Showing posts with label Christmas recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas recipes. Show all posts

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Confit Turkey Thighs

A delicious alternative to roast turkey, serving just a few people, these succulent confit turkey thighs have crispy skin and melt-in-your mouth meat.

Food Lust People Love: A delicious alternative to roast turkey, serving just a few people, these succulent confit turkey thighs have crispy skin and melt-in-your mouth meat.

Just a few months ago, I was looking for a roast pheasant recipe only to discover that, much like a whole turkey, if you roast a whole pheasant, you often end up overcooking the breast to get the thighs cooked. If you read my roast pheasant crown post, you know that I decided to separate the parts and cook them separately, choosing to confit the whole legs.

That’s because once you cook something with the confit method, you will want to confit all the things. Duck legs, pork belly, garlic, chicken gizzards, even tomatoes! I’ve cooked them all covered in oil or fat. I’ve even poached wild salmon in butter, which is essentially what the confit method is: Poaching something slowly in fat or oil.

So last Thanksgiving when I found myself with only three eaters to cook turkey dinner for, my thoughts, as per usual, turned to confit. I decided on turkey thighs because we do love the crispy skin and smaller joints like legs and wings don’t really have one big piece of skin to crisp up or, frankly, as much meat to share. 

I already bought my turkey thighs to repeat this dish for Thanksgiving this year and I can hardly wait. It’s that good! 

Confit Turkey Thighs

This recipe is easily doubled or trebled, if you have the right pot and enough duck fat. If you don't have duck fat, you can use another animal fat like goose fat, lard, or schmaltz (rendered chicken fat), or mild vegetable oils such as olive oil, canola oil or peanut oil. Keep in mind that some fats might change the flavor of the confit compared to the traditional duck fat method.

Ingredients
2 turkey thighs, bone-in, skin on – approx. weight = 1.87 lbs
Flakey sea salt – I like Maldon
Poultry seasoning
Freshly ground black pepper
2 bay leaves
Duck fat to cover in tightfitting pan or Dutch oven – I used 3 3/4 cups or 887ml

Method
Generously season the turkey thighs all over with the salt, poultry seasoning and black pepper in a shallow pan or casserole that will fit in your refrigerator. Tuck the bay leaves under the thighs and cover with cling film.


Refrigerate 24 hours or as many as 48 hours. 

When ready to confit the turkey thighs, preheat your oven to a slow 300°F or 150°C.  

Wipe the salt off gently with a paper towel and dry the thighs. Put them into a close-fitting oven safe pan or Dutch oven.  

Warm the duck fat gently if it is solidified.


Pour the duck fat over the turkey thighs to cover. They look like they are sticking out but there is a very thin layer of fat over the top. 


Bake at this gentle temperature for at least 3 hours. Remove from the oven and use a slotted spoon to put the thighs in a snug storage container with a lid. Pour the duck fat from the cooking pan over the thighs to cover. 


When chilled, the fat covering will protect the turkey thighs. 


These confit turkey thighs can be kept, carefully covered, in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them. As long as they are completely submerged in the duck fat and they are in an airtight container, they can last months. Confit is a great make-ahead dish.

To serve, bring the duck fat to room temperature and pour it off the turkey thighs. (Save it in a clean jar in the refrigerator for future use!)


Preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C. 

Brown the thighs skin side down in a hot pan. This just takes a few minutes.


Turn the thighs over and brown the other side. 


Bake the thighs, skin side up, in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. You can do this in an empty pan but last Thanksgiving, I popped them on top of the pan of stuffing since that needed to be baked as well. It was a good decision!


Baked and just out of the oven


To serve, remove the crispy skin and cut it into strips. Pull the turkey apart into large pieces. Discard the bones. Put the turkey in a serving bowl, surrounded by the skin so people can help themselves to both. 

Food Lust People Love: A delicious alternative to roast turkey, serving just a few people, these succulent confit turkey thighs have crispy skin and melt-in-your mouth meat.

Enjoy!

It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are acknowledging that not everyone has a crowd to cook for during the holidays. So, for those folks, we are sharing some holiday main courses with fewer diners in mind. Check out the links below. 

 
We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.


Pin these Confit Turkey Thighs!

