Make at Home Chicken Nuggets - Pan Fry

Make At Home Chicken Nuggets- Pan Fry

Make at Home Chicken Nuggets - Pan Fry

Who doesn't love a chicken nugget? They seem so small and fun to eat and dip. Making them at home is so budget friendly. From a single chicken breast you can yield a dozen nuggets!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Snack
Cuisine American, kids
Servings 3
Calories 381 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Food Processor
  • 4 Medium Bowls One for egg, one for flour, one for bread crumb, one for water
  • 1 Mixing Bowl For the chicken
  • 1 frying pan
  • 1 Spatula for mixing
  • 1 Spatula for frying
  • Measuring Cups

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Chicken Breast
  • 2.5 Tbsp Instant Potato
  • 1/4 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 Tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/8 Tsp Thyme
  • 1/2 Cup Flour
  • 3/4 Cup Bread Crumb
  • 1 Ea Egg
  • 1/2 Cup Oil for Pan Fry 200

Instructions
 

  • Line a cookie sheet or platter with wax paper or plastic wrap
  • Line a plate with a paper towel or two
  • Add the chicken breast to the food processor and pulse until ground
  • Using the spatula scoop the ground chicken into the mixing bowl
  • Add the spices to the chicken
  • Whisk the egg If you are using a small egg add a tablespoon of water
  • Using your hands form a small ball and flatten to a nugget shape
  • Dip the nugget into flour, then egg, then, breadcrumbs
  • Place on lined cookie sheet or lined platter
  • Heat the cooking oil over medium heat
  • Once the oil is at 350 degrees carefully place the first 6 nuggets do not crowd the pan
  • Flip the nuggets to maintain desired level of browning and even heating
  • Once they have reached 165 F internal temperature at the thickest point remove to the paper towel lined plate
  • Place on a paper towel lined plate to drain

Video

Notes

Calories do not include dipping sauce
If you are watching calories you may want to check out the nutrition information and opt for the air-fried version of this recipe or forgo the dipping sauce. Also note: 1 chicken breast makes approximately 12 nuggets so serving size is approximately 4 nuggets. 
Now we know why this is typically only served to small children- 4 nuggets may not be enough for an adult serving.  
While the takeout version from a famous fast food restaurant boasts fewer calories it also contains about half of the protein. Our version has more carbs due to the potato flakes. More protein and more carbs makes ours more filling. Think of it like skipping the fries
If calories are not a concern by all means up the serving size, dip away, and enjoy! 

Nutrition

Calories: 381kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 23gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 299mgPotassium: 497mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 3mg
Keyword after school, budget, Dinner, family, freezer meal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Make at Home Chicken Nuggets - Air Fry

Make At Home Chicken Nuggets – Air Fry

Make at Home Chicken Nuggets - Air Fry

Who doesn't love a chicken nugget? They seem so small and fun to eat and dip. Making them at home is so budget friendly. From a single chicken breast you can yield a dozen nuggets!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Snack
Cuisine American, kids
Servings 3
Calories 314 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Food Processor
  • 4 Medium Bowls One for egg, one for flour, one for bread crumb, one for water
  • 1 Mixing Bowl For the chicken
  • 1 frying pan
  • 1 Spatula for mixing
  • 1 Spatula for frying
  • Measuring Cups

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Chicken Breast
  • 2.5 Tbsp Instant Potato
  • 1/4 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 Tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/8 Tsp Thyme
  • 1/2 Cup Flour
  • 3/4 Cup Bread Crumb
  • 1 Ea Egg

Instructions
 

  • Line a cookie sheet or platter with wax paper or plastic wrap
  • Whisk the egg If you are using a small egg add a tablespoon of water
  • Add the chicken breast to the food processor and pulse until ground
  • Using the spatula scoop the ground chicken into the mixing bowl
  • Add the spices to the chicken
  • Using your hands form a small ball and flatten to a nugget shape
  • Dip the nugget into flour, then egg, then, breadcrumbs
  • Place on lined cookie sheet or lined platter
  • Place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or place in freezer if planning to bag for another time.
  • Set Temp on air fryer on 390 or 400 depending on your fryer
  • Spray both sides of the nuggets with cooking spray
  • Place nuggets in air fryer basket for 13 -15 minutes flipping them halfway
  • Once they have reached 165 F internal temperature at the thickest point remove

