Chef Judi's Kitchen

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Got my turkey yesterday, and it’s in the refrigerator to defrost. I’m not cooking it until Friday, but it’s a 16 1/2 pounder, and the Butterball site says it needs 3 days and 18 hours to defrost.  I will stuff it, so it will take 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours to cook, also according to

http://www.butterball.com.

(My family goes in different directions for in-laws on Thanksgiving itself, so we get together Friday. And that way we have leftovers for sandwiches, salads, etc.)

If you have any questions at all about your turkey and what to do with it, do visit the Butterball site. There’s a handy little tool that tells you how much turkey you’ll need and how long you need to cook it. Great fun! Just be aware that you can lose yourself there for a couple of hours learning all there is to know about turkeys.

I think I’m going to try brining my bird this year. My brother-in-law has done this in the past, and it does keep everything moist. I’m not sure which herbs I’ll try, but the basic brine will be water, salt, and brown sugar. One recipe I found had the suggestion of adding poultry seasoning, but I won’t be doing that. The stuffing will have plenty of those flaors! Another has a basic mirepoix (celery, onion, and carrots) which could then be used to add to the pan for the final roast of the turkey, adding flavor to the drippings for the gravy. That recipe includes turnips (not happening!) and thyme sprigs (that will probably happen).

I will stuff the bird; my family won’t eat stuffing baked outside the bird and get downright snarky. My stuffing will be gluten free, because my sister and niece both have celiac disease and can’t eat gluten. There’s a gluten free store where they bake gluten free rolls with poultry season. I just need to cut up the rolls, saute my onions and celery in a lot of butter, and add some good broth.

The stuffed bird goes into a preheated 325F oven, first on one side for 1 hour, getting basted with butter every 30 minutes. The bird is then turned to the other side for another hour, again getting basted. The mirepoix of the chopped onion, carrot, and celery is added to the pan, and now the bird is set on top of that, breast side up, for the final two hours of roasting. The turkey will stand for 30 minutes before carving, and I’ll be able to get the gravy going, finish the potatoes, warm the green bean casserole (yeah, I know, but your role as host is to provide what your guests want), and all the other last minute fussing.

Things to remember about turkey: always defrost your bird in the refrigerator or under cold, running water. Leaving it on the counter to defrost is inviting salmonella. Make sure your stuffing has cooled to room temperature before you stuff it into the bird, again to avoid poisoning your guests. And even though pre-stuffed turkeys sound like a life saver, you must be absolutely certain that the people doing the stuffing have handled your food safely.

Have a great and safe holiday. Remember this is a day to forgive and forget all those things your family does to make you nuts, and to just appreciate them and the good things they bring into your life. Even if you have to go into deep meditation to find those good things, there have to be at least a few!

Happy cooking.

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October 1st is Homemade Cookie Day

Did you even know there was such a thing? It’s surprising the things you learn on the internet.

So pull out your favorite recipes – or go to our Christmas Cookie Recipes page. There are tons of recipes to consider.

Speaking of Christmas cookies… It’s really not too soon to start planning the cookies you’re going to include in your holiday baking so you can start building your ingredient list and start stockpiling your supplies.

With Halloween and Thanksgiving coming, stores will start offering specials on the baking supplies you’ll need. It’s a good idea to start watching the sales on flour, sugar, butter and/or margarine, flavorings, and decorations. Stockpile butter and margarine in your freezer; the other ingredients can be safely kept in your pantry.

Being prepared and stocked for your baking can help relieve at least one of the stresses of the holidays.

Other food holidays of note in October:

1st – World Vegetarian Day
9th – Moldy Cheese Day
16th – World Food Day
22nd – National Nut Day
24th – National Bologna Day

and all month long:

National Dessert Month
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Popping Month
National Apple Month

Happy Baking!

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by Christi @ Love From The Oven

Article by Recipe Writer

Pork chops are symbolic of good ‘ole comfort food. Learn how to make them juicy and browse easy pork chop recipes for any occasion.

The Key to Juicy Chops

Pork has changed over the years. A few generations ago, pork was fattier and resulted in juicier, flavorful chops. Today, pork has been bread to be a lean meat. Brining pork is very important for making the meat juicy and avoiding dry, tough chops. Brining the meat helps them to hold more moisture and flavor. Even if a recipe does not call for brining, soaking pork chops in a liquid solution of water salt and sugar can improve the final taste of the recipe. Rinse the chops after brining and pat dry. Discard the brine after use.

Baked Pork Chops

Tired of washing a load of dishes after cooking? This is a one dish meal – the pork is both marinated and cooked in the same dish! We all need a time-saver recipe for busy nights. Serve these chops with buttered pasta or dumplings.

