Epicurista

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2

Zinfandel Wine Event, Chicago - May 20
2008-05-04 21:49:00
I can't wait!!!  I am so excited for the many winemakers who will be making an appearance in Chicago at ZAP's Zinfandel 's Grand Tasting at The Mid-America Club.   Zinfandels from many of California’s growing regions will be featured and certainly tasted! I can't wait to meet face to face with winemakers and winery owners from 30 ZAP member wineries.  Of course, I will have many important questions answered such as:  Where does Zinfandel grow best? What are the characteristics of Zinfandel grown in the different areas? How do you best match Zinfandel with food? But, most importantly I will be testing and tasting these great wines to see what stacks up the best.  I will certainly share my findings with you after this event.  But, if you can make it, please join me on May 20, from 6:30-8:30 PM to get many of your "need-to-know" Zinfandel questions answered.  Tickets are available here. 
More About: Event , Wine

Tommmy's Twisted Mojito
2008-04-22 15:12:00
There is one drink that just soothes my soul and this is the Tommy Bahama Mojito.  Recently, we made a trip back to California where I was able to make it to Tommy Bahama's Cafe for a wonderful little party with some dear friends.  Of course, I couldn't make a trip there, without ordering my all time favorite, my refreshing and delicious  TB Mojito.  I did a little research to find this drink for you to enjoy (okay, and there were some selfish reasons involved as well) and here is what I came up with:Tommy's Twisted Mojito1 oz. Tommy Bahama Golden Sun Rum1 oz. Vanilla Bourbon.5 oz Ginger Beer2 oz. SpriteLime, Mint, Fresh Ginger Muddle 1 quartered lime, 5 mint leaves and 2 dime size pieces of fresh ginger with a few ice cubes.   Add TB Golden Sun and Vanilla Bourbon and shake once.  Serve over ice and top with sprite and ginger beer.Garnish:  Lime wedge and sugarcane stick.   Mmmm...... Enjoy!

Spring has Sprung!
2008-04-22 05:09:00
There is much excitement on the streets of Chicago with consecutive days of warm weather!  Can this really be?  Have we finally arrived to this special time? With much hope, thoughts of budding flowers and a desire for al fresco dining, my mind seems to come back to some of the best of Spring foods.Some of these typical seasonal ingredients should get you thinking with a bit of Spring in your step! Here are some Spring favorites:AsparagusArtichokesBananasOyste rsGreen BeansCherriesMangoesStay tuned to Epicurista for some fun ideas with Spring Foods!

Cheesy Talk on Cheese Ideas!
2008-01-24 19:16:00
Cheese is sooo... good! I am sure many of you are like me and you delight in new ventures and varieties of cheese.  Similar to mushrooms, as I described earlier, there are so many choices and so many tastes!  So, where should you head when choosing the perfect cheese?  Much of this is up to your own palate and preference.     I am going to put a spin on some classic cheeses and offer you some unique ideas for serving them.1. Mozzarella- We have all had mozzarella on pizza or bought it in plastic wrap, but if you have not tried the balled buffalo milk mozzarella in water, you need to test it out.  Take the mozza ball out of the container, slice it thinly and place on a multiple  slices of salted tomato, add some basil and lightly sprinkle balsamic vinegar and EVOO on top.  Place on 2 slices of bread and top with prosciutto.   You will thank me later.2. Feta -  This famous cheese from Greece, which is hard yet crumb...
More About: Ideas , Cheese , Talk

Top 10 Restaurants in a City Near You!
2008-01-10 16:37:00
MSN offers the great resource of a restaurant city guide.  I know that I often have a hard enough time making up my mind on which Chicago restaurant we should test out.  So, it is extremely helpful to have a guide like MSN's, where they offer up the top 10 restaurants in over 80 U.S. cities.  It should help your decision making skills on nights where you will be heading out! Check out your city!
More About: Restaurants , City

Types and Varieties of Mushrooms!
2008-01-02 21:07:00
Have you ever been at the grocery store and pondered what type of mushroom you should select?  What is a lady to do with all of these options- Porcini, Oyster, Shiitake, Button Mushrooms ...to name a few!  I find myself interested with the many varieties of mushrooms and the intricacies between them.     I want to demystify the mushroom a bit, while helping you in your quest for a fabulous tasting and looking mushroom, by giving a couple of pointers on some of the popular shrooms!Button Mushroom (Agaricus):  These are the mushrooms that most widely available.  You will often find them chopped up in a box or whole.  They have a light brown coloring and are well suited for salads served raw, or you can cook them too. They are very versatile.Crimini Mushrooms: These mushrooms offer a bit more flavor than the button mushroom and tend to be darker as well.  Opt for these and try something new.  These are younger versions of Porta...
More About: Types

