Book-Cover-

Cooking From The Heart

Recently Jill Kimmelman published this lovely poem for Love of Food Magazine. It is perfectly timed with Valentines Day and the celebration of her new book of poems We are so lucky to have such a talented poet contribute to our publication.

Kiwis beckon blackberries shimmer
an array of ever-changing desserts. Decadent, sublime, a delight to the palate rare pleasures to savor summer’s gifts nestled on ancient hand-painted plates, cinnamon-scented coffee cooling within reach.

Kiwis beckon
blackberries shimmer
a golden-tipped glistening meringue treat
A family recipe tweaked a bit 
by each daughter’s loving hand
Presented on heirloom treasures
vanilla latte cooling within reach.

Welcome to You Are the Poem, a three-themed collection of poetry, Timeless Love, An Eclectic Mix & Looking Back: inspiration wisdom gained from my poetic journey.

gift of my heart, poems of celebration, joy, hope, bonds of precious friendship & sisterhood, bridges built with our love language, a treasure for passionate foodies & photographers!
Available on Amazon

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Mardi Gras and The King Cake

Fat Tuesday happens on the last day of the Carnival season. It is the day before Ash Wednesday, which is also the first day of Lent. The Christian observance of Lent signifies the forty days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. They mark this time by giving up some of their favorite things to eat or drink. If you are a devout Catholic, Fat Tuesday is the last day to whoop it up before depriving yourself for forty days. This year it falls on March 1st, 2022.

According to Mardi Gras New Orleans, “The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons.” When we think of Mardi Gras we clearly conjure up images of the elaborate parade floats rolling through the French Quarter in New Orleans. We picture crowded cobblestone streets, the wrought iron balconies filled with bead throwers, and the sounds of ragtime and jazz music. The epicenter of it all takes place on Bourbon Street.

Contrary to what many people believe, Mardi Gras did not originate in New Orleans but in the port city of Mobile, Louisiana where many of the French Catholic settled in the 1800’s.

New Orleans is known for its culinary delights. What is a trip to the city of New Orleans without enjoying a sugary beignet from Cafe Dumonde while sipping on a Cafe au Lait or a chicory coffee? This establishment has been in the city since 1862.
According to Cafe Dumonde, beignets were brought the the region by the Arcadians (Rural French from the western Pays de la Loire region) we know their food style as Cajun. The beignets like all things have adapted over the years from a fruit filled pastry to a square of deep fried dough sprinkled with confectionary sugar. Yum!

When we think New Orleans we also think of Creole cuisine at its finest. The early Spanish and French, known as Creoles, who settled in the area brought their cooking methods and their spices that make up the hearty braised meats and stews that are typically served with rice. The most popular dishes are Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice and the famed Crawfish Etouffee.

When you visit New Orleans you will quickly forget the notion that dessert has to be a big piece of chocolate cake. When it comes to desserts the French are the experts and that is no exception in New Orleans. Here the French Creole desserts have a more down home feel with sweet creations such as bread pudding and pralines. These simple dessert ingredients are easily transformed into elegant dishes. Flaming bananas foster steals the show during the final course in some of the areas best restaurants.


Even the famed colorful, tasty King cake is a basically comprised of a big ring of cinnamon rolls with colored sugar and icing. That being said, all of these desserts are a fantastic way to experience a little culture.

Photo Courtesy of Mica’s Sweet Treats

Who doesn’t love seeing a colorful King cake decorated with coins and beads sitting on the table during Carnival season?

The colors of the cake are purple, green and gold. The purple color stands for justice, the green depicts faith, and the gold signifies power.

The beads worn by the Mardi Gras parade goers and that are often draped around the cake emulate the high fashion jewelry worn by the wealthy aristocratic women that walked alongside the floats in the 1800’s.

In earlier years parade floats used to throw colored almonds into the crowds.

At one Carnival celebration, a group riding on a float tossed out full sized coconuts. Can you imagine getting hit with a flying coconut?

The baby displayed on the cake symbolizes the revealing of the Christ child. In Christianity, the day called Epiphany is the day when the three wise men made their way to Bethlehem with the offering of gifts to the newly born Jesus. 

Photo Courtesy of Mica’s Sweet Treats

It used to be the tradition to hide the baby figure inside the cake. For the person who discovered the baby, it signified good luck and blessings. It was also customary for the person who found the baby to be the next to make and share the cake.
Today in the United States the old tradition of hiding the baby inside the cake has given way to safety concerns and the baby is simply part of the cake’s decorative allure.

If you are looking for a King Cake this Carnival season, you do not have to travel to New Orleans, local bakeries like Mica’s Sweet Treats will be offering the sweet traditional cake throughout the month of February and into March.

If cake is not your thing, you could still celebrate carnival with some colorful Mardi Gras style cookies or the Bananas Foster Cocoa Bombs. Why not include the kids? Let them decorate the cookies with the purple, green, and gold colors. What a fantastic way to teach children about New Orleans, the history and traditions of Carnival, Lent, and Ash Wednesday.

Mica’s Sweet Treats is an established award-winning home bakery located in North Raleigh. After just three short years in business Mica’s Sweet Treats has 5 employees. You can also find them every weekend during the summer at the Midtown Farmers Market located in the trendy North Hills of Raleigh, NC.

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Healthy Family Style Meals Take Center Stage

We have all been hunkered down starting back in March of 2020 with the onset of a worldwide pandemic, hibernating like bears has subsequently followed us deep into the heart of the winter of 2022. Couple the fast-spreading virus with the extreme seasonal temperatures and we have a recipe for complacency. 

Likely driven partly by fear and the desire to comfort ourselves, we remain most of the time in the safe haven of our own homes. It’s no wonder many people are suffering from a mild form of depression. That seasonal sadness typically experienced in winter used to be referred to simply as the doldrums is now magnified to epic proportions affecting our mental health in staggering numbers, all thanks to Covid.

According to a study by Kff.org “During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder. A share that has been largely consistent, up from one in ten adults who reported these symptoms from January to June 2019.”