Food Lust People Love: A delicious alternative to roast turkey, serving just a few people, these succulent confit turkey thighs have crispy skin and melt-in-your mouth meat.

.

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Spiced Hot Toddies

The perfect cozy beverage for chilly evenings, especially around the holidays, these spiced hot toddies are made with lemon, honey and whiskey. 

Food Lust People Love: The perfect cozy beverage for chilly evenings, especially around the holidays, these spiced hot toddies are made with lemon, honey and whiskey.

Theories abound regarding the invention of the hot toddy, a comforting drink made of lemon, honey or sugar, whisky and hot water. The most likely one is that they originated in India and were brought to Great Britain during the time that the British controlled that country. 

According to dictionary.com notes, in the 1610s, the Hindi word “taddy” meant “beverage made from fermented palm sap.” By 1786, taddy was officially written down and defined as “beverage made of alcoholic liquor with hot water, sugar, and spices.”

The hot toddy made its way north and west and gained appeal not only as a warming drink but also as a cure or at least reliever of the common cold, especially in cold climates. 

Historically a hot toddy is made with whisky but nowadays you can find recipes with rum, brandy and other liquors. You’ll notice that I spelled whiskey with an e in the title of this post. That’s because whisky without one comes from Scotland and whiskey with one is made in the US, which is my preference.

Spiced Hot Toddies

Yep, bourbon whiskey, specifically Bulleit, is what I used in these drinks but feel free to choose your favorite tipple for your own hot toddy! The amounts below make one drink but they are easily doubled for two.

Ingredients
¾ cup or 180ml water
1 ½ oz or 45ml whiskey
2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste
2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
1 lemon slice
1 cinnamon stick

Method
In a kettle or a small pot, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug.

Add the whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir with the cinnamon stick until the honey has dissolved into the hot water. 

Taste and add 1 teaspoon honey for more sweetness, and/or 1 teaspoon more lemon juice for more zing, if needed.

Add the lemon slice and leave the cinnamon stick in the mug. 

Food Lust People Love: The perfect cozy beverage for chilly evenings, especially around the holidays, these spiced hot toddies are made with lemon, honey and whiskey.

Enjoy!

It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are sharing recipes to spread Christmas cheer! Many thanks to our host, Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm. Check out the links below.


 
We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.



Pin these Spice Hot Toddies!

Enjoy!  It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are sharing recipes to spread Christmas cheer! Many thanks to our host, Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm. Check out the links below.  link list  Sunday FunDay  Pin these Spice Hot Toddies!

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Sunday, November 24, 2024

Ann Criswell's Thanksgiving Dressing

Ann Criswell’s Thankgiving Dressing is fluffy and rich. The best combo of regular and cornbread dressing, it's the perfect accompaniment to turkey and gravy.

Food Lust People Love: Ann Criswell’s Thankgiving Dressing is fluffy and rich. The best combo of regular and cornbread dressing, it's the perfect accompaniment to turkey and gravy.

When I was growing up, the great city of Houston had two daily papers, the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post. Sort of like mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, your family liked one or the other. 

I have no idea why we got the Chronicle instead of the Post and now my mom isn’t here to ask. But it arrived every day, thrown by a neighborhood boy named Tommy Hannan. Remember when you actually knew your paper boy and he had to collect the money as well as deliver the paper? Tommy was a couple of years older than me but he used to stop by to chat and collect the paper money from Mom. If memory serves, she wrote a check. The real olden days, y'all. 

Anyhoo, as a foodie from way back, one of the columns I enjoyed reading was Ann Criswell’s on food. Mrs. Criswell was the first editor of the Chronicle’s food section which debuted in 1966, a position she held until her retirement in 2000. 

Her interactive columns encouraged readers to write in with questions about methods, ingredients, recipes, in fact, anything to do with food and its preparation. She shared copious recipes and I never failed to learn something from reading her columns. 

She pioneered a format that allowed entire recipes to be neatly cut out and saved, which I’d love to see other magazines and newspaper replicate! So handy. Sadly, Mrs. Criswell was one of our casualties of COVID in 2020

Ann Criswell’s Thanksgiving Dressing

I can’t seem to find out which year Mrs. Criswell first shared this recipe which she said was a combination of her own great-grandmother’s dressing and Lady Bird Johnson’s recipe for cornbread dressing. She avowed that it was one of the most requested recipes during her tenure as editor. The original made a much bigger casserole, calling for a quart each of biscuits, bread and cornbread, and can be found here.

