Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

This might just work for my vegan sister-in-law-to-be! THANKS!

I grew up eating my mom's potato candy, but it wasn't shaped like potatoes - it was made with them. Potatoes, boiled and mashed, plus confectioner's sugar, vanilla, coconut. Spread in a pan and covered with a layer of dark chocolate, it's like eating a Mounds bar.

Just posted a link to my roasted butternut squash puree with shallots, thyme, and honey, on your other Thanksgiving thread. Good luck!

One of my favorite fall dishes is Penne with Sausage and Pumpkin Cream Sauce. Sounds and tastes really rich, but there's actually not a bit of cream in it. Recipe is here. Would be nice with a fallish salad.

Happy anniversary!

Martha from Throwing Spoons

I have to disagree about the McD's frappe - I had the mocha, and HATED it. Too sweet, too chocolate-syrupy. Bleah.

Starbucks is generally my iced coffee place of choice, despite a strong Dunks presence in New England.

@ Shanying: Ask for a Clover grande in a venti cup. Plenty of room for milk!

@ ag3208 - King Arthur makes a white whole wheat flour. I love to substitute it for half the regular flour in many recipes - no one even notices it in cookies!
Here's what to look for:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/files/2009/03/img_4793.JPG

Again, thank you all for your help! We now have reservations for dinner at Spoodles, Restaurant Marrakesh, Brown Derby and Boma.

@jcrisco - We're going in a couple of weeks; no Dining Plan.

Our hope is to do several nice dinners over the five nights we are there, and on other days have a bigger lunch and something light for dinner.

Thanks for your help!

Martha
Throwing Spoons

This thread is going to be so helpful; I'm going to be spending time in Chicago during the coming year! Thanks for all of the great suggestions!

I'm another big fan of Cook's Illustrated and, like previous posters, I also enjoy Cook's Country, despite it being CI's country cousin (all puns intended). I like Cooking Light, as well.

Though in most ways I'm much more a CI gal than a Gourmet gal, I will admit that I do tend to want to prepare the feast by myself. I start days ahead of time, with the cranberry sauce, and am usually whipped into a frenzy just before the meal goes on the table!

If my guests insist on bringing something, I usually request hors d'oeuvres or desserts. Don't get me wrong, I love to bake - it's how I got into cooking in the first place - but if I start asking for side dishes, I have to figure out how they're going to be reheated, etc. I'd rather orchestrate dinner myself.

This sounds great. My mom's bringing pies, but I might make this as a third dessert - thanks for the suggestion!

Another vote for grilled cheese and tomato!