Carving The Turkey

Turkey is the main attraction of the Thanksgiving Table. While you may serve a whole roasted turkey as a centerpiece of the table, sliced meat and carved turkey are easier to serve. Here are some tips on how to carve your Harter House turkey for Thanksgiving:

Equipments You May Need:

Warm serving platter

Pair of kitchen scissors

Flexible and sharp 10-inch slicing knife

Carving fork for arranging and serving the meat

Method:

Let the turkey cool for about 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature.

Put the turkey on a carving board using paper towels.

Cut through the trussing with scissors and remove all the string.

Remove the drumsticks by placing the knife against the thigh and cut down to the leg's second joint, where you apply the pressure with the knifepoint and twist it to sever the drumstick.

Make an oval incision in the neck cavity and remove the stuffing, taking care to leave the skin intact.

Transfer the scooped out stuffing into a serving bowl using a long-handled spoon.

Slice the thigh meat from the bone.

Cut carefully while placing the knife horizontally at the bottom curve of the bird's breast and slice in towards the rib cage from the top down.

Cut vertically through the breast meat while carefully preserving some of the skin on each slice.

Severe the wings from the first wing joint.

Arrange the carved turkey on the serving platter by placing the breast-meat slices in rows along both sides of the platter, the slices of thigh meat in the center, the drumsticks crossed at one end and the wings on top, facing each other with the skin side up.

Thanksgiving Trivia

Here are some interesting facts about Thanksgiving that each of us should know about:

The first Thanksgiving celebration can be traced back to the Plymouth Pilgrims in the fall of 1621.

The first Thanksgiving feast was held to thank the Lord for sparing the lives of the survivors of the Mayflower, who landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. The survivors included four adult women and almost forty percent children.

The Wampanoag chief Massasoit and ninety of his tribesmen were also invited to the first thanksgiving feast. Governor William Bradford invited them for helping the Pilgrims surviving and teaching them the skills of cultivating the land.

The celebration in 1621 lasted for three days and included games and food.

The president to proclaim the first 'National Day of Thanksgiving' in 1789 was George Washington.

Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, campaigned to make Thanksgiving a National Holiday in 1827 and succeeded.

Abraham Lincoln announced Thanksgiving to be a national holiday in his proclamation on October 3, 1863.

The 'wishbone' of the turkey is used in a good luck ritual on Thanksgiving Day.

Puritans of Mayflower used to drink Beer. (My husband liked this fact!)

Pumpkin Spice Muffins (With Cream Cheese Frosting)

 

Ingredients:

1 cup All-purpose Flour
1/2 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1-1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon Salt
4 Tablespoons Butter, cut into pieces
1 cup (heaping) Pumpkin Puree
1/2 cup Evaporated Milk
1 whole Egg
1-1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 cup Golden Raisins (optional!) 

Topping

2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg

 
FOR FROSTING:

1/4 cup Softened Butter
4 ounces Cream Cheese
2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease 12 muffin tins.

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until it is fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla. Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Add raisins. Fold gently until mixture is just combined. 

Pour into a greased muffin pan-batter hardly ever fills all twelve unless you keep it down to 1/2 full. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar-nutmeg mixture over the top of each unbaked muffin.

Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and allow to cool. Ice with cream cheese frosting.

To make the frosting, mix all ingredients on high until soft and whipped. Spread onto completely cooled muffins, or place into a large pastry bag with a large star tip and go crazy! Store in the fridge, as icing will soften at room temperature. 

New York Chocolate Chip Cookies

Back by popular demand.

Prepare yourself, for what you are about to see is, hand's down, is the greatest Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe of all time. I give you the New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookie:

Ingredients

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons

(8 1/2 ounces) cake flour

1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 pounds bittersweet disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content

*Sea salt

Directions

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. For regular sized cookies, use a heaping tablespoon and bake for approximately 12 minutes

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Tahini sauce

 

Ingredients

• 3 medium sweet potatoes skin on (or two large)
• 1 tbsp sweet paprika
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
2. Cut the sweet potatoes. First, cut and dice to make cubes
3. Place cut sweet potatoes in the center on a large baking sheet. Do not spread yet (It’s easier to get all the pieces coated with spices and oil when they are grouped together). Sprinkle with sweet paprika, oregano, garlic and salt. Drizzle with olive oil. Toss until every piece is well coated (using your hands is the easiest way).
4. Spread sweet potatoes in a single layer, making sure they’re not overlapping. The more room they have the better - it will make them crispier.
5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (depending on your oven and the size of the cubes) or until they are soft inside and a bit crispy outside (taste one). Finish with a few minutes (4-5 minutes) under the broiler to caramelize them further (keep an eye on them so they don’t burn and make sure they are not already too soft inside - you don’t want mushy sweet potatoes!). Taste and season with more salt if needed. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

• Remember that cutting the potatoes into evenly sized pieces ensures they all take the same time to cook.
• Do not skip the oil! A generous drizzle of olive oil helps give the sweet potatoes those gorgeous caramelized, crispy edges.
• Very important: do not crowd the pan.  If more space is needed, make two batches. Each piece not touching is key to crispy caramelized roasted sweet potatoes - otherwise, they will just steam and be soft on the outside.