Ingredients:6 pork chops1 cup white wine, dry2 Tsp. Hungarian paprika, mild1 Tsp. caraway seeds, crushed1 garlic clove, minced1/2 Tsp. saltPepper, to taste1 cup sour cream (optional)

Directions: Use an ovenproof casserole dish for this recipe. Mix all of the ingredients other than the pork and the sour cream and set aside. Place the chops in the casserole and pour the sauce over the meat. Place the casserole in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours to marinate. Once marinated, bake the casserole for 1 hour in a preheated 325 degree oven. More wine can be added if needed. Once cooked, mix sour cream into the juices of the casserole and allow the mixture to heat through, but not to boil. The pork recipe is now ready to serve!

Schweinekotelett in Zweibel Sosse

Did you know that in Germany, pork is consumed more than any other meat? Germany is world-renowned for its pork sausage, however one of the most popular ways of preparing pork in Germany is braising. To braise pork, one must first sear the pork over high heat and then cook the pork in a liquid. Below is a German-style pork chop recipe that goes well with brussels sprouts and boiled potatoes.

Ingredients:4 Pork Chops1/2 c. Beer1/2 c. Beef Broth; Hot1/2 Tsp. Salt1/4 Tsp. Pepper1 1/2 Tbs. Vegetable Oil4 Onions, thinly sliced1 Tsp. Cornstarch1 1/2 Tbs. Unbleached Flour

Directions: Cover the pork chops in salt and pepper and then dredge in flour. Heat oil in a skillet and fry the chops for three minutes per side. Place onions in the skillet and fry for an additional five minutes, turning the chops once. Add the liquids, cover the skillet and simmer for a quarter hour. Take the chops out of the sauce and keep warm. Season the remaining liquid. Mix the cornstarch with a bit of cold water and pour into the sauce. Allow the sauce to boil through and pour over the chops.

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Article courtesy of pork video recipes

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by Bony Bünz AKA Cheek fille AKA Vi AKA L’Effroyable

Question by Lepke: Does anyone have a recipe for roasting a whole turkey from America’s Test Kitchen/Cooks Illustrated?
I started subscribing to Cooks Illustrated magazine, but don’t have access to the America’s Test Kitchen website archive of recipes. The current issue of Cooks Illustrated has a recipe for roasting a turkey breast, but I don’t have their recipe for roasting a whole unstuffed turkey. Can anyone please post the recipe for roasting a whole turkey. I’ve never had a bad recipe from Cooks Illustrated and this will be my first Thanksgiving turkey. Thanks for your time and effort.

Best answer:

Answer by heartbroken
cooking a turkey is easy ..just follow these directions and your Thanksgiving will be a success….

Roast Turkey:

1 16 to 18 pound turkey
1 tablespoon dried rosemary, crumbled
2 teaspoons ground sage
2 teaspoons dried thyme, crumbled
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
kosher salt
salt pork (optional)
bacon (optional)
1 stick butter, melted
garlic powder
paprika
1 can broth, for basting

Choose a plump turkey. Clean and dry thoroughly inside and out. Remove giblets and turkey neck from inside of turkey and rub liberally with kosher salt. Brine turkey, if desired. (don’t bother) Combine rosemary, sage, thyme, salt and pepper in small bowl. Rub some in each cavity.
Pack body cavity loosely with the stuffing (see below) you will be using, or prepare stuffing separately (do not stuff turkey until the last minute before cooking). If turkey is being stuffed, truss or sew closed, or fasten with small lacing skewers and cotton string. Tuck in wings and fold tail in over the stuffing.

The skin over the breast of the turkey can be loosened and thin strips of lean salt pork may be placed just under the skin to keep the breast meat moist. The wings and thighs can also be wrapped with bacon strips, if desired. Brush the top of the turkey generously with melted butter, and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper, and paprika.

Roast turkey, uncovered, at 375°F, basting frequently with melted butter and turkey or chicken broth, or pan juices. After 1 hour, baste and sprinkle with seasonings again, then make a tent with aluminum foil and cover breast loosely. Reduce heat to 325°F and continue roasting for another hour, basting occasionally.

Uncover breast and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of the thigh registers 165°F (be careful not to allow the thermometer to hit a bone or the reading will be false). This will take about 90 to 110 minutes longer, depending upon the size of the turkey and the oven being used. (Convection oven cooking time should be reduced by 25% – see your oven manual).

While the turkey is roasting, prepare giblet gravy (see below).

When turkey is golden brown and done, allow it to sit for 20 minutes to rest before carving. Transfer turkey to a serving platter. Reserve the pan drippings for gravy. Don’t wait for the little plastic “pop-up” devices to pop, or it’s likely that the bird will be overdone and dry.

If you don’t own an instant read thermometer, test to see if turkey is cooked by inserting the tines of a large fork into the upper thigh. If juice is not pink, then turkey is done.

Carve turkey by removing drumstick, wings and thick by running a sharp carving knife through joints. Remove breast and slice diagonally across the grain. Serve with stuffing, gravy, and your favorite sides.

