From the Kitchen to the Christmas Tree

By Sandy Hu
A new video for Video Friday

Each year, we buy a little tree for our Special Fork office. We decorate, keeping to a kitchen theme, using a few purchased ornaments, such as a garland of “candy,” blown glass fruits, fabric ice cream cones and other food-related decorations. Then we fill in by improvising with what’s available in the Special Fork kitchen.

The ornaments we’re making today would look wonderful on a kitchen Christmas tree, or would be perfect for anyone just starting a household who hasn’t yet collected enough baubles.

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Enter for a Chance to Win Cool Tools

By Sandy Hu
A new video for Video Friday

Everyone can use some new kitchen tools – especially this time of year when we’re all in a cooking and baking frenzy. So Special Fork has made it an annual holiday tradition to offer a sweepstakes package of cool kitchen tools. Dave and I go out to shop personally to make the selections, asking at cookware stores about the hot sellers. This year’s prize package retails for $122.

Today, I’m showing you what we hand-picked for this year’s lucky Special Fork sweepstakes winner. To enter, please go to our Facebook page.

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You won’t Miss the Turkey with this Stuffed Squash

By Jennifer Knapp
A new video for Video Friday

I love Thanksgiving, because it’s the one holiday where the entire country comes together to prepare a meal with friends and family. Many people have their own ways to cook the turkey and make the mashed potatoes and stuffing, but sometimes, it’s fun to mix it up and add in a new recipe that complements your traditional standbys.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Quinoa, Feta and Apple is an impressive and beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving table. It’s a side dish that features fall ingredients such as winter squash, crunchy apples, juicy pomegranate seeds and freshly-harvested walnuts. And if you are hosting some non-meat eaters at your table, this delicious recipe is hearty enough to serve as a vegetarian main course.

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Roasted Herb Chicken with Pistachio Salsa

By Zoe McLaughlin
A new video for Video Friday

Roasted chicken thighs are easy to make, but ordinary. Dress them up by rubbing an herb paste under the skin to season the meat and create a ton of flavor without a lot of work. It’s important to use fresh herbs when making the paste because fresh herbs have a brighter, cleaner flavor than dried ones.

Use a mortar and pestle or finely chop the herbs together to release the oils, intensifying the fragrance. This recipe uses chicken thighs but you could use skin-on chicken breast or even a whole chicken. The key is to separate the chicken skin from the flesh, leaving the sides of the skin attached, creating a pocket for the herbs, to seal in the flavor.

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A Good Date Meal

By Jess Ziman
A new video for Video Friday

A few months ago, a friend of mine told me a story of a near disastrous first date she went on. The whole date sounded dreamy – a dashing man had invited her to his home to cook her a romantic candlelit meal for two. She was all smiles and ready to be swept away by his gesture.

However, her face quickly fell when she found out what the meal was: boiled vegetables (from a frozen packet) and quinoa. His humdrum fare frankly muffled any mojo that may have been between them that night.

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