The Kitchn Archive: Nov 2016

Kale may be a celebrated superfood, but it’s not as popular as you might think. According to Zagat’s 2015 National Dining Trends Survey, only 27 percent of diners in America reported liking the plant. For the remaining 73 percent, there’s some good news in store: Plant researchers at Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Science are working on creating a version that is more appealing to American palates.

There are a million good reasons to pop a cork. The real question is what kind of cork we want to pop. There are basically three categories of bubbles to choose from: Champagne, Cava and Prosecco. Each has its own distinct characteristics, flavors, and style, which dictate when and how I want to serve and sip each one. For brunch, my choice is Prosecco.

Arguably the trickiest part of making big-batch breakfasts of pancakes and waffles is delivering everything to the table at the same time, still warm and just as good as it is right off the griddle. But it’s totally possible, and actually pretty easy to pull off when you’ve got this strategy up your sleeve. To keep waffles and pancakes in pristine condition before the whole lot of them are ready to head to the table, you’ll need a baking sheet, a cooling rack, and a warm oven.

It’s true that the sweet segments of a clementine are the main attraction, and the whole reason for buying crate after crate of these winter beauties. Don’t discount the peels, though — they come with big (and sometimes unexpected) potential, and deserve to be saved. Think of clementines (and really, all citrus) as a two-for-one deal. Obviously you’re in it for those sweet and juicy segments, but the peel is pretty valuable too.

For 19 years I had a Thanksgiving much like any other. In my grandmother’s basement, we layered tablecloths across the ping-pong table, the only thing big enough to bring together the 20-plus of a big extended family. After parades and football, we lined up to pile the meal onto melmac plates. A “simple meal,” Rachel Laudan calls it, designed for a “national celebration embracing all citizens” (and plenty who aren’t). That is, the one bird who feeds the many.