roasted Vegetables (oven)

Spinach Gratin by Ina Garten (oven)

Creamed Spinach by Tyler Florence

Brussels Sprout Leaf Salad (my fave, fave, fave!)

Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Apples and Manchego

Onions with Currant, Port and Balsamic Glaze from Bon Appetit

Fennel and Green Apple Salad with Pomegranates

Roasted Green Beans with Shallots, Lemon and Thyme (oven)

Brussels Sprouts with Turkey Bacon and Dates

Parsnip-Apple Mash by Martha Stewart

Roasted Carrots and Red Onions with Fennel and Mint from Bon Appetit

Shaved Cauliflower Salad by Happy Yolks

 

 

Nice additions if you have time:

Soup:  I make butternut squash soup and serve it at noon for lunch.  We eat dinner at 4:00 pm.

Rolls or Cornbread:  I personally don’t see the need for them since there’s already so much starch, but some people think they’re a must-have.  I do serve mini-muffins of cornbread.

Fruit platter:  I make a big platter of fruit every year to serve with dessert and there are never any leftovers.  I use berries, figs, pomegranates, persimmons and dates.

Whipped cream:  for pies and berries

Vanilla ice cream:  also for pies

 

What are your favorite Thanksgiving stand-bys?  Please share!