Tahini Sauce

Ingredients

• ½ cup tahini paste
• 1 small garlic pressed or minced very thinly
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• ¼ cup ice water + more as needed
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• pinch of cumin

Instructions

1. Place tahini paste, garlic, and lemon juice in a bowl.

2. Gradually stir in ice water, starting with ¼ cup, until you reach a smooth sauce consistency that you can drizzle (I used about ½ cup but exact quantity will depend on the brand and texture of the tahini paste).
3. The tahini paste will harden in contact with water - it’s normal. Keep stirring and adding water as needed and it’ll be perfectly smooth (see step by step pictures in the post).
4. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Recipe Notes

• To make a large batch or for extra smooth tahini sauce, use a blender instead of mixing by hand!
•  If you find your sesame paste too bitter, you can "fix it" by adding some maple syrup or honey. If it's too sharp, add some olive oil.
• To make variations of this sauce, whisk in any chopped herbs, such as fresh parsley, cilantro, dill, or basil, or stir in some pesto.

Roasted Potato Recipe from;

NotEnoughCinnamon.com

Tahini Sauce:

Not EnoughCinnamon.com

Shelly's Green Tomato Relish

Is it just me or is Sunday made for cooking? This past week I picked up about 20 green tomatoes at the Farmers Market.   I LOVE green tomato relish. I used to help my mother-in-law make it every fall in her kitchen, using a recipe handed down from her mother and grandmother. We would use a food grinder and it was really messy. Today I use a food processor and, although I am still a pretty messy cook, the process is way faster and easier.

Here is my recipe, which is cut down from the original.

Green Tomato Relish

20 Green Tomatoes

3 Large Red Peppers

3 Large Green Peppers

2 Large Onions

Grate vegetables in a food processor. Cook slow about 15 minutes. Drain if too much juice.

In another pot, mix together and bring to a boil;

2 Cups Cider Vinegar

3 Cups Sugar

1 TBL Salt

½ Tsp ground Cloves

½ Tsp Allspice

½ Tsp Cinnamon

½ TBL Mustard Seed

½ TBL Celery Seed

(I really love spicy relishes also and always consider adding Jalapenos, but then I don’t. I bet it would be really good though, if you like sweet and spicy)

Add to Vegetable mixture and boil another 15 minutes.

I have Mason Jars and we sell Mason Jar LIDS at Harter House. (At least for sure at 1500 E. Republic Road)

I boiled the jars to sanitize them. Then filled them full with the relish mixture. My Mother-In-Law always let the full jars stand upside down on the counter to cool, to help seal the jars. So I will do that also, because that’s the way I learned. My kitchen smells SO GOOD! A mixture of sweet and sour.

And Barbara Kauffman, you’ve got a big jar of Shelly’s Homemade Green Tomato Relish with your name on it!

This batch really made a lot too. Three large jars, three medium jars and three small jars with just a bit more that we will serve with dinner tonight. Jars do not need to be refrigerated till opened.

By the way, our dinner tonight is Harter House Baby Back Pork Ribs.

Homemade Stromboli

 I absolutely love Stromboli.

Stromboli makes a wonderful meal, but also works as an appetizer or game day snack.

I found this recipe at Sallysbakingaddiction.com
This link has step by step directions with photos.

Also, you can use store bought pizza dough or make a homemade pizza dough.

You can customize your Stromboli with your favorite various fillings. 

Ingredients

Homemade Dough for 2

• 1 and 1/3 cups warm water (between 100-110°F, 38-43°C)
• 2 and 1/4 teaspoons instant or active-dry yeast (1 standard packet)
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled), plus more for hands and work surface

Fillings for 2

• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 pound thinly sliced meats such as Italian cold cuts, deli ham, or large pepperoni slices*
• 3/4 – 1 pound cheese (about 3 cups shredded or about 16-20 slices deli cheese)*

Egg Wash & Topping for 2

• egg wash: 1 large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon water
• optional: a light sprinkle of chopped fresh or dried parsley, flaky/coarse sea salt, ground pepper, Italian seasoning, and/or grated or shredded Parmesan cheese.
  
  

---

Instructions

1. Whisk the warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cover and allow to rest for 5 minutes. *If you don’t have a stand mixer, simply use a large mixing bowl and mix the dough with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula in the next step.
   
   
2. Add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With lightly floured hands, knead the dough for 3-4 minutes (for a visual, watch me do it in the video above!). The dough can be a little too heavy for a mixer to knead it, but you can certainly use the mixer on low speed instead. After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft. Poke it with your finger – if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading.
   
