Saturday Meanderings

Thanksgiving is just 5 days away and I so look forward to this one holiday which is all about family, friends and food. It will be a low key day for us, celebrating with our youngest daughter and her boyfriend. Since my older two children are out of state with limited vacation days from work, we will see them only for Christmas. I am actually looking forward to a restful holiday to close out the month of November. So thankful that you are joining me today for Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all good things this week.

What’s on Your Thanksgiving Menu

Each year I publish my favorite recipes for Thanksgiving and here they are again this year.

We all are familiar with very dry cooked turkey. Back in 2020, my son encouraged us to try this recipe from Bon Appetît, and we have used it every year since. Here is why I love this recipe.

• The cooking time is very fast. For a 15 lb. bird, the turkey is done in approximately 100 minutes (depending on your oven, thickness of breast, etc.). The glaze for this is D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S! 
• You can prep this up to 2 days in advance. There is a easy rub to make and once you apply that, the refrigerator does the rest. There are very detailed instructions on how to separate the turkey. If you are not comfortable doing that, ask your local butcher.
• All you need to bake this is a wire rack and a rimmed baking sheet

Instead of making my standard apple pie, I am trying a new recipe from Simplicity and Starter (simplicityandstarter.com), Salted Caramel Apple Sourdough Hand Pies. I hope to make these over the weekend as I have never made sourdough pie crust.

Are you cooking or hosting Thanksgiving dinner? If so, what recipes do you love to make for this holiday?

Speaking of Sourdough…

Our mornings have been so chilly, often 38 degrees. I leave the windows open and love all that crisp, autumn air. However the kitchen stays very cool throughout the day and rarely gets above 65 degrees.

It is quite challenging, in this environment, to get my sourdough starter fermenting properly. A sourdough starter is considered “too cold” when the temperature drops below around 68°F (20°C), as at this point, the yeast in the starter becomes significantly less active, causing fermentation to slow down considerably and potentially stall completely.  Ideally, you want to keep your starter at a temperature between 70-80°F (21-27°C) for optimal activity.

I am experimenting with my warming drawer (mine doesn’t have a proof option), however, the first batch fermented too quickly. Playing with different temperature scenarios this week in hopes of finding a solution (other than turning up the room’s thermostat). Any advice from fellow sourdough bread makers is welcomed.

Annual Neighborhood Turkey Drive

For the last 5 years, our neighborhood raises funds to buy turkeys to donate to St. Mary’s Food Bank via our local police precinct. This year we raise $1000 (the most to date) and spent last Saturday purchasing 65 turkeys.

We fill 3 shopping carts full of frozen turkeys and then deliver them to a refrigerated truck at the Desert Horizon Police Precinct.

It is a great event and we know our donation will be enjoyed by many over the holiday season.

Recycle and Reuse

I am a big fan of finding multiple uses for a specific item. Being a Connecticut Yankee, it’s hard to just discard something and often times, at the very least we add what we can to the composter. For the Holiday Styling Workshop, I ordered several dozen roses from Costco for our lunch table centerpiece.

But as they get drooping and past their prime, what do you do with dying roses? After removing all the petals from the flower, I lay them on a cookie sheet to dry out. In the summer, this takes all of one day, however, it is taking a bit longer this time of year. You can dry them in a dehydrator or your air fryer at a very low setting.

Once the petals are dry, then I add dried lavender, calendula and other herbs that are available. This potpourri utilizes dried herbs and flowers, which can create a refreshing and calming atmosphere within the coop, enhance the air quality, and potentially deter pests. We add this mixture to the hay in the nesting boxes in the hen house.

This is a great way to also use up any extra herbs from your garden including: basil, oregano, mint, chamomile, thyme, marjoram and dill.

Chicken coop potpourri…it really is a thing!

Crazy Week of Recipes

My oven and stove work non-stop during our cooler months. This week alone, I made apple cider donuts, homemade chicken soup, rotisserie chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, sourdough bread, a sourdough discard chocolate bundt cake and sourdough discard crackers.

May Need New Ovens

When we completely restored our property back in 2001, my kitchen had all new appliances. Fast forward 24 years and it seems like each one is breaking down. I have double Dacor ovens (were the top of the line at that time) and the upper oven, which is also my convection oven, is not holding its temperature, nor does the broiler work.

The appliance man was out this week and the circuit board is faulty. Hoping to hear the diagnosis today to see if it can be fixed or I have to buy new ones. Does anyone love their oven(s)? It’s been 2 decades since I’ve done any research. My son is sending me reviews on the Cafe Professional Series 30″ Smart Built In Convection French-Door Double Wall Ovens, but the price….yikes.

Mary’s Must Haves

This holiday season I am mentally picturing lots of candles, simple greens and velvet ribbon. However, even though I love the ambiance of candlelight, unless you keep a careful eye, they can be a fire hazard..not to mention dripping wax on everything.

I discover these flameless drip wax tapers for the Out of Africa dinner table I did in June of this year. Surprisingly, they look authentic and flicker like real candles too. You can adjust the brightness, set the timer to 2/4/6/8 hours sessions and each candle operates on 2 AAA batteries.

Some flameless candles are quite expensive, but these candles are now 20% at $17.59 for a set of 6. Initially I purchased 18 of them, but I want more for the holidays. They come in various colors but mine are ivory. Delivery is quick too if you need them for Thanksgiving.

With my oven being off temperature, having an independent thermometer inside the oven, helps confirm you are heating at the correct temperature. This thermometer is safe inside an oven, grill or smoker, is easy to read, and can withstand temperatures up to 580 degrees. For peace of mind over the holiday cooking/baking season, this $8.49 investment is worth it. Now 15% off at Amazon.

Consumable Hostess Gifts

I tend to prefer hostess gifts that are consumable, especially when visiting the person who has everything. If you are going to an event at someone with a new home, for example, it makes sense to be a gift that is more permanent.

Michel Design Works has very attractive soap dispensers and you can find a variety here. This particular holiday set comes with the soap, paper hand towels and a caddy to hold both. I hope to do a blog post soon on a variety of hostess gifts, but this one will get you through Thanksgiving as it has a 2-day delivery.

Best Oven Mitts

If you are cooking or entertaining around heat this holiday season, here are oven mitts highly recommended by @crozier_cooks. Oven mitts are top of mind this week since I realize we do not have a pair out in the guest cottage. I am placing an order for these now and they come in a variety of colors. One size fits all and the price is $29.95.

Wishing everyone a relaxing and blessed Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for your friendship and support of me. Reading this blog, sharing your thoughts and comments is what inspires me each and every week. Stay safe out there.