Video

Notes

Calories do not include dipping sauce. 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 4eaCalories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 23gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 299mgPotassium: 497mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 3mg
Keyword after school, budget, Dinner, family, freezer meal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Quinoa-

How to Make Quinoa

Quinoa

Love Of Food
Quinoa is a seed that comes from the goosefoot plant. It is a considered an ancient grain that originated in Peru. While it is considered a whole grain carbohydrate, Quinoa is gluten free, high in fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and has beneficial antioxidants. It is a healthy delicious carb that is simple to make and versatile to work with. You can use it as a side dish, add vegetables and make it the star of the meal, add it to soups or serve it in place of oatmeal for breakfast. Quinoa can be served savory or sweet.
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Course Side Dish
Servings 6
Calories 209 kcal

Equipment

  • Fine Mesh Strainer
  • Sauce Pan w Lid

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Cups Quinoa
  • 4 Cups Water
  • 1/4 Tsp Salt

Instructions
 

  • Place quinoa in the fine mesh strainer
  • Rinse the quinoa for 3-4 minutes in cool running water
  • Add to the sauce pan
  • Add the water and salt
  • Cook on a high heat with the lid off of the pan and turn down heat as it begins to boil
  • Simmer the quinoa and lower heat as needed to keep at a slow simmer
  • Stir occasionally
  • Once the water has been absorbed into the quinoa turn off the heat and put the lid on the pan
  • let it rest for 5 minutes

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 8gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 108mgPotassium: 319mgFiber: 4gVitamin A: 8IUCalcium: 31mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How to Make Jasmine Rice

Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice is a long grain rice. It is more fragrant than some of the other long grain rices and we prefer to use it in most of the Asian dishes we prepare. It can be made and stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Never let rice sit outside of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4
Calories 225 kcal

Equipment

  • Sauce Pan w Cover
  • Fine Mesh Strainer

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Cup Jasmine Rice
  • 1/4 Tsp Salt
  • 2 Cups Water

Instructions
 

  • Measure 1 Cup of Rice
  • Add the rice to the fine mesh strainer
  • Rinse the rice in cold water
  • Until the water runs clear
  • Add the rice to the sauce pan and add the salt
  • Add the water to the sauce pan
  • Turn the heat to a high flame
  • Until the rice begins to boil
  • Lower the heat to its lowest setting
  • Cover the rice
  • After 10 minutes all the water should be absorbed by the rice
  • Remove from heat
  • Leave the cover on the pan
  • Let it rest for 5-10 minutes it will continue to steam
  • Remove the cover and fluff with a fork
  • If you are not serving the rice remove it from the pan to a sheet pan to cool for 5 -10 minutes Store in small multiple small containers. Do not let rice sit out
  • Cover the containers and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5CupCalories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 107mgPotassium: 71mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Jammy Egg

How to Make a Jammy Egg

Jammy Egg

I love a Jammy Egg it is so versatile that it can be added to just about any meal.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 3
Calories 63 kcal

Equipment

  • Sauce Pan
  • Bowl for Ice Water
  • Plastic Slotted Spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Eggs
  • 3 Cups Water

Instructions
 

  • Add the water to the pot
  • Bring to a boil
  • Carefully add the eggs into the boiling water with the plastic slotted spoon
  • Lower the heat to reduce to a true simmer
  • Set a timer to 7 minutes
  • Simmer for 7 minutes
  • Fill a bowl halfway with ice and add water leaving room for the eggs
  • When eggs are done remove with the plastic slotted spoon and place into the ice water
  • Peel and eat or save in the fridge until ready to use

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 63kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 74mgPotassium: 61mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 238IUCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
Keyword easy, egg, protein
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
egg

How to Make A Hard Boiled Egg

Hard Boiled Eggs

Eggs should be a regular staple on your weekly meal prep menu. They are healthy, versatile, and simple to make. Eggs are a budget buster for all that they have to offer in the way of protein and other goodness.
Prep Time 4 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Breakfast, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 126 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Sauce Pan
  • 1 Slotted Spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Eggs
  • Water

Instructions
 

  • Fill a sauce pan with water and bring it to a boil on high heat
  • Add the eggs one at a time using a plastic slotted spoon
  • Turn down the flame so that the eggs a rolling slowly in the water
  • Cook for 11-12 minutes depending on the size of the eggs
  • Remove the eggs and place into an ice bath
  • To peel the eggs tap each side on a paper towel placed on a hard surface
  • Pick a small amount of shell from the wider side of the egg to reveal the inside
  • Using a spoon, slide the tip between the shell and the membrane of the egg and twist slightly to remove the shell
  • Work your way around the outside of the egg
  • Dip the spoon in some water for more even peeling
  • When peeled place the egg into some water and dry it with a paper towel

Video

Notes

Farm fresh eggs will run you a little money more compared to store purchased eggs.  In our opinion, they are so much more flavorful. There is some evidence that they contain more nutrients than store bought.  In costing this recipe we used a high quality store bought egg price. 

