Back to work for an eight-day stretch. You'd never know there was a holiday in there.
103 thoughts on “November 27, 2013: Just Business”
Turkey is brined and will be coming out soon to stand for a couple of hours in the fridge. We are having Thanksgivukkah today, as the in-folks are flying back tomorrow.
Chile-brined, smoked turkey with giblet gravy
Mushroom-walnut dressing (vegan) Pav bhaji last minute change to potato latkes!!111one111!!! with sour cream and apple sauce
Roasted brussels sprouts
Sweet potato casserole
Pecan pie
Pumpkin pie
Blueberry-peach crumble (vegan)
Chile-brined, eh? Do tell.
I've used Alton's non-honey brine/aromatics mix in the past...it was my first foray into smoked turkey and it. was. awesome. For the brine:
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water
For the aromatics:
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage
Canola oil
Applewood chips for the smoking.
I'd guess that you place some dried chili pods, ancho and hatch (natch), in with the sugar, salt, pepper, and some whole garlic cloves for good measure.
I was lazy.
peppercorns, cloves, allspice, garlic, oregano, brown sugar, salt, some "New Mexico" chiles, a half-gallon each of chicken stock and veg stock, a large can of red chile sauce and about 3 quarts of ice water (that's all that would fit in my too-small bucket).
I will put onion, lemon, garlic, and orange peel in the cavity, and smoke with applewood.
one hour in. I just added more wood chips, and will be adding more hot coals in about 20-25 minutes. I forgot to wrap the drumstick ends and wings with foil, so those are getting pretty browned already. I have my grill set up for indirect (coals on one side behind a little holder dealy-bob; drip pan and bird on the other).
11-lb bird, so I may have started a little too early...but it looks good and smells good.
conclusion: the bird was awesome. It was on for about 3.5 hours, smoked the whole way with applewood. Nice, but not overpowering smokey flavor, moist meat. I also used the drip pan to make an awesome gravy (chopped apple, celery, carrot, and onion, the neck, heart, and gizzard, a bunch of old, half-dried out mushrooms, a couple of dried New Mexico chiles, allspice berries, cloves, black peppercorns, and about 1.5 quarts of vegetable stock, plus whatever dripped from the bird. I then defatted the liquid from the pan, chopped the giblets and the mushrooms --ZOMG, the mushrooms were awesome -- and simmered down by about a quarter, and slightly thickened with corn starch).
I also made a vegan, cashew gravy that was a big hit. It went well with sweet potatoes and the vegan stuffing.
I'm not yet sick to my stomach, so it must be time for dessert!
That's the same recipe I've been using the last two years. Fantastic results.
I'm making the pies again this year. Apple, chocolate bourbon pecan (OHMYGOD), and coconut cream. I made a sweet potato pie last year instead of pumpkin... my brother's family apparently was not amused (they are resistent to change) and decided they will bring their own pumpkin pie this year. It's both passive AND aggressive but it doesn't bother me no really no really it's fine I said it's FINE.
I'm almost certain had I called it pumpkin they would have loved it.
I was notified yesterday that we get to have the pleasure of going to my mother-in-law's tonight for a Thanksgiving type thing and that we (I) would be making pies for the occasion. What started off as a pumpkin and a pecan pie turned in to two pumpkins, one pecan, and one apple pie. So last night I made four pies, all crust done from scratch. It was exhausting.
But anyway, I, too, made a bourbon chocolate pecan pie. However, I mixed up the amount of vanilla and the amount of bourbon in the recipe by mistake, so the pie got 2 tablespoons of vanilla instead of 1-1/2 teaspoons. Fortunately, it was homemade vanilla extract, so it'll still be good.
Pie making can escalate rapidly. Well, we need a fruit pie... and a cream pie... and the pecan pie is amazing... and suddenly you're making 100 pies. Made the dough last night. We'll bust out the pecan tonight and the other two in the morning. Hopefully.
Turns out I ran out of bourbon. Oh nuts, I'll have to go buy some.
I hate the fact that I wasn't able to let the doughs rest overnight, so hopefully the crusts turn out ok. The excuse to buy a bottle of bourbon made up for that down side, however.
Enough bourbon and everything is fine. Too much though and everything is terrible. Such is life.
