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Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey
I really have to make Mark Bittman's Cranberry Relish with Orange & Ginger. That sounds absolutely delicious.
New Green Milk Jug Design Cuts Costs But Is Difficult to Pour
I've seen this type of container at my Costco for the last two years. The family have difficulties pouring milk, and drinking it out of the container. I don't seem to have problems pouring it myself, and drinking from the container? I'm against it anyways.
Cook the Book: 'Screen Doors and Sweet Tea'
Homemade sweet tea or fresh squeezed Meyer lemonade.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Last year was my big thanksgiving with family in my house. I had started prepping everything from prebaking the rolls to the dressing and sides several days before. I also have only one fridge, so I had plenty of coolers packed with ice sitting on my screened porch in 35*F weather. When time came to cook the turkey went in first then 1 hour before the turkey was done the potatoes were started, and everything came out of coolers and fridge to be warmed in the oven on three racks, after the turkey came out to rest. We also did a roast of beef on low heat on the gas grill. Years before when I lived closer to my parents and we always held holiday dinners at their house. I would roast the turkey in my house then bring it over after it came out. Again plan your menu and timing prior to the big day.
Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey
I really have to make Mark Bittman's Cranberry Relish with Orange & Ginger. That sounds absolutely delicious.
New Green Milk Jug Design Cuts Costs But Is Difficult to Pour
I've seen this type of container at my Costco for the last two years. The family have difficulties pouring milk, and drinking it out of the container. I don't seem to have problems pouring it myself, and drinking from the container? I'm against it anyways.
Cook the Book: 'Screen Doors and Sweet Tea'
Homemade sweet tea or fresh squeezed Meyer lemonade.
Spumoni: Love It or Leave It?
I love it. It was something I would beg for after an good Italian dinner when I was a child. During the Christmas season Dreyers /Edys makes a special Spumoni flavor. It's not that good though.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
I love it crisp, but not crunchy, baked in the oven then cooled and chopped up in quiche!
Cuatro Leches Cake
I saw this, and live too far away from Duni, and I took it upon myself to bake this cake for Easter. Wow what a cake. I decided if I'm gonna make dulce de leche like this, I'm gonna make a lot. Now I have 4 cans of this stuff. 4 cans 4 hours boiling, and 8 hours cooling overnight in the water bath. The next day was the cake. Made in a kitchenaid pro, and with 9 inch pans, and magi-strips the cakes came out smelling heavenly and dense. While the cakes were cooling the caramel was made, and the tres leche filling was created. I goofed up and added an extra ingredient. whole, condensed, evaporated, and heavy whipping. Otherwise everything else turned out just fine. The frosting of the cake was a bit of tricky. The cake was very moist and absolutely divine!
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
It's a really good thing that turkeys need to rest.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
I learned, after hosting 30-40 for dinner when I had little kids, that you cook most of it the day before. We had the best turkey and sides that year. So now I make my turkeys the day before , slice them and put them in a pan and pour in chicken broth to keep it moist. The sides are made and in serving casseroles the day before and just hit the oven when the appetizers come out. I use to spend the day in the kitchen while everyone else enjoyed themselve now I can relax and enjoy myself with everyone else and dinner is still great. Another benefit, my inlaws and mother want a good deal of leftovers to take home with them. I can make extra and have it already packaged for them without trying to get that done after dinner.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
We use a smoker to cook our turkey, so that frees up the oven. I also have an electric roasting pan that is very handy for keeping things warm or cooking the dressing.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
We have one of those countertop convection/rotisserie ovens that we use to keep the side dishes warm until serving - one of the best $80 investments I ever spent. Caveat: I am usually only making holiday dinners for two, so I use smaller casserole dishes. a standard 9 x 13 dish won't fit in this oven, unfortunately.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
For years we worked to find recipes that could be prepared the night before and then warmed, especially if that could be done in the microwave. We got a warming tray that was great for holding things on a buffet. We also instituted the soup course, which allows us to get some food into everyone while we finish up the rest of the meal. After about five yeqrs, we redid the kitchen in our old house and moved the old harvest gold electric range down to the basement specifically so that we could use it on Thanksgiving.
The ultimate solution was to move to a house with double ovens and a six burner cooktop. If we walked into a house that had only one oven, I walked out.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Not only do I have "just one" oven. My kitchen actually has less counter space than my work cubicle. Yet we still host a 12-15 person dinner. I find that for Thanksgiving the roaster is key and a crock pot or two help. We cook 2 - 12 pound birds. One in the oven timed to come out about a 45 minutes before dinner and one in the roaster. The oven bird is the "show bird" and the roaster bird is carved and served right away. Everything else (except the two veggie dishes) is cooked fully or partially the day before or the morning of and heated or finished dinner (even the mashed potatoes) and is put in oven dishes as soon as the turkey comes out and served right in the dish. I find this arrangement makes it a more social event.