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 11gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 327mgSodium: 125mgPotassium: 121mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 475IUCalcium: 49mgIron: 2mg
Keyword breakfast, budget, easy, egg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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.

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.

dreamstime_s_127581137

17 Ways to Enjoy Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving is over, your meal was amazing! They raved about your turkey and everyone loved your homemade cranberry sauce and stuffing. What happens next is an important part of how to save all that delicious leftover food from going to waste. Sure, everyone will want a late-night turkey sandwich or a plate of everything reheated the very next day, but two or three days of that same old meal loses its allure quickly. In the eyes of your family, your beloved turkey dinner slowly morphs into the dreaded Thanksgiving meal that will never end.

Sure, everyone will want a late-night turkey sandwich or a plate of everything reheated the very next day, but two or three days of that same old meal loses its allure quickly.

The secret to using up all that leftover Thanksgiving goodness is a multi-pronged approach including handling the food properly, meal planning, and creativity. By reimagining the Thanksgiving dishes by their ingredients you can team them up with your family’s other favorite foods. Don’t worry if you are not culinary trained, we have compiled information from the experts and have tested some of the recipes ourselves. We will walk you through every step of the way starting with food safety.

How to Properly Pack Thanksgiving Leftovers

The first step to using those leftovers is to properly store them away. Too often the food sits for hours waiting to be packed up and this can be dangerous. Foodborne diseases are far more serious than many people realize. The Federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually — the equivalent of sickening 1 in 6 Americans each year. And each year these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Bottom line: Absolutely no grazing!

Watch local food safety expert Ben Chapman, from North Carolina State University, explain what is the safest way to handle Thanksgiving leftovers. Spoiler alert; after he properly packs the food away he also sets the temperature of his refrigerator in a way that allows him to store his leftovers for a longer period of time.

Leftover Food Tips

  • Food should not be left out more than 2 hours without being refrigerated.
  • Remove all the turkey meat from the bone and save the carcass for soup. It is okay to freeze it if you are not going to have time to make soup in the next few days.
  • Sliced white meat can be kept moist in a plastic baggy with a damp paper towel.
  • Leftover cranberry sauce should be put into mason jars or glass bowls with lids. Do not use plastic containers as the cranberry will stain them. Do not overfill as the cranberry will make a mess in the fridge.
  • Leftover gravy should be stored the same way.
  • Don’t throw away the mashed potatoes as these can be recooked or repurposed.
  • Vegetables can all be used again so pack them in baggies or sealed in a container regardless if it is corn, carrots or green beans.
  • Casseroles like Green bean or Sweet potato should be placed in small glass containers with lids so that they can easily be reheated.
  • Leftover salad without dressing can be placed in a baggie with a dry paper towel for the next day.
  • Cover pies with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and refrigerate.
  • A cake can be frozen in slices for an appearance on a weeknight meal or late night treat.
  • Even leftover wine or apple cider should be repurposed. You can freeze it into cubes or simply refrigerate and add to sauces or marinades.


Now that it is all packed up and put away in the fridge, what’s next? Taking that refrigerator temperature is really the key as to how long you can safely keep food. According to the FDA, your fridge should be at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. At that temperature, you can safely eat the leftovers for 3 days. After that, anything that is still waiting for its moment to shine again should be placed in the freezer. Frozen foods will not spoil, however, they do lose their flavor over time. Ben Chapman, the NC State food safety specialist, set his refrigerator temperature at 38 or 39 degrees Fahrenheit and he keeps his leftovers for as many as seven days. Invest in a refrigerator thermometer to ensure you are storing foods at an appropriate temperature.

Meal Planning

I like to make dishes that use some of the ingredients but taste nothing like the original dish. Our meal plan will stick with the 40 degrees F refrigerator temperature setting, therefore we will use the three-day rule. Many of the items in our meal plan are adapted from our own recipes where we will simply substitute the original protein with the leftover turkey. By utilizing the leftovers you will save money and feed your family for the rest of the week. The meals will taste great and will not end up repeating the same dinner they had on Thanksgiving.

