I also love America’s Test Kitchen. It’s one of my all time favorite cooking shows. This month the test kitchen experts are sharing their Thanksgiving favorites and traditions. It’s a nice little peak into your favorite test kitchen expert’s celebrations.
I thought it might be fun to borrow their questions for a blog post. I hope you’ll answer at least some of them too. If you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, feel free to use Christmas or any other food centric holiday.
Home or away?
Home. Until last year traveling for Thanksgiving wasn’t an option for us due to Nick’s work schedule. Now that he’s off for Thanksgiving we enjoy taking the meal to the hospice house for lunch, and then hosting at home for dinner.
When do your festivities kick off?
Really only on Thanksgiving Day. I take off work the day before, and spend the day in the kitchen. I enjoy it, but I doubt most people would call it festive.
Any special diets to consider?
Not really. Pretty much everyone we invite is very low maintenance when it comes to food. I try to make a wide variety of dishes so even if someone can’t or won’t eat a few things they still have plenty of choices.
What’s your favorite recipe?
For me it’s probably a tie between the pumpkin pie and the sweet potato casserole. And I really love the turkey. It’s really hard to choose, though. Other than the green bean casserole, I love all of the traditional Thanksgiving foods. That’s one of the reasons it’s my favorite holiday.
What’s your family’s consensus pick recipe?
We don’t actually end up celebrating with either of our families. My parents don’t celebrate. My sister lives three hours away, and doesn’t get the day after off of work. Nick’s mom and step-dad are six hours away, and come to NC for Christmas. Nick’s favorites are the green bean casserole, macaroni & cheese, and sweet potato casserole. Last year the mashed potatoes were a big hit with most of our guests, and so was the ham. Our neighbors are coming again this year, and have mentioned the ham from last year, so that was probably the most popular dish last year.
Any new recipes this year?
Nope. I’m really not sure Thanksgiving Day is the time to test out a new recipe. I am all about trying new recipes, and experimenting in the kitchen. But I also believe in keeping the cooking low stress. I cook two separate meals on Thanksgiving, which means the timing is pretty tight. I don’t think that’s the time to try out something unknown. It always takes me much longer the very first time I make something, and I just don’t have that extra time, or the extra attention to devote to a new recipe. It’s not unusual for me to have a full oven, all four burners on the stove in use, a slow cooker or two going, and the roaster. I’m not sure I’d have the mental space to devote to keeping track of something new. Also, it’s always a little bit of a gamble to try out a new recipe. You just don’t know if it’s going to turn out right, or if you’re going to like it. There’s something to be said for sticking with the tried and true on Thanksgiving.
What’s your must-have gadget for Thanksgiving cooking?
The ZYLISS Lock N Lift can opener. Last year and the year before cans were my nemesis. In 2016, I very nearly lost it trying to open cans of green beans (using the electric can opener) for green bean casserole. Last year I ended up going next door to ask our wonderful neighbors for help in opening the cans of pumpkin and evaporated milk for the pumpkin pies. Their 10 year old opened the cans for me! I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I struggle with electric can openers, and the regular manual ones. A friend of ours gave me this one for Christmas last year, so I wouldn’t have to enlist the kids next door to help me with cans. It has been a real game changer! I highly recommend it if you’re looking for an easy to use can opener.
What’s your pie preference?
Pumpkin! I’m not sure it would be Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie! I do make sure to have other desserts, though, to keep everyone happy. Usually we have something chocolate, and at least one other dessert that’s not chocolate or pumpkin.
When will the first turkey sandwich get made?
Friday morning. I LOVE Thanksgiving leftovers, and eat them for breakfast on Friday morning. My Friday morning breakfast is usually a turkey sandwich made on a dinner roll, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. We kind of graze on the leftovers for most of the weekend.
Will anyone be watching football?
Nope. Nick and I aren’t football fans at all. We usually don’t even turn the TV on since we’re pretty busy that day. We may try to break out a board game after dinner this year, but we’ll see what everyone wants to do.
Now it’s your turn. Feel free to answer any and all of the questions. I’d love to hear about your celebrations.
