sarajane’s Profile

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From Talk

Cranberry sauce can be good? Really? Show me how, please!

I make the back of the bag recipe, like lemonfair, but instead of adding Grand Marnier, I add a bit of chopped candied ginger. Like cranberry sauce with my turkey on Thanksgiving, but it's even better the next day on a turkey sandwich with cream cheese on whole wheat bread.

From Talk

Mashed Potatoes made the day before?

I just read somewhere.. the Kitchn, maybe?? (so many Thanksgiving ideas, I can't keep them all straight...) Make your mashed potatoes early in the day, put them in a crockpot with a little milk and butter on the top, presumably to keep them from drying out on the top. Set crockpot to warm or low and you are good to go.

From Talk

A Completely Crockpot Festive Meal

Made this with Christmas dinner last year to rave reviews:
Crockpot Creamed Spinach
Not that you'd want to eat that after dessert, mind you.

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

I usually make a risotto for my vegan brother in law. I'm the Easter hostess, so that one is usually asparagus/arugula/lemon, but I do make a very good pumpkin/spinach/sage risotto in the fall. I omit the cheese and amp up the herbs on either risotto. Use vegetable broth and you are good to go.

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Recent Posts

From Talk

Gravy out of thin air?

From Talk

Polenta appetizers?

From Talk

Chicken Marinades?

From Talk

Make-ahead appetizers?

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Recent Comments | Response to Comments

From Talk

Cranberry sauce can be good? Really? Show me how, please!

I make the back of the bag recipe, like lemonfair, but instead of adding Grand Marnier, I add a bit of chopped candied ginger. Like cranberry sauce with my turkey on Thanksgiving, but it's even better the next day on a turkey sandwich with cream cheese on whole wheat bread.

From Talk

Mashed Potatoes made the day before?

I just read somewhere.. the Kitchn, maybe?? (so many Thanksgiving ideas, I can't keep them all straight...) Make your mashed potatoes early in the day, put them in a crockpot with a little milk and butter on the top, presumably to keep them from drying out on the top. Set crockpot to warm or low and you are good to go.

From Talk

A Completely Crockpot Festive Meal

Made this with Christmas dinner last year to rave reviews:
Crockpot Creamed Spinach
Not that you'd want to eat that after dessert, mind you.

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

I usually make a risotto for my vegan brother in law. I'm the Easter hostess, so that one is usually asparagus/arugula/lemon, but I do make a very good pumpkin/spinach/sage risotto in the fall. I omit the cheese and amp up the herbs on either risotto. Use vegetable broth and you are good to go.

From Talk

Wanted: elegant buffet food ideas

Maybe a risotto for a side?
Pumpkin risotto?

From Talk

Slowcooker down and smell the roses!! Dinner Tuesday October 20th

Hot, open faced turkey sandwiches - are these Hot Browns?
Made with the gravy-less turkey the hubster grilled on Sunday and the "gravy out of thin air" recommendations from the fabulous SE'ers.
With leftover roasted fennel from last night.

From Talk

What's your favorite crock-pot dish?

Chili for sure.

I also use the crockpot to make homemade stock. I freeze leftover chicken bones and when I have a bunch accumulated, throw them in the crockpot with carrot, celery, onion, salt, pepper and a bay leaf. Garlic if I remember. Pull out the chunks and put the pot in the fridge overnight to defat. Much easier than when I used to make a big huge stockpot full. And the crockpot keeps the pot from boiling, theoretically, keeping my stock clear.

From Talk

Edible Gifts for the Holidays

I make sugared nuts, or as they are known in my family, "crack".

From Talk

Your Clever SE Name

boring: just the old first and middle name

From Talk

Bertolli-style dinner recipes?

@lilyb:
The Kitchn is a food related blog-forum run by the folks at Apartment Therapy. Click on the hyperlink words "primer on how to do just that" in my post above and it will take you right to that post. (click on The Kitchn above to go to the current page).

Also, if you are too bleary-eyed in the morning to deal with getting the crockpot up and running, I've heard it suggested to put everything together in the crockpot at night before you go to bed and let it cook while you are sleeping. Stash it in the fridge and reheat when you come home. Also good for those of us who are gone for 10-12 hours and overcook stuff in the crockpot, while we are at work.

Freezing casseroles - you don't need a silicone pan. Just line a regular pan with foil, bake your casserole as usual, let cool (or freeze for even easier handling), remove from the original pan, wrap up the foil around the edges and slide into a ziploc bag. When you are ready to reheat, defoil (or not, your preference) and slide back into the original pan to reheat.

From Talk

Help for a picky vegetarian?!

Risotto? It's what I make when my vegan brother in law comes over, and the carnivores usually dig in, too. What's not to like about rice, veg and cheese?

From Talk

Libby's Pumpkin Shortage? Easy Steps to Make Your Own

Wow! This is the first I've heard of a pumpkin shortage.. will take necessary measures and stock up on Sugar pumpkins - with that easy technique. I've been snarfing up all kinds of pumpkin related goodies - whoopie pies, donuts, muffins, DQ Pumpkin Pie Blizzards - didn't even realize they were endangered.