Depression and anxiety often lead to unhealthy behaviors. Overeating, alcohol consumption, cravings, and lack of energy. As a society we are becoming lazy and who could blame us? From food to fashion, the way we go to work, school and the way we even socialize leaves us seeking out ways to comfort ourselves.

Contrary to what we may think, working and attending school from home has not helped us to break the fast food habit. According to a published fast-food industry statistic about consumerism during the 2020-2022 pandemic, we are still indulging ourselves with crispy, salty french fries and fatty sauce-laden foods. Maybe partly due to the fact that ordering a bucket of chicken, a burger or both has never been easier from your phone. Simply click that app open and you never have to move farther than your own front door. 

More often than not, when we do manage
to venture to the outside world
we tend to sit in our cars
while others serve our food to us
from the drive through window. 
Even our weekly shopping list items
are wheeled out on a cart by a grocery clerk and placed in the trunk of our cars.

Being at home more often also means we have ramped up the art of couch-potato snacking. It is easy to add up the calories while binging an entire season of the most popular show. Savvy marketers tempt us with ads for cheese puffs and M&Ms and try to deepen our addiction to junk food. This strategy is highly successful for them, just think about how many times you hit the pause button during your last binge watch to get up from the couch to fetch a snack.

Our bad food habits are not just happening on the couch or in our cars. In 2021 entertaining at home has become popular. We now have pizza and game nights, football and wings, and potluck suppers featuring big pots of stew and homemade breads. Along with that type of socialization comes the indulgence of sweet soda, beer, wine and other alcohol. All adding up to unwanted pounds.

Fashion has fed into our need to feel coddled with its everyday stretchy waisted Athleisure styles. It is perfectly acceptable to wear yoga pants on business zoom calls and even out to dinner. In the off chance that you want to wear a dress, check out the selections that designers are touting these days and all you will find are oversized frumpy prairie dresses and skirts. For men the selection is slightly better but still very relaxed. 

We love being cozy and feeling loved. The Covid fashion trends hide all those extra pounds under all the elastic waist bands and further boost our desire to feel soothed. This plays well into the fact that the only people we really interact with in person are close friends and relatives who will accept us the way we are. 

The piper will eventually have to be paid. Fashion is a cruel industry and next year it will have us all being rewarded for showing off flat abs and thin thighs. The dresses and shirts will show every curve and we will all be back in more formal clothing, if not at least business casual.

With spring fast approaching and bathing suit season to follow we do not need not panic. There is time to start making small changes that can add up to a more rewarding lifestyle even in the future. Changes that allow us to embrace the new ways of life with all its modern post pandemic conveniences. Health professionals tell us in order to shed pounds we must incorporate lower calories, higher fiber, and exercise. This means less junk, more fruit and vegetables and getting off the couch.

Get Off The Couch!

Just as in 2020 as we designated spaces for a home office and classrooms, perhaps in 2022 more of us will convert a room to a home gym. According to Forbes “The craze for home fitness technology saw some manufacturers such as Peloton do extremely well during the pandemic”. They go on to say “if CES 2022 was anything to go by, that trend shows no sign of slowing down.” Whoop, a start up fit tech company, was recently valued at 3.6 billion.

Set Up A Home Gym

As the warmer weather approaches we can expect the popularity of family time and exercise to blend, Perhaps we will see the return of local neighborhood softball leagues and kick ball games. It would be great to see children playing outdoors playing tag, jumping rope, or simply chasing fireflies while parents keep watch nearby.

Get Outside To Play

Over the past several years there has been a reinvigorated enthusiasm among men to man their grills and show off their backyard barbecue skills. NPData says “The pandemic compelled consumers to spend on grilling and outdoor cooking, as a way to gather safely, create new experiences with family, and even learn new skills, during increased time spent at home.” According to Bloomberg News, “sales of grills and smokers in the U.S. soared 41% to $3.2 billion for the 12 months ending in March 2021.” The predictions are that the backyard barbecues are here to stay. 

Gather At The Grill

When it comes to enjoying our homes more, swimming pools are the hottest home improvement and if you are thinking about installing an in-ground pool in your yard be prepared to dole out higher prices and be patient. We have heard that there is a long waiting list for pool construction.

Another popular home improvement project that we are contracting for is fenced yards. This means more playtime for our four-legged and two-legged kids. We can look forward to more games of catch or fetch and more play dates outdoors. There is little doubt we are already reinvesting in the way we live. 

According to Business Wire “The home service industry as a whole is doing quite well, cleaning, contracting and landscaping grew strong in 2021.” This may be due to some shifts in focus, working remotely, or in the realization that we just want to enjoy more time on the weekends with friends and family instead of weeding the flower beds or cleaning toilets.

Spruce Up The Back Yard 

All companies, regardless of size and or industry, have had to adapt and shift the way they do business. The biggest change for the corporate world has been that the bulk of their workforce now being based from home offices. Given the option to return to the office has been less appealing to a great deal of their employees, with many of them preferring to return to the office only a day or two a week. For some employees the return to the office at all is unacceptable and are willing to seek out employers who will offer a 100% work from home benefit.

Business travel had shifted also. Many large in-person conferences successfully morphed into either virtual or hybrid conferences. According to a survey conducted by Owl Labs, “COVID-19 has taught us that working from the office doesn’t equal productivity. With the right tools and support, people can work from anywhere. Video conferencing technology has become the standard form of communication with 60% of respondents using video more than before COVID-19, bringing new considerations for remote employees.” 

Small businesses and consultants have moved away from the meeting rooms and coffee shops and shifted to online collaboration and learning sessions. Even cooking classes are being brought to you virtually in the safety and convenience of your own home.

Take A Virtual Cooking Class

This bodes well for those who find themselves seeking out educational information around food preparation techniques. According to Smart Brief “A 2020 survey of 2,200 US consumers found that the intention to keep up with home cooking is especially strong among younger demographics, with 43% of Gen Z respondents saying they too intend to cook at home more after the pandemic is over.”

They are even more focused on the balance of mental and physical health. They tend to engage in fresh air activities and adopt exercise as a way of life. This group of savvy young professionals know that they need to provide nutritionally sound meal options for themselves and their families.

