Thanksgiving Tips and Tricks

Thanksgiving dinner will be the best you've ever made with these simple little tricks!

Cranberry Sauce: Do Not and I repeat Do Not buy cranberry sauce in a can. There is absolutely no reason for this. The fresh ones are ten times better and they are incredibly easy to make. There is always a recipe on the back of the package, but essentially you simmer them in a little water with sugar. Throw in a cinnamon stick and your company will be raving.

Invest in a Potato Ricer:You can find these at any kitchen supply store and they are $15-$20. I love using it because it makes creamy mashed potatoes with the best melt in your mouth texture. If you like lumpy mashed potatoes, you will hate the ricer because it gets rid of the lumps, but stop beating them with a mixer. It makes them have a gluey consistency.

Pre-packaged Pie Dough: Such an ingenious invention. I'm not great at making pie dough from scratch. Plus, its messy and time consuming. Philsbury makes a great dough you can find in the refrigerator section. Pop it in your pie pan, fill it with whatever filling you want and pop it in the oven. No one will ever no the difference!

Artichoke Hearts: I think it's so funny when people tell me, "I can't cook like you, because you make fancy stuff like artichokes!" Although artichokes may look fancy they are crazy easy to make. Snip off the spiky peaces and the stem. Steam them in the microwave (yes I said the microwave) for 10 minutes and dip them in melted butter and lemon. I think they make a great appetizer for Thanksgiving because they are pretty finger food that doesn't take up your stove top or your oven.

You Can Make Your Own Stuffing: Sorry Stovetop! It's so easy to make homemade stuffing and it tastes so much better. Simply tear up bread (I prefer sourdough or some sort of crusty bread and let it dry on a baking sheet overnight. Saute some celery and onion. Mix that in with the bread. Pour chicken stock on top and season with some poultry seasoning. Throw it in the oven at 350 and keep an eye on it. When it's as moist or dry as you like it pull it out. You can also add all sorts of fun things like dried cranberries, pinenuts, and roasted peppers.

Filed Under: newsletter, rick and carly, thanksgiving

Categories: Local News

Thanksgiving Tips & Tricks