From Talk

Gravy out of thin air?

Swooning at the bacon grease addition! Thank you all for fixing my craving!
Alas, I have to wait until tomorrow night for my gravy fix. Salmon for dinner tonight. Can't have the same thing twice in a row!

From Talk

Polenta appetizers?

I am sad to report that we were so tired on Saturday night, all we could do was muster the effort to top them with some fontina cheese and bake them. Sadly, those did not live up to your most excellent ideas. However, I have saved ALL of your ideas for future use, to redeem myself from this unfortunate polenta debacle. I have cornmeal and am not afraid to use it!

From Talk

Moldy Spoon Revisited. (Now with more EW!)

I would check around the seals and the drain for undiscovered bits of food and then I'd run the dishwasher empty, except for a cup of bleach. Ew, indeed.

From Talk

Polenta appetizers?


Bad idea to read all these posts just before lunch.
You guys ROCK!
And I have fennel in the veg drawer, just begging to be roasted....

From Talk

What to do with a bunch of dill?

My aunt makes a really good salad with dill:
Romaine lettuce, chopped dill, parmesan shreds & croutons
Dressed with a lemony vinaigrette.

A little bit unusual, but not too weird, and quite refreshing.

From Talk

Chicken Marinades?

Here are my top three (sorry no exact recipes, I usually just wing it):

Lemon-Garlic
Fresh lemon juice, fresh garlic, olive oil and rosemary sprigs.

Ersatz Hawaiian
Pineapple juice (I keep those single serve cans in the pantry just for this), soy sauce, ginger and garlic

Devilled Chicken (this one I actually do right before baking, rather than marinating)
Slather chicken parts with dijon mustard, roll in bread crumbs (panko is excellent, as are seasoned), bake.

From Talk

What's for dinner tonight-9/29

Quite similar to italiancupcake; poached salmon with a greengoddess sauce (leftover dip that needs to be used up), spinach with lemon and garlic and fresh green beans with butter and parmesan.

From Talk

Make-ahead appetizers?

Roux, I totally agree with you, but she's determined and only asked me for some suggestions. She did say she had all day Thursday set aside for said task and has some help in the form of her daughters and friends.

Trader Joe's and Sam's are on the radar, alas I am a Costco minion and cannot advise her there.

Excellent suggestions, everyone, as usual.

From Talk

Make-ahead appetizers?

Feel like I should offer something for those who seek similar inspiration.

Olive Cheese Spread
1 - 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
1 jar Kraft Old English Cheese Spread
1/4 to 1/2 cup green olives, chopped

Mix all together well. Serve with french bread slices or breadsticks.

Our family also takes this on picnics, with a loaf of french bread, not that there is much picnic time left in the Midwest!


From Talk

Antique/Vintage Cooking Utensils

Big garage-saler here. I love all kinds of old equipment. Like everyone else said, as long as your heebie-jeebie meter isn't going off and you can adequately clean your purchases, you are good to go. I collect mismatched silver for everyday use, along with assorted kitchen tools. If they are in good enough condition (no chipped paint), I run most everything through the diswasher - but I wouldn't do that for your cast iron pan.

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

Shirley O. Corriher's Moist Chocolate Crazy Cake is a wonderful vegan dessert that all the carnivores and lactose lovers will also adore. Nobody will feel deprived. It's super easy to make and mixes right in the pan; it also travels well. Go for the coffee option, and I also suggest throwing in some chocolate mini-chips for extra richness. Dust with a little confectioner's sugar for an attractive presentation. Whipped cream is a great side for the non-vegans:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/28/science/28rbake3.html?ex=1108270800&en=83a3f0b3d43e3219&ei=5070


Pecan pie is always a great vegan dessert option too (crust made with shortening).

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

I have no suggestions, I'm just chiming in to say that yoru T-giving tradition sounds totally kick ass.

I'm very jealous.

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

I always make ratatouille which everyone is thankful for as it's not heavy. For the bird-eaters, it also goes well with the turkey. My personal favorite is Julia Child's recipe. The secret is cutting the eggplant and zucchini into bigger pieces, and sauteeing before you put it all together. This is not the mush most people think of as ratatouille!

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

There are some great sweet potato and squash casseroles to be had! Seek and ye shall find!

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

I also love http://www.fatfreevegan.com/ even though I am a total omnivore who eats full fat. The recipes there are truly awesome.

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

My husband and I went vegan for a month and a LOT of the recipes I used came from VeganDad and VeganYumYum. We now use some of these recipes in our regular rotation. Enjoy!