They prefer to prepare healthy snacks ahead of time that can be easily accessed. They know how to structure their grocery budgets and how to design balanced menus that stay on target financially. They understand that beyond planning meals they need to serve meals that are not only simple but also creative.

That being said, experts strongly agree that some conveniences are here to stay. The financial predictions for popular delivery services are strong into at least 2027. We can’t imagine not using an app to order all the things we need and have them sent directly to our homes. We may not ever spend hours at the grocery store again.

Convenience and fast foods will never completely go away as it serves its purpose when necessary. The future of health is food and the future of food is healthier than it’s ever been. Look at how many fast food places have quickly adopted a plant based option. 

In an article titled: How to Look After Your Health by MentalHealth.Org.UK
They cite reducing stress as one way to improve mental health, along with exercise and socialization. Finding smarter ways to take the guesswork out of what to prepare for dinner can reduce day to day anxiety. Add in more daily exercise, healthy eating habits and socialization and you have a winning recipe.

Tomorrow’s food consumer will adopt the “everything in moderation motto.” This fits nicely into everyone’s personal goals without being too restrictive. That is why planning what you will put in your body and what you will provide for your family will be the key to getting back on track. Purchasing healthy food, cooking a large variety of more sensible meals at home. 

Start Meal Prepping

Where most good intentioned eaters stumble and ultimately fall back upon poor meal habits are in the planning phase. They fail to plan and therefore plan to fail. Read our article: Why Most People Fail at Meal Prep to learn more. Having menus designed that work for your lifestyle and budget, creating shopping lists and sticking to them, meal prepping in advance to save time will curb the desire to eat for convenience.  The second area that trips people up is the inability to stick to the plan, that is where accountability to others becomes a good option. Education, planning and accountability along with exercise will help to curb bad behaviors. 

As spring fast approaches stop binge eating, try consuming fewer processed foods and increasing your outdoor activity. Meal Prep Made is a new alternative to learning how to prepare more healthy meals at home. The program works in conjunction with any popular weight management programs like WW or Noom. Take a meal prep class, join a group for accountability, and get access to pre-designed meal prep menus and automated shopping lists. You will be ready to step into the next season of 2022 with a new confidence and a pep in your step! 

 

4 Unique styles for Hosting (3)

4 Unique Styles for Hosting Over the Holidays

When it comes to holiday entertaining there are many ways to bring different groups of people together. A memorable holiday gathering leaves a lasting impression–a warm feeling of family, community filled with rambling conversations, peppered with flavors that fill the stomach as well as the soul.

Hosting a successful holiday gathering goes well beyond just the theme of Thanksgiving or Christmas. Consider who you will be entertaining, and what type of atmosphere you would like to create.

The recipe for a successful holiday gathering is very simply–a classic combination of food, people, drinks, and meaningful discussions. Food has the power to bring people together–whether you’re serving family members, business colleagues, or new friends. Every choice you make–from theme to menu to music–should center around creating this atmosphere of warmth, openness, and discussion. However, every host or hostess adds their own personal flavor to the event–a sprinkle of fun, a dash of competition, or a heaping spoonful of classic elegance.

Choose a theme by thinking about the reason for your holiday dinner party. Are you entertaining close friends, neighbors, inviting your boss or colleagues? Are you celebrating a holiday with just your relatives or a mix of family and friends?

Consider The Atmosphere You Want to Create

From there you can consider the atmosphere you’d like to create. Will this be an intimate event, or will the evening be an energetic introduction of many new acquaintances? Is this a formal dinner, or a casual gathering? Would you like your guests to feel calm and relaxed, or excited and boisterous?

The atmosphere and theme work together. Even a theme as simple as “Christmas Dinner” can be interpreted in many ways. Is it a classic, elegant, Charles Dickens-style Christmas? A Southern charm Christmas? A fun, whimsical, snow wonderland Christmas with elves and sparkles? A gingerbread and candy Christmas?

Once you’ve decided on the atmosphere you plan to create, you can begin to really narrow down your theme. Many factors can determine a theme.

1. Hosting An Eclectic Group

This is the perfect time to try out some fun finger foods. Maybe make it a pot luck of appetizers. Create a light and casual get together where people can mix and mingle, bring along their children and catch up with others. Imagine guests standing around with a signature cocktail or glasses of sparkling cider, chatting away with an assortment of finger foods and sweets. Mix up the music to appeal to everyone’s style.

2. The Formal Sit Down Dinner

Perhaps you want to dust off your grandmother’s china and host a formal dinner with napkins folded into swans and glistening holiday candles. Place guests according to their interests and hobbies so that the conversation is lively at the table. Keep in mind that this is not much fun for little ones. We are not saying don’t invite them but there was a reason Grandma sat you at the kids table.

3. Hosting Outdoors

Depending on the climate where you live, outdoors can be an amazing way to host friends and neighbors for the holidays. Perhaps you will spark up a fire pit and serve up some butternut squash soup and rustic bread.

Even if you are fortunate enough to live in a region that boasts long lovely springs and blissful autumns, you still cannot always count on Mother Nature to deliver the perfect weather, can you? Having an entertaining plan that incorporates the inside space of your home into the flow of a party can cut down on the anxiety of a pop-up storm or another unplanned unpleasant occurrence.

4. Traditional Family Dinner

Entertaining small can be wonderful. Take care not to create the atmosphere of a weeknight family meal. Make the dinner special for your intimate group. If you want to create a magical dinner for your immediate family, think about special moments in their lives that you want to honor or celebrate and turn your table settings into personalized themes with photos and mementos. You can list the years achievements like you would in a Christmas letter but instead of sharing their accomplishments with the world, share how proud you are of them at the holiday table. This can work regardless of the holiday.

Simple is still memorable

There are thousands of creative, whimsical, elegant, and classic ideas for decorating a tablescape, which can easily be found online. Sometimes just browsing through photos can help you brainstorm the perfect theme and decor for your dinner party.

However good the food, however fine the drink, and however fun the atmosphere — the highlight of a dinner party remains memorable and meaningful conversation among friends and family.

If you plan a few questions beforehand, you won’t be stuck in a rut if the conversation starts to dwindle. Deep, meaningful conversations over wine, candles, and good food — this is the stuff memorable dinner parties are made of.

