HELP! Turkey Trouble! Please advise

Also, I had planned to stuff the bird with stuffing.

sljones in Home Cooking

HELP! Turkey Trouble! Please advise

So I brined the turkey in a concentrated 4 hr brine per cooks illustrated, and my husband took it out to dry overnight to crisp the skin.

But we forgot to RINSE the turkey after the brine!

Uggh! What to do? Rinse now, and suffer soggy skin, or risk overly salty turkey?

How bad could it be???

Please advise!!!!

sljones in Home Cooking

How to brine/season turkey in under 24 hrs?

Great, thanks for the ideas. I wish I had more time, but I console myself knowing I'm getting a super-fresh, free-range bird.

So if I air dry the bird as suggested in the fridge, would I apply the herb butter right before cooking?

sljones in Home Cooking

How to brine/season turkey in under 24 hrs?

I'm getting a fresh turkey delivered to my house sometime Weds AM/early afternoon. I'd love to try Russ Parson's dry brine method, but I have less than 24 hours from the time I get the bird to the time I stick in the oven.

So how would you cook this turkey? I usually like aromatic seasonings, but am open to anything that will produce a tasty, flavorful bird!

Thanks so much!

Laura

sljones in Home Cooking

HELP! How to store these cakes?

So I've baked and decorated our Texas Sheet Cake and Carrott cake w/ piping and small decorations. But I don't have room in our fridge for both, and I can't cover w/ saran wrap w/o messing up the writing. Can I leave these on the counter for the next 8 hrs w/o them drying out? Can I put them in the freezer and take out closer to party?

Thanks for any ideas, I hadn't thought this fully through (but they look great!)

Laura

sljones in Home Cooking

Easy cake decorating for boys bday?

I like both these ideas. Chowser, what knd of icing did you use for the road lines? Not sure best type to use on the cake.

Many thanks!

Laura Jones

sljones in Home Cooking

Easy cake decorating for boys bday?

I'm making some cakes for my two sons' birthday party, and am looking for very simple cake decorating ideas. I'd love suggestions also for the type of icing to use, and recipe would help!

This is a simple, relaxed event, so nothing fancy. But any ideas would be great! I'm making a Texas Sheet Cake and a carrot cake in a 9x13.

Thanks for any ideas to spruce it up a little bit!

sljones in Home Cooking

Birthday cake for a large crowd?

Thanks, that looks very promising! I assume carrot cake can also be made a sheet cake. Any ideas for a recipe for that?

This will be an outdoor event, so casual. I think the sheet cakes sound like the way to go.

sljones in Home Cooking

Birthday cake for a large crowd?

We're planning a double birthday party for a crowd of near 40, and I'm struggling to figure out how to handle the cake.

I'm an experienced cook, but haven't baked many cakes. I'm looking for kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing cakes and am considering the Double Chocolate Layer Cake from Epicurious, Dorrie Greenspan's Celebration cake and/or a carrot cake.

So any ideas? Can I double any of the cakes? How about freezing, does that compromise the flavor/texture? I feel like I can pull of two cakes for the day, but not more than that. I know the Dob Choc Cake has tons of comments but I'm not able to sift through them all.

Thanks for any advice!

sljones in Home Cooking

Help with grad party menu!

I need help! We're hosting a high school graduation party just weeks before we move with our two small kids. I'm feeling braindead when it comes to menu planning!

I need crowd-pleasing, easy to prepare and store foods that we can set out during the graduation party from 4-6. I'm thinking a few salads (pasta, etc), some finger foods, and some other snacky items and desserts.

I'd love to know some ideas to keep this simple and fun! After all, I'm the proud guradian of the graduate!

Thanks for your ideas!

Laura

sljones in Home Cooking

Suggestions for flourless chocolate cake or chocolate mousse?

I'm bringing a dessert to passover, and want to bring a knock-your-socks-off flourless chocolate cake or mousse. Any suggestion? Does Dorie Greenspan have a good recipe?
(Dairy is permitted at the passover, btw.)

Many thanks!