Ingredients
2 day-old buttermilk biscuits - mine weighed about 110g
2 slices day-old sandwich bread– mine weighed about 90g
2 pieces day-old cornbread – mine weighed about 200g 
1/2 medium onion, roughly chopped
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
2 green onions, roughly chopped
4 sprigs fresh parsley
1 teaspoon poultry seasonings
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
2 cups or 480ml (or more if needed) defatted turkey or chicken broth
1/4 cup or 57g melted butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
 
Method
Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and butter a casserole dish. 

Crumble the biscuits and cornbread and make fresh bread crumbs out of the sandwich bread. I used my food processor. If it isn’t stale enough, you can toast the bread a little. 


Mince the onion, celery and green onions in a food processor. Add in the parsley leaves and tender stems and pulse until finely chopped. 


In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, cornbread, biscuits, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper and cayenne. Toss well. 


Add the onion, celery, parsley, broth, melted butter and beaten egg. 


Mix well but toss lightly. Mixture should be quite moist, but not soupy.


Place in your buttered baking dish. 


Bake in your preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.


Serve warm with gravy. Enjoy! 

It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are sharing recipes for stuffing or dressing. I know for some families those names are interchangeable - I've used this one to stuff turkey, for instance - but everyone seems to have a favorite. Check out the link list below. 

 
We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.



Pin Ann Criswell’s Thanksgiving Dressing!

Food Lust People Love: Ann Criswell’s Thankgiving Dressing is fluffy and rich. The best combo of regular and cornbread dressing, it's the perfect accompaniment to turkey and gravy.

.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Xmas Eggnog Fudge

Turn everybody's favorite creamy, sweet holiday beverage into Xmas Eggnog Fudge with this simple recipe your friends and family are sure to love. It's perfect as a holiday gift or to take on the road for when you need an eggnog fix.

Turn everybody's favorite creamy, sweet holiday beverage into Xmas Eggnog Fudge with this simple recipe your friends and family are sure to love. It's perfect as a holiday gift or to take on the road for when you need an eggnog fix.

One of my favorite recipes for the holidays is my grandmother's homemade eggnog.  She always made enough for a houseful, starting with a gallon of milk and almost one dozen large eggs. 

I remember one of my last Christmases at home, following her around the kitchen as she made a batch, writing down the ingredients and her steps. Just four ingredients for a thick, rich, wonderful eggnog. When I got back to my house, I copied it out more neatly into a blank leaf at the back of my Good Housekeeping. I didn’t want to lose it.

I tend to halve the recipe for our smaller household and that still makes plenty. Mo’s homemade eggnog is always served warm with a splash of some strong stuff, either bourbon or rum. 

We also always have store-bought eggnog on hand because we like to drink it cold, spiked or not, and use it in baked goods like my streusel coffee cake, eggnog pound cake, muffins and mousse or homemade candy, like this Xmas eggnog fudge. 

I think it would be fair to say that we are huge fans of The Nog. Hope you are too!

Xmas Eggnog Fudge

Abject apologies for the lack of process photos for this recipe. The lighting was terrible and shots of the pot on the stove would genuinely not have been helpful to include. Make sure you use a timer and a candy thermometer and follow the instructions. You’ll be fine. (Any questions? Leave me a comment.)

Ingredients
2 3⁄4 cups or 550g sugar
1 cup or 240ml commercial good quality eggnog (NOT low fat)
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces or 170g white chocolate, chopped roughly (Use good quality- not baking chocolate or chips)
1 1⁄2 cups or 85g mini marshmallows
1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup or 150g almonds, toasted and chopped coarsely
1⁄8 cup or 30g butter (Do not substitute margarine!)
Freshly grated or powdered nutmeg for decoration. 

Method
Line a 9x9-inch 23x23cm pan with aluminum foil and set aside.

In a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix together the eggnog, sugar and salt, bring to a slow rolling boil over medium to med-high heat. Do not walk away from the pot. If it threatens to boil over, turn the heat down just a little bit. You still need a rapid boil. Set a timer for 2 minutes when it starts to boil.

