Friday Five: 20 Thanksgiving recipes!

TGIF!  How was your week?  It was a 5-day-er, but next week is a shorty.  Hooray for that!  It's been a busy one around here since I've been cooking and baking up a (delicious) storm, as well as getting things together for a jam-packed weekend and travel-filled holiday week.  The last home Pitt football game of the season is tomorrow, a baby shower and Friendsgiving party on Sunday, and we're hosting friends for a laidback board game night this evening.  If dinner goes as planned, I'll have another slow cooker recipe coming your way the week after Thanksgiving.

Which.is.less.than.a.week.away.  What!

Speaking of Thanksgiving (who isn't at this point?), I realize it's been a while since I posted on a Friday, so I wanted to make things up to you with an extra special themed Friday Five post.  Like recipes over the past week, this one covers everything but the turkey.  In case you missed it, I made cranberry & lime salsa, rosemary & garlic roasted mushrooms, and pumpkin cupcakes with gingersnap cookie crusts and marshmallow frosting.  All incredible, BTW!

For those of you still looking to complete the turkey day menu, here are my favorite recipes to consider serving family and friends for breakfast, appetizers, sides, and dessert.  Friday 5 x 5 x 5 x 5, if you will.  Enjoy! :)

Breakfasts (all can be made or assembled the night before!)
1. Crock Pot breakfast casserole (gluten-free)
2. Banana muffins
3. Quiche: mushroom cheddar spinach or broccoli cheddar
4. Peanut butter granola - serve with fruit and yogurt for a DIY breakfast
5. Breakfast apple granola crisp

Appetizers
1. Bacon, cheddar & spinach pinwheels
2. Matt's ranch pretzels
3. Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts
4. White bean dip (gluten-free & vegan)
5. Three-layer salsa, guacamole & bean dip (gluten-free & vegan)

Sides
1. Sweet potato biscuits
2. Green bean casserole (from scratch!)
3. Farro salad with butternut squash, cranberries & spinach
4. Peas with pancetta & shallots
5. Easy homemade cranberry sauce

Desserts
1. Sweet potato pie
2. Pumpkin gooey butter bars
3. Apple crumb pie
4. Mini pumpkin whoopie pies
5. Chocolate chip pecan pie

Rosemary garlic roasted mushrooms

T minus 9 days until T(urkey) Day!

Is it just me or does it feel like time's passing at warp speed?  Why can't it do the same on a Monday or Tuesday, or even those Thursdays that I wake up thinking it's actually Friday?  One of the greatest mysteries of the universe, if you ask me.

Speaking of mysteries, how's your Thanksgiving menu looking right now?  If you're like most folks, I'm guessing you've got a pretty clear picture of what Thursday's table will look like: the "good" dishes, real cloth napkins (!), and maybe a gravy boat that's been in the family for generations, all surrounded by platters of your family's favorite foods.

However, if your crowd is anything like my family, there's always a last minute question that sounds something like this: "I feel like we need one more thing.  What's missing?"

Even if you don't think that will happen to you, why risk it?  Add just one more thing to the grocery list so you're totally prepared.

Summer squash & quinoa salad with goat cheese

That husband of mine, let me tell you -- he's a gem!

He's funny and smart (and a smidge nerdy, which I adore), patient and selfless, and so handsome that I sometimes have moments when I check him out and think, "Man, that guy is hot!"  And then I remember that I'm married to that guy.  He's legally bound to me.  How did I manage to trick him get so lucky?  Best keep quiet before somebody notices and cries foul play.

Aside from all of those wonderful meaningful traits, there are so many superficial and silly things I love about Matt.  Like how he giggles like a schoolgirl at the sight of pugs.  And how his hair gets this crazy cowlick on one side of his head.  And how his appetite for goat cheese knows no bounds, especially when it's paired with zucchini.

Sally's baked beans

These.baked.beans.

Good gracious, almighty.  I'll get to them in a minute.  But these beans!!!  First things first, though.