   
3. Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray– just use the same bowl you used for the dough. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 60-90 minutes or until double in size. If using instant yeast, this takes about 1 hour. (Tip: For the warm environment on a particularly cold day, heat your oven to 150°F (66°C). Turn the oven off, place the dough inside, and keep the door slightly ajar. This will be a warm environment for your dough to rise. After about 30 minutes, close the oven door to trap the air inside with the rising dough. When it’s doubled in size, remove from the oven.)
   
   
4. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
   
   
5. Shape the dough: When the dough is ready, punch it down to release the air. Divide in half. (If you aren’t making 2 Strombolis, freeze the other half of dough. See freezing instructions below.) On a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each half of dough into a 10×16 inch rectangle. I like to use my hands to square off the edges, as shown in the video above. If the dough keeps shrinking as you try to shape it, cover it lightly and let the dough rest for 10 minutes before trying again. (The gluten just needs to settle.)
   
   
6. Add fillings: Mix melted butter and garlic together. Spread all over each rectangle. Sprinkle each with parsley. When you start layering on meats and cheeses, leave a 1 inch border on the bottom and sides and a 3 inch border on top. (Basically you’ll have an empty 3×16 inch gap on top that only has butter/garlic on it. This is because when rolling, the fillings will be pushed forward. See photos and video above if you need a visual.) Arrange a layer sliced meats onto each dough, usually about 8-10 slices on each depending on size and thickness of slices. Add a layer of cheese. Repeat with more meat and cheese until all is used– about 1/2 pound meat and 1/2 pound cheese per Stromboli. Brush all edges with egg wash, including 3 inch gap at the top. This helps the Stromboli hold its rolled shape. Slowly roll each into a tight 16 inch log, folding in the two ends as you roll. See me do this in the video above. Dust your hands or the dough with flour if things become too sticky. Carefully transfer each to lined baking sheets. Pinch or tuck in ends to seal if they became unfolded.
   
   
7. Brush each Stromboli with egg wash and, if desired, optional toppings. Using a very sharp knife, cut 3-4 slits into the tops of each, which helps steam escape. At this point, you can cover shaped Stromboli tightly and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
   
   
8. Bake for about 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown– if you have an instant read thermometer, the center of the Stromboli should be at least 200ºF (93ºC). If meats are particularly greasy (like pepperoni), some grease will spill out the sides. Cheese may bubble out the sides or top slits, too. If baking both at the same time, rotate pans halfway through baking and extend bake time (if needed) by 2-3 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cutting board and slicing.
   
   
9. Serve plain or with pizza/marinara sauce for dipping.
   
   
10. Cover and store leftover Stromboli (slices or whole) in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Brie and Cheddar Apple Beer Soup with Cinnamon Pecan Oat Crumble.

This is a perfect soup for a cool fall evening. Not too heavy, but still just cozy enough.

I love the combo of apples and cheddar. I think the two are a perfect match.  The honeycrisp apples at Harter House are so good right now.  And finally, the Cinnamon Pecan Oat Crumble really enhances this recipe.  Give this recipe a try and tell me what you think.  ~Shelly

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 sweet onion, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
2/3 cup apple cider
2 apples, chopped (I used honeycrisp)
2 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 (12 ounce) beer (I used pumpkin beer)
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup flour (may sub gluten free blend if needed)
1 cup milk (I used 2%)
16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
8 ounces brie, rind removed + cubed

Cinnamon Pecan Oat Crumble
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups whole raw pecans
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted butter


INSTRUCTIONS

To make the Crumble

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Working on a greased cookie sheet or pyrex dish, add the oats, pecans, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add the softened butter and use your fingers to crumble it into the oats mixture until everything is moist and the butter is evenly distributed. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crisp is golden brown and smells amazing. I like to serve this warm, so I make it while the soup simmers.

To make the Soup

Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Once hot, add the onions and a pinch of brown sugar. Season with a little salt and pepper. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. At this point, slowly add in the apple cider, let it cook into the onions, add more and continue to cook. Do this until the onions are caramelized. Add the apples and thyme to the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring, until softened, 8 minutes. Add in any remaining apple cider, the beer, chicken broth and cayenne. Bring to a simmer and cook 5-10 minutes or until the apples are tender. (This is when I bake the crumble)

Meanwhile, whisk the flour into the milk until smooth. Set aside.

Once the apples are soft, puree the soup until chunky smooth or completely smooth (whatever you like). Return the soup to the stove and bring to a low bowl. Whisk in the milk mixture and boil until the soup thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the cheddar cheddar cheese and brie until melted and smooth. Simmer the soup 5 minutes or until ready to serve.

Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the cinnamon pecan crumble. Plus maybe some extra cheese too!! Happy slurping!

http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/brie-cheddar-apple-beer-soup-cinnamon-pecan-oat-crumble/