Lazy-Day Chili

Posted by Adina Steiman

After all the planning, prepping, and cooking for Thanksgiving (not to mention the clean-up), the weekend is the perfect time to put your feet up and relax.  Of course, at some point in time, you will get hungry again -- and that's the perfect time to make this 30-minute chili.  It manages to be fast and fabulous, since it doesn't skimp on flavor-packed ingredients like chipotle chiles, some hearty beer, and a savvy blend of chili powder and cinnamon.  I love it with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and cilantro on top, but some tortilla chips wouldn't go amiss, either.  The perfect finale to a action-packed long weekend.

What ingredient do you think is essential for great chili?

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Posted by Alison Sickelka

Are you looking for a way to use up all those Thanksgiving leftovers sitting in your fridge? Rather than just reheating them, why not reinvent them into something even more delicious?

Transform your American feast into a simple Asian-inspired dish by using your leftover turkey in our Asian Turkey-Noodle Soup or take it south of the border with our Turkey-Poblano Tostadas. Your cranberry sauce can jazz up pancakes for a bright morning or add a twist to quesadillas.

The November issue of Martha Stewart Living offered some new takes on using up leftovers. They suggest Turkey Cobb Sandwiches, Penne with Goat Cheese, Kale, Olives, and Turkey, and Simplest Turkey Soup. For even more ideas, browse or gallery of Thanksgiving Leftovers.

Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!

Answers to Your Thanksgiving Questions

Posted by Caroline Wright

Here are our answers to your most recent questions. Be sure to check out the Thanksgiving hotline, where editors will be answering questions until 4 p.m. EST, and check out all of our previous Thanksgiving posts that offer various recipes, tips, how-tos, and anecdotes to help your Thanksgiving go off without a hitch.

OUR THANKSGIVING GUIDE:
Thanksgiving Resources: How to Carve the Turkey, Food Safety, Etc.
Appetizers and Cocktails
Stuffing Showdown
Turkey Tips
Simple Side Dishes
Sides and Pies
Pumpkin Desserts
Special Dietary Considerations
Ways to Save Money on the Feast
Get Organized
Meal Planning Tips
Equipment Tips

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Potluck Sides

Posted by Caroline Wright

It seems to me that, for being such a merry and joyful time of year, the holidays tend to stress a lot of people out. I get it -- to-do lists often get more expensive and more time-consuming with the added pressure of family and friends. At Everyday Food, we work hard to lessen as much of that for you as possible in our recipes and planning. But what happens when something gets left off your to-do list? Or you have too much to do with too little time? See, that's precisely where we shine! Let me show you what I mean.

Here are three potluck recipes for side dishes that can be made in less than a half hour, and from ingredients you might have on hand.

 

Linguine Arrabiatta

Posted by Adina Steiman

It's hard not to love pasta and tomato sauce, but it's especially good with a little something extra.  In this classic Italian twist on a basic red sauce, red-pepper flakes, white wine, and parmesan add extra flavor and a little bit of spice, perfect for a fast dinner that's a cut above.

PREP: 20 minutes
TOTAL: 25 minutes

GET THE RECIPE: Linguine Arrabiatta

Stuffing Showdown

Posted by Joseph Erdos

I love stuffing. It's the side dish that I look forward to making and eating at each Thanksgiving. Everyone has a different variation on stuffing, but typically each recipe has the ingredients of bread (or cornbread), eggs, and a mix of vegetables that can include celery, onions, or garlic.

My mom always makes stuffing with lots of parsley, mushrooms, and liver; I've always eaten it, but I've recently started to prefer vegetarian stuffing more and more (maybe I just don't like liver). So now we make two kinds every Thanksgiving; everyone's happy with this stuffing showdown!

Here at Everyday Food, we have a good selection of stuffing recipes from which to choose. (Many can easily be made vegetarian by replacing the chicken stock with vegetable stock, leaving out the giblets and liver, and cooking it separately from the turkey.) Here's a sampling -- enjoy!

Simple Harvest Sides for the Feast

Posted by Adina Steiman

With all the focus on the turkey, stuffing, and pies, it's sometimes easy to lose track of another Thanksgiving essential: glorious autumn vegetables. I'm talking sweet sugar pumpkins, hearty (and healthy) kale, nutty brussels sprouts, sunny butternut squash, and savory shallots. Even though they've been around in fine fettle for weeks now, the Thanksgiving table is the ideal time for them to shine.  Give them a little TLC, and you will be more than rewarded.

Take pumpkins, for instance. Pick a good, sweet variety, and you can transform it into a deliciously creamy soup to start off your meal. Roast it as a side dish to serve alongside the turkey, scented with two of its favorite companions, sage and shallots. For something a little more fancy, how about a creamy gratin topped with cheesy breadcrumbs? Blogger Clotilde Desoulier from Chocolate and Zucchini has a tempting version scented with vanilla.

Giving Thanks with Friendly Faces

Posted by Joseph Erdos

At work, there's no time for a real sit-down lunch; people just grab things on the go and eat at their desks while juggling tasks. I'm only in my first week as the new editorial assistant at Everyday Food, but I've learned that things here are sometimes a little different.

There are tastings in the test kitchen and, if we're lucky, there's even a get-together here and there. The finance department at MSLO hosted its annual pre-holiday buffet featuring dishes they cooked from Everyday Food -- and shared their wares with the magazine staff.

This year's organizer, Joanne Smith, explains the tradition: Everyday Food is a great, easily accessible magazine, especially for working families, and when the magazine debuted the finance department decided to celebrate by choosing a favorite recipe from an issue of Everyday Food to cook or bake. Each recipe is, Joanne says, "so easy to make that even the accountants can do them."

Beef and Scallion Stir-Fry

Posted by Alison Sickelka

Getting dinner on the table can be a challenge, especially during the busy holiday season. Beef and Scallion Stir-Fry is a delicious meal that you can make in less than 30 minutes.

We selected lean flank steak for this dish -- be sure to slice it diagonally across the grain for tender results. The stir-fry gets a sweet flavor from hoisin sauce, which can be found in the Asian section of your supermarket. Serve with white rice, and you have a great alternative to takeout.

What's your solution for making quick dinners?

PREP: 25 minutes
TOTAL: 25 minutes

GET THE RECIPE: Beef and Scallion Stir-Fry

Pumpkin Desserts

Posted by Adina Steiman

When it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, there are a range of classic options, like apple pie and pecan pie. But to me, nothing beats sweet treats made with pumpkin. Something about the earthy-sweet flavor and deep orange color just says Thanksgiving, especially when the dessert also includes spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. 

Pumpkin desserts can come in so many forms, too, from adorable little cookies and cheesecake bars to quick breads (especially ones with frosting). Of course, the queen of all Thanksgiving pumpkin desserts is pumpkin pie. 

What's the pumpkin dessert you love most?