To die for.
Generally, I stick to basting or butter rubs to ensure a moist bird, but many Thanksgiving cooks swear by brining. The Culinary Institute of America certainly does: they recommend brining as the very best method to ensure bold flavor and moistness. Essentially a brine is a seasoned aromatic liquid in which the turkey bathes before roasting. This technique is often used in preparing all kinds of Read more
When it comes to home cooking, celebrities are just like us. Last night, on The Late Show With David Letterman, Kate Winslet admitted she loves to cook but can be a little accident-prone in the kitchen. On the upside, the Revolutionary Road actress admits she loves to eat and cook. "I do know how to cook. I had fun with my turkey this year," she says. "I decided to go for the brining technique. Read more
Last week, I asked how many of you were planning to brine your turkeys this year. Although more than half of you responded yes, at least 20 percent of you weren't sure what a brine was! For those of you who didn't know, brining is a cooking technique often used to maximize juiciness in cooked poultry and meat, and it's particularly popular with Thanksgiving turkeys. Various techniques recommend Read more
Many of you swear that basting the turkey makes it more succulent and now I'm wondering if you plan to brine the turkey as well. I consider it to be a must-have for this time of year, so I'm brining my bird, but I'm curious to know your feelings on this preparation method. Source Will You Brine Your Turkey? Yes, I'm going to brine it in a saltwater solution. Yes, I'm going to Read more
In honor of Freaky Friday (today's Friday the 13th!), I thought I'd pull together a list of 13 freaky foods. Even if you don't have triskaidekaphobia (the fear of the number 13), you may be afraid of some of the things on this list. I know there are a bunch of other freaky things out there (how about almost anything Andrew Zimmern eats on his show?), so if you think something's missing, we want Read more
After I made corned beef this past week, I realized that I knew absolutely nothing about it, other than the fact that it's absolutely delicious. What, exactly, makes it different from that other deli favorite, pastrami? Corned beef and pastrami are both beef cuts that have been cured and cooked. But that's where the similarity ends. Although brisket is commonly used for both, corned beef can also Read more
Whenever you're complaining about the ferocity of Winter, just remember things are much, much colder in other parts of the world. But while Russian Winters may be brutal, they've got plenty of amazing, comforting recipes with flavors designed to take that chill out of your bones. It's time to call up your babushka, put on your copy of Doctor Zhivago, and grab a tall glass of vodka, if you see Read more
Recently, while sipping a glass of excellent Champagne, I had a horrible realization. I know nothing about the way Champagne is produced! Sure, I can read the label, pair it with food, and select a decent bottle, but when it comes to the hard-core technique that is the Methode Champenoise, I know very little. Naturally, I decided to learn all about it and share the process with you: It begins Read more
Thanksgiving is one of those rare occasions where entire families gather, appreciate one other's company, and chow down on some seriously decadent dishes. But with so many dishes happening at once and tons of hustling and bustling busybodies in the kitchen, there's room for a lot of minor (and major!) Turkey Day snafus. While we should never expect the worst, being prepared for whatever Read more
Simply brilliant: a Thanksgiving meatball with turkey, stuffing, and cranberries. — Saveur Tonight's episode of Chopped will feature White House chef Sam Kass. — Food Republic David Kinch of Manresa is GQ's chef of the year. — Eater SF Stanford University's offering freshmen a food-blogging course. — Grub Street SF Food geek/authority Harold McGee is totally against brining turkeys. Read more
