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Thursday, November 16, 2023

Let's Eat




When it comes to Thanksgiving, the menu holds things we love and things we hate.  When it comes to cooking Thanksgiving dinner, that also seems to involve a lot of love and hate, (dishes, so many dirty dishes...).    Thanksgiving menus typically involve cranberries, sweet potatoes, stuffing/dressing, other potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls, pies, and turkey.  Although, these are the staples, what each family has on their holiday table varies. While many people will also have some version of Mac n' Cheese on the table, my family will more often than not, have baked mostaccioli, (because no one wanted to volunteer to make lasagna). 

Anytime I'm in charge of Thanksgiving, my go-to Turkey recipe comes via Giada De Laurentiis and Food Network.   Turkey with Herbes de Provence and Citrus because stuffing the bird with sliced apples, oranges, and onions, seemed the simplest solution.  In line with keeping things simple, I'm also a fan of any recipe that involves a slow cooker.  Linda Johnson Larson's The Complete Slow Cooking Tor Two: A Perfectly Proportioned Slow Cooker Cookbook offers up a cranberry sauce recipe, that involves cranberries, apples, pears, cinnamon, and oranges.  The bonus of slow-cooking cranberry sauce?  It can be made a few days ahead and it smells good. 



*Book descriptions featured are provided by the publishers



A good cook once said that a casserole is a blend of inspiration and what's on hand. Add to that a generous helping of know-how, and you've got The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever.

Call it a hotdish, covered dish, or casserole--in these pages, you'll find one-dish meals for every season and any occasion, put together with James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer Beatrice Ojakangas's customary common sense and uncommon culinary flair. For breakfast, there are make-ahead strata and quiches or last-minute offerings like baked omelets and Eggs Florentine; for lunches and brunches, light fare or full-on midday meals; and for dinner a dizzying array of dishes, meaty or vegetarian, made with fresh ingredients or pantry staples--from Pork Chops with Apple Stuffing to Baked Spaghetti, Southwestern Beans, or Autumn Vegetable Stew. Leave room for dessert, because Ojakangas includes sweet casseroles like Mocha Fudge Pudding and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. And for appetizers and snacks there are dips, spreads, and slathers; mini quiches and omelet squares; and mushrooms au gratin, curried, or stuffed. You'll even find bread here in casserole form, from sweet Cinnamon Bubble Bread to savory Cornmeal Spoon Bread and tender Sally Lunn.

With an ever-reliable and inspired sense of how to create a delicious meal, Ojakangas has advice for both expert and novice about ingredients, equipment, and meals. Combine that with whatever you have in the pantry and fridge, and this cookbook is the perfect guide to everything that a casserole might be.




Every cook struggles over making side dishes, from choosing what goes best with the main course to getting stuck in a rut making the same tired green beans and rice. But this destined-to-be-dog-ear'd compendium of side dishes changes all that; more thorough than any other cookbook, our first complete compilation of side dishes offers 1,001 perfect recipes for tonight and every night, whether you only have a few minutes or need your next dinner-party go-to.-- Amazon



In Festive Holiday Recipes, Food Network star Addie Gundry offers easy, delightful holiday recipes all in one place for everyone looking for that last minute recipe for entertaining. There's a reason it's called the most wonderful time of the year. From easy appetizers for holiday and New Year's Eve entertaining, like Caramelized Onion Tartlets, to recipes for The Best Roast Turkey and all your favorite sides, pies, and even leftover ideas, this book is a home cook's trusty sous chef for easy and elegant entertaining throughout the holiday season. Three words to remember: Salted Caramel Eggnog. Each recipe is paired with a four-color, full-bleed photo.



"Holiday favorites for all year round, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author and Food Network personality"-- Provided by publisher.





"In this tongue-in-cheek memoir-cum-life manual-cum-cookbook, complete with all of Ginger's Southern-inspired favorite recipes, fans will learn about some of Ginger's most vulnerable and celebratory moments. Each chapter will be organized around a theme or lesson from Ginger's life, from her grandmother's brand of Southern resilience to fighting for what you're worth, how a big girl can look good on a motorcycle, finding love, and making damn good cupcakes"--. Provided by publisher.




Gather your friends and prepare to say "How you doin'?" to more than 100 recipes inspired by the beloved hit sitcom. Whether you're a seasoned chef like Monica Geller, just starting a catering business like Phoebe Buffay, or a regular old food enthusiast like Joey Tribbiani, Friends: The Official Cookbook offers a variety of recipes for chefs of all levels. From appetizers to main courses and from drinks to desserts, each chapter includes iconic treats such as Monica's Friendsgiving Feast, Rachel's Trifle, Just for Joey Fries, Chandler's "Milk You Can Chew," Phoebe's Grandmother's Cookies, and of course, The Moist Maker. Complete with more than seventy recipes and beautiful full-color photography, this charming cookbook is both a helpful companion for home cooks and a fun homage to the show that's always been there for you.



In Bish Bash Bosh! you'll discover a whole world of quick eats, weeknight suppers, showstopping feasts, and incredible sweet treats - all using the power of plants. From a hearty, classic lasagne to an indulgent mini banoffee meringue, and from quick quesadillas to an incredible curry house jalfrezi, these are simple, savvy recipes that you'll turn to time and again.



"Magpie Artisan Pie Boutique is a jewel in Philadelphia's food-town crown. Since 2012, the pocket-size shop has been turning out flaky crusts and luscious fillings. Now this book serves up Magpie's seasonal menu for home bakers everywhere: the fruity, creamy, and nutty pies; hand pies, pot pies, and quiches; and even pie shakes and pie "fries," all fine-tuned to exacting standards and with lots of step-by-step instruction for that all-important crust. Baker-owner Holly Ricciardi's upbringing deep in the Central Pennsylvania countryside provided the basis for Magpie's perfect synthesis of classic favorites and new twists - alongside down-home favorites like Sweet Crumb Pie and Shoofly Pie you'll find Holly's bourbon-infused update of her great-grandmother's special butterscotch pie as well as the ingenious (and instant-sellout) Cookie Dough Hand Pies. Ninety-plus recipes also include sweets like Cranberry Curd Mini Meringue Pies, Blueberry Rhuby Rose Pie, and Chocolate Blackout Pie, and savories like Summer Squash Pie, Ham-Leek-Dijon Potpies, and Quiche Lorraine. From crusts to crumbles and sumptuous savories to sweet confections, there's a Magpie pie for every occasion."--provided from Amazon.com.



Do you love wine, but always buy bottles at random? Or are you afraid to branch out from the few types you know you like? Then this book is for you. It's a bright, bold, visual guide that cuts through the complexities of wine to focus on what the casual drinker needs to know.

You'll quickly figure out what you like, why you like it and how to describe that to other people, especially the clerk in your local wine shop.

You'll also discover wines you've (probably) never tried before, but definitely should, plus the best pairings, tasting tips and more, including:

· How to smell and taste wine like a pro
· What words like "acidic," "tannic" and "dry" mean
· How to read a wine label (and what words to keep an eye out for)
· What a decanter is, and why you should use one
· What a "dessert" wine is

Featuring insights and advice from wine experts Adam Teeter (VinePair), Kevin Zraly (Windows on the World), Paul Grieco (Terroir), Yannick Benjamin (University Club), Rupal Shankar and sommelier Courtney Schiessl, Find Your Wine is a bright, informative and unpretentious introduction to the world of wine.









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