apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My friends and I are having a mini Thanksgiving on Sunday night, so I'm pumped for that! I've already made and jarred some cranberry sauce, and I'm going to try to make a load of creative hors d'oeuvres out of bits and pieces of veggies, cheese, frozen dough etc I have in my fridge in order to clean it out for next weekend, when I'll be out of town for the holiday.

Having some friends over to make potstickers, drink hot cider, play games, maybe a movie... It is my humble attempt at a low-key celebration prior to the debauchery that is my family's Thanksgiving. Then it's a weekend of prep for my holiday contributions... Zuni Cafe's gourgeres with arugula, bacon and pickled onions, that fab lemon olive oil cake and some variation on a relish tray. Whew!

We finished up with Canadian Thanksgiving last month, but I'm really, really craving turkey again.

Anyway, we're having a potluck at our house tomorrow with some friends. I'm making a lasagna and rice krispie squares. Not sure what everyone else is bringing, but that's half the fun.

I just whipped together a batch of David Lebovitz' Pumpkin Ice Cream (http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2009/11/pumpkin_ice_cream_recipe.html) but I used coconut milk instead of the dairy for a dairy free version. And I have toasted hazelnuts soaking in coconut milk on the stove for his Gianduja Gelato from Perfect Scoop (http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Scoop-Sorbets-Granitas-Accompaniments/dp/1580088082/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258759718&sr=1-1). Since I cannot subsist on ice cream alone :(, I just pulled a big pot of beef jook off of the stove. Comfort food! :)

Pumpkin ice cream with coconut milk sounds delicious!

I'm thinking of a mushroom pizza for dinner tomorrow night, and big batch of cauliflower/chickpea curry to get us through the first part of the week, so I can concentrate on Thanksgiving!

I will be trying like heck to avoid consuming any turkey and cranberry deli sandwiches so I don't burn out before The Day.

Per another discussion at Unplggd, I am thinking I may try to make 'hard-boiled' eggs in my rice cooker. Most of the sites I've looked at recommend doing this at the same time as making rice, though. I may play with the idea to see how it goes.

I just made thumbprint cookies with black currant filling. Other than that I'm staying away from rich food so I can give the body a real shock on Thursday when I stuff it full.

Picked up my csa winter share yesterday & I have a busy weekend ahead! I'll be making some chicken stock & reserving the meat in the freezer for later use. Probably make some butternut squash soup, Swedish ginger cookies, roast the pumpkin for the pies later in the week, pancakes for breakfast, maybe homemade pasta with butternut squash "sauce", pork with grits & roasted veggies... I gotta get our stomaches stretched out in preparation for Thursday! We head to friends house for turkey & then I'll make my own next Friday. Yum! My favorite time of year:)

I'm baking those Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls this weekend...I said I would do that last weekend...never did. I probably will make & bake & freeze my Parker House Rolls this weekend...I don't know that I will have the time to do that on Thursday. Not going to stress out about cooking this weekend....

I am considering the 101 Cookbook's "Giant Chipotle Beans Casserole" for Saturday night. I have some Rancho Gordo "Scarlet Runners" that surely qualify as giant beans. This way I have a "go-to" option that doesn't involve turkey...

I made chocolate cranberry cake with chocolate frosting for a friend earlier today. Now I'm making Norwegian frukt suppe (a.k.a. fruit soup), but I didn't get quick-cooking tapioca, so it's taking longer than expected. My mom makes it every year when the weather gets cold and I love it hot or warm and sometimes with a little half and half on top. YUM! Of course, I subbed some of the raisins for half sweetened dried cranberries and half dried currants. Can't wait to taste the "new" creation. : )

A tuscan feast for some of my favorite peeps! Its been 7 months since we've all been together & there is a birthday girl to boot! So: marinated mozz & schiacciata con l'uva to start, ribollita for soup, sedano di verona e pere (celery root & pear) for salad, tomato green beans for side, chicken under a brick for main, & zuccotto for dessert. I'm a Busy Busy Bee today!

We have a double birthday party, and we're actually going out for msg-style Chinese food. Then everyone will come over for double cakes and cocktails.

Everything in this thread sounds so delicious! This weekend I'm getting ready for Thanksgiving by roasting sugar pie pumpkins, making a test pumpkin pie, and rich turkey stock for gravy. Last weekend, it was, bread pudding with apples and cranberries.

I'm making marshmallows to give away as holiday gifts. This year I'm making a bunch of different flavors - Vanilla, Lillet, Kaluha, peppermint, cinnamon, chocolate, orange, and raspberry. It's terrifically fun and almost magical to see the sugar syrup and gelatin to turn into marshmallow fluff as I watch!

Tamales, yes homemade tamales. They are steaming in a spicy broth. We did some stocking of the pantry for the big day, will brine the turkey in a salty/sweet (maple syrup) brine.

Been baking bread, hope to have some soft rolls for the kids on Thanksgiving.

In three hours we're having 16 people over for a benefit dinner for a favorite nonprofit in our community. I'm preparing chicken with Moroccan spices, roasting potatoes (don't know what I'll do with them), serving a cucumber-feta salad, steaming carrots, and making some rice. My boyfriend made brownies and lemon bars for dessert, and babaghanoush for an appetizer. And there will be plenty of wine.

Tonight I confess the kids are (happily) eating hot dogs while I put together some lasagne to freeze and have on hand during the upcoming busy weeks.

Tonight was pumpkin tortila soup and cornbread in front of a fire.

We're cooking stew tonight. Bought some hare on the market yesterday, got some good beer to stew it in, and roasting potatoes and parnsips to go with.
Also, we bought some cantarelles and cepes, but I think just throwing them in the stew would "spoil" them, since we rarely get good 'shrooms so I want to really "taste" them, anyone have any ideas?

Does anyone listen to Good Food on KCRW? They had recipe that used slow-cooked mandolin sliced yams with, I think, thyme and onions. It sounded amazing and I am trying to find a recipe like that. If anyone know one, please pass it on. Thanks.

tortilla soup for our sick and recovering bodies.

Making cream of chicken soup with some stock I made up this morning and some leftover Chicken in Milk gravy. Probably a green salad and some twice baked taters to boot. Warm, hearty, comforting for a bright, crisp day.

This weekend, we first made a batch of beans and cornbread to cozy-up a rainy Friday evening! This afternoon, I'm baking a pumpkin so that I can put it in the freezer before I leave to go home for Thanksgiving. It'll be here waiting for me when I get back to make all kinds of pumpkin goodies! Then, this evening my boyfriend and I are going to make the pork meatballs posted on here earlier this week!!

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/main-dish/quick-dinner-recipe-pork-meatballs-with-lemon-and-thyme-101689

Waffles for Sunday breakfast. Creamy Chicken Soup for dinner. And Baked Apples with Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert. It's awesome to finally be at home.

butternut squash lasagna!!