#make-ahead

#make-ahead

If there's one fall tradition most Americans cherish, it's eating a big dinner on Thanksgiving. And if there's one thing cooks fear on Thanksgiving, it's having to make gravy on the spot with the drippings. This rich and silky make-ahead recipe made with turkey thighs takes the pressure off while offering the same flavors as a roast turkey. For a gluten-free version, mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 1/2 cup broth and slowly whisk into the remaining simmering broth, cooking until thickened.

I love that this recipe is both a fun snack and an actually nutritious food. The black-eyed peas, crunchy veggies, and zingy vinaigrette make a dip full of plant-based protein and fiber that also tastes absolutely delicious! This dip was invented in Texas in the 1940's (it's also called Cowboy caviar), and then spread all over the US. My spin on this party dip always has friends gathered around the bowl at our house and for good reason: it's just that tasty!

They're fancy names for comfort food that uses common slow-cooking processes producing scrumptious tidbits surrounded with sauce. The sauce, a velvety broth, is a mixture of natural juices and stewing ingredients, sometimes thickened with flour. It bathes each morsel of meat and vegetable in enticing flavor. To produce an authentic stew, first sear the meat on all sides, to a rich brown.

It includes fresh apples simmered on the stovetop with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and mixed spices, a smooth and tangy cream cheese filling, crispy digestive biscuits, and an indulgent drizzle of caramel sauce. All you have to do is layer the cream cheese mixture, apples, caramel, and biscuits in a loaf pan, let it set in the fridge for at least eight hours, and then turn out the cake and drizzle it with more caramel.

On the days you feel crummy, you won't have the energy to create any elixirs or health-supporting concoctions - which is all the more reason why you should act preemptively. You can prepare an immunity-boosting ginger shot to put back the next time a whisper of any illness strikes by following wellness coach, Miriam Hahn's recipe for ginger root wellness shots. The feel-good recipe requires only two ingredients and can be made ahead of time.

Nothing is more satisfying than a classic nostalgic treat, and an ice cream sandwich - that perfect concoction of soft fudgy cookies with gloriously melty vanilla ice cream oozing out the sides - might be up there among childhood favorites. When it's made from scratch, the basic ice cream sandwich we know and love goes from being good to being really special, and is a testament to the fact that homemade versions of staples that we grew up with are always worth the effort.

This recipe is a very popular one; it's unique and refreshing. I have made these little sandwich treasures for a rehearsal dinner, weddings, birthdays, funerals, and anniversaries. You don't need a special occasion. Chicken salad is great for the hot spring and summer days or any get-together. You can make these in advance. This is a very requested recipe. My recipe is an awesome twist on chicken salad.