Fondue on New Years!
2007-12-30 15:20:00
Fondue.  The thought occurred to me as I was perusing a favorite cooking store, "Fondue would be a completely fun and unique treat for New Years !".   Some of you may be looking for a more casual, laid back, interactive and easy night and I think a fondue night is just perfect if you have those goals.  Remember there is a lot of hanging around until that ball heads down, and this could be a great idea to keep all guests entertained.And, don't think of the boring old fondue...cheese and chocolate with bread or fruit.  There are so many ways to jazz up this retro dish.  Food Network Online offers up various recipes and ideas, including a peanut butter and fluff sandwich or a macaroon dipped in chocolate, chocolate with Grand Marnier,  and cheese fondue with cherry brandy. There are so many options!  Get Creative! Perhaps you even have various hot olive oils with unique breads.  What I like about the fondue idea...
More About: Appetizers , New Years , Fond

5 Favorite Foods/Drinks -New Years Parties!!!
2007-12-29 22:28:00
The party is on for New Years  night!!!!  By now, your invitations are out, your house is clean (hopefully!) and all you have to do is finish up any last minute shopping!   Here is the deal....if you are still debating on what you need to do to make sure your party is "as good as it gets" then I want to provide you with some last minute ideas, especially since diets do not begin until Monday!! Whoo...hooo!  Forget those resolutions...the final minutes are counting down until everyone and their mother hits the gym.  :)Top 5 New Years Food Favorites....5.  "This is an oldie, but such a goodie."  "Tried but True."  "As good as gold."  Okay, enough of the clichés....they are so last year!  Really though, I am talking about shrimp cocktail.   Can we go wrong serving this?  NO, and get some cute serving dish too to make this dish dazzle!4.  Dips....mmm......
More About: Drinks , Appetizers , Parties , Foods

Christmas Dinner Around the World!
2007-12-21 21:15:00
My mom is Italian, my dad is Irish and my husband is from Eastern Europe...Romania to be specific...so what in the world do we have for Christmas dinner?  Fried Oysters are a family tradition at my house (since we are in Maryland!), but my husband is craving cabbage stuffed rolls....what is an Epicurista to do?  I thought it would be interesting to list 8 International Christmas Dinner s, as presented in Real Simple Magazine.  Czech Republic: Fish soup, fried carp, potato saladEthiopia: Spicy stew over flat sourdough breadFrance: Oysters (like me!), roast goose, and foie grasHungary: Meat Broth with Egg Noodles, stuffed cabbage (which my husband wishes he was having)Mexico: Pork Loin, Fire roasted poblanos with meat stuffing and walnut saucePoland: Waffles, sauerkraut, carp (no offence to the Polish, but this is one weird meal)Scotland: Wild Bore Terrine, fruits laced with Glayva Liqueur, poached salmon.South Africa: Suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins.So what ...
More About: World , Around the world , The World

4 Chocolate Facts- YUM!!!
2007-12-18 15:19:00
I don't care what time of the year it is, one fact remains the same...we all love chocolate (and if you don't, then I am so sorry you don't get to experience the amazing joy that chocolate brings into one's life).  So, anyway, we all love chocolate, and for that reason, and for all the little truffles and fudge that we have popped in our mouth at one time or another, I think we should learn a bit more about this great delight.Chocolate Facts :1.  Chocolate originated from the Aztecs and the Mayans.  They used to crush the cacao seed with water to enjoy the flavors to create their beverage of choice.  In fact, until recent times, chocolate had been served in drinking form 90% of the times it was served.2.  The Aztecs and Mayans used chocolate for its healing powers over illness back in the day.  The funny part about it is, as many of you have heard, chocolate can be good for our health.  Some discussed benefits of dark chocolate is that it l...

