Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. Soon, I'll be spending a lot of time in my kitchen cooking and baking for my two favorite holidays. Here's what our family is stocking up on now for holiday baking. Starting in mid-October, I start trying out the new recipes that I'd like to serve for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and the handful of birthdays we have during that time. I start planning out gifts we want to make, and the kitchen projects the children would like ...
Holiday Baking Essentials
Stock your kitchen with these baking essentials and always have the right tool for the job. I love to bake! Spending time in my kitchen with the various ingredients all around me makes me so incredibly happy. My holiday baking season starts every year, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving while I'm baking pies for the big day, and continues straight through until Christmas Day ... and sometimes a little bit beyond that if there is additional family and friends we have yet to see. If ...
How to Make Sausage Stuffing
If you were to ask my son what his favorite thing was about Thanksgiving, he would tell you it's sausage stuffing. Sausage stuffing is a classic and it has to be on our table every time we have a roast turkey. It just isn't Thanksgiving dinner without it! This family favorite takes your traditional bread stuffing and adds another layer of flavor from the browned Italian Sausage. While some of the herbs are things you only get around Thanksgiving time, most cooks will ...
Changes to USDA Agricultural Zones
Do you know your plant hardiness or agricultural zone? Gardeners and farmers around the country rely on the information about USDA Agricultural Zones when selecting crop varieties. Agricultural zones were last updated in 2012, and that is the information we have been using for the last decade. This week, the United States Department of Agriculture released the updated 2023 Plant Hardiness Zones. What is a plant hardiness zone? The USDA Plant Hardiness Zones are the standard that ...
Let’s Talk Turkey!
There's just a week to go until Thanksgiving. It's time! Let's Talk Turkey! Thanksgiving is just a week away, and that means it is time to really think about the star of the show - the beautifully roasted turkey! Cooking for a holiday crowd can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. With a little know-how, you can have a successful and delicious Thanksgiving. How Big is Big Enough When shopping for a turkey, consider the number of guests you will be having for dinner. You ...