Your holiday dinner should be as distinct and unique as you. The games, atmosphere, themes, and menu should reflect who you are. Likewise, a host or hostess shouldn’t have to stress out; a dinner doesn’t have to be complex to be amazing. Remember: All of the lace, flowers, and candles on earth won’t make a holiday memorable–at the end, what everyone remember most are how they felt, the people they connected with and conversations.

All of the lace, flowers, and candles on earth won’t make a holiday memorable–at the end what everyone remember most are how they felt, the people they connected with and the conversations.

Cheers. Here’s to creating an unforgettable holiday lasting happy memories.

dreamstime_s_91281269

Holiday Entertaining Check List

santa reading list

Make The List – Check it Twice!

Starting from the beginning with a well thought out entertaining plan will determine everything from your menu to your choice of music.

Once you’ve determined your menu, take a few moments to write down each and every ingredient you’ll need for each course. Any event planner or caterer will tell you – staying organized is key! You’ve got a lot of things to think about: cooking, decorating, invitations, seating arrangements, games. It’ll be far easier and less stressful if you take a deep breath and take the time to organize. The last thing you want is to run back to the grocery store two or three times because you forgot a small ingredient!

On a separate document, make a list of every decor item you need. Put a checkmark next to any items you already own.

Most event coordinators will tell you: Begin planning early. Give yourself at least a month to plan. Here’s a simple checklist of your timeline for planning a dinner party.

A Month Before Your Event

  • Check Pinterest for unique themes
  • Brainstorm desired atmosphere and decor items
  • Create guest list
  • Begin planning menu

Three Weeks Before Your Event

  • Design and send invitations
  • Determine theme
  • Create a shopping list of required decor items
  • Begin shopping for decorations

Two Weeks Before Your Event

  • Guests RSVP; finalize the list of attendees
  • Check dietary needs for guests
  • Create seating arrangements
  • Finalize menu
  • Create a shopping list for ingredients

One Week Before Your Event

  • Choose music; begin creating a playlist
  • Create name cards if needed
  • Create ice-breaker question cards if needed
  • Deep clean house – Baseboards, lighting fixtures, etc.

Three Days Before Your Event

  • Use finalized shopping list; buy ingredients
  • Purchase alcoholic beverages – wine, champagne, beer, or cocktail mixes.
  • Purchase bottle-openers and corkscrews for opening wine.

The Day Before Your Event

  • Prepare as much of the menu as you can, so you can easily heat and serve the next day.
  • Trash out, restrooms clean
  • Begin decorating and laying out centerpieces, tablecloths, candles, flowers.
  • Hook-up playlist to make sure music plays
  • Go ahead and set your table as much as possible — one less thing to worry about tomorrow.

The Day Of Your Event

  • Prepare any remaining menu items
  • Warm-up previously-prepared foods
  • Layout hors-d’oeuvres and drinks for cocktail hour
  • Arrange all dishes for the prepared courses in the order you’ll need to serve them
  • Set the mood by lighting candles, turning on your playlist, and staging your home for guests.
  • Finally, get dressed for your holiday gathering
reading a book by a fire

Ideally, all of this early-preparation will leave very little work for you to do on the actual day of your holiday gathering. Be sure to take some time for yourself. Drink a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, and take a few moments to enjoy your space before your guests arrive.

Food Safety

5 Thanksgiving Food Safety Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Turkey cooking mistakes

properly thaw frozen turkey
Mistake #1 – Not Properly Thawing Frozen Turkey

When it comes to thawing the bird- the key is to think ahead.

  • How many pounds do you have?
  • How many days will you be required to leave it in the refrigerator to reach its thawing point?

The dangerous mistake occurs when the turkey is not thawed in the refrigerator. Never thaw on the counter or just sitting in a sink full of water.
The FDA guideline states frozen food of any kind should only be thawed in one of 3 ways:

  • In the refrigerator
  • Under continuous running cold water
  • In the microwave. (If food is thawed in the microwave it must be cooked immediately.)

Thankfully Butterball has a calculator that will help you plan

  • How much turkey you need by weight
  • How long to thaw a frozen turkey by the pound
  • How long your cook time will be
Undercooking the Turkey
Mistake #2 – Undercooking the Turkey

Cooking a turkey can be a daunting task if you have never done so. Be sure to remove all of the innards and the neck which will be tucked inside. You can use them to make a stock for the gravy.

The danger lies in the internal cooking temperature of the turkey. Turkey is considered poultry and the FDA urges that all poultry must be cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Make sure you have tested your food thermometer. Keep it handy and check various parts of the bird. It is not done until every area you insert the thermometer in reads at least 165 degrees F. To test the accuracy of your thermometer you can place it in a glass of ice water for thirty seconds. If it reads 32 degrees F your device passes the test.

Properly reheating side dishes

Reheat the Side Dishes to the Correct Temperature
Mistake #3 – Not Reheating the Side Dishes to the Correct Temperature

Most people will make at least a few of the Thanksgiving side dishes ahead of time. This makes perfect sense considering how much cooking is involved.

Where this can become dangerous is assuming that since a side dish was once cooked properly it can be served with just the chill removed. All ready-to-heat food is required to be heated until an internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

The reason you must reheat to an internal temperature of 165 F is that bacteria grow very rapidly as food passes through what is called the temperature danger zone.

The temperature range for the danger zone is 40F-140 degrees F. These little bacteria can make someone very ill. Especially when it comes to children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone who may be immunocompromised. Think about who might be sitting at your table this holiday season and use your thermometer to check temps as you reheat the side dishes.

Properly refrigerating food sooner than later

Leaving Food Sit Out Hours After Serving
Mistake #4 – Do Not Leave Food Sit Out Hours After Serving

Many people have a sit-down family-style meal where everyone passes each delicious dish one at a time. Other households prefer to serve a wonderful buffet-style meal in which everyone makes a plate from a central location and carries their Thanksgiving dinner to their own seat. 

Regardless of how you prefer to dine, food-safety should still be top of mind.