Lydia's Famous Cream Puffs!
2007-12-17 16:02:00
I attended a fabulous Christmas Party last night, hosted by, Allison, a very dear friend of mine (pic below)!  I knew it was a get together that was not likely to disappoint...and I was right!  My friend, who I met at the wonderful school, The University of Maryland, whipped up some first class desserts that had just the right finish to the night's events!  So, in pure Epicurista style, I snatched the recipe from her and her husband (it is her husband's mom's recipe) and I am fully prepared to present it to you so that you can impress your guests just like Allison did with me!Here we go! Lydia's Famous (now that they are on the internet) Cream PuffsIngredients:1 cup water1/2 cup butter1 teaspoon sugar1 cup flour4 large eggsFilling:1 box Instant Vanilla or Chocolate Pudding Whip Cream- as needed  (whisk these together as needed for consistency)Topping:Melted chocolate chipsHow To:1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.2. Combine wate...

4 Christmas Tips by Gordon Ramsay!
2007-12-15 16:28:00
Let's all try to steer clear of any "Kitchen Nightmares" this Christmas !  That is just not the time to mess around, of all days!  I know I wrote about tips yesterday, but I figure that we can use all the help we can get for this special day! This will be Part II of cooking tips for Christmas!  And this time, I will share with you Gordon Ramsay's secrets to making some of the best dishes around!Here we go.....Tip I: Timing-  Again, like Tom Aikens, Ramsay says time your food right!  "Less stress is better results", and I couldn't agree more!   He mentions that having the meat ready up to a half an hour before serving and having vegetables cooked, soaked in cold water and then refreshing them in a pan with olive oil.  I would never have thought of this, but it make sense.  He says, right before serving time, you want to make "the final stages of cooking into an assembly line where it is easier...
More About: Tips , Gordon Ramsay , Ordo

5 Cooking Tips for Christmas Dinner!
2007-12-14 17:14:00
Michelin chef Tom Aikens shared some culinary tips for making our Christmas dinner extraordinary!  Here are 5 tips to help us make sure that we do this!Tip 1: Get the best possible produce that you can.  If you go Organic, "it will make your dish taste better."  Your Epicurista adds: Fresher the better...if you can buy local all the better.  Try to make it out to your local farmers market if possible for your produce!Tip 2: It is all about timing.  Prep the day before.  He says, "leave the turkey out of the fridge overnight to give the meat a chance to relax and come to room temperature.  This cuts the cooking time and keeps the meat moist". Your Epicurista adds: Make Lists, check them twice..and be prepared for grocery shopping.  Get organized at home depending on when you are cooking.TIP 3: Make your own homemade cranberry sauce.  He says it is easy, "all you need is fresh or frozen cranberries, mixed ...
More About: Cooking , Dinner , Tips

The Winner of the Pie Cookoff & the recipes too!
2007-12-12 16:15:00
So, my husband and I had a major Pie Cook-off!  We tried our best to cook our pies with all the love and affection that we could possibly muster trying to make our own pie the winner in our all out "Pie Cook-Off" on Thanksgiving, but of course there can only be one winner!  My husband went for the German Chocolate Pecan Pie  (right pic) and I went for the Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie (left pic).               ;      &nbs p;      &nb sp;      &n bsp;      & nbsp;               ;      &nbs p;      &nb sp;      &n bsp;      & nbsp;             &nb.. .
More About: Recipes , Winner , Reci

Coffee Eggnog Cocktail & More Cocktail Ideas!
2007-12-11 20:08:00
I have talked about hors d'oeuvres for your holiday parties and I have decided that I would be terribly misguided not to talk about Holiday Cocktail s!  See, if we have some great holiday parties, we probably need a fun and spunky cocktail to go along with the theme, so here are some ideas.Coffee Eggnog Ingredients:2 quarts chilled purchased eggnog 1/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 3 tablespoons instant coffee flakes 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 to 1 cup whiskey/bourbon 1 quart coffee ice cream   sweetened whipped cream freshly grated nutmegHow To:Mix eggnog, brown sugar, instant coffee and spices in a large bowl; beat on low speed allowing sugar to dissolve using an electric mixer. Refrigerate 15 minutes; stir until coffee dissolves and stir in whiskey. Cover, Refrigerate for one hour. Pour into fun holiday bowl or glasses, leaving enough room for ice cream. Top with scoops of coffee ice cream. Garnis...
More About: Ideas

