Get ready, ‘cause we’re boozing it up today.
Sometimes it’s nice to have a little something sweet to reward yourself with, and although I’m all for turning to a sweet snack, it’s also a good idea to have a few drink recipes in your back pocket for when you want to celebrate life’s little victories…or for the days when it’s easier to face a cocktail than reality. (more…)
I’m a sucker for Christmas music. From Nat King Cole to Mariah Carey, Christmas music gives me the warm and fuzzies. It throws me back to blurry childhood memories of coming in from the cold after a vicious snowball fight and eagerly tumbling over my siblings to get to the first cup of hot cocoa. It reminds me of that fresh pine smell and the way beautifully thick snow crunches underfoot. This time of year is filled with nostalgia, and I’m a fan.
So I don’t waste any time when it comes to getting pumped for the holidays. Although I usually wait for the Thanksgiving dishes to be cleared, this year I couldn’t resist from listening to some Christmas songs in early November. This was not too appreciated by the people on the bus listening to me hum a little too loudly, nor by my boyfriend, who is the Grinch reincarnate. But I don’t care. The past few days have had me in a cookie baking frenzy as I try to wrap up all my holiday gifts, and I couldn’t have done it without the help of Bing Crosby’s familiar soothing voice reminding me that I’ll be home for Christmas.
I may love chocolate, but I’m not a candy fan. Jelly beans, sour gummies, hard candies, lollipops, Swedish fish…they just don’t do it for me. Cookies, brownies, cakes, mousses, and flaky pastries are more my thing…can you tell I’m a baker? I do have a HUGE sweet tooth, but candy is usually way too sweet for me. Or, at least that’s what I thought until last weekend, when I tried English toffee for the first time.
Two words: Butter. Crunch. Say it with me. Buttercrunch. Crunchy, buttery buttercrunch.
I never thought I’d be one to like toffee; I always thought of it as old lady candy. Or maybe I’m thinking of taffy?
But after trying one bite I was converted. I believe my first words after it graced my tongue were “MMM BUTTERY”. It was not a stick-to-your-teeth caramel nor a painful-to-chew candy. It had a light, pleasant crunch and melted in my mouth after one bite (yeah, there was also chocolate on there – so it was officially better than brittle). This, my friends, was a candy game changer.
I’m drowning in mashed potatoes.
These potatoes are the only thing I still have left over from Thanksgiving. I know I’m probably alone here, because most people are smart enough to realize that ten large potatoes are impossible for five people to finish, especially when you’re already serving them six other hearty side dishes. Now every time I open the fridge, those damn mashed potatoes are staring me down, judging me for my poor planning. Without all the turkey and gravy, I just can’t bring myself to eat them…and after a week, I really need to eat them.
The answer? Latkes. Fluffy, delicious, jazzed up latkes. (more…)
So after my favorite holiday comes my favorite leftovers. For Thanksgiving I make extras of everything just so I can have a ton of food to ‘snack’ on later. I am shameless about this and this is why I stay in a food coma for about a week after Turkey Day has passed.
However, I do occasionally grow tired of eating the exact same plate of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This dish is a lighter take on brunch while utilizing what you may already have in the fridge from the big feast. I suppose this is a way to ease myself out of guilt when I go back to injecting stuffing and mashed potatoes into my veins.
Don’t feel limited to only using the ingredients I have listed below. Go scavenge for whatever is left in the refrigerator and then throw it altogether like a wiz. This is merely a suggestion.
Go wild.
– W. (more…)
Allow me to ask you guys a serious question: What are the holidays without a big bowl of mashed potatoes? Well, just a regular Thursday dinner.
I’m only teasing. Mashed potatoes always remind me of family; they are the starchy nostalgic equivalent of chicken noodle soup. Of all the dishes you could make for the holidays, I think this has to be the simplest. This side dish requires very few ingredients but packs a lot of buttery richness. Concerning the butter usage, I have to say the butter carries as much weight as the potatoes here. You don’t have to use the full amount of dairy products I have posted here, but you really, really should. Your family and your taste buds will crown you as regional manager of mashed potatoes.
This dish requires no garnishment, unless you want to throw some chives in.
Tip: Since one of the main ingredients is butter, I highly recommend using the nice European kind.
– W. (more…)
That holiday with the turkey and the family is just around the corner and I could not be more excited. I love any excuse that encourages me to over-indulge on food without any morsel of guilt. Well, not entirely.
For me, gravy is kind of a big deal. It’s that side dish that goes well with everything: turkey, mashed potatoes, chicken, rice, all of it. Gravy adds a special, classic touch to the Thanksgiving dinner. This recipe is very hearty and easy to make.
Gravy can seem a little intimidating at first because it is a step-by-step process and it requires some patience. But once you break down this recipe, you’ll see how simple gravy really is. I’m separating this into two parts since you can’t start the gravy without any fat. Besides, you can totally use this method for another type of poultry in ten more days.