This above menu is a sample to show how you might plan your meals for three days. We have many other suggestions and substitutions depending on your family’s food preferences.

Recipes for Repurposing

Stuffing Waffles w Cranberry Maple Syrup
Love of Food Magazine

The first item on our menu was the Stuffing Waffles with Maple Cranberry Syrup. This was a savory breakfast item, that could also be substituted for brunch or lunch. The waffle is made from leftover stuffing (I use sausage and apple in mine). The recipe for the waffle calls for cheddar cheese and egg. The syrup is simple to make using leftover cranberry sauce and maple syrup. You can adjust the sweetness as you like.

If waffles are not your jam, maybe repurposing the leftover stuffing inside some acorn squash would hit the spot. This recipe was one that we found created by another food blogger so we can not vouch for it, but it certainly does look interesting.
2. Stuffing Filled Acorn Squash

Photo and Recipe Credit A Taste of Home

When it comes to Shepherd’s Pie there really is no limit to what you can do. Our sample menu utilizes the leftover mashed potatoes so all you needed to do is make your preferred filling using beef or turkey, and corn or green beans. Below are the types of Shepherd’s pies we have made along with their recipes, but if you are utilizing either your leftover Sweet Potato Casserole or the mashed potatoes, you have already cut your prep time in half!

3. Use the Piped Shepherd’s Pie to make everyone think you spent hours making this special dish- Only you will know it’s made from leftovers.
4. The Not Your Momma’s Shepherd’s Pie is filled with Comfort.
5. The Sweet Potato Turkey Shephard’s Pie will leave you craving more.

Cranberry Smoothie Love of Food Magazine

The Cranberry Smoothie is the perfect repurpose of the Thanksgiving cranberry sauce. This recipe was a pleasant surprise. We made these for a quick morning breakfast. We did two versions: a sweet one that will appeal to the kids and a more tart grown up version. Whichever one you decide to make, you will not be disappointed by this leftover cranberry sauce smoothie.

8. We also reimagined our Mexican Stuffed Peppers that are usually made with ground beef and substituted leftover shredded turkey.
9. Mexican Stuffed Zucchini Boats typically made with ground turkey can be made with the pre-cooked turkey that was left from your Thanksgiving feast. Again, this is a timesaver and a money saver. What a great way to repurpose your American food into an ethnic feast.

Continuing with ethnic flavors, bring a bit of Italy in with this twist on turkey soup.

Day-After Turkey Soup Love of Food Magazine

Day-After Turkey Soup is not such a big surprise, however when you add in these little shells and prepare this Italian style dish by adding grated cheese before serving. This soup will certainly have them coming back for seconds!

11.. We also found a recipe for Penne w Turkey, Kale, and Olives in a goat cheese sauce yum! This one belongs to Martha Stewart but if I had any turkey left, I would be giving this one a try.

Photo courtesy Martha Stewart Living
Pho Love of Food Magazine

If you want a change from using your leftovers that are not Mexican or Italian, why not try making a Vietnamese Pho soup? This spicy soup is normally made with beef or chicken so by all means substitute in that turkey. If you want something hearty to go along as we did on our Saturday menu, you could add some chopped turkey to some cabbage and carrots to make the filling for turkey spring rolls.

These spring rolls are really easy to make. You can create the filling ahead of time so all you have to do is roll and fry them when it’s meal time. You can even make them in the air fryer! You could possibly roll some extra and freeze them for another time. I also make my own duck sauce for dipping. You can find the link for the sauce with the Spring roll recipe.

Spring Roll Love of Food Magazine

Bonus Recipes Worth Trying

The days after Thanksgiving are really a long weekend that got us thinking about how to incorporate those leftovers into some pub type foods. 14. Why not make a Buffalo Dip using turkey instead of chicken? Serve it up with a blue cheese dressing and leftover celery you likely have in the refrigerator. You can also make 15. Turkey and Cheese Quesadillas or 16. Turkey Queso.

If your family insists that they want the true flavors of Thanksgiving served to them, once again there is an option that will not look like an unappealing pile of leftovers thrown onto a plate drowning in gravy. This recipe turns all their favorite flavors into little balls called 17. Thanksgiving Leftover Gravy Balls.


