Thanksgiving cooking tips help you stay happy and calm when hosting the holiday.
Whether you like to cook or not, hosting the annual Thanksgiving holiday can be time consuming and exhausting. You will be cleaning your house, deciding on the menu, and probably cooking for a crowd. However, there are many cooking tips and ideas that will make hosting Thanksgiving easier.
Say "Yes"
Many of your guests will offer to bring a dish or ask how they can help. While your inclination may be to refuse assistance, instead embrace it. Assign guests to bring a dish that you do not want to cook. You will lessen your work and prevent guests from bringing items you do not need. You may as well enjoy a salad and cranberry mold instead of receiving three extra desserts you do not need.
Use a Brine
Immersing your turkey in a brine overnight or several days will make your turkey more moist. A brine is a combination of salt, liquid, spices and other flavorings. The lean meat of turkey is prone to dryness, but soaking it in a brine allows the turkey to absorb extra liquid before it is cooked. Thus, the meat is less likely to turn out dry because the extra liquid helps it stay moist. Using a brine also forces you to get a jump start on preparing the turkey.
Prepare Items Ahead
Choose some foods you can make ahead of time. Try making a dessert or side dish you can freeze or keep in the refrigerator. If you make a salad, try choosing toppings from a market salad bar. You can prepare your own lettuce, but avoid chopping and dicing other vegetables that make the salad special. Purchase some dried cranberries to add to the salad to give it a holiday touch.
Eye Appeal
Make the meal special by spending a little time garnishing and planning the meal. Think about the color and texture of the foods you choose. Crunchy carrots may complement soft mashed potatoes or stuffing. Sprigs of parsley interspersed between slices of turkey on a serving plate can brighten up the pale white meat. Look at cooking magazines in advance of preparing your meal. Notice the colors on the platters and try to incorporate them into your own holiday meal.
Tags: bring dish, extra liquid, make salad, will make, your turkey