Celebrity Chefs- Favorite Holiday Recipes!
2007-12-10 17:37:00
As I expressed earlier, I am continuously interested  ;in what our much loved tv chefs are up to for their own holiday dishes!  So, in my quest to find the best rated and most delicious recipes, I have searched out what some of these favorite people, including Giada De Laurentiis, Masahauru Morimoto and Mario Batali are up to!  And of course, Bobby Flay too!I was intrigued with some of the recipes they offered up,  such as Flay's Fresh Cranberry- Mango Relish , Nigella's Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Blue Cheese (which I am not too interested in because I do not like sweet potatoes, but some of you may like it),  Batali's Penne with Zucca and Morimoto's Mashed Potato Soup with Wasabi!  Anything with Mashed Potatoes and wasabi makes me intrigued.Check out more of these recipes, and let me know which you like the best! 
More About: Recipes , Holiday , Celebrity , Favorite , Reci

Cooking Contests- Win Money!!!
2007-12-08 18:44:00
We could all use some extra cash these days, with all the shopping that is going on!  Here are 3 cooking contests that you can participate in to aide you in your holiday shopping sprees.2007 Annual Recipes ContestWin $1,000, if you are the grand prize winna, or be one of the 9 finalists that walks away with $100!  Just provide your best recipe in any category and make sure they are amazing, and you could win!2007 Christmas Cookie ContestDo you have some fab cookie recipe???? Well submit it here and you could be the winner of $500.  Holiday Dinner Recipe ContestJust share a scrumptious dinner recipe that you love for the holidays and have the chance to win $500!  Oh, and please don't forget your Epicurista that referred you!  ;)
More About: Cooking , Money , Contests

3 Easy Hors D'oeurves/Appetizers for the Holidays!
2007-12-06 18:54:00
Let's talk Hors D'oeurves!  Parties abound and I have to say that one of my favorite things at these parties is to pop some delicious Hors D'oeurves in my mouth!   Of course, it can be a bit less fun if you are the one preparing these tasty treats.  Hopefully these 3 ideas will make your life a little easier if you are hosting a party within the next couple of weeks.  Super Simple Smoked Salmon TreatIngredients: Smoked SalmonCream CheeseDillCapersShallotsWater CrackersCaviar (optional)How To:Mix Cream Cheese and Dill, place on water cracker.  Add Smoked Salmon on top, drop a couple of capers and shallots on that bad boy and you have an amazing Hors D'oeurves.  Decorate on a plate with Caviar, if you like. So Easy and Pleasy Brie TreatIngredients:BrieYour favorite preserve (raspberry, apricot, strawberry)How To:Preheat 350. Grease a pie plate, place brie on bottom and top with preserve.  Cook 30 min and place on a buttery cra...
More About: Holidays , Appetizers , The Holidays

Best Maryland Crab Cake Recipe & Story!
2007-12-04 16:53:00
I thought I would share my latest article from Green Faucet with you. Hope you like it!Home Cooking- Near and Dear to our Hearts There is nothing like some good homemade cheese soup, ice cream or Maryland Crab s to (literally) fill me up when I am feeling down! Well, actually there are probably some better nutritional options, but what I am saying is that these things are more than just great tasting; they are soothing to the soul. You see, I loved these foods as a child, and somehow, when I need some comfort these are the kinds of things bring me warmth. But isn’t this true of all of us? Can’t you think of those things that your mom would make especially for you? Those things that remind you of your home, your friends, your parents? Or foods that bring back memories that you hold near and dear to your heart? We all need these simple reminders of childhood life as our days get crazier and crazier. Many times these simple reminders come in the form of delicious childhood f...
More About: Story , Recipe , Cake

12 Funny and Intriguing Food Facts!
2007-12-03 18:20:00
1. The onion actually means "large pearl" in Latin.  If you think about it, it kind of does look like a pearl when peeled.2.  Ice Cream actually came from China? Believe it!  Marco Polo came back from China to Italy in 1295 and he brought a recipe for a dessert called "Milk Ice".  I suppose that there was a bit of European influence as well, considering that they were the ones who added the cream, instead of the milk.  The bottom line is that I don't really care who invented it; I am just happy that it exists!3.   Carrots help with night vision.  Carrots are packed with Vitamin A, which increases vision.  Another quirky thing about carrots is that if you ate tons of them your skin could turn orange from the beta carotene content.  I used to worry about that as a kid, but I have learned I would have to eat A LOT of them to make this happen.  Plus, carrots have 0 fat so if you are thinking of trying this ...
More About: Funny , Food , Facts

