Four Terrific Tips for Your Thanksgiving Meal
Monday November 16, 2009
It's almost here, the Super Bowl of American food! Here are a few tips if you are doing the cooking this year:
It always tastes better when someone else makes it!
Remember, the food will taste twice as good to your guests, than it does to you. Why? Because you just tasted that gravy for the nineteenth time. Stop fussing with it, it's fine.
Timing isn't everything.
Don't try and time everything to finish cooking at the same time so it can all be piping hot at the table. The turkey can easily rest 30 minutes tented with foil, so relax, you have plenty of time to bring the other sides to the table. Things like stuffing and green bean casserole stay hot a long time, and are even fine at room temperature.
Come on Grandma, hurry up with those beans!
If you're feeding a large table of guests, consider setting up the food on a separate table and letting everyone walk by buffet-style. This not only gets the plates filed faster, but also really opens up the table for your fabulous decorations.
Hey, where's the dessert?
Let everyone have a nice break after dinner before you unveil the pumpkin pies. If the desserts are out, people will dig in right after dinner, and just won't appreciate them like they should. That bloated, I-ate-too-much feeling is not from the quantity of food, it's from eating it all in too short a time. Make them watch some football before dessert (or even better, help with the dishes!)
Photos (c) John Mitzewich
It always tastes better when someone else makes it! Remember, the food will taste twice as good to your guests, than it does to you. Why? Because you just tasted that gravy for the nineteenth time. Stop fussing with it, it's fine.
Timing isn't everything.
Don't try and time everything to finish cooking at the same time so it can all be piping hot at the table. The turkey can easily rest 30 minutes tented with foil, so relax, you have plenty of time to bring the other sides to the table. Things like stuffing and green bean casserole stay hot a long time, and are even fine at room temperature.
Come on Grandma, hurry up with those beans! If you're feeding a large table of guests, consider setting up the food on a separate table and letting everyone walk by buffet-style. This not only gets the plates filed faster, but also really opens up the table for your fabulous decorations.
Hey, where's the dessert?
Let everyone have a nice break after dinner before you unveil the pumpkin pies. If the desserts are out, people will dig in right after dinner, and just won't appreciate them like they should. That bloated, I-ate-too-much feeling is not from the quantity of food, it's from eating it all in too short a time. Make them watch some football before dessert (or even better, help with the dishes!)
Photos (c) John Mitzewich
Comments
good foods
I just found your website. It’s ABSOLUTELY terrific! Who knew to NOT stuff the bird? I plan to try your yams with lime juice and and chipolte at Tday. Thanks so much!
Dear John… This is not a break up letter (lol) but a hope for a lifelong friendship via the recipes and such you send into my email box. I fix ‘ok’ turkey, pretty juicy (on most years), but dang… flavorful? Not as I’d like! I’ve been searching the net how to make my turkeys burst with flavor and the taste buds of my guests practically go insane with delight. So.. now.. with your step-by-step turkey help, I am on my way! Thanks!