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

This gravy is AMAZING. Everyone will dig it:

6 T. raw, unsalted cashews ground to a fine powder/paste
1 ½ C. water
1 T. cornstarch
1-2 T. soy sauce (I prefer a milder organic kind)
squirt of lemon juice
seasonings to taste (I use freshly ground pepper and a little garlic salt)

Grind the nuts in a food processor or blender until a paste starts to stick to the sides. While the food processor or blender is on a low speed, slowly add the water. Transfer about a third of this mixture to a saucepan and add the cornstarch. Heat and stir constantly until gravy starts to thicken. Add rest of cashew mixture to pan and add soy sauce, lemon juice, and seasonings. At this point you can really tailor it to your tastes by adding more of whatever you like. Add the soy sauce gradually while tasting so you don't add too much. If it's a strong soy sauce, it can overpower the gravy quickly.

From Talk

A Completely Crockpot Festive Meal

Maybe I'll e-mail the link to my mom and my husband. There is always Christmas. :D

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

You could of course do a three sisters stew, the concept of which is an obsession of mine lately. Just leave out the sausage obviously and use veggie stock or water in place of the chicken stock. You could also do a three sisters saute with butternut squash, beans, and hominy combined with peppers and onion to make a pretty substantial side dish.

From Talk

A Completely Crockpot Festive Meal

aww jennywren...
How often do your parents use theirs?
Can you make off with it, except for when they ask for it back? }8-)> ;-)

If you are serious, I have found a slow cooker I am in love with.
It is the Hamilton-Beach Set and Forget 6 quart slow cooker.
( http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/180-9911109-3817936?asin=B000GHGKXS&AFID=Performics_Google%20Product%20Listing%20Ads&LNM=Primary&ref=tgt_adv_XASD0001 )

I love the options on this baby. You can set the time in half hour increments; you can set it to turn to warm when a roast or chicken reaches a certain temperature with the thermometer probe; and it seems to cook more like the older crockpots, meaning less hot than many of the modern ones.

But, that's my favorite of the ones I own. A standard 3 1/2 quart old style Rival still does the job just fine. :-)

From Talk

A Completely Crockpot Festive Meal

Gator Pam you are awesome but, now I have to buy a crock pot instead of just borrowing one from my parenits. That means I have to find a home for one in my cabinet :(

From Talk

I need a vegan recipe or two for Thanksgiving

You can make a TON of things. In fact, most sides on major recipe sites are vegan, or you can just swap any oil for butter and omit cheese (really, vegan cheese products aren't that tasty....just omit the cheese!)

I'm vegetarian and have been making Thanksgiving for my family for the past few years, feel free to check out my blog for some recipes (link is in my profile). Some of them contain cheese or butter, but you can easily omit those ingredients.

Good luck!

From Talk

What's for Dinner Tonight? The 'Come-Back-GatorPam!' Edition.

*blushing*
Hi everyone.
The holidays are here, so I'm back.
I'll attempt to not be such a spammer on the boards this time.
Thanks for the link to this thread, yayfood.

After starting the daily WFD threads back in September, I have found the "Recently Commented On" tab on the talk front page which seems to work similar to "bumping" a thread on the other forums I visit. So I leave the choice to you regulars: continue posting in this thread and hope others use the "Recently Commented On" tab? Or start a new WFD thread daily?

As for our dinner tonight, we're having an 8 lb. oven stuffer roaster. I'll "kasher" it by soaking and salting it (though it will not be a kosher bird it will finish up moist almost as if I brined it and takes far less time), rub with olive oil and my home made spice rub of kosher sea salt, fresh cracked mixed peppercorns, granulated garlic, Hungarian hot paprika, a dash of cinnamon (I put a little cinnamon in just about everything for the blood sugar regulating benefit), and dried dill weed. That then gets tied with kitchen twine and roasted for an hour to 90 minutes in my Showtime rotisserie. Baked potatoes in the toaster over, and sauteed broccoli (steamed broccoli florets than quickly sauteed in olive oil with minced fresh garlic and salt and fresh cracked mixed peppercorns).

So...
WFD at your home tonight? 8)

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'

Hard to choose. I started out in food blog land with I Was Just Hungry.

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'

Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:

nmallory
RossS
merckurybubbles
Sharon H.
wwe11

Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'

Serious Eats and The Wicked Noodle. Looks like a lot of people like Smitten Kitchen, so I'm going to have to check that out!

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'

Serious Eats and The Wicked Noodle. Looks like a lot of people like Smitten Kitchen, so I'm going to have to check that out!

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'

Serious Eats and The Wicked Noodle. Looks like a lot of people like Smitten Kitchen, so I'm going to have to check that out!

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'

I like Serious Eats of course. I also like Smitten Kitchen.

Recent Posts

From Talk

Gravy out of thin air?

From Talk

Polenta appetizers?

From Talk

Chicken Marinades?

From Talk

Make-ahead appetizers?

From Talk

Hot Humid Weather Suppers

From Talk

Father's Day BBQ: BYO Steak Bar

From Talk

Mediterranean BBQ

From Talk

Avoiding metallic-tasting lemon desserts?

From Talk

Breakfast at Union Square Greenmarket?

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