At $12 for 1L of Old Crow Reserve, too much is always a possibility.
It's monotonously evil in a way that's hard to describe other than by noting it's earthy in the bad way, like a shiny mud puddle or a pissed mattress.
That's some good stuff right there.
speaking of bourbon, I took my FiL over to a friend's house yesterday for a friendly bourbon tasting.
Evan Williams Single Barrel (2003 vintage), Elijah Craig 12 year, Knob Creek Single Barrel Special Reserve, and Weller's Special Reserve. The Elijah Craig is, apparently, the same product as the Evan Williams (but from several years earlier), so tasting those side-by-side constituted a sort of "vertical".
The consensus is that the Evan Williams was easily the best value. first-time through, we all agreed it was the best overall, but a slight margin over the Elijah Craig.
The Weller's uses wheat as the secondary grain, and was distinctly different from the other three. It was also the cheapest, and had the shortest finish. A good bourbon, but probably didn't benefit from being tasted in this group.
The Knob Creek (120-proof) was far more alcoholic on first take than the others (all 94-proof or lower). But when we re-tasted head-to-head directly with the Evan Williams, we liked it better than the Evan Williams.
All benefited tremendously from the addition of a wee splash of water (like a tablespoon or two to a 3-oz-or-so glass). It opened up the nose dramatically on each, mellowed the Knob Creek, and generally improved the experience.
Fun times. I'm still a single-malt scotch guy, but this was enjoyable.
I'm a bourbon guy largely because a good bourbon is much more cost effective than a good, single-malt scotch. And because patriotism, or somesuch.
This...all day, every day this. I wish I'd had more time to converse on this topic today, I love a good bourbon/whiskey/whisky/scotch discussion.
homemade vanilla extract? Did you use bourbon???!!!!!111one111!!!!???
I used vodka, but I do wonder what a bourbon extract would taste like.
Pretty easy, no? I've always meant to try.
Ridiculously easy and significantly cheaper than buying the stuff. Get some vanilla beans, some cheap-ish vodka, and a mason jar. Open the beans, put them in the vodka, then wait for a few weeks. Boom, vanilla extract.
Weekend project! Then put in fancy bottles and give to family.
And then make a shit load of gin and tonics with the leftover vodka!
Silly me, I always thought you used 'gin' in gin & tonics.
Dammit, I can't even blame that one on my phone. Fine, put some juniper berries in the vodka bottle, then my comment makes more sense. Or just have vodka tonics.
1) Combine all ingredients in a glass jar
2) Steep for 10 days
3) Strain, filter, then bottle
This made more bitters than I could possibly use, so I did as strat suggested and shared it around.
*I could only find this online and only in 8 oz packages. I have enough to remake about 40 batches of bitters. If you're curious...read up.
If I made cocktails, I would totally do this.
I'm supposed to be handling the pies. I have never made a pie. Anyone want to tell me everything I need to know? If not, I'll probably end up buying pre-made and/or frozen.
Eh, I might just buy 'em anyway. I'm feeling lazy today.
I think if you've never made a pie before but you really want to not use pre-made, I would say stick with something that's a bit easier to get right like a pumpkin pie and either go with a graham cracker crust or a pre-made crust. Save your learning process for just your family at non-holiday times. (never a bad time for pie.)
This might be what I do. Any recommended pumpkin pie recipes?
I've been meaning to learn, it just hasn't happened yet. I've never been much of a baker, and it always seems fairly daunting.
I made this one last night (minus the cream topping, that's for today), but really, any traditional pumpkin pie recipe will do. Pumpkin pie is easy because all you have to do is stir up a bunch of stuff (the canned pumpkin is just fine) and pour it into a crust then bake until it sets.
I haven't made this, but I've never had a bad recipe from this site. CAUTION: it uses yams, which some people's families hate but no it's okay I'm over it I said I'm over it!
I love the Smitten.
I know, right? Good writing, great recipes. Her cookbook is, go figure, also great.
6 or 7 years ago I did a maple/white-wine turkey. The gravy involved grapes. I still get crap for that one.
I feel like maybe we're just not recognized in our time?
Saw a recipe for Turketta (porchetta with a turkey breast) and ohmygodIwantitnow.
