I saw this aricle at Voracious yesterday and had to chuckle.  Spam, Turkeys, and Other Food News of the Week

In this article Jonathan Kauffman discusses the truths behind the food writer and thanksgiving.  As he puts it:

Yes, boys and girls, it’s the start of holiday season, in which the nation’s greatest food writers are forced once again to reinvent the wheel. Every November I say a prayer of thanks that I write for an alt-weekly. God bless the Scrooges of the publishing industry.

How to Host a Successful Holiday Meal by Russ Parsons (LA Times): Spoiler alert — it’s all about delegating properly.

Using Salt and Science, We Can Roast a Nearly Perfect Bird by Andreas Viestad (Washington Post): The debates begin — brining or not brining, stuffing or not stuffing. (More critically, did you think to order the turkey yet?) I think this is the recipe I will try this year. It’s a little involved, but if Viestad swears it’s better than Cooks Illustrated…

There’s a lot more to the article, please check it out.  It really is a great piece of writing.

It is indeed that time of year for us Americans, and in fact the time has already passed for our Canadian Friends.  I’ve already had the brining/no brining discussion with a few people myself. (I do not, by the way.  I think that it changes the texture of the bird, and I don’t make a dry turkey, so…) As for stuffing.  Nope. Stuffing is evil.  I dress on the side.  If I’m feeling particualrly Rockwellian I add the dressing to the bird at the end, then toss it back in the oven for a few minutes.

So waht are your thoughts?  Brine or no brine? Stuffing or no stuffing? Smoked, roasted or fried?  Leave a comment and share!

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It’s been a long while since I’ve participated in a Thursday Thirteen, but with Thanksgiving just a week and a day away I thought it would be a good time to list a few things that I am personally thankful for this year.  I’ll not bore you with the details of the ups-and-downs we’ve faced, everyone has lows, and nobody wants to listen to someone elses’ problems.  I’d rather focus on the things that keep me smiling, motivated and happy that I’ve lived long enough to see them.

So these, my dear friends, readers and even you, casual passerby, are the things that I am thankful for this year. Some are big things, some are small, but each of them is dear to me and my family.

Thirteen Things I’m Thankful for This Holiday Season
(In no particular order)

1. My health, and the health of my family: Of course that might go without saying, but every day that we’re all here to enjoy each other is a day I’m thankful for.
2. My Wife and her support: She has stood by me for two years while I made little or nothing and worked on growing my business.  She never wavered, even when I did.  She put her second career on hold when necessary to bolster me, and she’s the love of my life.
3. My Dad: We’ve been through rocky straights over the past 15 years or so, but the rift seems to have been mended.
4. My Grandparents: Grandma has been feeling under the weather this year, but at 85 years young, she’s still kickin’, and Grandpa is still as imposing as ever at 89.
5. The Medical professionals of the U.S. Armed Forces: Who are doing a wonderful job helping my son and our family deal with his learning delays and autism.
6. Miss Sandra and Miss Carol: My son’s speech and vocational therapists, who visit him weekly and whom he loves dearly.
7. My Sister: Who has once again joined the forces of the working, and in doing so has found a bit of herself that she was lacking. Not that she wasn’t doing well, I’m just glad she’s happier.
8. Good Friends, both online and off: There are not many people that I call a close friend.  But of the ones I do, they are my friend for life, and I’m here for them, as they have been for me.
9. The men and women of the United States Armed Forces: Be they reservist, guard or active duty. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine or Coast Guard, I salute you one and all. You go through difficult times so that the rest of us can do our thing.  I’ve been there.  If you need me, just call. I’ve got your back.
10. My Dogs: It may sound a bit redneck, but they’re just as much a  part of my family as anyone else, even when they are being totally annoying. (And they got a place on this list by being totally annoying)
11. My readers, visitors and guests: Without you I would have nothing to write or worse, would be writing in a vacuum.  You validate the work that I do in a small way every time you drop in and as a whole, make it possible for me to continue doing what I hope is a good job.  I thank each and every one of you.
12. My children: All of them, wherever they may be.  One is grown with children of her own.  Others are nearly grown, or in different states and time zones.  One I have never spoken to and the one who lives with me cannot speak.  All of you are are a part of my thoughts every single day, whether you believe it or not.
13. Laughter: Both the fact that I’m able to laugh, and the laughter of others.  it truly is the most powerful medicine known to man.  Don’t believe me?  Try having a bad day when a two year old is giggling.  See if you can.  I doubt it.

