Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

Special Fork is happy to announce that Andrew B of Riverside, California, won our prize package of cooking tools. Thanks to all our Facebook fans who participated.  We plan to have more contests in the future, so please stay tuned.  Congratulations, Andrew!

And now for today’s blog.

By Sandy Hu

I can’t wait for Thanksgiving. I’ve planned the menu and Steve, the family grocery shopper, has my comprehensive shopping list. To beat the crowds, by 7 a.m. on Saturday we were at the Alemany Farmers’ Market. We came home with bagsful of goodies – precious Gravenstein apples for the second pie; turnips, parsnips and Brussels sprouts to roast; gourds and pumpkins for a centerpiece; pears, pomegranates, persimmons…a Thanksgiving bounty.

Steve has already picked up all the staples and will get the last of the perishables tonight. And the free-range turkeys are on order. So I’m ready!

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Sugar Cookies for the Holidays -- Ready, Set, Bake!

By Allison Kociuruba

It doesn’t get more festive than decorating sugar cookies. It’s quick, fun and easy to do for almost any holiday or occasion.

Start with your favorite sugar cookie dough or this easy one from Elinor Klivans’ Big Fat Cookies cookbook, published by Chronicle Books.

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California Roast Turkey

By Andrew Hunter

The biggest Thanksgiving challenge for most people is getting over the psychological hurdle of cooking the big bird. Whenever a cooking project intimidates me I think to myself that it’s only food and then, how hard can it be? I also do a little extra homework before starting, like reading cookbooks, searching for instructional photos and making sure I have all the right ingredients in place.

I thought I would share my favorite turkey recipe with you this year. I like it because the results are delicious and it has very detailed instructions from opening the turkey to basting it while roasting and making the gravy. Don’t let the length of the recipe intimidate you. Instead print it out, read it two or three times, organize your ingredients and equipment, and enjoy yourself in the kitchen…just make sure you chill an extra bottle of Gewürztraminer for the “chef’s cooking wine.”

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One or Two Bites (but not today)

By Lori Powell

The biggest food holiday is almost here. Ten family members will be arriving at my house in Pennsylvania next Wednesday so I am in countdown mode.

Don’t get me wrong. I am super- excited but the love of it is in the planning and details. Not only will they be here for the big feast day but they will also be lodging at my house for several days.

I feel like Robert Irvine in Dinner: Impossible times four days. Do I even have enough bath towels for 11 people (counting myself of course)?

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Make Your Dough Stretch

By Katie Barreira

Whether it’s from the freezer section at the supermarket or your local pizzeria, a ball of fresh pizza dough is easy to come by and makes the base of a fun and easy dinner. That is, if the dough behaves itself.

On the subject of dough stretching, our test kitchen director Tracey likes to tell the story of coaching her daughter through a “whose-kid-can-make- the-best-pizza” competition at a friend’s dinner party. With words that will be familiar to every parent, Tracey urged Margot to, “just stop touching it!” This hands-off approach paid off and Margot’s tender, evenly shaped pie took the cake.

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