Exactly.
I managed to pull off Cornish game hens instead of turkey last year, but it was a very small and willing crowd.
I didn't make the crusts, but I did the rest of the labor. We currently have pumpkin (Cheap's recipe) and lemon meringue cooling on the rack. Thanks all.
I have found Betty Crocker pie crust mix to be really novice friendly. While the crust may not look beautiful your first time, it'll be way tastier than pre-made crust.
Hell, I've been making crusts for a few years now and mine still don't look beautiful. Of course, I don't even try to pretty them up. Fancy looking crust is for suckers.
Just call them rustic.
do they taste good?? then screw how they look -- I'll eat your slice if you don't like it!
In past years, I've replaced pumpkin with triple-chocolate pumpkin pie. Oh, my. The family all went along with it just fine.
It's a ridiculous complaint.
Did you tell them that all the prior Pumpkin pies were made with squash?
I should have. I was busy eating super delicious sweet potato pie.
You chose wisely.
Made Key Lime pie last night with crumbled graham cracker crust. Tonite pumpkin.
Love me some Key Lime pie.
No extended family in the area and ours have rarely visited at Thanksgiving, so we usually end up just the family, but this year we're invited to a friend's house and at last count there were 30 expected to be there. My wife has volunteered to bring sweet and sour ham and banana cream pie, mainly because we know the boys won't eat turkey or pumpkin pie. This despite us using ground turkey in all their favorite meals. Keep it in its original state and it becomes "yucky" apparently.
sweet and sour ham and banana cream pie
??!!!
Commas save recipes!
It all ends up in the same place anyways.
My daughter's school is not in session today: teacher's workshops. If they are going to have teacher's workshops, today is a good day. If you are traveling, you can take off of work and have to worry about your kid missing school.
The last thing I want to do, however, is travel. Since my folks are off to the land of no teeth for Thanksgiving
we are content to hunker down, guilt-free, here in the Twin Cities. Wife and daughter are out playing today. I am stuck here trying to get a big project done before the holiday period commences.
We had our Thanksgiving last Saturday, so I'm going to roll up the sleeves and replace the leaky (cheap, underpowered construction-grade) garbage disposal with a fine new one. Maybe a little outdoors activity, depending on the weather.
btw, when someone asks you, "Apple or pumpkin?" the correct answer is always, "Yes, please!"
btw, when someone asks you, "Apple or pumpkin?" the correct answer is always, "Yes, please!"
agreed!
I did the garbage disposal upgrade a few years ago. Yep, the new one is *a lot* better.
I replaced ours with a pipe elbow. Cost me less than $5, including gas.
I do remember that you are anti-garbage disposal.
I don't really understand the point, but I've never lived in a place that had one.
The one that came with the house
a) leaked
b) didn't work
c) had tons of chicken bones in it
We had other things to replace that we actually needed.
This was an easy one to just remove.
I understand that the older of the two absolutely does not like Kentucky. Hates it. Oh well, she's a senior this year, so off to college next year. Hopefully, she'll be back here in the land of 10,000 lakes.
On the bright side, big fish, small pond! Ivy League schools are eager for smart kids from...disadvantaged locales.*
*actually, I found Lexington to be a very nice city.
Murray State was on Runner daughter's short list. Not a fan of the state, but it's a fine college.
If they are going to have teacher's workshops, today is a good day. If you are traveling, you can take off of work and have to worry about your kid missing school.
Unless you're a teacher who has to travel to see your family, that is. Then you can take one of your few personal leave days, assuming you're allowed to be absent from your "workshops."
My wife's school has all week off. Traditionally, they have a conference to attend at least Monday and Tuesday if not Wednesday, but because they've switched to a completely new curriculum that has created a lot of extra work this year, the school's administrator decided to let the teachers have Thanksgiving off. This has allowed my wife to take the boys (who go to her school) to a youth baseball clinic Mon-Wed.
This is what I was thinking about the Lakers and Kobe Bryant yesterday.