When the timer rings, remove the pot from the stove and stir in the marshmallows and cinnamon.

Put the pot back on the stove and bring it back to a rolling boil and set the timer for 6 minutes. 

Put your candy thermometer in the pot. The temperature should reach at least 234°F or 112°C but no higher than 238°F or 114°C. Then the pot should be removed from the heat.

When the 6-minute timer rings or the mixture reaches the proper temperature, whichever happens first, remove the pot from the stove and stir in the butter, white chocolate and chopped almonds.

Stir rapidly with a wooden spoon until the butter and chocolate have melted and are completely incorporated and the mixture has a glossy appearance. 

Pour it into your prepared foil-lined pan and quickly sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired. Leave to cool completely at room temperature. 

To cut, remove the fudge from the pan by lifting the foil lining out and cut it into small squares with a sharp knife. It’s very rich so you can cut them quite small. 

Turn everybody's favorite creamy, sweet holiday beverage into Xmas Eggnog Fudge with this simple recipe your friends and family are sure to love. It's perfect as a holiday gift or to take on the road for when you need an eggnog fix.

You can put the squares in little candy liners to serve (or gift) or stack them on a decorative plate. 

Turn everybody's favorite creamy, sweet holiday beverage into Xmas Eggnog Fudge with this simple recipe your friends and family are sure to love. It's perfect as a holiday gift or to take on the road for when you need an eggnog fix.

Store in a sealed container in a cool, dry place. 

Enjoy! 

Welcome to the 24th edition of the 2024 Alphabet Challenge, brought to you by the letter X. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the X recipes below:


X. Xmas Eggnog Fudge -  this post!


Pin this Xmas Eggnog Fudge!

Food Lust People Love: Turn everybody's favorite creamy, sweet holiday beverage into Xmas Eggnog Fudge with this simple recipe your friends and family are sure to love. It's perfect as a holiday gift or to take on the road for when you need an eggnog fix.

.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Stuffed Turkey Cutlets

Stuffed Turkey Cutlets are a fun, attractive way to serve turkey and stuffing. Each person gets an individual stuffed “turkey” wrapped in bacon. This recipe is great main dish for a low stress party. No more wondering if the turkey is perfectly done. It is! 

Food Lust People Love: Stuffed Turkey Cutlets are a fun, attractive way to serve turkey and stuffing. Each person gets an individual stuffed “turkey” wrapped in bacon. This recipe is great main dish for a low stress party. No more wondering if the turkey is perfectly done. It is!

Personally, we like stuffing all year long, not just for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I often find myself frying sausage meat and mixing it up to roast under chicken thighs, as a filling for squash or occasionally, just baking it in a pan as a side dish. 

You will find the ingredient list and method below for the stuffing I make over and over again but please feel free to use your favorite recipe here as well. I know that for some families their own treasured stuffing recipe cannot be changed! 

Stuffed Turkey Cutlets

Cutlets or escalopes of turkey can be found at most grocery stores these days. While they are more expensive per pound than a whole turkey, not a bit will go to waste. And look at how pretty they are! 

Ingredients
For the sausage stuffing:
7 1/2 oz or 215g good quality fresh sausage (3-4 links)
6-7 slices stale bread, toasted and cubed
1/3 cup or 75g butter
1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
2-3 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 1/2 cups or 180ml turkey or chicken stock
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 large egg

To assemble:
10 turkey cutlets (approx. weight 2 1/2 lbs or 1135g) 
10 slices smoked bacon
toothpicks

For decoration – optional
20 fresh sage leaves
10 fresh cranberries
toothpicks

Method
Cube the bread and add it to a large bowl that all the stuffing ingredients will fit in, with room to stir.


Remove the sausage from the casings and fry until golden in a skillet, breaking it into crumbles as you go. Remove the sausage from the pan with a slotted spoon and remove all but a tablespoon of any rendered fat. 


Add the butter to the frying pan and turn the heat on low. Sauté the onion and celery in the butter until it’s soft and translucent. 


Add the poultry seasoning, a few generous grinds of black pepper, and the 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne and mix well. 


Add the onion mixture to the bowl with the bread. 


Add the crumbled fried sausage back in and stir. Now add the broth and stir again.
 

Set the stuffing aside to cool. 

