Feature Archives - Page 100 of 105

Dinner Planner – Week of November 21st

We had a great experience with our Korean exchange students (I don’t know if I mentioned we picked up another one last Sunday!), but today we said our goodbyes and they went back to their families. Even though we’ll miss them, the timing is rather perfect since my daughters are coming back from college on Tuesday evening for Thanksgiving break. They both said they can’t wait to come home, but I think they’re looking more forward to the food than seeing me. 😉 Speaking of food and Thanksgiving, I’m getting started on my applesauce and cranberry sauce tomorrow (Sunday.) My husband told me he is going to surprise me with a specialty cocktail on Thanksgiving. I don’t like surprises on Thanksgiving.

Fennel and Apple Stuffing with Chicken Sausage Recipe

I could do without turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving and just eat veggies and pie. You didn’t think I was going to say just veggies, did you? C’mon. I’m more fun than that! But if you forced me to eat stuffing, if I had to pick one version to eat, here it is. This one right here is my favorite stuffing of all time, satisfying all my protein and carbohydrate needs on the big day so I can just focus on what I just mentioned, veggies and pie.

Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2016 – 1 Week and Counting!

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

I am going to admit this right off the bat — I am behind on my Thanksgiving planning! The irony! I think we’re going to be 31 people this year, including my two daughters who will be home from college. I am so excited to have all my kids in the kitchen this year prepping and cooking with me. I had a stroke of genius five 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 today, and then our exchange students (yes, I picked up another one last weekend LOL) go back to South Korea on Saturday morning. So I’ll be getting busy on Sunday when I start making applesauce and cranberry sauce. 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! The Chalkboard Mag published a really great blogpost this week with tons of tips from lots of food experts (including me!) I highly recommend giving it a quick read.

Salted Maple Apple Galette Recipe and VIDEO

How’s the Thanksgiving planning going?? I have another great recipe you can add to your menu.

I am not going to argue that this is a “healthful dessert.” But I can feel good about the fact that there is very little added sweetener in this galette and there’s only one crust, so can we agree that it’s less damaging than a pie? Regardless, this galette is downright delicious and so much easier than it looks. It’s the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving or any time you need something sophisticated, but homey. Watch my new YouTube video below for the step-by-step.

Dinner Planner – Week of November 14th

What a week! In this unpredictable world, food is always there for you, consistent and unifying. Let’s get cooking!

This is a big week for organizing for Thanksgiving and keeping the meals simple. November is my busiest work month and frankly, I am toast. So I am really keeping it easy! Here’s your dinner planner for the week:

Roasted Acorn Squash with Roasted Grapes, Frico and Pine Nut Dressing Recipe

I applaud you for taking a break from watching cable news until your head hurts. Sit down, relax and take a deep breath. This is and always will be a politics-free zone (and my social media channels are no different), because that’s not why you and I hang out together. I would much rather do what we always do – discuss all the delicious, healthful recipes I want you to try and share, recipes which will bring loved ones to our tables where it is appropriate to discuss the whys and hows of the world.

Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2016 – 2 Weeks and Counting

This post was originally published on November 10, 2011.

Life is unpredictable, but Thanksgiving is not and it 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.

Harvest Kale Salad with Cornbread Croutons Recipe

I heard there is an election happening, but I’m not going to talk about it because this is a food blog and that’s not why you’re here. All I am going to say is that I do hope you will vote today or that you have voted. We’re taking Mr. Picky and our exchange student to the polls. Kind of cool for our South Korean friend to witness our electoral process during an historic election, don’t you think?