Archive for the "Thanksgiving" Category

Food.com is teaming up with our friends at FoodNetwork.com, CookingChannelTV.com and a few of our other favorite food sites to celebrate Thanksgiving. Since we can’t gather in person, we’re pulling up a chair to create a virtual Communal Table. Our contribution: A festive dessert without the fuss!

When it comes to Thanksgiving, I don’t get like to get fancy. Especially with dessert. Keep it simple, keep it classic—and make sure some type of pumpkin goodness is on the table.

This year, instead of—ahem—in addition to pumpkin pie, I’m serving up these beloved Maple-Frosted Pumpkin Bars from home cook jan007. Why? Because the only thing better than a pumpkin dessert is when it’s lavished with sweet, sticky maple-flavored frosting. Plus, with a prep time of only 20 minutes, these cakey bars are ready in just under an hour, making them a perfect holiday pinch-hitter when time is of the essence.

Another reason to love this recipe: All the helpful reviews! Based on what I read, I decided to bump up the pumpkin pie-y flavor by adding an additional 1/2-teaspoon each of ginger, ground cloves and nutmeg. I also knew imitation syrup wouldn’t cut it for the big holiday. So I pulled out the big guns: Grade-A Vermont maple syrup. Lastly, instead of the requested jellyroll pan (which I don’t own), I opted for a 9×11 Pyrex casserole dish. It took more time, but meant thicker bars—and who wouldn’t want that?

The result: Well, let’s just say you shouldn’t make these too far in advance of Thanksgiving day. If you’re anything like me, you’ll come up short for company!

—Mandy Major, Online Editor at Food.com

GET THE RECIPE: Maple-Frosted Pumpkin Bars

What five-star Food.com recipe is a must for your Thanksgiving table? Tell us by commenting below! Plus, see what our friends are contributing by checking out the links below or using the hashtag #pullupachair on Twitter.

Cocktails, Appetizers, Salads and Breads:
Devour: Maple Pecan Baked Brie
Liquor.com: Spiced Thanksgiving Cocktails

Mains:
FN Dish: Black Pepper-Pomegranate Molasses Glazed Turkey

Sides:
YumSugar: South-Meets-West Squash Casserole
Food Republic: Caramelized Onion and Prosciutto Macaroni and Cheese
Healthy Eats: Kid-Friendly Gluten-Free Honey-Cherry Stuffing
Fox News: Sweet Potato Grits

Desserts:
Food52: Meta Given’s Pumpkin Pie
BlogHer: Pumpkin Spice Caramels

Thanksgiving Leftovers:
EatingWell: Turkey and Leek Shepherd’s Pie
The Daily Meal: Ultimate Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich
Eatocracy: Stuffpuppies

We’re into the final week and there are only a few days till the big day! Here is a final checklist — broken down by days to go — to keep you cool, calm and collected. You can do it!
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If you’re like me, your head is swimming with worries when the dinner countdown starts ticking on Thanksgiving day.

Is the turkey cooked enough? Or even worse: Is it overcooked and dry? Wait, why is the gravy all lumpy? I need a sieve, stat! Oh no, are the rolls still frozen?

During all that last-minute chaos, the last thing I want to be doing is whipping — or more likely over-whipping — my potatoes into a gluey mess. And let’s say I do whip them perfectly. Great, but are they still hot? Probably not as hot as I want them to be. Room temperature is more like it.

Well, this year, I’m taking the potatoes out of my final kitchen scramble, making them ahead and serving them creamy and lava-hot directly from the oven. Do I know it’ll work? Yep, because I’ve tested these make-ahead mashed potatoes several times — at a potluck dinner party and for a weeknight family meal. Why these? Well, 130-plus glowing reviews couldn’t wrong, right? The verdict from friends, family and Food.com members: These are the best, most crowd-pleasing mashed potatoes you’ll ever have.

Here’s how to make them »

Only 10 days to go! Now’s the time to finalize the plan and prep your kitchen, do your initial shopping run, practice any tricky dishes and get to work on your decor.

What you can do now…

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We asked for your best Thanksgiving memories in our Thanksgiving forum and, boy, did you all deliver! From heartfelt to hilarious, your stories have been making everyone smile and dish their own special memories.

But one story, from La Dilettante, really made us laugh and we couldn’t help but share.  Channeling her inner David Letterman, La Dillettante posted a charming and chuckle-worthy send-up her dear mom. Check it out:

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You’ve got 17 days until T-Day! Worried your goose (err, turkey) is cooked? Don’t stress. We’ve gathered some next steps to take. Follow them and it’ll be gravy from today till the bird comes out of the oven.

What you can do now…

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Hosting Thanksgiving this year? Okay, deep breathe. It’s never too early to start thinking about the season’s biggest meal and we’re here to help. No, you don’t need to start pre-heating the oven just yet, but you can use these early weeks of November to get your Turkey Day plan prepped.

Check back into our Happenings blog each week for your essential next steps.

What you can do now…

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