Remember the old days where children were always instructed to wash their hands before dinner? This is still a great idea, in fact, in a post-pandemic world, everyone should wash their hands before sharing serving utensils. You as the cook should be washing in between touching each food item.

When it comes to serving your Thanksgiving feast the biggest rule of thumb is to not let any of the food sit out for more than two- hours. Once everyone has had time to eat, pack up the food, and get it in the refrigerator. If it is still hot or warm, simply divide it into smaller containers.

Mishandling of the Thanksgiving Leftovers
Mistake #5 – The Mishandling of the Thanksgiving Leftovers

Packing food in small containers with leftovers in them makes sense on so many levels.

  • If you are packing that leftover turkey stuffing and gravy into single-use disposable containers, your wonderful Thanksgiving leftovers can be offered to your guests as they leave.
  • If the containers are reheatable, you can portion out some ready-to-go meals for your family too.

    In the long run, this is the most efficient way to eat all the lovely thanksgiving food items in a timely manner. We live by the food-safety 3-day rule. By Sunday night all the leftovers must be frozen or thrown out. Make sure you follow the food safety rules of reheating foods to 165 degrees F also. Yes, you can eat the turkey meat cold, but if want some mashed potatoes and gravy or mac and cheese, remember to use the thermometer.

When it comes to food safety, you really cannot pick and choose. Bacteria and viruses are part of the world around us. We must learn to live with them and use the knowledge at hand to protect those around us.

As the cook and or the host of a meal, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have properly warded off the potential spread of viruses and properly killed off any bacteria that can potentially make you or someone you love ill. Having a happy holiday season starts with being healthy.

Remember: thaw food properly, cook poultry to 165 degrees F, reheat foods to 165 degrees F, refrigerate leftovers within two hours, freeze or discard leftovers after three days and wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.

Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!
To learn more about safe and healthy meal prep visit our site at Meal Prep Made.

Holiday Blunders (3)

10 Holiday Entertaining Blunders

We have all encountered one or all of these situations at one time. We have provided not only the hosting faux pas but the tips to ensure that when it’s your turn to entertain, you will be able to navigate the hosting of your party with ease and avoid these all too common entertaining blunders.


1. A Flurry of Confusion


The hosts are still preparing food an hour after the party started. No one knows where to place their gifts or leave their coats. Guests are scrambling through kitchen drawers looking for a wine opener.

Tip: As hosts of a party, being prepared and on time is can be challenging. Your guests deserve to enter a well planned environment. Make a list of everything you need to do to prepare and utilize t time management skills. We have written an article that can help Holiday Entertaining Checklist.

2. The Snooze Fest


A formal holiday dinner party where you were seated for the next two hours alongside a guest you have absolutely nothing in common with.

Tip: When planning out the seating arrangement at a dinner party, make sure you seat people with like interests together. As the host it is your job to keep the conversations moving, Always be scanning the table for lulls in the conversation and find a commonality for people.

3. Menu Snafu

You leave a party hungry.

Tip There are many people with dietary restrictions. Make sure you are aware of allergies or known food sensitivities prior to planning your menu. Make sure there is enough food for the amount of guests. It is always better to have more than less.

4. Sporting of the Lampshade

You arrive to find earlier guests or worse, the hosts already well on their way to feeling no pain

Tip: Start a party off with less alcohol by offering a spritzer in lieu of a glass of wine. A light beer instead of a 10 % stout, or a punch with light alcohol rather than a shot.

5. The Glass House

You were told it was okay to bring your small children to the party only to find precious antiques placed all over the house at their eye level.

Tip: As the hosts, you do not have to redecorate your entire home but do place precious items above the reach of very small children. Make sure they do not have access to anything that can be harmful to themselves such as cleaning supplies, sharp objects or medicines.

6. The House is a Mess

You’re not sure what has happened, however it is apparent that the house keeper has not visited in sometime.

Tip: Cleaning over several days before your party is an easy way to ensure that you will have time for tidying up your home the day of your event. If you have clean laundry that is not going to be folded, tuck it away in a closet. No one wants to look at a pile of your undergarments while nibbling on an appetizer.

7. The “I Am Too Stuffy” Party

Pretentious people stand around in their own cliques while you try to fit in with small talk about the caviar.

Tip: In business situations, this can not always be avoided. But when hosting, it’s your job to match up the guest list appropriately.

8. The Uncomfortable Family Drama

You are forced to listen to Uncle Joe and his half-sister publicly air their respective families past grievances.

Tip: When putting together a guest list, sometimes you may not have a choice but to invite certain relatives. However, try to mitigate the drama by structuring a less formal seating arrangement.

9. Who left the dog out?

Fido is running amuck and jumping on everyone who had food in their hands.

Tip: Pets are great, but not always at your holiday party. Some well-meaning people do not understand that they should not feed your four legged friends. Accidentally dropped party food or spilled alcohol can be poisonous to pets.

10. Hosting if someone in your home is ill.

Tip: After all the world has been through since 2020 we should all know better. If someone becomes ill, it is better to contact all your invited guests to let them know you must cancel or postpone your festivities. It is never in good form to share an illness with guests.

dreamstime_s_50583022

The Tablescape Contest

Knowing that the holidays would soon be upon us, we asked the members of our Love of Food Facebook group to share their beautiful table settings and participate in a contest. These are some of the photos that are being considered for our contest. We have named each one in the caption under its photo.

If you would like to vote for your favorite, visit our Facebook Group using the link above. The contest will be pinned in the group until Dec 25th when the winner will be announced.

THE AUTUMN LEAVES TABLE
THE REINDEER TABLE
THE DINNER OF THE DEAD TABLE
THE GILDAD BUTTERFLY TABLE
THE RED GLASS TABLE
THE BLACK WHITE AND RED TABLE
THE BIRDS NEST TABLE
THE CHRISTMAS BUFFET

4 Unique styles for Hosting

Holiday Table Setting Tips

When it comes to creating, serving, and showcasing food, the choices are limitless. From setting the tone for a fun party to a formal dinner, and everything in between. All you need is a little creativity, some dinnerware, table cloths, glassware, and holiday decor. A theme will make your food stand out and set the right mood for a memorable holiday meal.

Designing Your Holiday Table- Where Should You Begin?