The Lakers’ $48 million extension they gave Kobe Bryant this week has left them with enough cap space to either sign one max player or to re-sign Pau Gasol next summer, but not both. There will be no +2 to offer unless the Lakers miss the playoffs and get lucky in the lottery. James was never a good fit with Bryant, who was hinting he might retire in 2014 just a year ago, and the Lakers were not in denial of this fact. When Bryant made it clear he wanted to extend his career and he wasn’t in the mood for a large pay cut, they took the sure thing and probably removed themselves from James’ radar, no matter how small the blip may have been.
Also, this:
LeBron Watch is a periodic feature at ESPN.com that looks at the potential free agency of LeBron James in the summer of 2014.
OMG. Well, you knew that was coming.
i ordered this last night as an xmas present for my dad. if he cracks the seal while i'm there, i'm totally burning it after he goes to sleep.
I'm very intrigued by that. I have a number of the Eccentric Soul releases that label has re-issued. It's all been good.
Plans are coming together. It seems I'll definitely be available on the 11th and 12th of December, and possibly for the second half of Saturday the 14th. I'm sure the 14th would be most agreeable to the majority of people, but I'm not likely to know how good it'll be until the day itself. I figure I'll plan on things to be on the first two nights in case the 14th ends up striking out completely, and hope we can get a decent turnout.
My brother, who now has a big place and nobody else living there, has offered his domicile for "bring your own" shenanigans, which may be a good plan for both money's sake and space's sake. If anyone else has opinions, let me know.
Depends on where it happens, but I'll give a preliminary thumbs-up to the 11th & 12th. Company Holiday Party here on the 14th.
Unfortunate that it's a Mizzou prof taking a swing at my alma mater. It's easy to take potshots at preliminaries and hearsay.
I can understand a university or college not offering everything under the sun, but how do you have a liberal arts/arts & sciences college within a university and notoffer majors in have departments of English, physics, political science, history, or philosophy?
Ok, I guess I can imagine it. I just can't imagine it as part of a long-run equilibrium that includes the university's survival. Unless it is with consolidated "departments" or divisions (e.g., a Division of Humanities, Division of Social Sciences, Division of Natural Sciences, etc.) without sub-dividing administratively into departments.
MSU-M, that's where the chickens went to take calculus.
If you were enrolled at any of NDSU, Concordia, and MSU-M, you could take classes at any of the three and they would count toward your degree. Lots of engineering students would go over to Moorhead to take calculus and physics because it was purportedly easier there.
meh, they're not doing anything that drastic, it's just an overwrought response to "ideas" bandied about, by someone who probably doesn't even know where Moorhead is.
that's in Kentucky, amiright?
ok, got the Ernie McCracken celebration from Kingpin banner.
well played
Regulars from my other site, Sarah Bizek/beezypoof/Super Cool Beez is in spinal surgery today. She has MS and has declined in health in recent years. If you know her and her certain brand of amusing cynicism, join me in asking that she's allowed to display it for many more years.
Joined. She was truly awesome to spend a few hours bantering with...here's wishing her nothing but the best.
The Twins are apparently nearing a "major free agent signing." It's like mystery team but different. Ooooh!
According to Doogie it's not Arroyo, Salty, or Nolasco and probably not Garza.
Clearly it's Robinson Cano.
Hmm. The only other name listed there is Willingham. Extension!
thats nice and all, but anyone with a Twitter account can say the Twins are close to signing someone.
this info is useless without a name attached.
One of my complaints about "journalism" today is that so much of it is rumor and speculation. It seems to me that we have a hard enough time determining what is, without constantly guessing at what might be.
The original tweet was from Tim Dierkes who runs MLBTR. But it's sounding like it's Nolasco they're close on.
In the article I linked, the guy who originally broke the news estimated 4/$52, so that looks pretty good to me.
The bar has been raised for the HTRC.
Estimates prior to the signing had Nolasco getting 3-5 yrs for $13M-$15M, so it sounds like the Twins did fairly well, especially getting him this early. It may have been to their advantage to go after a second-tier guy while others were waiting on Garza and that Japanese pitcher to sign.
Also a $13M club option with a $1M buyout, according to the PiPress. $12M for each year plus the $1M buyout makes it $49M guaranteed. The option could become a player option if he reaches some innings goals.
That's a great way to start a holiday. I'm very happy with that barring a big overpay. That's about as good a pitcher as I had hoped the Twins could/would sign. Hopefully, this is just the start.
I still want Arroyo.