Laura

sljones in Home Cooking

Help! CI's not so foolproof pie crust

You know, I followed the directions to a T and it didn't mention anything about docking the crust. I've done it w/ single crusts in past, but wanted to go by the CI book so figured they had some reason for not pricking it. I'll stick w/ what I know in the future.

And yes, I do plead temporary insanity.

I'm also wondering if my oven temp could be off, will need to check that.
Thanks!

sljones in Home Cooking

Help! CI's not so foolproof pie crust

So with a toddler and a newborn, I'm out of practice making pie crusts. And it was never "natural" for me even in the best of times.

So I opted for Cooks Illustrated Foolproof Pie crust.

Here's what went wrong:

I cooled it for all the specified times, but the crimp on the edge melted down, no design or edge. And the bottom puffed up during the partial bake, even though I weighed down.

So what's up? What is the sleep deprived fool doing wrong?

sljones

sljones in Home Cooking

HELP! Family dinner ideas for picky toddler!

Thanks for the great ideas. I agree that what I really want is for him to broaden his tastes, and know that he likes diverse foods. So I don't want to "hide" foods ultimately, or continue to make separate foods for him

But I think we'll need two different strategies. I'd love to have some more foods around that are nutritionally packed, so that I know that he is living off more than cereal and bagels. And i think involving him in making things like muffins and granola is part of a larger process of exposing him to the pleasures of all things food.

But for the family meals, I'll serve him what eat, with one food that I know he likes. I've seen this boy flat out refuse food for days, so I know this will be a tough road. But I think it will pay off in the long run.

I'm loving the concrete ideas for family friendly foods, so please continue to send ideas!

sljones in Home Cooking

HELP! Family dinner ideas for picky toddler!

Thanks for the ideas! I'd love some of your muffin recipes! Pumpkin oatmeal, savory spinach and basil, and corn and bell pepper pancakes!

He is pretty discerning, so something off color will stop him from trying (pink pancakes.) But I'm willing to give it a try!

sljones in Home Cooking

HELP! Family dinner ideas for picky toddler!

I'd love a recipe for ricotta pancakes! He doesn't currently eat any veggie, pick up or otherwise. I guess I consider him picky b/c we feel we always have to pack food for him; we can never show up to a dinner or restaurant and know that he'll eat. I'm hoping to get to a place where he'll eat more of what we consider dinner food.

Thanks for your ideas!

sljones in Home Cooking

HELP! Family dinner ideas for picky toddler!

Our 2 year old son has been a very picky eater from birth. At his first birthday, he refused to taste the cake!

While working and pregnant with my second child (due in just a few short weeks!), I fell into the bad habit of feeding him meals I knew he would eat. But I'm ready to tackle this, and start exposing him to more foods at the family table. I don't want to cook separate foods for him, but I am willing to cook toddler friendly foods that can appeal to our whole family.

So what are some ideas? Anybody else succeed in helping picky toddler over come aversion to new tastes and foods? I'd love any recipes and strategies!

Here is a list of the few things he'll eat: Breakfast foods (cereal, pancakes and french toast, bacon); meatballs or kofte; noodles with pesto (not red sauce!); almond butter and jelly sandwich, yogurt, all fruit; breads; french fries (but not sweet potato).

Thanks for any ideas! I could really use some encouragement, as his refusals broke my will for a while.

sljones in Home Cooking

Favorite summer salads (beyond trad. pasta)

Weather cooperating, looks like our family will spend most of our summer weekends outdoors or running around. I'd love to have an array of summer grain salad recipes that we can carry around in our cooler, and that make the better part of a meal. I'm happy to hear about great pasta salads, but also very interested in other grains and combos.

So what are some of your favorites?

Here are two of our family standbys:

Mediterranean Couscous and Lentil Salad
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mediterranean-Couscous-and-Lentil-Salad-13106

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Quinoa-and-Black-Bean-Salad-12245

We also really enjoy a broccoli and rice salad with raisins from "Quick Vegetarian Pleasures."

sljones in Home Cooking

Healthy cookies for kids?

