Tag Archives: holiday cooking

Holiday Roasts 101

Are you preparing a roast for the holidays? If you live in the state of Wisconsin then there is a good (make that great) chance that you will be eating a roast of some sort in the next few days given the run on beef at the markets around here. Which brings me to my first roast-related tip: Order in advance. During the holiday season it’s a good idea to order the type and size roast you’ll need to feed the family in advance. Otherwise, you end up facing the predicament I found myself in yesterday—picking through the scraps. Premium … Continue reading →

Countdown to Thanksgiving: Only One more Day!

Tomorrow is Turkey Day! If you have baking or last minute cleaning left to do, now is a good time to get it done, and then… Get Ready Set out platters, and serving bowls and mark each one with a small piece of masking tape or a Post It note, indicating what will be served from each dish. If you are serving dinner buffet style, arrange your buffet (using the empty but marked serving pieces). Add flowers or candles. Make sure you have enough serving spoons. If not, these can be purchased separately (or borrowed). Don’t worry about matching your … Continue reading →

Countdown to Thanksgiving: Two Days from Today

Two more days! The time went by fast, didn’t it? So, how much do you have left to do? I’m feeling pretty good about things. Here’s my game plan for today: Food Prep Getting as much food ready as possible in advance will make the big day less stressful. Start by chopping, cutting, slicing, and dicing any veggies you’ll need for salads, stuffing, veggie trays, relish trays, and the like. Put your trays together and make any dips. Prepare garnishes and store them in covered containers. Another helpful idea is to measure out ingredients you’ll need on Thanksgiving and store … Continue reading →

How many times have YOU burnt the turkey?

Have you ever burnt the Thanksgiving turkey, just as your houseful of hungry guests arrive? Or worse, have you ever undercooked you turkey, only to cut into it and realize the damage—too late? Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner isn’t always easy, especially if you’re not a seasoned home cook. But don’t worry. Listen to my story and you’ll feel much better. A few years ago I made my first Thanksgiving dinner at home. Let’s just say I picked the wrong year. I was 8 months pregnant with my second child, had hypertension, and was due to go on bed rest the … Continue reading →

Grilling Tips

Posted on by

This holiday weekend, many people will be grilling out. Here are some tips you may or may not know about grilling. When you turn your meats, use a tong instead of a fork. If you use a fork to puncture the meat, the natural juices can escape, leaving you with dried out meat that is tough. For the same reason, you should never press hamburger patties flat with a spatula. If you have ever done that, you have probably noticed the juices leaking out. Also, do not salt your meat before putting it on the grill or while cooking it. … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Gingerbread House

Posted on by

If you read my previous blog on Gingerbread houses and found yourself agreeing with me, you’ll love this way of creating a tasty, moist and completely edible Gingerbread House! Cake 1 C Olive Oil 5 C Flour 2 C Hot Water 4 tsp Baking Soda 4 tsp Ground Ginger 4 tsp Ground Cinnamon 1.5 tsp Ground Cloves 1.5 tsp Ground Nutmeg 1 tsp Salt 4 tsp Baking Powder 1 C Brown Sugar 2 C Molasses ½ C Mayonaise (NOT Miracle Whip, just Mayo. Trust me on this.) 4 Eggs 2 Tubs Prepared Vanilla frosting Candy for decorating 1. Heat oven … Continue reading →