Sean: The wordpress machine seems to have swallowed at least one of my LTE's today.
Hmm, I don't see anything in the filters. Someone may have already cleared it though.
I've also had to approve four messages from regular posters.
Turkey is brined and will be coming out soon to stand for a couple of hours in the fridge. We are having Thanksgivukkah today, as the in-folks are flying back tomorrow.
Chile-brined, smoked turkey with giblet gravy
Mushroom-walnut dressing (vegan)
Pav bhajilast minute change to potato latkes!!111one111!!! with sour cream and apple sauceRoasted brussels sprouts
Sweet potato casserole
Pecan pie
Pumpkin pie
Blueberry-peach crumble (vegan)
Chile-brined, eh? Do tell.
I've used Alton's non-honey brine/aromatics mix in the past...it was my first foray into smoked turkey and it. was. awesome.
For the brine:
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water
For the aromatics:
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage
Canola oil
Applewood chips for the smoking.
I'd guess that you place some dried chili pods, ancho and hatch (natch), in with the sugar, salt, pepper, and some whole garlic cloves for good measure.
I was lazy.
peppercorns, cloves, allspice, garlic, oregano, brown sugar, salt, some "New Mexico" chiles, a half-gallon each of chicken stock and veg stock, a large can of red chile sauce and about 3 quarts of ice water (that's all that would fit in my too-small bucket).
I will put onion, lemon, garlic, and orange peel in the cavity, and smoke with applewood.
one hour in. I just added more wood chips, and will be adding more hot coals in about 20-25 minutes. I forgot to wrap the drumstick ends and wings with foil, so those are getting pretty browned already. I have my grill set up for indirect (coals on one side behind a little holder dealy-bob; drip pan and bird on the other).
11-lb bird, so I may have started a little too early...but it looks good and smells good.
conclusion: the bird was awesome. It was on for about 3.5 hours, smoked the whole way with applewood. Nice, but not overpowering smokey flavor, moist meat. I also used the drip pan to make an awesome gravy (chopped apple, celery, carrot, and onion, the neck, heart, and gizzard, a bunch of old, half-dried out mushrooms, a couple of dried New Mexico chiles, allspice berries, cloves, black peppercorns, and about 1.5 quarts of vegetable stock, plus whatever dripped from the bird. I then defatted the liquid from the pan, chopped the giblets and the mushrooms --ZOMG, the mushrooms were awesome -- and simmered down by about a quarter, and slightly thickened with corn starch).
I also made a vegan, cashew gravy that was a big hit. It went well with sweet potatoes and the vegan stuffing.
I'm not yet sick to my stomach, so it must be time for dessert!
That's the same recipe I've been using the last two years. Fantastic results.
I'm making the pies again this year. Apple, chocolate bourbon pecan (OHMYGOD), and coconut cream. I made a sweet potato pie last year instead of pumpkin... my brother's family apparently was not amused (they are resistent to change) and decided they will bring their own pumpkin pie this year. It's both passive AND aggressive but it doesn't bother me no really no really it's fine I said it's FINE.
I'm almost certain had I called it pumpkin they would have loved it.
I was notified yesterday that we get to have the pleasure of going to my mother-in-law's tonight for a Thanksgiving type thing and that we (I) would be making pies for the occasion. What started off as a pumpkin and a pecan pie turned in to two pumpkins, one pecan, and one apple pie. So last night I made four pies, all crust done from scratch. It was exhausting.
But anyway, I, too, made a bourbon chocolate pecan pie. However, I mixed up the amount of vanilla and the amount of bourbon in the recipe by mistake, so the pie got 2 tablespoons of vanilla instead of 1-1/2 teaspoons. Fortunately, it was homemade vanilla extract, so it'll still be good.
Pie making can escalate rapidly. Well, we need a fruit pie... and a cream pie... and the pecan pie is amazing... and suddenly you're making 100 pies. Made the dough last night. We'll bust out the pecan tonight and the other two in the morning. Hopefully.
Turns out I ran out of bourbon. Oh nuts, I'll have to go buy some.
I hate the fact that I wasn't able to let the doughs rest overnight, so hopefully the crusts turn out ok. The excuse to buy a bottle of bourbon made up for that down side, however.
