🥧🦃🍠Are you ready? There's still time to get a few Turkey Day Tasks done ahead of time 🥧🦃🍠

Published: Tue, 11/12/24

Updated: Tue, 11/12/24

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Quote Of The Day

"Thanksgiving isn’t just about the food; it’s about preparing a feast that brings everyone together."
– Anthony Bourdain

🥧🦃🍠~A Few Words From Susan~🥧🦃🍠

Last week I shared a Thanksgiving timeline starting 3 weeks out. Some of you make be well on your way; others probably haven't started. And still others are outsourcing... I have a friend, who, whenever it is her turn to host, buys a totally premade meal from Whole Foods. All she needs to do is set the table, put out the wine and a few appetizers, and warm the feast. If that's the way you roll, you'll get no judgement here!

However, I am definitely a traditionalist, and it makes me feel connected to family who came before to I prepare the foods they did. It is really almost a sacred ritual for me to connect with them through food, and share the recipes and stories with my granddaughters. This Thanksgiving will have a special connection for me, which came from my trip to Calabria a few weeks ago. While there, I met a distant cousin. She spoke about as much English as I do Italian, which means we relied on Google Translate, lol. We sat in her kitchen, and spent most of our time discussing recipes. On my second trip to see her, she presented me with a bag of fresh chestnuts that she'd gathered that morning. I will be using those in my turkey stuffing this year - chestnuts gathered by a cousin in the town my great-grandmother came from will be included in my great-grandmother's stuffing recipe.

This week's video is about preparing stock from scraps - which is a great start for gravy. I'm also sharing my secret to great cranberry sauce - which can be done in 10 minutes or less. The Cestari coupon this week is for 50% off our Cryotherapy Massage Roller Ball - which makes a great Christmas gift for almost anyone on your list.

Best,

Susan

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Trivia Question

What side dish was introduced in the 1950s and has since become a Thanksgiving staple?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

The Secret To Gravy Better Than Mom's

Homemade stock is much easier than you think - learn about how to always have tasty stock on hand here!

If you'll be using your stock for Thanksgiving gravy, there's one more step you can take to increase the flavor. Buy a couple of turkey drumsticks, and roast them the day before you make the stock. Save the fat they give off for the gravy, and toss the browned drumsticks in with your veggie scraps to make the stock. They'll give the stock a deeper color as well as more turkey-flavor.

Tip of the Week: Prep Vegetables the Day Before

Chopping and prepping vegetables a day before saves time and clears up space in your kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. Vegetables such as carrots, celery, and onions can be chopped, sealed in airtight containers, and stored in the fridge overnight to keep them fresh.

Cranberry Sauce With a Difference

Homemade cranberry sauce is easy and so much better than the canned variety! The basic recipe is to combine 1 12 ounce bag of cranberries, 1 cup sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then simmer at low heat for 10-12 minutes until the cranberries pop and the sauce thickens. Cool and refrigerate until needed. If you are making it several days ahead, you can even freeze it with no loss of flavor.

While the basic version is great, you can turn it into something special by swapping out the water for something with a bit more flavor. I like to use apple cider, but you can also use orange juice, wine, pomegranate juice, or whatever strikes your fancy!

Special Offer for Newsletter Subscribers

Save 50% on Cestari's Cryotherapy Massage Ball, a great way to relieve holiday stress! Save 50% with code ROLLERGFT through November 19 at the Cestari store on Amazon

Reader's Tips for Cranberry Sauce

Linda from Laytonville, California, suggests, "Add a hint of cinnamon and a pinch of cloves to your cranberry sauce for a warm, spiced flavor that complements the tartness."

James from Enterprise, Alabama, shares, "For extra texture, stir in chopped pecans right before serving. They add a delightful crunch that balances out the smooth, tangy sauce."

Deborah from Middleton, Wisconsin, mentions, "I like to mix in finely diced apples halfway through cooking. The apples soften just enough, adding a gentle sweetness without overpowering the cranberries."

Steven from Smithfield, Utah, offers, "Try adding a bit of fresh orange zest at the end of cooking. It brightens up the sauce and gives it a wonderful citrusy aroma."

Karen from Yerington, Nevada, explains, "For a fun twist, fold in some whole pomegranate seeds after the sauce cools. They add a pop of color and an extra burst of tartness."

The winner of this week's Free Cestari Product is Mackenzie Doolittle. Mackenzie , please select your product from the Cestari Store on Amazon, and send us an email at support@cestarikitchen.com letting us know what you'd like, and where we should ship it.

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

Green Bean Casserole

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