Hi, howdy, hey there, friends!  It's been a little while since I posted something new -- cough two months cough -- but I promise this was worth the wait.  I want to thank you for your words of understanding and encouragement.  I've never once viewed blogging as "work" and never want to get to that point.  I cook, photograph, and write because I truly enjoy it.  The past two months were so filled with good stuff (running, baking orders, travel, etc.) that I didn't have time for it all and knew something had to give.  Realizing that my blogging hobby could take an unwanted turn into "obligation" territory, I gave myself a little vacation.

All of that being said, I really, really missed you/this!  I have multiple lists around my office, apartment, and various purses with new ideas to make and share.  In other words, I hope you've worked up an appetite :)

Haluski (cabbage & egg noodles) with bacon

Almost 4 years ago, I skipped town on vacation and temporarily handed over the reigns to my blog.  My then-boyfriend offered to cook, photograph, and write about one of his favorite recipes to share  with all of you.  How sweet of him!

So much has changed since then, like the fact that I no longer have a boyfriend but a husband.  An awesome husband who insisted upon cooking dinner every single night (!) last week.  We had tacos, sausage with peppers and onions, huevos rancheros, chicken Caesar salads, and -- Matt's specialty -- haluski with bacon!  Despite having eaten many versions of haluski, we both agree this is the best version, thanks to the bacon.

Here's the updated recipe with some new pictures and the original post written by Matt:

I have to start by applauding Katy for her skills and organization in the kitchen.  My attempt to prepare a meal, take pictures, and make mental notes about what I was doing can best be described as a maelstrom of chaos (this description brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department).  Bear with me, as this is my foray into the food blogging world.

Everything but the turkey: Farro with butternut squash & cranberries

It's day #2 of "Everything but the turkey" week around here, and boy, have I got a doozy of a recipe for you.  The bread basket is taken care of, thanks to the fluffiest sweet potato biscuits I shared with you on Monday.

Today's recipe is a true side dish that's got a little something to please everybody.  It's packed with as many mouth-watering flavors as it is healthy ingredients.  The name is a bit of a mouthful, but you won't be able to stop talking about it once you try it: warm farro salad with butternut squash & hazelnuts! 

Everything but the turkey: Sweet potato biscuits

Thanksgiving is just over one week away.  Can you believe it?  No offense to Santa, but the lists made in the next few days are the most important of the year -- the grocery lists!

"Turkey" is probably the top-most entry on that list, but what comes after that?  What delicious foods will keep the turkey company on your plate?  Side dishes seem to vary from one family to the next.  Some recipes are steeped in tradition, having a reserved spot on the buffet for generations and generations.  Other tables look different every year, thanks to inventive new recipes and appetites for change.

I have a tiny (or monstrous) confession: side dishes are my favorite part of the Thanksgiving spread!  Of course, I enjoy and devour my fair share of turkey (Team White Meat!), but my heart belongs to the supporting cast.

Garlic roasted cabbage (round 1 recipe)

Mom always said, "Eat your greens!"

To that, I add, "Only when they're drizzled with olive oil, seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic, and roasted."

I could make up some lengthy anecdote about the inspiration for this recipe, but the truth is far simpler.  The truth is that green cabbage was 49 cents per pound at the grocery store a week ago, so I bought a head of it because how could I not buy it?! 

I even get suckered into the bargain mentality at the grocery store, folks.

Fast Friday: Zucchini pizza bites

Names can be really deceiving sometimes.  I can't tell you how many times I've expected one thing and gotten something entirely different.

Take skinny jeans, for example.

Turns out that half of the so-called skinny "jeans" contain zero denim whatsoever and are, in fact, stretchy cotton leggings with denim coloring and shading.

To be clear, I'm not judging because I love stretchy cotton leggings.  I mean, who wouldn't?  Paired with an oversized sweater or sweatshirt, I wear them frequently in the cooler months.  Leggings are like a constant warm hug for your lower body.  They are gloriously comfortable, but they are not denim/jeans.

Fast Friday: Three bean salad

Fri-i-day, and I'm feeling goo-oo-d.  This has been a mighty (I know "mightily" is correct, but it just sounds weird, doesn't it?) productive week.  Despite a super busy and very fun weekend, I managed to hit the ground running on Monday and haven't stopped since then.  It's fascinating how I seem to be more productive the busier I am.  Yet, on days when I only have one or two things to do, I dilly dally around and wind up with a to-do list that's void of any check marks.  Eek!

