Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Brining a turkey takes time and effort, but results in a moist and flavorful bird.
“Brining” has always been the secret method that chefs use to make a moist and flavorful baked turkey. Many years ago I asked a chef why her turkey meat tasted so good, and she led me back to the kitchen’s large, walk-in cooler filled with birds soaking in a fragrant bath. I immediately got her recipe. But what is brining? There are two types: wet and dry. Dry brining is simply rubbing a turkey in a salt and herb mixture and letting it sit (refrigerated of course) for many hours (usually about one hour per pound). It's somewhat easier and more convenient than the alternative wet option, and advocates insist dry brining makes for a bird with a firmer meat texture, and the skin is sensational. Wet brining, which does seem to be the most …
Sunday, November 18, 2012
A cheesy potato casserole and delicious cranberry sauce are sure to light up your Thanksgiving dinner table.
It’s time for Thanksgiving, my favorite time of the year! Not only do you get to see family, but the food is plentiful and delicious. If your family is anything like mine, there are multiple side dishes to choose from to accompany the all important turkey. Everything from green bean casserole to sweet potato pie has been served at our table and now, I would like to share some fantastic side dish recipes that may become a part of your Thanksgiving tradition. Ingredients Cheesy Potato Casserole 3 lbs red potatoes, sliced 1 lb broccoli, chopped 1 10.75 oz can cream of chicken 1 cup sour cream ½ lb ham, sliced 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp kosher salt 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp basil ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated ½ cup Asiago, grated ½…
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Local food pantries struggling to keep up with the demand this holiday season.
For food pantries across Northern New Jersey, Hurricane Sandy dealt a double blow: It increased the number of families in need of assistance and shortened the span between Halloween (which Gov. Chris Christie moved to Nov. 5) and Thankgsiving, which comes early this year. Prior to the storm, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey reported more than 960,000 residents of Northern New Jersey are food insecure, meaning at times they lack access to enough food to maintain an active, healthy life. The Community Food Bank is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive this Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9am to 2pm at the following locations in Essex County:
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Keep your kitchen safe this holiday season
- POLICE & FIRE
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Thursday, November 24, 2011
It's the most wonderful time of the year – but it can also be the most dangerous time in the kitchen. The Newark Fire Department Wednesday morning held a demonstration on fire safety tips to heed while cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year. Battalion Chief Raul Malave advised how to safeguard your kitchen – and how to properly handle those pesky deep fryers. Click on the video above to hear more fire safety tips.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
From sparkling wines to traditional reds, there are many choices for your Thanksgiving Day feast.
To many wine lovers, Thanksgiving can be a frustrating time of the year. With so many dishes being served at the dinner table, choosing the appropriate wine can be overwhelming. Often, cooks think about pairing wine with turkey and end up with white meat and white wine. But this year, home chefs should consider something new - pairing wine with the flavors of their Thanksgiving foods. The turkey is really a blank canvas and can be thought of as a neutral flavor. Instead, look to pair wines with the array of spices or flavors you may use on the table - cranberry sauce, gravy, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are just a few. Tha means a number of familiar varietals will fit the bill. A sparkling wine is always festive and is a great way to start…
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Do you make a non-conventional dessert? Side dish? Main course? Tell us about it!
While the “traditional” Thanksgiving dinner usually consists of turkey and trimmings, we have all established different traditions through the years. That said: Do you bake or cook anything that strays from conventional Turkey Day cuisine? Perhaps it is a dessert, a side dish – or maybe even the main course. We are looking for your non-traditional recipes to share with our Patch readers. Please e-mail them (and pictures) to bfalzarano.patch@gmail.com and we will publish them early next week. And, of course, feel free to share below in the comments.
Blue
9:58 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
OMG, just what I needed. Thanks. Will report the results after Thanksgiving. more ›