Many times people shy away from entertaining because the idea of having to set up an extravagant table appears like a daunting task. But it does not have to be hard. The key is starting a week or two ahead of time and follow these simple steps.

1. Elegance or Fun

The first rule of thumb is to decide is who will be in attendance? Perhaps your guest list includes your very traditional mother in law, and or your new boss. If this is the case, the answer is simple. You should shoot for elegance above all else. If it’s a group of close friends and neighbors you may want to decide on a fun theme.

There can however be extenuating circumstances once you take your guest list into consideration. Can you have both? The answer is kind of… yes.

Case in point; this Thanksgiving we have little ones attending. While we still all want everyone to feel as if they were being treated to a wonderful meal, we had to consider spills, drips, table bumps and busy hands. We opted to ditch the formality but weave in a sprinkle of elegance. While our tables will not be magazine cover worthy and as fancy as previous years, we are blessed to have children in our lives.

Grandmother’s antique platters will not make their appearance. We will skip the tall candles and the decorative glass votives. Low profile decor that is more stable will dawn our table. The crystal long-stemmed wine glasses that can tip too easily will be replaced with stemless options. Instead of the fancy table cloths, our tables will be draped with cloths that will be no worse for their wear if/when they get spilled upon.

Our tables will still be quite festive, and have a hint of elegance but are more approachable for all the guests. The parents of the little ones will feel more relaxed, as will we, as the hosts. Here are some of the designs we plan to use.

The most important part of creating this sacred space where we will partake of our Thanksgiving meal is that each and everyone seated at the dining table is made to feel comfortable.

Now that you have considered who will be attending, what do you do next?

2. Select A Signature Piece and Build Around It

Start with one signature piece for inspiration that will help define the theme of your design, Sometimes it can be a fantastic dinner plate.

It does not always have to be the dinnerware that is your muse. We found this rooster placemat and decided the theme would be farm/country. From there we were able to gather pieces, gift bags and really hone in on the details. Fresh vegetables were even part of the decor.

Once we hosted a birthday dinner for a girlfriend from Texas and that gave us the idea of a fun cowgirl theme. The inspiration for this, believe it or not, was not the hat but the cute little checkered pigs we found at a craft store.

3. You Do Not Have to Break The Bank Creating a Centerpiece

Beautiful tables can be made from Items you source just about anywhere. These beautiful flowers are from a Crepe Myrtle tree located in our neighborhood. Tall weeds were growing around them so they were added for greenery. You can also find sticks or Cat N Nine tails. Even wheat grass can be a great way to add color and dimension to your tablescape. Just be sure to spray anything before coming in from the outside with a solution of dish soap and water to remove any insects hiding in tiny crevices.

4. Secret Dollar Store Finds

This past Halloween, we were challenged to set a great table using mostly Dollar Store finds. We hosted a dinner and a brunch using the same items. It was the best 15 dollars we ever spent. Storing these items does not make sense for our space, so the next day we packed it all up and made a donation to the local thrift store.

Thrift stores can be a great place to find pieces that you can use for your dinner parties. One time we hosted a birthday dinner for a friend who happens to really like the color blue. We found some pretty blue glassware sitting on the store shelves just begging for us to take it home. We made a small donation to a good cause and made our friend smile when she saw her favorite color proudly displayed on her table. When the party was over we gave her all the glassware to keep.

Thrifting is only one of the ways to have fun with your tablescapes. We know some of you cringe at the thought of using someone else’s dishes, but if you think about it you do this each time you dine out. Yes, it would be nice to walk into Sur La Table or Pottery Barn and purchase everything showcased, but unless your last name is Rockefeller, that kind of expenditure for each and every holiday is not sustainable. We even set our Christmas table with pretty red snowflake plates that we found in a box at a local thrift store. This year we donated them back to the same store. That is good example of re-use.

5. Incorporate and Repurpose Already Owned Pieces

You do not have to purchase dinnerware and decorative items for every holiday. The best way to make the most of pieces you love and a table look different is to repurpose them.

For the Halloween tables shown previously we repurposed everything and transformed the dinner table to a buffet. The tree in the middle of the table is an old jewelry tree that we found on clearance at Kirklands. This tree will make its reappearance on our Christmas table. Instead of spooky bats and orange lights it will sparkle with white lights and hold little ornaments. Perhaps it will be repurposed again at Easter where it can drip with pastel colored ribbons and dangle little eggs. One piece repurposed over and over.

Your table is your canvass to create on.

  • Think of it as a piece of art
  • Find your muse for inspiration
  • Follow the tips that we have provided

It does not matter if you will have lots of company or just an intimate holiday dinner. Like a Broadway production, a well staged table allows your food to shine as the star of the show. You and your guest will be seated in the front row. Your holiday dinner table is the vehicle for meaningful dialogue, laughs, and entertainment. Like a well written play the storyline of your dinner may be cherished for many years to come.

We hope you have found some creative inspiration and clear direction on getting started. To see more beautifully dressed tables you can preview of the submissions from our table scape contest on our Facebook Group Page.

Copy of Salmon

Grilled Salmon w Homemade Herb Butter

Salmon has long been one of my favorite seafood options. Summertime is an especially great time to enjoy seafood of any kind. It’s light, great for you, and super easy to prepare. U.S. dietary guidelines recommend we eat at least two servings of fish a week. It’s also loaded with heart-healthy, brain-boosting omega-3 fats.

I used to purchase the bag of frozen salmon fillets found in many grocery stores. Being a mom of two, it was easier because I was able to make them last for a longer amount of time.  I always baked them in the oven with a pat of butter on top with some salt and pepper. However, they never seemed to come out perfectly fork-tender and the seasoning was always watered down. I thought this was just as good as it would get!

Time for a change! I decided one day to be BOLD and try something new. What about using the GRILL? I made my husband use it frequently to grill chicken and steak. I can do this too!

Summertime was the perfect time to experiment this way – as we all try to use the oven as little as possible. It warms up the house and makes us feel hotter than need be – it’s already hot enough outside! 

Being the nutrition and foodie nerd that I am, I started to do some research.