Serve up some Antipasti!
2007-11-29 22:09:00
I recently enjoyed Antipasti at Quartino's in Chicago on 626 N. State Street in Chicago.  I have to say, if you you make it to this restaurant, you should enjoy the wide variety of meats, cheeses, olives and assorted sputini they offer.  As you can probably already tell by this picture, I certainly enjoyed this fare myself.  I nibbled on 3 types of olives, including the Gaeta Liguarian, Green Abruzesse and Sicilian Oil Curec olives...and enjoy them I did!  I love olives!  Of course, I love cheese too and I decided to indulge myself with the Parmigiano Reggiano (always a goodie), the Pecorino (still another goodie) and the Asiago Vecchio (very good).  I prefer harder cheeses, so these did the trick for me.  Of course, I had to order some meats from this Salumeria.  So, I went for the Sopressata (salami), Proscuitto de Parma that was aged 18 months, and the Lonzino (air dried pork loin with spices).  By the way, yo...
More About: Some , Tipa , Serve

Sprinkles Cupcakes - A Bunch of Yum & Fun!
2007-11-28 19:21:00
I first sunk my teeth into a Sprinkles Cupcake at the Newport Beach, CA location.  And boy was this cupcake so ever moist and delicious! What I love about Sprinkles is that the icing is liberally spread and the flavor variety is massive!  You can order the favorite red velvet cupcake with the traditional cream cheese spread or you can go a bit more risky and choose things like chocolate coconut, cinnamon sugar, pb chocolate, mocha, ginger lemon and the list goes on and on depending on the day of the week!  I loved the red velvet and the carrot cupcake.  Mmm....They are so good!!!  I have great news for many of you out there....while their current stores are in primarily in California, Arizona and Texas, they are planning to plant stores all over the country.  Look out for Sprinkles in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, London, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Toyko and W...

5 Ways- Stop Crying when Cutting Onions!
2007-11-27 17:59:00
I hate crying!  Especially when it is due to onions!  It hurts too!  Maybe I am just a big wimp, but I figure that there are many of you that feel the same way as I do!  We love onions, sauteed onions, buttery delicious onions...but it becomes torturous trying to cut these darn things.  I hope this helps a bit!5 Tips to Stop the Crying over Onions !!!1. Cut the onions under running water.  Be careful though, please!  I don't want you to get hurt!  This prevents the sulfide from travelling up into our noses and inducing that terrible crying reaction.  Perhaps soaking them in water for a bit before cutting them is a better idea.  I will leave it up to you, but choose safely!2.  Put those fab onions in the freezer for 5 minutes or so and then get going on cutting them.3.  Make sure no one is around you, because this tip may be one you want to do alone.  Put on some goggles to prevent the vapors from getting to you.4....
More About: Cutting

Celebrity Chef Thanksgivings in Review!
2007-11-25 20:56:00
Thanksgiving came and went, and boy was it good!  There are so many fabulous and traditional dishes served up on this special day of thanks.  And I found that with all of this great food in front of me, it was nearly impossible not to be thankful! My thankful spirit and I got to wondering.  We got to wondering about some of the wonderful dishes that must have been served up in dining rooms across the nation.  (On a side note, these reality shows have gotten to me.  Sometimes, I wish I could be a fly on the wall and see all the amazing food that is served up at other people's Thanksgiving Festivities.  Then, of course I would share the best with you!)    So, anyway, I found it very interesting to see what some of my favorite Food Network Chef s were eating on this special day.  Whether it was Paula Deen's Turducken, a chicken and a duck stuffed in a turkey, or Sandra Lee's Butterscotch Apple Cider...
More About: Celebrity , Review , Hank

European Iron Chef Getaway Sweepstakes
2007-11-21 18:01:00
I am in search of all great things that will hone my culinary skills, especially if it involves going to Europe as well!  So, when I saw that Bon Appetit and the Food Network were offering a European Iron Chef Getaway , I somehow got very interested.  I thought you may be interested too!Here is the run down!  4 days, 3 nights in a European locale of your choice where you participate in first-rate cooking classes, that hopefully will teach you to cook like an "Iron Chef".  I am up for it!  The Sweepstakes ends November 27th, so get going!  Please let me know if you win, so I can become very jealous of you!  Have fun!  Happy Thanksgiving you all!  I hope you have a great day tomorrow!

