Feast without Frenzy: Make Ahead

The big day is drawing near and, if you’re like me, so is family. In this series, we’ve talked about planning ahead, freezing ahead and keeping it light. Our next strategy for enjoying time together instead of toiling endlessly in the kitchen is making certain dishes ahead.

Feast Without Frenzy: Keep it Light

No doubt, there are a lot of heavy things that crop up during the holidays. Cookies, roasts, various casseroles . . . your sister-in-law’s confession, Grandma’s harping on your bangs. But there’s nothing saying you can’t mount a counter strategy, for the food at least. Here are ten main course meals that won’t weight you down.

Feast without Frenzy: Freeze It

freeze-it
One of the easiest ways to free up time once house guests arrive is to have an arsenal of frozen meals already prepared. And I don't mean Birdseye. I’m talking chili, soups, braises, grains, pulses and even meat like pork carnitas and duck confit. Here are three tips for scrumptious freezer meals.

Revelationary Duck Confit

duck-confit
A simple technique allowing the duck legs to cook in their own juices yields a succulent duck confit that's lower in fat that traditional versions.

Child’s Play: A Salad Story

I've wanted to write a piece for a while about making cooking fun during the holidays. The seeds were planted when, on a trying evening, I recruited my daughter to help me make a "special" salad and pouts and whines (from both of us) turned to laughter and pensive smiles. Here's a poem inspired by the spirit of that night.

Feast Without Frenzy: Plan Ahead

plan
Mention the phrase “meal plan” and you’ll likely hear a litany of reasons for why there's no time. Yet even fifteen minutes can help you set a simple framework that will make your holiday feasts less stressful. Here are three steps to crafting a plan.

Carnitas de Lia

carnitas
These carnitas are based on a recipe by Michele Anna Jordan that I've been using for years. Because the pork is braised in its own juice, these carnitas are much lighter than the traditional version.

7 Super Sustainable Seafood Picks – 2009

As grateful as I am for the seafood guides out there, I wanted a short list of sustainable fish that were healthy and easy to understand so I could still choose wisely if I was caught without my pocket guide. So here they are: Nourish Network's Seven Super Sustainable Seafood Picks.

Gifts That Give

It’s the time of year we’re all putting together gift lists—a roasting pan for Aunt Dottie, iTunes bucks for your favorite nephew. But consider, too, gifts that give to others as we give to those we love. Here are some ideas . . .