24+ min ago (372+ words) With Thanksgiving just days away, federal food safety officials are reminding home cooks to follow proper thawing and cooking guidelines to ensure a safe holiday meal, according to FoodSafety.gov. The agency answered several of the most common questions consumers have about preparing a turkey safely. How to thaw a turkeyThe time needed depends on the thawing method: Officials emphasized that turkeys should never be thawed on the counter or in hot water, and no food should sit at room temperature longer than two hours. Should you wash your turkey?FoodSafety.gov says no. Washing raw poultry can spread bacteria to nearby surfaces. If someone chooses to wash their turkey anyway, they must thoroughly clean and sanitize the sink, counters and tools afterward. Sanitizing requires applying a solution made with 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water…...

2+ hour, 9+ min ago (466+ words) Thanksgiving does not need much of an introduction, but its menu keeps shifting with time. With the 2025 holiday set for November 27, more homes are putting vegan dishes next to the classics. Here is a rundown of plant-based recipes that still feel like Thanksgiving. One of the most common plant-based additions on Thanksgiving is sweet potato casserole. This version leans savory, not sugary, with nuts and herbs doing most of the flavor work. Ingredients: 5 large sweet potatoes, butter or olive oil, milk (any kind), ground ginger. For topping, you can have garlic, maple syrup, butter or olive oil, old-fashioned oats, rosemary, sage, dried thyme, pecans and walnuts. Bake the sweet potatoes first. While they soften, pulse the nuts, oats, herbs, garlic, maple syrup, and oil until the mixture starts to clump. Blend the cooked sweet potatoes with milk, ginger, salt, and…...

6+ hour, 13+ min ago (448+ words) These easy tarts are the perfect holiday appetizer. With a blend of sweet fig jam, creamy goat cheese and juicy pear slices all baked in flaky puff pastry, they're a crowd-pleasing combination of sweet and savory flavors. These tarts are simple to assemble, bake quickly, and add an elegant touch to any holiday spread. Johnny Autry; Charlotte Autry (styling) This easy method produces all the good looks and moist flavor you dream of in an oven-roasted turkey. Make sure you show this beauty off at the table before you carve it. Garnish your serving platter with fresh herb sprigs and citrus wedges for a showstopping Thanksgiving turkey. These French-Onion Melting Potatoes take inspiration from the flavors of classic French onion soup with richly caramelized onions, beefy broth and a blanket of melted Gruy're. Yukon Gold slices roast until crisp on…...

6+ hour, 55+ min ago (494+ words) BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - Thanksgiving week is here and for many, the turkey is the star of the show. But achieving that perfectly golden, juicy and flavorful bird can be a challenge. Danny Morrison of Epicures Catering shared his secrets for cooking the perfect turkey. Morrison said to remove the turkey from the refrigerator 30 minutes to an hour before roasting. Remove any packaging, plastic, pop-up thermometer, neck and bag of giblets from the body and neck cavities. Pat the inside and outside of the turkey dry with paper towels and set it in a roasting rack in a roasting pan to give the skin time to dry out. Heat the oven to 450 degrees with a rack in the bottom third of the oven. Melt the butter with herb sprigs in a small saucepan over medium heat, then turn off the heat....

7+ hour, 53+ min ago (235+ words) Hint: It's a Southern staple. There's nothing quite like a warm, pillowy pile of scrambled eggs. And it's true that everybody seems to have their'own trick'to achieving scrambled perfection, whether it be a splash of cream, milk, cornstarch, or even the Dolly Parton-approved drops of ice water. But leave it to'food-science whiz'Alton Brown to suggest an ingredient that manages to raise even our seasoned eyebrows. And it's a Southern staple no less. In his 2016 book'Everyday Cook,'the television host offers an innovative recipe for scrambled eggs that includes mayonnaise. Yes, everyday, ordinary mayo. In "Scrambled Eggs V3.0," Brown whisks 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon of water into his eggs before scrambling. The result, he proclaims, is creamier than anything dairy alone can produce. Now, before you get all hot and bothered, remember that'mayonnaise'is basically eggs in another form. (Read: emulsified yolks…...