Also our guests bring snacks, drinks, wine, bread, and desert.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
I use slow cookers, roasters, the oven, the grill....whatever is needed to complete or keep things warm.
One thing not mentioned although I'm sure several of you do it is that I par cook, then shock my vegeatables. Drain well and put in covered glass baking dishes or round casseroles and refrigerate. Before serving i add some butter or sauce and reheat in the microwave. Crispy toppings are added after heating and get a qucik run under the broiler.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
unless you are feeding the 7th army, cut the number of sides down and use crockpots for keeping things warm. Lets face it the protein is usually the star of the show, and for most, three or four sides is more than enough. who wants to feel like doing nothing but hibernating after dinner? concentrate on being with people you love, it's called THANKSgiving, not gorge to bursting. yes its nice to have options, but everyone deserves to enjoy the day, including the cook and dishwasher.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
All sides, including mashed potatoes, are done the day before and stored in disposable oven friendly casserole pans. The turkey is cooked on the day of and the sides are reheated in the oven while the turkey rests. It works perfectly.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
my mom uses a standalone roaster, and after heating up most of her large sides (mashed potatoes, green beens) puts them in chafing dishes and puts the smaller sides in the oven. Her chafing dishes use hot water, not sterno, so i think they work a lot longer (plus you dont get hot spots and burned undersides). She's amazing!Totally blind and makes the whole meal every year, turkey and 12 sides!
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
grandma and uncle lives closeby, so we have a grill fired up, three ovens if needed, and an outdoor wok for those oh so necessary asian seafood dishes at holiday dinners. =] oh and its non stop cooking once it gets to an hour before dinner
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Do sides the day before, with the exception of mashed potatoes or rice and rolls which we do right before serving. Put the bird in EARLY so when it is done, it can rest and this is when you put in whatever sides you have for reheating. This is our strategy and it always works!
You aren't spending half the day slaving over a hot oven and stove and this can free you up for other things like setting the table or just relaxing! Dessert is easy too because you can heat this while you are eating.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Funny I just got an email from my friends, first time hosting Thanksgiving at their apt, to bring appetizers that don't require cooking or heating. Potato salad it is.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
A $30 roasting oven from Costco, and the bird cooks on the porch!
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
there's another great thread on here about how to use crockpots effectively for thanksgiving. i'm going to try to do my stuffing and glazed sweet potatoes in 2 crockpots. And yes, mashed potatoes are very easy to reheat during the 15-30 minutes that the turkey should rest.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Oh my god Osomtaic hahaha! Freudian indeed.
I like some of the input and would like to keep hearing suggestions. I'm trying to do a better job than last year with the oven space.
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Grill as a 2nd oven!!!
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Very poorly. I have friends and family who have two ovens and have NEVER even used but one. I would love to have two!!!
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Do what my grandma did...serve it as it's ready. Sometimes things are cold. Cold/room temp turkey is nice and hot with hot gravy or cranberry sauce. In other words focus on hot sides I you haven't te space and time the turkey well as aformentioned and you'll have those 20 or so minutes it stays hot. ;)
How Do You Survive with One Oven on Thanksgiving?
Days in advance (well, today), I sit down and work out a battle plan. With military precision I work out exactly what's going to be where when (and how hot it'll be).
If I remember rightly, last year I even managed to schedule "glasses of wine" for myself, interspersed throughout the cooking period!
Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey
Congrats to our winner intheyearofthepig, and thanks to everyone who entered! The winner has been notified and the Contest Winners page has been updated.
Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey
The cranberry currant champagne sauce intrigued me too!
Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey
Pioneer Woman's Sweet Potatoes
Sound like an excellent alternative to the standard mashed potatoes.
Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey
The cranberry sauce with champagne and currants. I just bought some currants for another recipe that I've decided not to do.
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Last year was my big thanksgiving with family in my house. I had started prepping everything from prebaking the rolls to the dressing and sides several days before. I also have only one fridge, so I had plenty of coolers packed with ice sitting on my screened porch in 35*F weather. When time came to cook the turkey went in first then 1 hour before the turkey was done the potatoes were started, and everything came out of coolers and fridge to be warmed in the oven on three racks, after the turkey came out to rest. We also did a roast of beef on low heat on the gas grill. Years before when I lived closer to my parents and we always held holiday dinners at their house. I would roast the turkey in my house then bring it over after it came out. Again plan your menu and timing prior to the big day.