As we reflect on all things Thanksgiving we are thankful for the bounty that sits on our table this year and for all years past. We wish you and your family the best of things to come in the holiday season that lies before us.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Love of Food Magazine.

new Bacon infused burbon jello shots opt

Apple Cider Bourbon Bacon Jello Shots

Apple Cider Bourbon Bacon Jello Shots

You had me at bacon, however, add in fall apple cider and bourbon and I want to scream, Yes, Please!
I made these for our adult Halloween Trick or Treat event in our neighborhood and it went over really well. Rumor had it that my jello shots were the hit of the hood. Try it for your next Autumn event this is perfect for Friendsgiving!

Ingredients
  

  • 10-12 Ounces of Good Bourbon I used Makers Mark
  • 1 Package of Unflavored Gelatin
  • 1 Cup Apple Cider
  • 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 Cup Cold Water
  • 1/2 Cup Boiling Water
  • 4 Slices Bacon for infusing the Bourbon
  • 3/4 Pound Bacon Thick-Sliced Quality bacon for candying see our recipe for Candied Bacon, this will be used for the tasty garnish on the top of the jello shot.

Instructions
 

  • Start at least 1 day ahead of time by infusing the bourbon. To accomplish this crisp up the 4 slices of bacon and drop into a Mason Jar with the Bourbon.
  • Let it sit on the counter for 2 hours and then drop into the refrigerator until the next day.
  • Remove the jar from the refrigerator and scoop off the bacon fat that has congealed on the top. You now have a bacon-infused Bourbon. (Note that some of the Bourbon may have been absorbed by the bacon, not to worry we took that into account.)
  • Bring a half cup of water to a boil
  • Working quickly, mix the cold water and packet of gelatin together in a bowl
  • Add the boiled water then the brown sugar and lastly the cider, and Bourbon and stir together. (If you want to control the strength of the cocktail for those not quite yet Bourbon fans, you can always pour the bourbon mixture separate and make them a bit lighter.
  • Pour into the Jello Shot cups.
  • Next up is to make the Candied Bacon using our recipe. Cut the bacon into smaller bite-sized pieces before cooking it as this will sit in or on the shot glass. ( I cut my raw bacon in thirds )
  • It is at this stage that you can top the Jello Shot mixture with a piece of bacon. However. for the best flavor, cook the candied bacon 30 minutes before serving and top the cold jello shot with the warm candied bacon. I was unable to do this for the Trick or Treat event, but if I was having an indoor event I would definitely serve them with the bacon warm.
  • Place the filled shot cups in the refrigerator (I like to use shot glasses that have covers so that I can easily stack them in the refrigerator to set the mixture up. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
  • Enjoy!

Video

Notes

These will make 12-18 jello shots depending on the size of your cups and how much you fill them
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Pickling Party Attendees

How to Host a Pickling Party

One of my favorite celebrity chefs is Vivian Howard, who owns the Chef and the Farmer in Kinston, NC. I love her cookbook titled Deep Run Roots, and watched every episode of “ A Chef’s Life”. While scrolling on Facebook recently, I saw a post where she had hosted a pickling party at her home and I just knew I had to host one too! 

I just knew I had to host one too!  

What is a pickle party?

For those who have never been to one or have never pickled food before, it is a group of people who get together to learn how to use mason jars to spice up vegetables and/or preserve their produce to store for consumption for later in the year. These parties often consist of people bringing, vegetables, seasoning, mason jars and sharing recipes. It is a great excuse to get together and is a fun time

Our party turned out to be a huge success, our guests not only had a great time, but the comments to us were things like “I now feel more confident about making pickles at home.” “You should do one of these at a place like Wholefoods!” “I learned a lot and had great fun doing so” “My pickles turned out so yummy” etc.

One of the things that I get excited about is having people gain more food knowledge. Which allows them to feel more self-assured in the kitchen. Whether they are cooking, smoking, grilling, baking or pickling, one of our goals is to help home cooks stretch them from their current culinary comfort zone to reach their potential. We offer videos, recipes and more without a ton of ads, to make your experience more enjoyable.

One of the things that I get excited about is having people gain more food knowledge. Which allows them to feel more self-assured in the kitchen.

We also help home cooks by offering our culinary coaching services for one-on-one, private hands-on learning opportunities. If you want to host a group class we have access to a network of professional chefs who can facilitate a fully cooked meal. And of course, we help you create amazing, fun food experiences like pickling parties!