During weeks when I have lots on my plate, I try to stay ahead of the game and plan meals that are big on flavor, small on prep, and will benefit us for a few days.  Sometimes it's main dishes like a big batch of burgers or a pot of hearty soup.  This week, however, it was a side dish that really delivered, night after night.

Inspiration for dishes comes from so many sources.  Friends, restaurants, and, not surprisingly, food shows.  But, surprisingly, the idea for this rockin' three bean salad came from a show solely dedicated to sandwiches.

Told you sandwiches were making a comeback.

But this bean salad?  It may seem humble, but it was on my mind days after seeing it made on Sandwich King.  Cool, crunchy, and light with a dressing that looked off the hook delicious.

As (usually... and thankfully!) turns out, it tasted even better than it looked!  Having never had three bean salad before, this set the bar mighty high.

Shall I count the ways I love this salad?

To start, it's easy.  Like, making oatmeal kind of easy.  One bowl, minimal chopping, and a simple toss to mix everything.

Also, it's c-h-e-a-p.  Green beans are roughly $1.50 per pound, a can of beans costs less than a buck, one shallot will run you less than a dollar, and the rest of the ingredients are inexpensive pantry staples.

It's hearty and oh-so-satisfying!  This is packed with good-for-you fiber and a surprising amount of protein from the cannellini and kidney beans that will keep you satisfied for hours.  Paired with a grilled chicken breast, simple grilled cheese, or bowl of summery tomato zucchini gazpacho, this meal packs a mean punch.

Last, but certainly not least, it's freakin' delicious!  That's really the only reason you need to make anything, right?  I never thought I'd say this about a non-dessert, but I couldn't get enough of this!  And it only got better the longer it sat as the beans soaked up all of the delicious sweet and barely sour dressing.

I sampled bites of this salad as I stood over the counter preparing the rest of dinner.  And when I was plating the food.  After I did the dishes, I snuck into the fridge and helped myself to a few spoonfuls of it later that night.  The next morning?  A spoon found its way into the container and into my mouth while my frittata cooked on the stove-top.  Just. So. Good!  Couldn't stop and wouldn't stop until there was none left.

What did I do then?  I mourned, gathered my thoughts, and went out to buy the ingredients to make another batch just in time for the weekend.  Meals?  Check.  Fun things?  Here we go.  Have a great weekend! :)


One year ago: Santa Fe BBQ chicken pizza
Two years ago: Ham & cheese puff pastry squares
Three years ago: Sour cherry pie


Three Bean Salad
(adapted slightly from Jeff Mauro's recipe)
-makes 6-8 servings

A few notes: In a pinch, you could use cut frozen green beans in place of fresh.  They won't have quite the snap of the fresh ones, but the flavor would be the same.  Simply thaw the frozen beans under cold running water, drain, and pat dry.

1/2 pound green beans, cut in half, ends trimmed and discarded
1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini or northern white beans, rinsed and drained
1 shallot, minced
1/4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Black pepper

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.  Set up a large bowl of ice water.  Add the green beans to the pot and cook until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes.  Drain and plunge the green beans into the ice water to stop the cooking. Drain the green beans.

In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, and honey; slowly whisk in oil until blended.  Add all drained beans and shallot to the bowl, tossing to coat.  Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

Leftovers can be covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Fast Friday: Grilled asparagus

Surprise Friday!  (Yes, again.)  Mondays are totally my favorite days to use vacation; having that day off makes the rest of the week shorter, both literally and mentally.  I've (mostly) gotten back to a normal routine, which means I'm not having dessert three times a day.  The dream had to end eventually, right?

Just in case you're one of those folks who require more than cake and ice cream to survive, I've got the quickest grill-friendly vegetable idea for you to make.  It'll provide lots of vitamins and minerals, all those good things of which doctors are imploring us to enjoy more.

(On a related note, if you ever figure out a way to make vegetables taste like peanut butter and chocolate, I kindly request that you inform me first.  Kthanksverymuch.)

