Posts Tagged ‘thanksgiving’

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

November 25th, 2009

Thanksgiving is shortly approaching and many of us are just as excited about the Turkey Day leftovers than the Thanksgiving meal itself!  You work so hard for days before Thanksgiving, why waste all of the food that goes uneaten?  There are many creative ways to incorporate leftovers into everyday meals.  Dishes like turkey pot pie, turkey and broccoli quiche, turkey and stuffing casserole, and baked turkey sandwiches.  In fact, turkey can actually replace chicken in many recipes.

The turkey’s carcass is usually forgotten about and disposed, but you can actually use it as an ingredient in may recipes.  Browning turkey bones makes an exceptionally delicious broth that can be used to cooking rice casseroles, sauces and soups.  Creamy turkey and wild rice soup is a holiday favorite, that calls for turkey broth.

With the Thanksgiving holiday comes great deals on holiday appropriate food, so why not buy a little extra if you have the freezer space?  Aside from specific recipes, these holiday leftovers can simply be heated up and eaten as is for many days after.  To ensure the leftovers stay as fresh as possible, it is important to properly wrap them in aluminum foil or Saran wrap before placing them in the freezer to preserve them.

Click Here for a few delicious turkey meals that can be whipped up in no time!

5 Day Plan to Stress Free Thanksgiving

November 17th, 2009

Thanksgiving is a time when family and friends come together to enjoy a delicious meal and spend time with one another, but with the rush to prepare and cook an entire meal, enjoying yourself can become difficult.  Getting started early on preparations can be the key to a stress free Turkey Day.  If you are organized and plan ahead, your Thanksgiving will run smoothly and be a little more enjoyable.

To help you, we’ve prepared a 5 day plan for the week of Thanksgiving.  This will allow you to disperse the chores over several days instead of dealing with the pressure of last minute preparations:

Saturday prior to Thanksgiving:
It’s time to get organized by writing your lists!  A grocery list, an attendance list, and a list of decorations are all vital to preparing efficiently, from knowing the type and amounts of foods to your budget for decorations.

Sunday prior to Thanksgiving:
Now it’s time to put your lists into action by getting all your shopping done.  You will have a few advantages finishing all your shopping several days before.  First, you run less risk of an ingredient being out of stock; secondly, you will have first pick of turkeys, decorations, or anything else that may require some decision making.

Monday prior to Thanksgiving:
Today it’s time to start cooking.  Bake any specific breads or cookies, so they can easily be put in the oven and warmed or crisped.  Plus, waiting on items to bake can be a great time to put up decorations in your dining room or foyer.

Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving:
This is a great day to start cooking side dishes.  Make any casseroles or salads that can be refrigerated without spoiling or sacrificing flavor.  If the dish cannot be cooked several days in advance, at least prepare the dish so it’s as simple as placing the dish in the oven on the morning of.

Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving:
With only one day until Thanksgiving, today will be the bulk of your cooking.  First, you’ll want to gather any pie ingredients, assemble, and bake the pies.  While waiting on the baking we’ll focus on the last major hurdle before Thanksgiving dinner – your turkey!  Today you’ll want to prepare your bird by trimming and marinating it.  The turkey should be in refrigerator at the end of the day, ready to simply insert into the oven the next morning.

Happy Turkey Day!  It’s time to reap the benefits of all your upfront work.  While others are scrambling for last minute preparations and trying to put out fires (literally and figuratively speaking!), your only job will be to turn on the oven and place a few main dishes in!  Pull out the sides and desserts that you’ve already prepared and make any last minute side dishes or condiments.  Now simply enjoy the time with your family and revel in the fact that you’ve pulled off Thanksgiving dinner – stress-free!

Persimmon Time Recipe

October 19th, 2009

Mid October has arrived and thoughts of Halloween and Thanksgiving are on everyone’s mind.  In the Cuisiniers Kitchen, our thoughts have turned to persimmons.  Available from now through December, this delicious fruit is the perfect ingredient to put you palette in the holiday mood.

The two most common types of persimmons available in the United States are the Hachiya and the Fuyu.  Both are indigenous to China and were brought to the U.S. in the mid to late nineteenth century.  Persimmons are most commonly grown in California, the Mediterranean, Brazil, and Chili.  Both varietals are quite high in vitamins A and C and provide good amounts of fiber and potassium.

The following persimmon recipes are simple and delicious, so introduce yourself to persimmons!  Happy Holidays!

Recipe Courtesy of Chef Jamie McFadden/Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine & Events

(Yields 4 Cups)

Persimmon Currant Jam:

  • 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar
  • 1 each red onion, diced and caramelized
  • 1 each granny smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 cup golden raisins
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 each jalapeno, minced
  • 1 tbsp orange peel, minced
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 3 tbsp currants
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 ½ cups peeled persimmons, chopped

Combine all ingredients except persimmons in large sauce pot over medium heat.  Simmer, stirring occasionally until mixture thickens about 20-25 minutes.  Add persimmons and simmer until the persimmons are tender, 5-7 minutes.  Remove from heat and chill in shallow dish in refrigerator until completely cold.  Store in a favorite jar or container up to 1 week.  Perfect as a side sauce for you Thanksgiving Day turkey!

Serve and Enjoy!

Executive Chef Jamie McFadden | Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine & Events

5470 Lake Howell Road, Winter Park, FL

www.cuisinierscater.com