8+ hour, 42+ min ago (134+ words) Thanksgiving tables in Lafayette'are as rich in tradition as the city's cuisine. Beyond the roasted turkey, locals have strong opinions about their favorite side dishes that make the holiday meal unforgettable. Other local favorites include'dirty rice " a flavorful Cajun classic " and'green bean casserole, which adds a comforting touch to any holiday spread. For those craving a touch of spice,'jalape'o cornbread'or'smothered okra'are seasonal staples that keep the Louisiana flair alive. Whether served at family homes or community gatherings, Lafayette's Thanksgiving sides reflect a mix of cultural heritage and culinary creativity. These dishes not only complement the main course but also highlight the unique tastes of Acadiana, making the holiday a true celebration of local flavor. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lafayette Thanksgiving Sides: Favorite Local and Cajun Holiday Recipes...

9+ hour, 26+ min ago (592+ words) A fiber-rich dinner can alleviate an unfortunate and bloated Thanksgiving night, experts tell The Independent More than 90 percent of Americans are preparing to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday next week, and may already be dreaming about what their family will serve up. Warm, fluffy stuffing, bread crumb-crusted mac and cheese, gravy-filled, buttery mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie are fan favorites " but they can also leave your intestinal system in distress and send you running for the bathroom. Many of these holiday staples are high in fat and refined sugar that can slow digestion, leading to uncomfortable bloating and gas. But experts say making better choices for what to add to your Turkey Day plate can help to prevent discomfort. "Thanksgiving doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing holiday," Hartford Healthcare's Dr. Ulysses Wu said in a statement shared with The Independent. "It's…...

9+ hour, 42+ min ago (1609+ words) Jordan Cooper / Nov 25, 2025 My first vegan Christmas was a Tupperware of sad vegetables while everyone else ate comfort and tradition. My first vegan Christmas dinner was a disaster. Picture this: I showed up to my parents' house with a Tupperware of sad-looking roasted vegetables and a bag of quinoa, thinking I'd proven some kind of point. Meanwhile, everyone else was passing around dishes that smelled like childhood, tradition, and comfort. I felt virtuous, sure, but I also felt like I was eating at a completely different table. That was eight years ago, right after I'd cleaned out my fridge and donated my leather jacket following a documentary that changed everything. I've learned a lot since then, mostly that creating a satisfying vegan Christmas has nothing to do with deprivation and everything to do with richness, warmth, and a little creativity....

10+ hour, 22+ min ago (248+ words) This is a dish I make whenever I come across good herbs at a good price. It's much simpler than it looks and can be ready, start to finish, in about 10 minutes. 2 tbsp vegetable oil 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 400g basa fillets, cut into 5cm pieces 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp chicken stock powder (optional) 1 tbsp tamarind paste 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges 1 stalk celery, peeled and thinly sliced 1 bird's eye chilli, sliced 1 cup mixed Vietnamese herbs such as coriander, mint and Thai basil Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the oil and garlic. Fry the garlic until lightly browned, then remove from the pot, leaving the oil in the base. Pour 1.5 litres of water into the pot and bring to a simmer. Add the fish to the water and simmer for 5 minutes, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface....

10+ hour, 31+ min ago (297+ words) The big day is almost here and now is the time to get ready for the morning full of cooking for Thanksgiving dinner. According to Butterball, you will need to allow a day for every 4 pounds of frozen turkey to safely thaw in the refrigerator. It should be breast-side up in the unopened wrapper, placed on a tray in the refrigerator. Once it is fully thawed, it should be cooked within four days, according to Butterball, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture advises it should be used within 2 days of thawing. If you're opting for the cold water thawing method, Butterball said it should be placed breast side down, again with the wrapper unopened, with enough cold water to cover the turkey completely. For every pound of turkey, it should take about 30 minutes. The USDA said the water should be changed…...