Giblet Gravy:

giblets
2-3 celery stalks
2-3 bay leaves
1 onion
3-4 garlic cloves
salt
pepper
Wondra or all purpose flour
turkey/chicken bouillon or soup base
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
5-7 sage leaves, minced
pan drippings

Simmer giblets (save liver for something other than gravy) with a few stalks of celery and several bay leaves, an onion and 3-4 cloves garlic in a medium saucepan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and simmer, reducing volume until broth is flavorful. Thicken with Wondra or all purpose flour to desired thickness. Add Turkey or chicken bouillon or soup base, if desired, and 1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms. Stir in 5-7 leaves fresh sage, minced or 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage. When turkey is done, add some of the pan drippings to this gravy, pouring off excess fat first.
If stuffing is to be baked outside of the turkey, place this in the oven during the last 45 minutes of roasting, alongside the turkey.

Stuffing:

1 lb. chicken gizzards, finely chopped
1 lb. pork sausage, crumbled
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 shallot
2 stalks celery, minced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon sage, chopped
1/2 teaspoon paprika
pinch of celery seed
2 1/2 cups Swanson Chicken Broth
1 stick butter
Pepperidge Farm Herb Cubed Stuffing cubes
1-2 eggs
3-4 tablespoons parsley, chopped

For a flavorful stuffing, saute finely chopped chicken gizzards and crumbled pork sausage in 1 tablespoon each olive oil and butter with 2-3 cloves minced garlic, 1 shallot, 2 stalks minced celery, 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh sage, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and a pinch of celery seed. Add 2 1/2 cups Swanson Chicken broth and 1 stick butter. When butter melts, stir in 1 14 oz. package of Pepperidge Farm Herb Cubed Stuffing cubes. Mix well; remove from heat and quickly stir in 1-2 eggs, and 3-4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley.
Pack stuffing into a buttered baking dish, cover with aluminum foil, removing foil to allow stuffing to brown during the last 20 minutes (the stuffing can be browned after the turkey is removed by increasing oven temperature to 425°F.)

Roasting Chart:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1739,135178-247198,00.html

Add your own answer in the comments!

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by laurelfactorial

Article by Patricia Strasser

To achieve the desired flavor on grilled dishes select first which grill to use, then learn some tips on grilling vegetables, meat, and fish.

When it’s raining outside or its winter time and you badly want to savor the taste of burgers or barbecue being cooked outside during summer, there is always a great alternative. You can now enjoy the wonders of outdoor grilling inside your home through the use of an indoor grill. The indoor grill comes in various sizes and varieties. Also below are some tips on how to cook different food items using the indoor grill.

Selecting your grill

You have several indoor grill options you can use for cooking. Among them is the electric countertop grill. This grill is classified into 2 types: the open grills and the contact grills. Contact grills consists of a top and bottom plates which contain the food allowing it to be cooked on it’s two sides simultaneously, open grills on the other hand are similar to griddles, they have a lone flat surface intended for cooking and you can flip the food item to cook its other side. Another variant is the stovetop grill; you can find in stores some heavy cast iron models that can have at least 2 burners. It’s better to use the grill pan though for even distribution of heat. Select a grill pan that has indentations of the grill lines on the pan’s bottom. Other useful utensils are rubberized tongs to avoid damaging the grilling surface and a grilling brush.

Tips on grilling vegetables

Thinner and smaller vegetables can be cooked with good results in a grill like thinly sliced potato, eggplants, tomatoes, zucchinis, green beans, asparagus, etc. How you season the vegetables may affect the results. Before grilling, you may choose to season it with salt or other herbs. Bring your grill to the highest setting and have it pre-heat accordingly before placing the vegetables. Apply a small amount of vegetable oil before grilling. Flat vegetables are lined up diagonally on the grill while the long stick-like veggies are arranged perpendicular to the grill to achieve the desired marks. Season it occasionally to achieve the desired flavor and check the sides once in a while to ensure even cooking.

Tips on grilling meat and fish

The right slices of meat and fish is an important factor in achieving a delectable grilled taste. The thinner the cut, the better the results are for they’ll cook faster. Also, have the meat in uniform cuts for it to cook evenly. How you add seasonings to the meat will also affect the outcome. Though the simple sprinkling of salt and pepper may be enough, a spice rub containing smoky-flavored spices may be better. A marinade or grilling sauce too would be a good choice, apply it on the meat 20 minutes before grilling. Before cooking the meat, be sure that your grill is properly heated. Bring the countertop grill or electric grill to medium-high heat, brush the surface with vegetable oil then place the meat. Cook the meat using the desired procedures. Before serving, always check if the meat is evenly cooked on every side.

Enjoy the smell of burgers and barbecue anytime using your indoor grill. Use it with safety and you can now indulge in grilling anytime you want.

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To check for the latest on a contact grill and for the best buys, please visit Contact Grills.

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