Caprese quinoa-stuffed tomatoes

Did anyone else feel like getting out of bed and ready for work today was like climbing Mt. Everest?  I swear I even heard squeaking sounds while rubbing my eyes when I first woke up.  Whew.  I think that's a sign of a good, nay, great holiday weekend.  I won't say that I hope you're struggling, too, but I do hope you had a delightful 4th of July!

After nearly a week of fun and frolicking around the city (fireworks, baseball and soccer games, and visitors galore!), we totally crashed on Sunday evening.  And this isn't the kind of "crashing" that movies and TV shows make look so glamorous.  You know the scene: husband and wife, clad in designer pajamas, hair perfectly disheveled, cuddling on the couch watching a movie and having intelligent conversation about recent events.

Cheesy zucchini orzo

Absence is a funny thing.  They (who, exactly?  I've always wondered) say it makes the heart grow fonder.  It's the time apart that makes you appreciate that someone or something.  Even something that you swore you wanted a break from at last meeting.

No, this is not a subtle jab at any person in my life.  I love all of you dearly and wish I could see so many of you much, much more often!  :)

Instead, this is a bit of a sheepish apology to zucchini.  Last year, you see, I may have gone a bit overboard with zucchini recipes.  I grilled it, roasted it, fried it, and ate it raw.  I sliced it, stuffed it, and grated it into pieces.  I dressed it up and baked it into anything I could possibly imagine.  And it was so undeniably delicious.

Broccoli slaw

 
I've got a fever!  ...and the only prescription is more cowbell cookouts.

It seems like everyone in the area has caught the barbecue bug, including yours truly.  For the past three weekends, I've been lucky enough to enjoy some kind of outdoor gathering with friends or family.  Hot grills, icy beverages, delicious food, and shenanigans like volleyball games on a hill and frisbee in the woods with dogs.  (Yes, the latter two are absolutely terrible ideas, but that's what made them so much fun.)

Yesterday, Matt and I headed to our country home a.k.a. my parents' house in the woods for the day.  We'll be traveling next weekend, so we wanted to visit with my folks and celebrate Father's Day a little early.

There was nothing firm on the agenda, and we took full advantage of it by spending the majority of the afternoon lounging on the back porch reading, chatting, and enjoying some homemade iced tea.  I did manage to peel myself out of my chair long enough to play with the dogs and chase them around for 20 minutes or so.  Eventually, I they grew tired and simply laid down in the middle of the yard and stared at me.  Do you think they realized the smell of charcoal was not for their dinner? :)

Fast Friday: Sesame garlic green beans

Blink and you might have missed most of this week.  It's been a busy one and yet seemed to draaaaaaag onnnnn foreverrrrrrr.  On top of that, I had day-later syndrome -- bad -- and couldn't shake it.  All of that said, I'm so thankful it's Friday because there is big stuff on my agenda this weekend that I've been looking forward to for what seems like years.  Two of my very best friends are getting hitched!  #juliebryanwedding  Get it trending, people of Pittsburgh. ;o)

Festivities begin tonight with the rehearsal and dinner at Sonoma Grille.  I've heard great things about that place for ages but never visited, so Matt and I are stoked.  The wedding is Saturday (and the weather forecast is very promising!), and there is a brunch on Sunday morning.  In other words, we'll be eating, drinking, and celebrating like royalty for nearly 48 hours.  My bridesmaid dress and shoes are ready, and I could not be more excited.  Pictures to come on Monday!

Since it's been a busy week, dinners have been quick and easy fixes.  Set it and forget it wild rice and bean casserole, grilled chicken salads, Mexican night out, and dill salmon with green beans.  But, not just any green beans...

Mac & cheese bites

If there's one challenge that will always excite me, it's that involved with planning a party.  My friends know that I will truly look for any excuse to entertain.  New digs, birthdays, holidays, the Academy Awards, and sporting events just to name a few.  I also have a mental list of get-togethers I'd like to throw in the future including, but not limited to, a pie party, an ice cream sundae party, a throwback foods and games from our childhood party, and even a girls only Disney princess party.