Enough bourbon and everything is fine. Too much though and everything is terrible. Such is life.
At $12 for 1L of Old Crow Reserve, too much is always a possibility.
speaking of bourbon, cheap bourbons ranked!
That's the exact article that reminded me to buy the Old Crow yesterday.
just read it. and it led me to this review of cheap beers.
Minnesota represent!
That's some good stuff right there.
speaking of bourbon, I took my FiL over to a friend's house yesterday for a friendly bourbon tasting.
Evan Williams Single Barrel (2003 vintage), Elijah Craig 12 year, Knob Creek Single Barrel Special Reserve, and Weller's Special Reserve. The Elijah Craig is, apparently, the same product as the Evan Williams (but from several years earlier), so tasting those side-by-side constituted a sort of "vertical".
The consensus is that the Evan Williams was easily the best value. first-time through, we all agreed it was the best overall, but a slight margin over the Elijah Craig.
The Weller's uses wheat as the secondary grain, and was distinctly different from the other three. It was also the cheapest, and had the shortest finish. A good bourbon, but probably didn't benefit from being tasted in this group.
The Knob Creek (120-proof) was far more alcoholic on first take than the others (all 94-proof or lower). But when we re-tasted head-to-head directly with the Evan Williams, we liked it better than the Evan Williams.
All benefited tremendously from the addition of a wee splash of water (like a tablespoon or two to a 3-oz-or-so glass). It opened up the nose dramatically on each, mellowed the Knob Creek, and generally improved the experience.
Fun times. I'm still a single-malt scotch guy, but this was enjoyable.
I'm a bourbon guy largely because a good bourbon is much more cost effective than a good, single-malt scotch. And because patriotism, or somesuch.
This...all day, every day this. I wish I'd had more time to converse on this topic today, I love a good bourbon/whiskey/whisky/scotch discussion.
homemade vanilla extract? Did you use bourbon???!!!!!111one111!!!!???
I used vodka, but I do wonder what a bourbon extract would taste like.
Pretty easy, no? I've always meant to try.
Ridiculously easy and significantly cheaper than buying the stuff. Get some vanilla beans, some cheap-ish vodka, and a mason jar. Open the beans, put them in the vodka, then wait for a few weeks. Boom, vanilla extract.
Weekend project! Then put in fancy bottles and give to family.
And then make a shit load of gin and tonics with the leftover vodka!
Silly me, I always thought you used 'gin' in gin & tonics.
Dammit, I can't even blame that one on my phone. Fine, put some juniper berries in the vodka bottle, then my comment makes more sense. Or just have vodka tonics.
I've done homemade spicy bitters:
Coronal Bitters
18 Habanero Chiles (Quartered)
2 Limes (Cut in Eighths)
2 Tbsp Molasses
1/2 tsp Red Cinchona Bark Powder*
16 Allspice Berries (Crushed)
2 Cups 100 Proof Vodka
1) Combine all ingredients in a glass jar
2) Steep for 10 days
3) Strain, filter, then bottle
This made more bitters than I could possibly use, so I did as strat suggested and shared it around.
*I could only find this online and only in 8 oz packages. I have enough to remake about 40 batches of bitters. If you're curious...read up.
If I made cocktails, I would totally do this.
I'm supposed to be handling the pies. I have never made a pie. Anyone want to tell me everything I need to know? If not, I'll probably end up buying pre-made and/or frozen.
Eh, I might just buy 'em anyway. I'm feeling lazy today.
I think if you've never made a pie before but you really want to not use pre-made, I would say stick with something that's a bit easier to get right like a pumpkin pie and either go with a graham cracker crust or a pre-made crust. Save your learning process for just your family at non-holiday times. (never a bad time for pie.)
This might be what I do. Any recommended pumpkin pie recipes?
I've been meaning to learn, it just hasn't happened yet. I've never been much of a baker, and it always seems fairly daunting.
I made this one last night (minus the cream topping, that's for today), but really, any traditional pumpkin pie recipe will do. Pumpkin pie is easy because all you have to do is stir up a bunch of stuff (the canned pumpkin is just fine) and pour it into a crust then bake until it sets.
I haven't made this, but I've never had a bad recipe from this site. CAUTION: it uses yams, which some people's families hate but no it's okay I'm over it I said I'm over it!
