Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thanksgiving 2012 – ready or not here it comes

It’s been seriously crazy here in the tri-state area the past week. the additional loss of power from the Nor’easter really threw us all for another loop in an already trying time. Our power was finally restored Friday and  I must start to think about my Thanksgiving dinner since I am having 22 people and I will be away from the 14th – 18th of November. Crazy stuff . This weekend I will bake my cookies, prepare my sweet and spicy nuts  and start shopping. Obviously I will have to do a lot the 4 days I have prior to Thanksgiving with a touch of jet lag thrown in for fun. It’s well worth it though. Everyone invited got an email and a job to do. You have to count on your friends and family when you have such a large crowd. I will post my menu now. I will also be making my soup and freezing it, my pumpkin breads, etc. I freeze everything, it’s only for 2 weeks and it will all be fine. Here is the menu as of now, I may make a few changes here and there and will keep you in the loop with that. So it’s time to start shopping and start cooking. If you are looking for a recipe on my blog, put in the name of recipe or a key word and you should be able to find it. Again, I am available via email and am happy to help. Sometimes it helps to put in the word Thanksgiving as a way of getting to recipe as well. I have listed the names as they appear on my blog, I will however be reblogging each and every one over the next week. The Show must go on.

My heart goes out to the people who will not be able to be with their families in their own homes this holiday season. If you can find anyway to donate money or items please do so in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Menu:

Appetizers:

I go lightly on the apps. because it is such a heavy meal

Sweet and Spicy Nuts, (recipe for nuts is on blog)  and a Baked Brie which I purchase at Whole Foods and keep frozen till day before) fig jam for Baked Brie.

If you’re looking for a heavier appetizer the Baked Salami is always a great one along with crudite and dip.

Soup:

Butternut Squash Soup or Pumpkin Lentil Soup

Salad:

I do mixed greens with a little goat cheese  and apples. I will use the Vinaigrette with Maple Syrup this year. My salad is light and small.

Pumpkin Walnut Bread and or Hurricane Sandy Pumpkin Cranberry Bread along with some delicious dinner rolls that I will purchase, last year I baked a Pumpkin Challah no time this year, but if I can find one I will buy it even though it won’t be nearly as good.

Entree:

Roast Turkey and Turkey Breast ( which is all white meat ) I find the turkey breast goes a long way to satisfy the white meat lovers. I have the butcher prepare my turkey and turkey breast, it will be in an herb marinade, and I just have to place in the oven and cook and carve.

Cremini Mushroom Pumpkin Lasagna ( I will be reblogging this wonderful recipe) can be made a few days ahead and put in freezer or refrigerator

Side Dishes:

Mashed Potatoes Casserole with Sour Cream and Chives

Thanksgiving Corn Bread Pudding – this is an absolute must if you’ve never made it before. If you have made it you know how wonderful it is.

The Stuffing that will be on our Table

Candied Yam Souffle ( Easy Peasy) , Marshmallow Sweet Potatoes, and Aunt Pammy’s Chipotle Sweet Potatoes ( Pammy’s Chipotle Sweet Potatoes are nothing short of amazing)

Fresh Cranberry Sauce, A little twist on Plain Cranberry Sauce, and of course Karyn’s Famous Thanksgiving Crisp ( this is the one you must make, it will always be on your table)

Dessert:

Michele’s White Chocolate Jumbo Macadamia Cookies ( winner of CWC contest)

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust

Fresh Fruit

and I have some desserts being brought to me , if they are blog worthy they shall appear on my blog!

Nuts for Appetizers

This was also printed on my blog last year, this is original sweet and spicy and one other recipe which may appeal to you. The words “can be made ahead” are music to my ears. … (optional)

cookingwithcandi's avatarCooking with Candi

This is my original favorite nut recipe and it is from Union Square Cafe cookbook. It is the best. I have been making these nuts for years and people always ask for the recipe. I can’t take credit for it but I can add a few useful tips. To avoid the brown sugar being grainy, make sure that the nuts are hot when you mix them, mix well from the bottom of the bowl and follow directions below for the melted butter in the saucepan. The nuts taste best when they are cooled down for a long time and have sat out for a while. They will keep for a long time in an airtight container. This recipe is pretty quick and easy too.

*check out my other nut recipe Sweet and Spicy Nuts for Thanksgiving Recipe also on site.

INGREDIENTS:

I usually start with unsalted nuts. (1/4 lb…

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Pumpkin Lentil Re-blog

I am at my daughters house because I still have no power and am now working off my IPad I wanted to start posting and reposting Thanksgiving recipes , I posted my Butternut Squash soup a few weeks ago and this one is amazing and is also perfect for Thanksgiving. I will be getting all those wonderful recipes to you everyday now.

cookingwithcandi's avatarCooking with Candi

It’s Fall and that means it’s time to cook up some heart-warming soups! Pumpkin Lentil Soup is a delicious, hearty soup that you and your family will love.