Wha?  There's no limit on the age of a Disney princess :)

Thankfully, I needed no creative brainstorming to come up with an idea for this party.  Someone is getting married and obviously wanted a bachelorette party!  I hosted the first part at our apartment before we headed out for a night on the town. 

Crock Pot baked potatoes with chili toppings

Sizzlin' slow cooker February has been a total hit in our home and for our taste buds so far, if I may say so. Soups, stews, lasagna, and even Indian food have all been ready come dinnertime with minimal human effort.  Thanks for the scrumptious meals, Louie!

But, as I reviewed the dishes I've made in the Crock Pot, I realized that all had a broth or sauce for a base. As I've learned in the past few weeks, you can cook almost anything in the slow cooker as long as there is some kind of liquid to keep the contents from drying out.

For example, I've made pulled pork by simply tossing a pork tenderloin in the crock pot, covering it with water, and cooking on low for 8 hours before draining, shredding, and mixing with our favorite Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce.  Easy peasy!

Again with the liquid, though.  So, I couldn't help but wonder if it were possible to slow cook something without a broth or sauce.

Roasted kale, tomatoes, and potatoes with chicken

For the most part, I've become a fairly disciplined cook when it comes to dinner.  It's only taken me a few years to learn that, if you sample the food nonstop while cooking it, you don't have much of an appetite when the final dish is plated.  Makes perfect sense, right?

I mean, as much as I love staring into Matt's dreamy eyes without distraction, sitting across the table as he dives into a plate of delicious food isn't much fun when I'm already full and sipping on water.

So, I've managed to curtail my snacking as dinner roasts, simmers, or sautes right before my eyes.  Instead, I only poke my head into the kitchen as soon as I get home from the gym to gulp a glass or two of water and occasionally nibble a handful of cheese balls. 

(And yes, they are amazing.  You can pick up a giant tub of them for around $6 at Sam's Club.  One serving is something like 32 balls and only 140 calories.  There's just something about that salty cheesy crunch of puffed air that's addictive and hits the spot after a sweat session!  No judging.)

Homemade cranberry sauce

There's something about New Year's Day that puts me in the most productive mood ever.  Though we've typically entertained friends with a crock pot full of sweet pork and sauerkraut in years past, this year we kept things quiet and had a party for two.

I use the term "party" loosely.

For him, "party" meant relaxing on the couch, playing with his remote-controlled helicopter from Santa, and watching TBS's back to back showings of The Hangover while nursing a tiny one of his own.

For her, "party" meant organizing random sections of the apartment, nibbling frozen Christmas cookies, and readying things before returning to work the next day.  The latter was done in an effort to ease the surely rude awakening that would come from showering and wearing grown-up clothes before 10am.

I cleaned out and organized the cutlery and kitchen gadget drawers.  I sorted through the highest and least accessible cabinets that had apparently become a black hole for unused items and made a bag of items to take to Goodwill.  I did three loads of laundry and emptied the overflowing basket... for at least 12 hours.  I introduced my post-Christmas shopping trip haul to the rest of my wardrobe.  Hooray!  I even made Matt dizzy with all of my flitting about, and I did it without even trying.  How's that for multi-tasking?

I sort of got lost in my organizing bliss and, before I knew it, dinnertime was calling my name.  Matt was happy with his, cough, third helping of pork and sauerkraut, but I wanted something different.

Sweet potato hash browns

I remember the first time I realized that my family sometimes has odd names for things.

I was 10 or 11 years old and out at a diner with my parents and sister after church, and we were placing our brunch orders.  I requested French toast, which came with two eggs and a choice of bacon or sausage.  The waitress asked, "How do you like your eggs?" to which I responded, "Dippy."  She looked at me like I was speaking in tongues.

"Dippy?" she confirmed.  I immediately looked to my parents for help, whispering, "What's wrong with dippy?  Is that not allowed?" 

My parents smiled at me and, before they could rescue me, the waitress explained the many ways that the cooks could prepare my eggs.  "Sunny side up, over easy, over medium, over well, poached, soft boiled, hard boiled, or scrambled," she rattled from memory.

I didn't hear "dippy" anywhere in that long list of egg preparations.  And dippy was what I wanted, by golly.  I wanted dippy!!!