You're practically set with your menu for tomorrow. Vegetables chopped? Check.
For
Thanksgiving, sweet potato casserole is a surefire winner: those who don't eat vegetables and kids who won't eat yams will happily sink their forks into this delicious casserole. While the toppings vary based on the recipe, the concept is the same: creamy, puréed, sugar-tinged sweet potatoes with nuts, glaze, or marshmallows on top. These two variations are similar, but the expert version, with its nutty topping, requires an extra step and a food processor.
I mentioned last week that I've noticed
casseroles making a comeback. What better time to bring them back than during the
holidays? If you've got a lot to plan this
Thanksgiving, stick with a no-muss, no-fuss recipe that'll be ready in around half an hour.
There are few things that can top
stuffing as my comfort food of choice around this time of year. Is there anything more blissful than eating the chewy, savory goodness, warm and right out of the oven?
Dressing made with
chestnuts is a tradition that remains popular in certain parts of New England, as the nuts impart rich, roasted flavor and starchy body.
Not only are they appropriate for
Fall, but caramel
apples make the perfect
Halloween treat. Add a festive touch by rolling them in
nuts or black and orange sprinkles.
Since we should all enjoy this tasty treat, I've found two recipes for you to choose from.
While I may not want a
bat in my coffee, I do love to celebrate Halloween with festive cookies. Bat and cat cookies are the quintessential
Halloween dessert. If you're looking for something fast and simple, or you don't have
Halloween cookie cutters on hand, try the first recipe, which simply calls for store-bought
sugar cookie dough.
October is National
Chili Month, and beef, with its unmistakably robust flavor, is the classic meat that's used in this dish. Aside from being an enduring crowd-pleaser, beef chili is also affordable to make, portable, and
just as great-tasting the next day. The beginner recipe is a quick, effortless weeknight meal, while the expert recipe, developed by celebrity chef and southwestern specialist
Bobby Flay, elevates chili to a gourmet level.
Growing up, dessert nut breads were family favorites, and at a young age I discovered that these loaves make great gifts for many occasions. With the first recipe below, you don't have to worry about spending hours in the kitchen to make a delicious, pretty treat for yourself or someone else. Or, if you're feeling more adventurous (and patient), you can opt for a recipe that starts from scratch.
Linguine with clams: The dish is an Italian classic for a reason — because it's a crowd pleaser. Once upon a time, I didn't enjoy eating clams, but I would make an exception for linguine con vongole. The bounciness of the clams, the briny flavors, the chewy linguine flavored with white wine all come together to make the ultimate comfort dish.
Can't make your way to Mexico? Take a hiatus with a Monterrey-inspired meal. While the basic chicken enchilada recipe calls for salsa verde, which often already includes roasted
poblano chiles, the second recipe requires roasting the peppers yourself.