It was time to start purchasing raw salmon fillets. Our lives were changed!

The two most popular types of salmon that you may see available in your local grocery store are Atlantic and Alaskan (sockeye). Atlantic salmon is a larger pale orange version that is usually more oily with a thick flesh and mild flavor. The Alaskan salmon has a deeper red color, is thinner, and has more of a rich taste. 

I find the Atlantic salmon to be a better crowd-pleaser – for kids and adults alike. Find a nice fillet with the skin still on! My favorite places to find this type of salmon are Wegmans and Lidl. I can usually get 4 to 6 two-inch-wide portions out of a large fillet. 

I knew any recipe I created needed to be LIGHT and FRESH. I also learned how hot to keep the grill, when to flip the fish, and just how much butter to add to get a great flavor. (Hint: it’s a lot of butter. Yum!)

Check out the recipe for my Grilled Salmon with Homemade Herb Butter below. I also have some tips to ensure you have great results!

3lb Atlantic Salmon Fillet, skin on, cut in two-inch-wide portions

½ stick of plant-based butter, softened (sub with your favorite cow’s milk butter option if desired)

2 tbsp fresh dill, minced

2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

Fire up the grill, setting it on medium-high heat, and allow it to reach temperature. 

Mince the fresh dill and parsley and mix it into your softened butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Once the grill is heated up, spray the grates liberally with cooking spray. I use a plant-based grill spray. [Use your favorite option – or simply whatever you have on hand! Please be careful as some spray oils may cause the fire to inflame quickly! Keep a safe distance when spraying!]

Slather some of the butter onto the flesh side of the salmon portions. Put the salmon on the grill FLESH side down first! 

Cover and let cook for about 5 minutes. Wait to flip onto the skin side until the salmon has cooked through about 2/3rds of the way. 

If the grill is hot enough, the flesh should NOT stick to the grates when you go to flip it over. Flip the salmon over onto it’s skin side and grill until cooked through. The center will be fork tender and no longer bright pink. 

Lather with more butter as it is finishing on the grill and add even MORE when you’ve pulled it off the grill. More butter is BETTER, duh. 

Pair it with some fresh grilled veggies – tips to come in a later post – and a nice glass of white wine! Enjoy!

4

Cake For a Heartbreak

Ever the pragmatist, I don’t bake a cake unless there is a reason to bake one; a celebration of some variety. When I dumped on my career coach a trifecta of recent heartaches, he told me to bake a cake today. I thought, yeah right I don’t need those unnecessary calories hanging around, and there is no celebration to think of. But I have shared with him my sometimes closeted obsession with food and making it better, more pure, more clean; flavor that doesn’t mingle with commercialized chemicals, spices that tickle your tongue just to remind your senses they are alive and well. Finding and creating food in a way that God intended our bodies to be nourished, not necessarily something that the mainstream food industry finds beneficial to their bottom line. He’s been right about other things, so I put on my favorite music and baked a cake!

The heartbreak trifecta, as I will endearingly call it, came mostly unexpectedly. I found out on one day that my new job would not have room in their budget for me next quarter, as much as they had hoped to keep me on. The next day, the veterinarian called me to have a very candid conversation with me that I should prepare myself to say goodbye to my dog sooner rather than later. And then through a series of events, I realized that this sweet man I had been dating, and myself are on different paths. In the most agonizing leg of the heartbreak trifecta, I had to say goodbye to him and his arms that have felt like home since I first met him four years ago. A couple of weeks ago, I had a great job, was oblivious to the severity of my aging canine friend, and had a boyfriend that I loved and was talking seriously about a future with.

“Bake a cake, Caroline.” No, “bake it and they will come” prophesy; simply bake it, because you enjoy it. My body and heart wants to crawl into bed and go through iterations of trying to read something uplifting, crying my eyes out, mindlessly staring out the window, read, cry, stare, read, cry, stare until the day passes and the proximity of heartache diminishes little by little. I can be a bit melodramatic, but sincere all the same. 😉

When my heart hurts, I become nostalgic. I crave familiarity, a warm place. The apple cake recipe came from my Grandma Hardy’s friend, Edna Golan; hailed from the 60s, when I was barely a twinkle in my mom’s eye. I remember my dad, who adored his inlaws, also loved this cake. You’re supposed to chop up the apples and allow them to brown. Why brown? I am not sure, but I do believe a little bit of wear and tear adds character to all good things, so while I could research the reason, I would rather believe this cake has a little bit of character baked into it. And as the smell of it’s homey comfort wafts through the oven doors, I am certain that is true.

I’ve moved around so much in my life that home isn’t a place for me. Home is an idea, a familiarity, a feeling. I remember the first and subsequent times I held hands with this man, and it felt like coming home. Have two hands ever fit so perfectly together? We watched the sunrise on Emerald Isle, and when I looked over at him, trying to make sense of him all those years ago, I felt certain that we had a long story ahead. I am missing home.

In a tangible home, we add trinkets and pieces of furniture, remove what no longer serves us, and yet it is still home. The idea of home, is no different. Every place I have lived, every person I have met has added to my home, or been sent off with a piece that I no longer need but perhaps serves them. That is the beauty of a transitory idea of home, it can exist anywhere, in any environment; and it thrives in plenty and in austerity because it flows from the heart and is not confined to brick and mortar.

The apple cake recipe is a piece of home to me, but I have made it my own like many things in my home; I have added more spices, because who doesn’t like a little, “hmm what is that? I like that!” surprise. Zee spice of life! My home consists of pieces of homes from the past, some from families that were not my own, but showed me that blood ties don’t hold a candle next to love ties. The beauty of home as an idea, is that I can meld it into my aspirations for a legacy that I want to leave behind. I can take pieces from what I have seen in thriving homes, and make it mine, exponentially growing and passing on the gifts of love given to me, letting go of the pieces that do not serve my hopes and dreams. The recipes that I tweak are no different. I take something already great, and I make it my own, I put my stamp on it; and sometimes it flops, sometimes it is just okay, but other times, it is amazing!

