I started making turkey bolognese sauce for a private client that preferred a lighter version of the classic Ragu Bolognese, which traditionally is made with ground beef or sometimes a mixture of beef and pork, and realized I prefer it with ground turkey, too! I add turkey bacon to the sauce for a little extra flavor,…
TURKEY JAMBALAYA
When my husband and I first started dating I had this fantasy of traveling to New Orleans, to visit [non-existent] friends living there, and celebrating Thanksgiving with a very cajun menu. After a few years of dreaming, along with some of his college friends from Boston (that happened to be huge NOLA Jazz Fest fans),…
THANKSGIVING MAKE-AHEAD TIPS
Thanksgiving is rarely a small production, but it doesn’t have to be stressful! The best advice I can give is to LET guests bring something when they offer to (this is for all you control freaks out there) and prep as much in advance as possible. As guests begin to arrive you don’t want to…
TURKEY ROULADE WITH SAUSAGE AND CORNBREAD STUFFING
I do not like nor encourage whole roasted turkeys for Thanksgiving. A whole turkey takes a long time to roast in an oven, causing the breast to overcook before the legs finish. That said, I am always looking for fun, tasty and just overall BETTER ways to cook a bird. I’ve been known to braise the dark…
APPLE AND HERB DRESSING
Dressing (I call this dressing because stuffing suggests that it’s getting stuffed into a turkey) is hands-down my absolute favorite thing to make. The unmistakable, classic smell of apples, onions, celery and herbs in a butter-filled skillet signals the holidays have arrived. Don’t worry about the quantities of the chopped fruit and vegetables being exact. Dressing is very…
CIDER-BRAISED TURKEY WITH BUTTER ROASTED BREASTS
I do not like roasting whole turkeys. I do not, and I never will again. Last November I posted my first Crate Cooking turkey recipe declaring why I’m anti-whole bird, the biggest reason being the breasts overcook and dry out before the dark meat is done. And for Thanksgiving I’m still cooking a bird that’s broken down…
SWEET POTATO HASH WITH TURKEY AND FRIED EGGS
Enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers beyond a turkey sandwich or cold side dishes. Delicious with white or dark meat, I find this hash as the perfect use for the meat on the wings. Grab an extra onion and pound of sweet potatoes while you do your Thanksgiving grocery shopping and you’ll have everything else on hand. The…
CRATE COOKING THANKSGIVING
Hosting Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a burden. Prioritize what you want to make, let guests bring something if they offer and plan ahead to stay on top of the big day. For me, the turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce and good bubbly are the most important items, so that’s what I take over. Most guests…
1-HOUR ROAST TURKEY
Yes, this is a recipe for a 1-hour turkey! This turkey isn’t for every family, especially if you have a grandma or other family member that craves the Norman Rockwell moment of a bronzed, whole turkey presented on a large platter. Years ago, while in culinary school, my class asked our French-born chef instructor how…
CRATE COOKING: HOSTING THE HOLIDAYS
The holidays can be a hectic time of year, especially if you’re entertaining friends and family. When it comes to cooking for the holidays I like to focus on quality over the quantity of dishes, such as sides and desserts. Thanksgiving, for instance, is a meal where I’ll gladly become a control freak over the…