Meanwhile, put the turkey cutlets, one at a time, between two large pieces of cling film on a cutting board and use the side of your rolling pin or a similar implement to flatten them out. 


Use new pieces of cling film for each turkey cutlet and set them in a stack, still between the cling film till you’ve pounded them all flat. 

Add the egg to the cooled stuffing and mix well. 

Lay one turkey cutlet on your working surface. Remove the top piece of cling film and discard. Put about 1/10th of the stuffing into the middle of the turkey cutlet and fold the sides over to cover it securely. 


Roll each of the stuffed turkey cutlets up in the bottom piece of cling film and line them up to chill on a plate in the refrigerator as you get them each made.
 
Once they are all made, preheat your oven to 375°F or 190°C. 

Remove the cling film from each cutlet and wrap them with one slice of bacon. Secure with toothpicks and place in a large baking pan. 


Roast in your preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and center of the stuffing reaches a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C.

If desired, decorate each stuffed cutlet by securing two sage leaves and a fresh cranberry with a toothpick. Remove the other toothpicks to serve.

Food Lust People Love: Stuffed Turkey Cutlets are a fun, attractive way to serve turkey and stuffing. Each person gets an individual stuffed “turkey” wrapped in bacon. This recipe is great main dish for a low stress party. No more wondering if the turkey is perfectly done. It is!

Of course, the pan drippings can used to make gravy and I recommend you do! Follow this easy instructional video from TheKitchn.

Serve the stuffed turkey cutlets with cranberry sauce and your favorite gravy. 

Food Lust People Love: Stuffed Turkey Cutlets are a fun, attractive way to serve turkey and stuffing. Each person gets an individual stuffed “turkey” wrapped in bacon. This recipe is great main dish for a low stress party. No more wondering if the turkey is perfectly done. It is!

Enjoy! 

Welcome to the 20th edition of the 2024 Alphabet Challenge, brought to you by the letter T. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the T recipes below:
Food Lust People Love: Stuffed Turkey Cutlets are a fun, attractive way to serve turkey and stuffing. Each person gets an individual stuffed “turkey” wrapped in bacon. This recipe is great main dish for a low stress party. No more wondering if the turkey is perfectly done. It is!

.


Monday, December 25, 2023

Classic Gingerbread Muffins #MuffinMonday

Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and molasses give these classic gingerbread muffins their traditional flavor. Tender and light, they make a perfect snack or breakfast.

Food Lust People Love: Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and molasses give these classic gingerbread muffins their traditional flavor. Tender and light, they make a perfect snack or breakfast.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! 

This month’s Muffin Monday snuck up on me! I was certain that there was one more Monday next week still in December. When I realized I was wrong, I knew immediately that I wanted to make gingerbread muffins. I love the wonderful aroma when gingerbread is baking. It smells like Christmas to me. 

Classic Gingerbread Muffins

This recipe makes 15 regular sized muffins. If you don't have a nine cup muffin pan, I suggest you use a 12-cup and a six cup. Simply add a half cup of water to the empty cups when baking to keep the heat distribution even. 

Ingredients
2 ½ cups or 313g all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup or 113g unsalted butter, softened
½ cup or 100g white sugar
1 large egg
1 cup or 240ml unsulphured molasses (not blackstrap)
1 cup or 240ml hot water

Optional for serving: a sprinkle of icing sugar

Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Prepare 9-cup and 6-cup muffin pans by greasing them or lining them with paper muffin cups. 

Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a large bowl.


In another mixing bowl, whisk the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and whisk again. 


Whisk in the molasses until smooth and homogeneous.


Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold until almost completely combined. 


There may still be a little flour showing. Whisk in the hot water until smooth.


Divide the batter between the muffin cups in your prepared pans. 


Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center of a muffin at 20 minutes; it should come out clean. If not, cook for a few additional minutes.


Allow the gingerbread muffins to cool before serving. 


Sprinkle with a little icing sugar, if desired, to serve.


Enjoy! 

Welcome to the last Muffin Monday for 2023! Check out the links below:


#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all of our lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday can be found on our home page.



Pin these Classic Gingerbread Muffins!

Food Lust People Love: Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and molasses give these classic gingerbread muffins their traditional flavor. Tender and light, they make a perfect snack or breakfast.

 .