I can’t say that I am terribly sad about being cut from the budget in my new job, that’s a piece I will comfortably concede. The precious pieces we give up, those are harder. Days ahead, all too soon, will lack a goofy sweet friend who has seen me through some of my darkest days. His quirky idiosyncrasies, I will mourn their absence and every other dog will have to live up to his legacy. I will ache for strong arms that held me while we spoke of a beautiful future together. I will miss the lightness I found laughing until it hurt, basking in the smile that so clearly held love and warmth for me. Those are pieces of home I mournfully pass on. But the celebration is in having held them, even for a moment. To have been honored to give and hold love, is one of the greatest gifts of life. To have the capacity to love, and to put it into action, that is a celebration. So, I baked a cake and put a little love in it.

Get The Recipe

Wake Forest

Foraging in the “Forest”

We are not suggesting that you seek and hunt your dinner in the woods. We are suggesting that sourcing food regionally makes more sense. We live near Wake Forest, NC, and prefer to forage at the Wake Forest Farmer’s Market.

About Wake Forest

Home to approximately 50,000 people and growing, this busy suburb of Raleigh, NC receives many accolades as one of the best places to live. Its gorgeous parks and recreational facilities are fantastic along with a thriving downtown community.

The History of The Name

According to the Town of Wake Forest, Wake County was created in 1771 from parts of Johnston, Cumberland, and Orange counties, and was named in honor of Margaret Wake Tryon, the wife of the then royal governor, William Tryon. In 1805 this area was designated as the Forest District, largely for the widespread forest in the area north of the Neuse River. Mostly hardwoods but some softwoods including longleaf pine. The area was also sometimes referred to as the Forest of Wake.

The Wake Forest Farmers Market

The Wake Forest Farmer’s Market is an undiscovered treasure for many of its 50,000 (approx.) residents. It is a non-profit association dedicated to educating the community about the value of local farms and the importance of local food systems. The market operates year-round, regardless of the weather. They are open 8-noon April Through October and 10 till noon November-March

The non-profit bylaws state that in order to participate the vendors must be within 75 miles of Wake Forest. The current vendors own, operate, and fund the market. Part of the appeal for many of the vendors is that they do not have to travel too far each Saturday morning to bring their goods to market. Many of the participating farms are situated in the small neighboring towns boarding Wake Forest.

Watch A Quick Tour Through The Wake Forest Farmers Market

Vendors such as Bob and Ginger Sykes who own Turtle Mist Farm. in nearby Franklinton. According to a paper written by NCSU, they purchased the land which used to be an agricultural amusement park called Arkland, “

We recently stumbled upon a local Facebook group called Franklinton NC- Reminiscing. A member’s post described that when the property was Arkland you could take out paddle boats on the lake and other fun types of agricultural amusements. The biggest surprise from this post was to learn lots of famous entertainers performed there over the years. Some of those entertainers were Conway Twitty, Ricky Scags, Mickey Gilly, and Charlie Daniels to name a few. Years later the property also hosted bull riding rodeos.

Photo Courtesy of Judy Fergerson
Photo Courtesy of Judy Fergerson

Today Bob and Ginger use the farm to share their love of nature with others and to teach children where their food comes from. They raise several varieties of sheep and chickens, along with geese, turkeys, pheasants, quail, and pigs. They offer a guest house for rent and have the facilities to host events for parties, company picnics, or even wedding receptions.

Not all of the farms are structured for entertainment. Some of the other farmers who participate in the market prefer to lead a much simpler life. The owners of Gabie’s Garden Vegetables, a small family-owned produce farm told us they do not own a computer or a cell phone. All of their produce is grown without synthetic pesticides or herbicides.

Farming is a family business, meaning that the children participate in the work on the farm from a young age. Since colonial times children tended animals and weeded gardens. The young ones at Many Hands Farm in Louisburg, NC perform farm chores to contribute to the family business. We have been enjoying their carrots, and microgreens made from sunflowers and radishes.

The selection at the Wake Forest farmers market is phenomenal. We prefer it for many reasons; it is local, we can get everything we need, and try something new. We also like to shop here because it is not a huge market. We can walk through in less than an hour and still have the rest of our Saturday. Due to the smaller footprint, we can take the time to visit the vendors without being overwhelmed. It is a friendly and welcoming market.

Participation at the Wake Forest Farmer’s Market can be as a member or as a guest. If you are a seasonal vendor like the Kalawi Farm who grows peaches on their farm, being a guest offers them an opportunity to participate to sell their wonderful peaches and peach ice cream. We had some the day of our visit and it was yummy!

Speaking of Yummy. There is a Farmer’s Market member whose business is called Yummies. She has won awards for her jams at the North Carolina State Fair. The day we went our friend Kathleen enjoyed her chocolate chip cookie.

If sweets are not your thing, don’t worry there is a vendor who sells items that are more savory in nature. Woody and earthy mushrooms. Yes, this is an artsy mushroom company called Shrooms 2 Grow. At their booth, you can find exotic mushrooms, fun tie-dyed tee shirts as well as painted gourds.

If you fancy the taste of sweet and savory then you need to look no further than at the folks at Jammin All Day Long, A newer addition to the Market. The husband and wife team Kelsey and Teresa make sweet treats, jams, and spice rubs. He competes in local barbecue competitions using his spice rubs. We had the opportunity to try his Caribbean jerk spice on some chicken wings and it was fantastic.

When it comes to husband and wife teams at the Wake Forest Farmers Market there is not a sweeter couple than this one, Robert and Michelle. The owners of Lee’s Hill Top Farm in Oxford, NC. Just stopping by their booth you feel the love. They sell fresh produce and meat. Their meats are all-natural and pasture-raised. We have been buying their ground pork for our egg roll stir fry recipe and it is the best!

If you like all natural products for your skin then The Moon Dance Soap and Sundry booth has got you covered. Since trying their soap, I have given up on store made soaps.

The Wake Forest Farmers Market is a gem! You can listen to some amazing music being played as you shop. Musicians like Loos Change, Cheryl Cleveland, Alice Osborn, and Mister Felix have all entertained here.

We highly recommend taking an hour out of your busy Saturday to enjoy all that The Wake Forest Farmer’s Market has to offer. Located at 235 South Taylor Street in Wake Forest, NC.