We're headed to a strawberry field this weekend. We have no problem getting him to eat tons of fresh fruit, but I'm also trying to find ways to get him to eat different grains (beyond semolina flour in noodles!) So I like the idea of some of these cookies that incorporate whole grains, etc. But we'll keep up w/ the fruits as well!

sljones in Home Cooking

Healthy cookies for kids?

I'm not happy w/ my oatmeal cookie recipe, so would love to see your basic version.

sljones in Home Cooking

Healthy cookies for kids?

I'd love the recipe for carrot cookies, if you'll share!

sljones in Home Cooking

Healthy cookies for kids?

I love this idea! I'll check out the book. I'll check out some of the recipes you mentioned as well!

sljones in Home Cooking

Healthy cookies for kids?

Our toddler is the pickiest eater I've ever seen, and we're always struggling to find ways to introduce new foods. Of course, he loves all things sweet and especially cookies. Any suggestions on tasty cookies that also deliver some nutritional value? I'm thinking things w/ oatmeal, dried fruits, nuts, etc. Of course, they have to taste enough like a sweet treat to interest the discerning eater. I have a few oatmeal raisin cookies, but don't love the recipes I'm using.

Thanks for any ideas and recipes!

sljones

sljones in Home Cooking

What to do w/ my roasted peppers and eggplant?

With a teen, a baby and a job, I can barely remember where I left my shoes, much less figure out new and interesting things with my beautiful CSA veggies. I threw two eggplants and about 5 red peppers in the oven and roasted them, figuring I'd come up with a tasty dish for them later.

So help me out, folks! What can I make w/ my roasted veggies? I'm not interested in spread and dips, b/c i feel like I need to make my kitchen time count towards substantive meals. So main dishes would be most appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

sljones in Home Cooking

Food for 9m. baby, no teeth, wants to feed himself

Our son (now 1 year) really loved all forms of melon. We also discovered that he loved the taste of dill pickles. He didn't eat the whole thing, but gnawed on it. We gave him crackers and rice cakes at that age. And he went absolutely nuts with delight for any form of seasoned ground meat--kofte, burgers, meatballs We found he did better w/ ground meat than bread, b/c the bread would gum up in his mouth, but the fat kept the meat more moist.. We frequently ran the ground beef through the food processor to make the texture.

Don't forget things like hummus, lentils, beans. You can smoosh them or spread them on the bread or crackers.

Have fun! 9 mnths was a big change for us, b/c our pediatrician instructed us to stop giving him separate food, and start making sure he ate almost exclusively what we eat. It took a little work, but w/in a few weeks, he was eating mostly big people food!

sljones in Home Cooking

Baby-friendly Richmond restaurants?

Hi all,

We'll be in Richmond Sun and Monday this weekend, and are looking for tasty places to eat. We have a 7 mth old, so are looking for bkfst, lunch or early dinner spots.

Thanks for any ideas!!!

Laura

sljones in Mid-Atlantic

subs for sweet red wine

I'm making the Pork and Orange Flavored Beans from Paula Wolfert's Slow Mediterranean Kitchen. She calls for sweet red wine like Marasala or Madeira, but I don't have those. I do have reg cab, dry and sweet sherry, brandy and port. Any suggestions on a substitution

Many thanks, (and sorry for the double post by I'm making it now!!)

sljones

sljones in Home Cooking

Help w/ Wolfert's Orange Pork n Beans

I'm all set to make Paula Wolfer's Pork and Orange Flavored Beans, but just realized I don't have a Madeira or Marsala wine on hand. She calls for sweet red wine, and offers those examples. What can I sub? I have port, and dry and sweet sherry on hand, as well as some red wine.

Thanks for your thoughts!!!

sljones

sljones in Home Cooking

Brisket

so this is different from Joan Nathan's "My Mother's Brisket," which include 1 1/2 cup vinegar and chili sauce, yes? We used that one this year. I enjoyed, but didn't feel we'd found the fall back recipe. Will get the other mother's brisket a try.

sljones in Home Cooking