And there you have it, though I’m sure this list is not inclusive, or even close to it.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

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I’ll say it again.  I Love the Holidays.  It brings out the best in people and companies alike.  Check out this press release:

12 News & KMLE Country Team Up With Bashas’ & Food City Stores to Hold Turkey Tuesday Drive for St. Vincent de Paul
Arizona Residents Invited to Donate Frozen Turkeys on Tuesday, Nov. 25

Last update: 11:00 a.m. EST Nov. 13, 2008
PHOENIX, Nov 13, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The nation’s largest one-day turkey drive, 12 News’ Turkey Tuesday, will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 25. On this designated Tuesday, nearly 100 Bashas’ and Food City stores will collect frozen turkeys and monetary donations for St. Vincent de Paul.
Now in its 15th year, 12 News’ Turkey Tuesday has become a Thanksgiving tradition for many Arizona families, schools and businesses. From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, residents are invited to make a frozen turkey or monetary donation at any Bashas’ or Food City store in metropolitan Phoenix and northern Arizona.
All donations will benefit hungry families just in time for Thanksgiving. According to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a local non-profit that cooks and distributes more than 3,000 meals each day to the hungry, turkey donations are the key to meeting an increased demand this year.
“The need in our community has never been so critical,” said Steve Zabilski, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul. “This year, more families are asking us for help. They’re living on the economic edge, struggling to stay in their homes, pay their bills and feed their families.”
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Turkey Tuesday, 12 News Sports Anchor Bruce Cooper and Weather Anchor James Quinones will challenge one another to see who can collect the most turkeys for St. Vincent de Paul. KMLE Country personalities Gwen Foster and Stu Evans will join the challenge, broadcasting live throughout the afternoon. 12 News also will dedicate a phone bank of volunteers to take donations from individuals unable to visit a store.
During last year’s Turkey Tuesday drive, Arizonans donated a record 25,181 frozen turkeys, which fed thousands of local, needy families. St. Vincent de Paul volunteers collected the frozen birds, and packaged thousands of the donated turkeys into food boxes, which were immediately delivered to hungry families throughout Arizona.
“We’re so thankful for this annual turkey drive because it helps us to meet the strong need we’re facing,” said Zabilski. “Even when times are tough, we’re blessed by the generosity of our community.”
In addition to the one-day drive, during the month of November, all Bashas’ and Food City stores statewide will be selling $1 paper turkey icons to benefit St. Vincent de Paul. Customers can customize the turkey-shaped icons by writing in what they are most thankful for this holiday season. To find a Bashas’ or Food City store near you, visit http://www.bashas.com or http://www.myfoodcity.com.
About Society of St. Vincent de Paul
No other organization in the Valley provides so many services to so many people using so many volunteers. From hunger and homelessness to healthcare, St. Vincent de Paul reaches out to help those in need in the Arizona while providing the community with opportunities to serve the economically disadvantaged. For more information, visit http://www.stvincentdepaul.net.
About Bashas’ Family of Stores
Bashas’ Family of Stores — the family-owned grocer that operates Food City, AJ’s Fine Foods, Sportsman’s Wine & Spirits, Ike’s Farmers Market, Eddie’s Country Store, and both Bashas’ and Bashas’ Dine supermarkets — is an Arizona-based company founded by brothers Ike and Eddie Basha, Sr. With more than 13,000 members and 160 grocery stores, it is the 8th-largest employer in the state and one of the Best Places to Work in Arizona. Since the company’s inception in 1932, Bashas’ has given back more than $100 million to the communities it serves. For more information, visit http://www.bashas.com and http://www.myfoodcity.com.
About Gannett Co., Inc.
Gannett Co., Inc. is a leading international news and information company that publishes 90 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns nearly 1,000 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes nearly 300 titles, including 18 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 23 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.
SOURCE Bashas’ Family of Stores

http://www.bashas.com

Now, why can’t we all do this for the rest of the year?

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My wife entered a cookie contest last week.  These bad boys won first place in the chocolate cookie recipe category, as best chocolate cookie recipe.  So when I tell you these are more than good, I have a panel of judges to back me up.  These bars are sweet, succulent and definitely something we’ll be making all year long, but they are perfect for a Holiday buffet, so don’t pass this recipe up when you are planning your Thanksgiving or Christmas cookie baking!

This is a simple recipe, an even though I usually shy away from anything that uses a mix, in this case I’ll gladly make an exception.  They make in a snap, don’t cost much and are suited for the novice baker (read: me).  The results are fabulous, the oooh-and ahhhh factor is pretty high on the list.  Just place a pretty pyramid of these on a shiny platter and back out of the way.  But I suggest you make two batches if you want any for yourself!

I could talk forever about these, but I think I’ll just let the recipe speak for itself.  It’s that good!

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Sweet potato casserole is one of those dishes that sits on nearly every Southern Holiday table.  It’s a given at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it’ll pop up at other times of the year as well, especially if the crowd is going to be a large one.  The standard Southern version includes canned sweet potatoes in sweet syrup, a ton of brown sugar or molasses and to top off the show, a whole bag of mini marshmallows, all melted and browned in an oven.  It’s more of a dessert than a side dish, and far too sweet for my tastes.

