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Thanksgiving Tip: Calculate How Much Food You'll Need
For an elaborate meal like Thanksgiving, it's crucial to consider how much food you'll serve. Too little, and you'll leave guests wishing they could gobble up more; too much, and you'll wind up with Thanksgiving leftovers for weeks. To make sure your food doesn't go to waste, take time to do some adequate planning.
Thanksgiving Tip: Use Food as Serveware
When planning a dinner as momentous as Thanksgiving, there are lots of elements to consider on top of cooking, like selecting the right menu (and bird!), detailing an oven plan, and considering your budget. But one thing I firmly believe you shouldn't have to stress about is doing the dishes.
Spare yourself — and the environment!
Don't Have Day Old Bread? Make It Yourself
Recently, I decided to try a recipe that called for day-old bread. I wanted to make the dish that night and headed to the grocery store hopeful that I could find a loaf of day-old bread. Although I was out of luck, I chatted with the baker about my dilemma.
Simple Tip: Heat Leftover Pasta Over the Stove
For the majority of my life, I heated up leftover pasta in the microwave. The result is hot, slightly crusty, not-as-good-as-the-night-it-was-made pasta. Recently, I started practicing a new technique that I think is much better.
Better Than Lollipops: Crispy Rice Treats on Sticks
At a baby shower this year, LilSugar sent everyone home with the most clever party favors: crispy rice treats on a stick! They were the perfect parting gift at the shower, but, when adorned with color-coordinated orange sprinkles and ribbons, they'd also make a charming alternative to serve trick-or-treaters on Halloween.
This delight takes less than 10 minutes to come together on the stove top.
Simple Tip: Use Parmesan Rinds to Flavor Soups
Good-quality cheese is expensive and if I'm going to purchase a wedge of imported Italian Parmesan cheese, I like to use the entire chunk — including the rind. Luckily, I learned a long time ago that the rinds can be used to season soups and stews. Once you've grated all the cheese off, wrap the rind tightly in plastic wrap and throw in the freezer.
Veggie Flower Arrangement Is a Cool Centerpiece — and Snack
As a parting present to a friend, Sugar staffer (and OnSugar manager!) sabs creatively crafted a floral arrangement — made entirely out of fresh, edible vegetables! The result was a stunning centerpiece that, like a flower cake, would be a thoughtful (and edible!) gift for someone who avoids sugar.
I loved the idea so much that I had to ask sabs how she did it.
How to Clean Leeks
With their mild onion flavor and thick white stalk, leeks are one of my favorite vegetables. They're excellent in cold weather preparations like soups, stews, and braises. When cooking with leeks, it's important to take the time to properly clean them.
How to Quickly Clean a Whisk
For years I hated when a recipe required whisking. Not because it hurt my wrist, but because cleaning the whisk was such a pain. Until one day, while doing the dishes, I had a light bulb moment.
Cat Cora's Party Pointers
In addition to a simple recipe for barbecued beans, Iron Chef Cat Cora — who has her own barbecue joint, CCQ — also happens to have plenty of party advice. Whether you're hosting a Come Together dinner for charity or simply throwing a backyard bash, there are a number of steps you can take to make your party more festive and easier on yourself! Here are a few key pointers to keep in mind, courtesy of Cat.
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