The Good Table: Adventures in and around my kitchen Valentine Warner (UK, Mitchell Beazley, September 2011) 400 pages. Available at Amazon.com. Valentine Warner takes us on a journey to home food heaven. By cooking and shopping with care and attention to detail you’ll learn how to use accessible ingredients in exciting new ways. Confit duck legs […]

This classic holiday fruit is making a comeback, thanks to a farmers’ market near you. A fragrant and incredibly tart fruit in the apple and pear family, quince is native to Persia and has been popular since ancient times for its abundant pectin (a thickener used in jellies and jams). Quince fell out of favor […]

It’s that time of year to start your holiday decorating. Cooks will delight in these fragrant wreaths made of culinary herbs that can be used in cooking. Bay Leaf Wreath The sweet herbal scent of bay leaves is one of the season’s most pleasing aromas. The leaves will dry naturally and can be used in […]

A roast Thanksgiving turkey is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But after the feast and the second helpings of pie, after the football games in the leaves and the naps by the fire, what do you do with the leftover five pounds of meat? Here are three delicious ideas to help transform next-day turkey into […]

The bone structure that gives turkeys their signature silhouette can make carving a whole bird tricky. Why not start a new tradition this year: Break down your roast into manageable pieces of breast, thigh, and leg, then carve them into thin slices for a more refined presentation. 1. Put the turkey on a work surface. […]

INGREDIENTS For any size turkey up to 18 lbs. 2 gallons water 2 cups kosher salt 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1 yellow onion – quartered 2 lemons, juice and lemon parts 2 oranges, juice and orange parts 1/2 cup chopped thyme 1/2 cup ground black pepper 1/4 cup honey PREPARATION In […]

1. LAST-MINUTE GUESTS Luckily, almost everyone makes too much food on Thanksgiving. For most feasts, there would have to be a half-dozen unexpected guests to seriously impact the meal. If you’re planning on individual servings of any items, as the host you can always share or forsake yours. If you run out of room at […]

Turkey and stuffing go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other because it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving! Stuffing happens to be one of those many recipes that’s particular to each and every household. Every cook makes the recipe just a little bit differently — and that’s what makes stuffing so special. With […]

New England Bacon Smashed Potatoes INGREDIENTS 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks 1/2 pound bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 to 3 tablespoons cider vinegar 1 teaspoon sugar 2 tablespoons chopped dill PREPARATION Steam potatoes in a large steamer rack set over boiling water, covered, until very tender, 20 to […]

Cranberry sauce is a touchy subject. The Food Network surveyed their fans on what is better: jellied cranberry sauce shaped like the can, or the whole-berry kind. They hit a nerve: Nearly 15,000 voted — and the results were close! 54% prefer CANNED 46% prefer BERRIES We say, judge for yourself, put them both on the […]