Gravy is essential to a Thanksgiving turkey, but only if it is good gravy. And what makes gravy good is delicious drippings from a beautifully roasted bird. Many gravy methods involve making it right in the pan the turkey was cooked in, to scrape up all the bits and juices. And that’s great. But I realized some years ago that trying to do this while my family stands around … [Read more...] about Make – Ahead Gravy for Your Turkey
Bacon-Blanketed, Herb Roasted Turkey
This is the turkey. I’ve been perfecting this for many years now. I must say, it is a showstopper, and delicious to boot, because I treat it well. I send my turkey to a bacon spa. It gets a salt scrub, a bacon butter deep tissue massage, a hand-woven bacon spa robe, some time in the sauna and a little tanning to finish it off. I’ve got a set of instructions … [Read more...] about Bacon-Blanketed, Herb Roasted Turkey
Caramel Apple Cookies
The flavor of caramel covered apples is amazing. Eating a caramel apple, not so much. The caramel-to-apple ration in my opinion, tends to be too low. I can’t abide those pre-made wrap around sheets, and making a good caramel is a bit of work. And in the end, the caramel tends to slide off the apple. Here’s the solution. I’ve made these cookies for years, but not as … [Read more...] about Caramel Apple Cookies
Spicy Chorizo, Pumpkin and Black Bean Chili
I love a good pumpkin dish for Halloween, and this one hits all the right notes. It’s easy to make, reheats well after a busy night trick-or-treating and is packed full of flavor. It is also a Halloween appropriate blend of orange and black! And chili is always a crowd pleaser, and extra fun for a gathering if you provide fun toppings to customize each bowl … [Read more...] about Spicy Chorizo, Pumpkin and Black Bean Chili
Pumpkin Cornbread
I love cooking with pumpkin, so Halloween and the dawn of autumn present all sorts of opportunities in the kitchen. I have always been obsessed with sweet pumpkin dishes, but I have been expanding my repertoire to savory ideas as well. Working with fresh pumpkin is not difficult, you just need to be careful and use a good, sturdy knife. The texture of freshly grated … [Read more...] about Pumpkin Cornbread