You may be wondering how difficult it was to put this party together and how did we facilitate all the moving pieces and parts? By reading this post, I will share with you all the dos and don’ts of hosting your own pickling party. 

First things first, think of what you want the outcome of your party to be. Do you want to make new friends, get together with existing friends or family? Do you want your guests to learn to pickle or share their recipes?

think of what you want the outcome of your party to be

Now that you have your objective, it is time to put together a guest list. Depending on the purpose of your party, you can decide how many people you would like to host at your home. Take into consideration the size of the area you have available to handle food preparation. Invite more people than you think will come, the rule is for every 13 people invited 3 or 4 will not be able to attend. 

Take into consideration the size of the area you have available to handle food preparation.

Pick a time that works well, like a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I did our party on a Sunday afternoon and limited it to three hours. This way my guests did not feel obligated for their entire day and I got everyone out of the house in time for me to clean up and relax a bit on Sunday evening. Once you know who and when then you can decide on an invitation. How would most of your guests want to be notified? 

Once you know who and when then you can decide on an invitation.

Perhaps Facebook is the perfect medium. You can create an event right on your page. The drawback is that you are limited to those people you are Facebook friends with and not everyone checks their Facebook often. So you may want to think about a combination of good old fashioned email and social media.

Facebook will offer you the option to use their design and if you are confident that your group is all checking their feeds regularly so this can then be a good choice for you. Regardless, if you are using Facebook as a stand-alone invitation source or a combination of Facebook and Email you may still want to create your own invitation’s look and feel. I like to use Canva. It gives free access to many basic templates, images, and graphics. It is intuitive and fun to use. 

If you plan to use another social media platform to invite guests such as Instagram please know that their images are shaped differently than Facebook’s. In Canva, therefore, you will have to create two invitations and size them for their appropriate mediums.

Now that you have created an objective for your party, selected your guest list, and designed your invitations, it is time to evaluate your space and think about the flow of your party. Where will your guests prepare the food and where will they convene when not cooking? Where will you serve food? For my spread of appetizers, I pushed my dinette table against a wall and used tripolis to save space. I then created a defined space for my guests to prepare their pickles by adding a wooden table to my already large island. I still placed another small folding table at the end of it. I had fifteen guests, but you may not need as much room.

Next, envision the decor for your pickling party

Next, envision the decor for your pickling party“Shop in your own closet.”  Whoever came up with that one was a genius! I raided my pantry for the rustic wooden storage boxes that normally hold all my staples and I dug out my autumn decor early. My husband, who did not really understand my theme said “you already put out the fall pumpkins? It is still August!” I got creative with raffia and other dollar store items too. The craft stores are also flush with fall items this time of year.

Whenever I have a themed event I start moving things and decorating at least a week before the event date, if not earlier. We just live around the changes and deal with it until the party is over.

One time I did a murder mystery party that required I turn my home into a 1940’s New Orleans style mansion and another party for my husband’s birthday where I turned my home into a Vegas-style casino. Those took weeks to prep for! The pickling party was much easier to set up. 

I decided to give everyone a gift bag. I filled mine with seed packets and labels for the jars, along with some cute fall items I found at the dollar store. I included a few pieces of themed candy such as Cow Tails and Jolly Rancher. But the best gifts inside the bags were some hand-painted garden rocks my neighbor made with her two small children. She included sayings that were about food and gardens.

But the best gifts inside the bags were some hand-painted garden rocks my neighbor made with her two small children. She included sayings that were about food and gardens.

Next up is food planning, not just what do you want to serve but also what will people pickle?

I planned a trip to my local farmer’s market the day before and selected cucumbers, green tomatoes, peppers, green beans, and watermelon. Yes, pickled watermelon rind is a thing and it is delicious!
At the bottom of this post are links to some of the recipes. 

I have been playing with pickle recipes for a couple of months so I decided that I would print out a few easy ones and one that was more advanced for people to try out. I placed the recipes in picture frame holders on the counter. 

I placed the recipes in picture frame holders on the counter. 

A word to the wise, I suggest you stick to the refrigerator style methods of canning. Do not try to sterilize and pressure seal jars with so many people in your kitchen. The boiling water can pose a danger when handling. 

When you are making refrigerator pickles many do require a cooked brine. On the day of the party, I heated a big pot of vinegar and water to a boil then let it warm on the stove. This achieved the desired hot liquid to adequately mix with the spices and kept everyone safe. 