This recipe has been around my family for a while. A friend gave it to me a while back, and I make it every fall.  Just because it’s fall and it’s pumpkin and this soup can wind up on my Thanksgiving Table if I don’t make my Butternut Squash Soup.   It’s hard to get canned pumpkin any other time of year, so I take advantage of it now and pick up a few extra cans and try to make it throughout the winter. Warm, hearty and pretty healthy. And what’s a little butter between friends? I actually lost this recipe, but luckily my friend Marcy still had it, so thanks Marcy! It’s good to share with friends, and now all my recipes will be posted on my blog…

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We have no power in our house once again but if I had power this is what I would make today. My all time favorite white bean chili, so if you’re in the tri state area and can cook this is fab.

cookingwithcandi's avatarCooking with Candi

dirty sink from kitchen sink chili

We just got back from two beautiful days in Moab, Utah. We hiked most of the time and the glory and splendor that is there has no words. If you ever have the opportunity to go you should do so. It is an amazing area–Arches National Park, the Canyonlands, the whole area is just breathtaking. We hadn’t had snow here so we went on the road. Now we’re back and today was spectacular! It snowed in Aspen last night and we skied today. So nice to be back skiing. It was Sunday, and the Giants were in the playoffs. Joel set the DVR and we were gone all day. I had taken out a package of chopped turkey and figured that I would pick up a few things and make this chili that I love. I use a lot of stuff from my pantry…

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Another cozy soup to make if you have power in NY, and bring to someone who doesn’t . Perfect soup to make on a Sunday. Serve with salad and crusty bread.

cookingwithcandi's avatarCooking with Candi

I suppose it’s that time of the year again when we crave warm cozy meals. this is perfect for sunday dinner (or any night ) will feed about 8 people nicely. freezes perfectly. and served with a beautiful salad and some bread it’s an awesome meal. i make so many soups, and will be following up throughout the winter with all of my wonderful soup recipes, but this one is really special. the lentils add a wonderful flavor and texture, the sausage adds a savory spice. i mix hot and sweet sausage but feel free to go all sweet, i also like the sausage to have some fennel in it, i use italian pork sausage. you can obviously substitute with turkey or chicken sausage. so cozy on up to this one, it’s a true keeper. I believe this recipe came from a cookbook by julia della croce, who has the most awesome italian…

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Post Sandy – Thanksgiving menu

I am sitting here on November 2 gratefully having my coffee in my own living room with electricity, after living without electric for 2 1/2 days.  I am one of the lucky ones for sure. My daughter and her family are still asleep in my apartment.  They have no power and live in NJ and had to come stay with us on Long Island.  It is great having everyone and it’s times like these we have to all stick together. We are still the fortunate ones, we are all OK.  Our other daughter has no power either but she is OK —  all OK.  Our whole family is OK. Faring the best we can but OK. When I looked at my blog from last year I saw that I started writing about Thanksgiving on November 2.  It’s still early and my hope is that many people all over affected by Sandy will be a lot better off very soon.  Thanksgiving will bring us all together.  I will start to post and re post recipes for Thanksgiving and hopefully everyone will have their power back soon and start cooking again and start healing from this experience.

One of my favorite all time recipes for a soup that’s hearty and healthy.

cookingwithcandi's avatarCooking with Candi

this is one of my absolute favorite recipes. It is a soup , which is also a full meal. It is hearty and pretty healthy.  It is one of my staples from September through April. It freezes well and you can just take it out of the freezer the night before, and you’ll have a wonderful meal the next evening. When you defrost it you will probably want to add broth/water to it. add a little at a time till you get the consisitency you like. Enjoy:)

Ingredients: chicken balls

1 lb. ground chicken

1/2 lb chicken sausage, casings removed

3 slices whole wheat bread for bread crumbs ( I put into food proccesor with steel blade for crumbs) i remove crusts . should be app. 1 cup of bread crumbs

2 teaspoons minced garlic ( 2 – 3 cloves)

1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano ( fresh is best) but…

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Posted this last October and it is really an all time winner! If you haven’t made it, you must. It will certainly become a staple for you. It’s Fall , go make a soup.

cookingwithcandi's avatarCooking with Candi

I decided to re-post this amazing soup as it is one of my most favorite recipes and one of my most popular recipes. So very easy to make with pre-cut butternut squash readily available almost everywhere now. If you’d like a little different flavor you can roast the squash first.

It’s definitely fall and my first soup of the season  is almost always butternut squash soup. I’ve simplified the recipe along the way so that now it is just the way Joel and I like it. it’s pretty easy as long as you buy the squash pre – cut (available in every supermarket, and corner produce store). I just made my first batch of the season, and the squash is sweet and delicious. I always add a little butter to it, but you can totally leave it out. It tastes so creamy you’ll swear there’s cream in it, but really, there is none.  I love a little…

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I am re-posting this great recipe as it is from last October and for those of you looking for a great weeknight staple here you go. Enjoy!

cookingwithcandi's avatarCooking with Candi

This is one of  my go to meals when the weather turns a little cold and throughout the winter months.  When I need something to make that’s easy, healthy and comforting. Food for the soul I like to say. I serve this with crusty bread,  and a green salad. It’s very filling and makes a beautiful presentation for 2 or 6. Hope you enjoy, it’s really very easy , just chop up a few vegetables (carrots, onions, and celery, a basic *mirepoix) open a few cans and buy the chicken, don’t be intimidated by ingredients! This recipe inspired from Giada de Laurentis’s chicken stew. I have made a few changes to suit us.

*Basic Mirepoix is a combination of chopped carrots, celery and onions used to add flavor and aroma to stocks, sauces, soups and other foods. Usually comprised of 50% onions, 25% carrots, and 25% celery.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 stalks celery, small…

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Come on send me your recipes! There is still plenty of time but I have to start cooking the recipes!!!!! and judging!!!!!

cookingwithcandi's avatarCooking with Candi

I know that Thanksgiving is still a little far off, but I am always on the lookout for new Thanksgiving recipes, so I thought I would open it up to subscribers only. If you’re not already a subscriber, that can be easily taken care of! Just click “subscribe” on cookingwithcandi.com (it’s free). Once you’re signed up, enter to win a fun surprise CWC prize by submitting a Thanksgiving recipe entry. You can post the recipe directly on the site, or you can choose to email me. I will try the recipes, choose a winner and contact him or her to send the prize and I will, of course, post the winning recipe on the Thanksgiving blog. The deadline is November 5. You have plenty of time to plan and cook, so no rush and have fun with it! Good Luck! I look forward to hearing from all of you.

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