5 Pie Crust Tips & More...
2007-11-20 19:44:00
I am all excited for Thanksgiving, just like everyone else by now.  I could care less about the Turkey or Gravy, which I have never been a big fan of, but I absolutely can not wait for the pies!  My husband and I are having our own Pie Cook Off!  We are making these scrum-diddly-umptious pies on Wednesday night and who knows, I may even eat mine on Thursday morning.  :)  That is how good my pie will be! I have searched the internet hard and long for a recipe that looks somewhat unique and a sure bet to beat out my husband!  I will keep you updated on the results.  As of now, I am undecided on the exact recipe I am going to use...basically it is a question of pumpkin or apples?  Hard one huh?   I will take a picture of both pies, so you all can decide for yourself who won this good ole pie contest!  But, one thing is sure...I must be focused!  One key area that could make or break me is the crust!  So, I am going ...
More About: Tips , Crust

Great Restaurants in the World!
2007-11-19 17:54:00
I am pleased to say that I have started to write in the Food and Wine Section for Green Faucet, a financial news website.  My latest article, A Story of Extreme Cultural Diversity with Exemplary Cultural Unity, is an article both on the differences in cultures between the US and other countries and on the uniting factor of amazing food.  I talk about the many great restaurants I visited in the Carribean and in China.  Check it out and take some notes on these great finds for your next vacation!   The picture below is me at Aqua in Barbados.  Can you see why they named this place Aqua?  I have to say that I loved this restaurant based on its amazing ambiance.  Find out more about Aqua in my article!Also, check Green Faucet weekly for more of my thoughts on Food and Wine!
More About: World , Restaurants , Great , The World

Excellent Cheap Wines!
2007-11-17 18:13:00
Is that possible?  To have excellent cheap wines?  Hmmm...it seems to me I often get what I pay for in life.  If I pay less, I get less.  However, the great thing about wine is that this rule may not always hold true.  There are some fantastic wines that won't break your bank.  Although, it is often hard to find these wines, with all the wine variety that is available to us.The good thing is that I have found someone who has done much of this leg work for us.  It must have been very arduous task!  I came across the Cheap and Good Wine List by Wine Goddess that has just been released for 2008.  She has taken the time to look into wines that are below the $20 mark, yet are just plain good wines.  Thanks much Wine Goddess!  I plan to take advantage of the fruits of your labor!
More About: Wines , Lent , Excellent

Best Thanksgiving Corn Recipe
2007-11-16 18:30:00
Turkey seems to get all the attention!  And that is just not fair when you have a recipe as amazing as the one I am about to share with you.   You see, my husband and I have a tradition of going to the Ritz Restaurant in Newport Beach, CA for a Christmas Dinner.  Our favorite part of this meal is, no doubt, the Ritz Corn .  Make this, and you will probably get many requests from friends and family for the recipe, guaranteed!So, here is the recipe (I can't believe that I am sharing this with the masses.  This is one recipe that should be kept a secret.  So, now you know how much your Epicurista really wants you to enjoy food and be proclaimed the best corn chef!)Ritz Corn....Ingredients1 1/2 T.  Butter1 1/2 T. Flour1/2 t. Salt1 1/2 c. Whipping Cream2 T. Sugar3 c.  Frozen Whole Kernel CornFreshly Grated Parmesan CheeseStart Cooking:1.  Melt butter in saucepan2.  Add flour & Salt, stirring to blend3.  Slowly add whipp...
More About: Thanksgiving , Recipe , Hank , Reci

Turkey Tips- How To's, Brining Guide and more!
2007-11-15 20:31:00
What is Thanksgiving without the Turk ey ?  With that said, I want to provide a couple tips and resources for your little bird on it's special day!Decide what type of turkey you want?  Do you want a kosher turkey, a mail order turkey, a pasteurized turkey or what?  The list goes on and on and so do the prices!  I found a great "What type of Turkey is the Best" Guid e from Cooks Illustrated that may direct you in this very important decision. Now, the other important question, "Do you Brine the turkey or not?" Brining is the process of soaking the turkey in a salt (sometimes sugar) and a liquid (often water) before cooking it to keep the juices flowing giving it a well seasoned taste and a good firmness.  The Basics of Brining gives an in-depth overview regarding this process and how to do it!  How much Turkey should you buy?  A good rule of thumb is one pound per per...
More About: Tips