I love the Smitten.
I know, right? Good writing, great recipes. Her cookbook is, go figure, also great.
6 or 7 years ago I did a maple/white-wine turkey. The gravy involved grapes. I still get crap for that one.
I feel like maybe we're just not recognized in our time?
Saw a recipe for Turketta (porchetta with a turkey breast) and ohmygodIwantitnow.
Exactly.
I managed to pull off Cornish game hens instead of turkey last year, but it was a very small and willing crowd.
I didn't make the crusts, but I did the rest of the labor. We currently have pumpkin (Cheap's recipe) and lemon meringue cooling on the rack. Thanks all.
I have found Betty Crocker pie crust mix to be really novice friendly. While the crust may not look beautiful your first time, it'll be way tastier than pre-made crust.
Hell, I've been making crusts for a few years now and mine still don't look beautiful. Of course, I don't even try to pretty them up. Fancy looking crust is for suckers.
Just call them rustic.
do they taste good?? then screw how they look -- I'll eat your slice if you don't like it!
In past years, I've replaced pumpkin with triple-chocolate pumpkin pie. Oh, my. The family all went along with it just fine.
It's a ridiculous complaint.
Did you tell them that all the prior Pumpkin pies were made with squash?
I should have. I was busy eating super delicious sweet potato pie.
You chose wisely.
Made Key Lime pie last night with crumbled graham cracker crust. Tonite pumpkin.
Love me some Key Lime pie.
No extended family in the area and ours have rarely visited at Thanksgiving, so we usually end up just the family, but this year we're invited to a friend's house and at last count there were 30 expected to be there. My wife has volunteered to bring sweet and sour ham and banana cream pie, mainly because we know the boys won't eat turkey or pumpkin pie. This despite us using ground turkey in all their favorite meals. Keep it in its original state and it becomes "yucky" apparently.
??!!!
Commas save recipes!
It all ends up in the same place anyways.
My daughter's school is not in session today: teacher's workshops. If they are going to have teacher's workshops, today is a good day. If you are traveling, you can take off of work and have to worry about your kid missing school.
The last thing I want to do, however, is travel. Since my folks are off to the land of no teeth for Thanksgiving
we are content to hunker down, guilt-free, here in the Twin Cities. Wife and daughter are out playing today. I am stuck here trying to get a big project done before the holiday period commences.
We had our Thanksgiving last Saturday, so I'm going to roll up the sleeves and replace the leaky (cheap, underpowered construction-grade) garbage disposal with a fine new one. Maybe a little outdoors activity, depending on the weather.
btw, when someone asks you, "Apple or pumpkin?" the correct answer is always, "Yes, please!"
btw, when someone asks you, "Apple or pumpkin?" the correct answer is always, "Yes, please!"
agreed!
I did the garbage disposal upgrade a few years ago. Yep, the new one is *a lot* better.
I replaced ours with a pipe elbow. Cost me less than $5, including gas.
I do remember that you are anti-garbage disposal.
I don't really understand the point, but I've never lived in a place that had one.
The one that came with the house
a) leaked
b) didn't work
c) had tons of chicken bones in it
We had other things to replace that we actually needed.
This was an easy one to just remove.
I think I should send that to my sister.
Minnesota 49, California 50. #winningatnotlosing
I saw my nieces this fall and asked them both if they still had all their teeth.
I understand that the older of the two absolutely does not like Kentucky. Hates it. Oh well, she's a senior this year, so off to college next year. Hopefully, she'll be back here in the land of 10,000 lakes.
After all, Minnesota is the 2nd best state in which to live, and The Jelly State is in the bottom quintile.
On the bright side, big fish, small pond! Ivy League schools are eager for smart kids from...disadvantaged locales.*
*actually, I found Lexington to be a very nice city.
Murray State was on Runner daughter's short list. Not a fan of the state, but it's a fine college.
Unless you're a teacher who has to travel to see your family, that is. Then you can take one of your few personal leave days, assuming you're allowed to be absent from your "workshops."
