I set the Thanksgiving table today, ahead of time (before the kitchen work’s too intense). The weight of the plates and such helps pull wrinkles in the tablecloth out. A no-iron tablecloth- perfect!
Thanksgiving Verse (Desktop Wallpaper Too)
Posts Tagged: Holiday
Hazelnut Orange Pilaf
In the old days (yes, I’ve been cooking a long time), we had to get raw hazelnuts in bulk, with the skins on. That meant roasting them and then rolling them in a towel to get the bitter skins off. A tedious job. Or, my mom had another method, adding baking soda to some boiling water and soaking them in that. How much easier now, that I can just pick some up, already toasted and ready to use, at Trader Joe’s!
Christmas Cookies: Favorite Classics
Home-baked Christmas cookies have been part of a tradition in our home- Christmas memories, with recipes passed down through generations. The kids have even helped (and everyone certainly helps with the eating!).
Almond Tarts (AKA Almond Tea Cakes)
There are plenty of recipes available for these, but this is the one I use. Having it written in weights makes it quicker to make! Another timesaver: Trader Joe’s carries blanched almonds. (We used to blanch ’em ourselves- much more work…)
New Deli Style Thanksgiving Recipes from Jen’s Kitchen
Cook your bird upside-down- it won’t look as glamorous, but will be moist & tasty. Don’t like rolling out pie crust? Try pumpkin upside-down pie. More tips too- I’ve gathered ’em together…
Springerle- Easy Anise Cookie for Christmas
Stuck in the kitchen wondering how cookie-decorating took so long?! Or- the kids lost interest & left you with the work? THESE cookies are easy for all, but so fun, with a simple, embossed design…
Gingerbread Cake w/ Lemon Curd (& No Leftover Egg Whites)
I don’t want to save egg whites in the freezer- I just want a recipe that uses the whole egg! So I came up with this recipe, which uses the egg whites leftover from making Lemon Curd, in the cake.
Gingerbread Cookies, Natural Style
Ginger’s great- helping w/inflammation &blood sugar/serum cholesterol/cortisol levels. Not that I’m chowing down on Gingerbread cookies for health reasons. Easy decorating w/fruits & nuts tho!
Giving: Green Christmas Gift Ideas
No fighting crowds! My fingers are doing the walking, with “Green Gift Giving” ideas- eco-style trends of the hipster folk. Yay- I’ve got more time to make homemade goods!
Homemade Gifts: Natural Skin Care Goodies
I love making my own skin care products- I can use natural ingredients & fave essential oils- certain ones are perfect for skin, for mood; some have hormone-balancing and other benefits.