You will need to make available the pickling spices and herbs for all to make the recipes. Make sure you have plenty of utensils such as knives, funnels, peelers and cutting boards. Lots of paper towels and dish towels will be required. You can either supply all items yourself or instruct people to bring their own. I provided everything and just had guests bring their own jars.

Make sure you have plenty of utensils such as knives, funnels, peelers and cutting boards.

Pickled Shrimp was a big hit

I planned a light appetizer menu as my party was after lunchtime and before dinnertime. On the menu, I used items like pickled shrimp and pickled beef sausage. I also made deviled eggs with sweet pickles and anchovies as well as some marinated mushrooms. We had bruschetta with garden tomatoes on toasted pumpernickel bread. I enlisted the help of my husband to smoke some meat on his Kamado Joe grill. I chose a beef brisket since a hearty and or fatty meat pairs well with anything vinegary.

For dessert, I made a cake out of ice cream sandwiches. (Truth be told I forgot to pull it out of the freezer in time for most of my guests to get a serving, oops. Now we will eat this for the entire week). Perhaps a good idea is to plan dessert for forty-five minutes before the party’s scheduled end time. If you have an Amazon Alexa this would be perfect. If not, at least set the microwave or oven timer.

When planning your menu, any type of finger food can work. I did my best to keep the use of dishes to a minimum, sticking to those that could be put in the dishwasher or easily disposed of. For example, I used cupcake liners to hold the deviled eggs. I encouraged people to scoop pickles from the mason jars with designated forks. We used disposable cups for the drinks and lined the tripolis with parchment paper so we could safely place food on all the levels.

We also had a Bloody Mary bar complete with candied bacon, pickled celery, and carrots. We offered a lighter melon style cocktail along with some fizzy seltzer water. I tried using the Mason jars with the spigot built into them but had an issue with the seeds and the horseradish clogging up the spigots. Learn from my mistake, if you do use these be careful of any pulp or seeds in your liquids.

One thought about facilitating the event. Your guests will need instruction when they arrive, so be prepared.  Plan where they can lay down their jars and or other items. Think about how you plan to instruct them or not. Do they have to wash their vegetables? Where will they discard unwanted vegetable ends? Lucky for us a neighbor has chickens. She took all the pieces and parts and her birds had a brightly-colored, smorgasbord-style, Sunday dinner.

Last night, once the clean up was all over and my house turned back into its original state, I played back the party in my mind. I like to think about what went well and what I could have done better (aside from forgetting the dessert). I got lucky enough that some of my guests took photos so that I can share this all with you, however having a designated person to get some photos would have been wise. I did plan a group photo and had the tripod set up, I am so glad of this. 

 Also, I keep my trash under the sink in a small bucket, I could have placed a larger trash can in the kitchen and thought through all the vegetable scraps by having a separate bucket for them instead of the designated, eye-soar of a plastic grocery bag that was easily misplaced. 

As far as social media goes, I should have had everyone use my blog’s hashtag for their photos. Oh well, no one is perfect. 

Today I am receiving messages from my guests sharing how well their pickles turned out. It is always a great sign when you host a party that people keep talking about a day or days after the event ended. This is how you know you have created a real experience.  We can confidently say the objective was achieved and our pickling party was a big hit!

It is always a great sign when you host a party that people keep talking about a day or days after the event ended

Please let us know if you want to host a pickling party or any of our other many fun chef events. We can help you plan and prepare. Or we can send a professional chef to come and cook for your guests to create a dining experience they will talk about for a long time to come. 

Either way, we would love to hear from you and have you share your food experiences with us on Facebook or Instagram.

Happy Pickling! 

Get Pickle Recipes

Candy apples1023

Candy Apples w Caramel

  •  4 Firm Crisp Apples (washed and dried well)
  • 4 Sticks for Holding the Apples 
  • 4 Cupcake Wrappers 
  • 1 16 Oz. Bag of Caramel Cubes
  • 4 Tablespoons of Heavy Cream 
  • Candy Toppings of your Choice
  1. Spray a microwave safe glass bowl with a little cooking spray so that your caramel does not stick
  2. Add the caramel and the cream 
  3. Melt for 60 seconds, then stir and return to microwave and heat in intervals of 30 seconds after that depending on the strength of the microwave it could take as long as 120 seconds total 

Note: It cools very quickly and you may have to to reheat after a couple of dips 

Test each and every time you heat to make sure caramel is not too hot for little hands!