Not that I don’t love sweet potatoes, I do. So when Judy from No Fear Entertaining answered my request for Holiday recipe alternatives with a need for a version of this dish that wasn’t covered in marshmallows, I was all for it.

I thought that it might be difficult to come up with a recipe in this case, but a glance in the latest issue of the Pillsbury Thanksgiving circular gave me just the right direction.  This is my take on a recipe posted there. I thought the addition of a few ingredients were called for, and I’m glad my need to wing-it kicked in.

This casserole is sweet, but just by virtue of the natural sugars in the sweet potatoes themselves.  it isn’t cloying or overwhelming and it plays nicely with other items on your plate. We had it with roast chicken and green beans, and I would recommend that combination just as much as putting it on the buffet with the rest of your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal.  Trust me, your family will eat this stuff up!

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Now there’s even more to love at the CbsoP Store.  I’ve just put out a few new Holiday themed T’s, with more coming in the next few days.

The photo at right is one example of what you’ll find in the Thanksgiving section of the store.  Meet Rambo Turkey.  He’s not going in without a fight!  Wouldn’t it be cool to wear this around just before the Holidays?

I’ve got a few coming in the next day or so that should make vegetarians and vegans happy at this time of year, as well as the beef lovers in our midst.

I’ve got some ideas for christmas attire as well, adn will be putting togeter as many other items as possible before Thanksgiving weekend.  After that I’ll be prety much buried by the pressures of keeping up with everything we’ll be cooking.

Do drop by the store and have a look!  If you would like to see these images on any other product that CafePress has available, just let me know, I’ll gt it set up as quickly as possible!

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halloween is just around the corner, and I’ve got a slew of recipes coming for that over the next few days, but that leaves us dead in the middle of the Holiday season, a topic I covered pretty thoroughly last year.  What’s a blogger to do?

“Why,” I said to myself, “I’ll ask my readers if there are things that they would like to see!”

And it sounded like a grand idea.

so, dear readers and fellow food bloggers, are there any particular recipes you’d like to see tackled?  Any recipes that feel a bit tired to you that you would like to see spiced up or given a new twist?  That’s what cooking by the seat of your pants is all about anyway, taking what you know and making something new and incredible.  It’s about the inspiration, and I could use a little of that at the moment, because just re-hashing last years posts seems a bit redundant to me at this point.

Drop a comment here and let me know what you would like to see for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I’ll be happy to dive in and give you my take on a few things!

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What is a cowboy cookie? Where did it get its name? I have no idea, but if you ask me, this is just about the best cookie you’ll ever get yer grubby lil’ paws on, and I can’t exactly send you warm holiday wishes from the great state of Texas without sharing the recipe for these incredible cookies. Honestly, they’re so good that you’ll want to tie on the feed bag for more than one or two.

O.K., enough with the western slang already! You’re in Texas, we get the point!

These are not the official Laura Bush Governor’s Mansion Cowboy Cookies, but rather a recipe received from an Airman (of unknown rate and rank) stationed in Minot, North Dakota, and to be honest, I like this version better than the First Lady’s, simply because it’s not as sweet. Having said that I have to tell you that they are still very sweet, chocolaty and nutty, with just a hint of coconut flavor hovering somewhere in the background. The oatmeal gives these cookies a very satisfying texture, and if you try hard enough you can convince yourself that there might just be something healthy about them. (Oatmeal lowers cholesterol, right? Right!!!)

And in the spirit of the Holidays and in respect to Texas herself, I just had to make one monster of a cookie. This is something we did as kids, when there wasn’t enough dough left to make a full sheet of cookies. Mom would make two really big ones, just to keep the natives in line.

Yup, it’s the same plate! did you used to make a couple of monster cookies at the end of a batch? do you still give in to the temptation at times? You should!

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‘Tis the season for giving, cheer, gifts, and cookies with a resemblance to snowballs. Today I present you with a double helping of Holiday cheer, from our home to yours. Both of these cookies are guaranteed to warm your heart, and one will warm your tummy as well! Don’t let the resemblance fool you. These cookies may look alike on the outside, but the differences between them are like night and day. (Or chocolate and vanilla, as the case may be.)

Though I’ve posted My Aunt Thelma’s Tea Cookie recipe before, I really can’t do Christmas without them. They are a Holiday staple in my household, as they have been for the past 25 years and I doubt they will be going anywhere soon. These little treats are the ultimate in decadence, and should be eaten without remorse for what they will do to your waistline. It is Christmas, after all!

Be warned, the Brandy Balls are intended for mature audiences. These are a no bake cookie, therefore they hold about 90% of the alcohol content they were originally given. The flavor is intense and eating too many before driving is discouraged by both the management of this blog as well as state troopers anywhere in the country, not to mention M.A.D.D.

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