My wife's school has all week off. Traditionally, they have a conference to attend at least Monday and Tuesday if not Wednesday, but because they've switched to a completely new curriculum that has created a lot of extra work this year, the school's administrator decided to let the teachers have Thanksgiving off. This has allowed my wife to take the boys (who go to her school) to a youth baseball clinic Mon-Wed.
This is what I was thinking about the Lakers and Kobe Bryant yesterday.
Also, this:
OMG. Well, you knew that was coming.
i ordered this last night as an xmas present for my dad. if he cracks the seal while i'm there, i'm totally burning it after he goes to sleep.
I'm very intrigued by that. I have a number of the Eccentric Soul releases that label has re-issued. It's all been good.
Plans are coming together. It seems I'll definitely be available on the 11th and 12th of December, and possibly for the second half of Saturday the 14th. I'm sure the 14th would be most agreeable to the majority of people, but I'm not likely to know how good it'll be until the day itself. I figure I'll plan on things to be on the first two nights in case the 14th ends up striking out completely, and hope we can get a decent turnout.
My brother, who now has a big place and nobody else living there, has offered his domicile for "bring your own" shenanigans, which may be a good plan for both money's sake and space's sake. If anyone else has opinions, let me know.
Depends on where it happens, but I'll give a preliminary thumbs-up to the 11th & 12th. Company Holiday Party here on the 14th.
Unfortunate that it's a Mizzou prof taking a swing at my alma mater. It's easy to take potshots at preliminaries and hearsay.
I can understand a university or college not offering everything under the sun, but how do you have a liberal arts/arts & sciences college within a university and not
offer majors inhave departments of English, physics, political science, history, or philosophy?Ok, I guess I can imagine it. I just can't imagine it as part of a long-run equilibrium that includes the university's survival. Unless it is with consolidated "departments" or divisions (e.g., a Division of Humanities, Division of Social Sciences, Division of Natural Sciences, etc.) without sub-dividing administratively into departments.
MSU-M, that's where the chickens went to take calculus.
meh, they're not doing anything that drastic, it's just an overwrought response to "ideas" bandied about, by someone who probably doesn't even know where Moorhead is.
that's in Kentucky, amiright?
ok, got the Ernie McCracken celebration from Kingpin banner.
well played
Regulars from my other site, Sarah Bizek/beezypoof/Super Cool Beez is in spinal surgery today. She has MS and has declined in health in recent years. If you know her and her certain brand of amusing cynicism, join me in asking that she's allowed to display it for many more years.
Joined. She was truly awesome to spend a few hours bantering with...here's wishing her nothing but the best.
The Twins are apparently nearing a "major free agent signing." It's like mystery team but different. Ooooh!
According to Doogie it's not Arroyo, Salty, or Nolasco and probably not Garza.
Clearly it's Robinson Cano.
Hmm. The only other name listed there is Willingham. Extension!
thats nice and all, but anyone with a Twitter account can say the Twins are close to signing someone.
this info is useless without a name attached.
One of my complaints about "journalism" today is that so much of it is rumor and speculation. It seems to me that we have a hard enough time determining what is, without constantly guessing at what might be.
The original tweet was from Tim Dierkes who runs MLBTR. But it's sounding like it's Nolasco they're close on.
And it looks like Nolasco is now a Twin. No contract info given in that link.
Huge money!
I remember when pitchers used to be a NICKLE!
4/$49. that's not too bad, right?
In the article I linked, the guy who originally broke the news estimated 4/$52, so that looks pretty good to me.
The bar has been raised for the HTRC.
Estimates prior to the signing had Nolasco getting 3-5 yrs for $13M-$15M, so it sounds like the Twins did fairly well, especially getting him this early. It may have been to their advantage to go after a second-tier guy while others were waiting on Garza and that Japanese pitcher to sign.
Also a $13M club option with a $1M buyout, according to the PiPress. $12M for each year plus the $1M buyout makes it $49M guaranteed. The option could become a player option if he reaches some innings goals.
That's a great way to start a holiday. I'm very happy with that barring a big overpay. That's about as good a pitcher as I had hoped the Twins could/would sign. Hopefully, this is just the start.
I still want Arroyo.
Sean: The wordpress machine seems to have swallowed at least one of my LTE's today.
Hmm, I don't see anything in the filters. Someone may have already cleared it though.
I've also had to approve four messages from regular posters.