WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES NOVEMBER 17, 2016 17 THANKSGIVING Time-saving kitchen hacks for the holidays No matter how big or small the group, gathering with loved ones over a delicious meal is a holiday season essential. However, if you’ve off ered to host the event, panic is likely to set in as you realize the amount of work it’s going to take to cook a memorable meal for friends and family. Fortunately, with some tips and tricks, cooking a feast doesn’t have to be stressful. Just use these time-saving kitchen hacks and you can enjoy more time savoring the season with your guests and less time in the kitchen. Prep side dishes early: Prepare as much as you can in advance. In the week leading up to the event, chop, boil and blend whatever you can to save countless hours in the kitchen. You’ll cut down on stress and have enough time to visit with guests as they begin to arrive. Use multitasking methods: What if you could make a quick dinner in one simple step? With meals that taste like homemade and use high-quality ingredients, Marie Callender’s allows you to serve signature holiday meals without the extra work. The Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese will have guests thinking you slaved away in the kitchen, but all you had to do is open and close the oven. Fluffy mashed potatoes: Whipping up a big batch of mashed potatoes? To avoid dense spuds and save time endlessly mashing, use a pinch of baking powder when whipping. The baking powder reacts with the heat from the potatoes to create tiny air pockets and, ultimately, fl uff y mashed potatoes. Grate frozen butter: Baking a special dessert for the holidays? Rather than waiting for frozen butter to thaw or risk melting it in the microwave, use a cheese grater instead. Hard butter thaws quickly when shredded. (BPT) Talking turkey: It’s platter season What’s your idea of the perfect Thanksgiving meal? A big family buff et, or perhaps an intimate evening with a few close friends? Thanksgiving brings us together from near and far for all sorts of funfi lled traditions that are uniquely our own. And while those traditions may vary somewhat as families grow and our lives change over time, there’s one constant at the heart of Thanksgiving entertaining - the beloved turkey platter. “Turkey platters really are the Christmas tree of Thanksgiving,” says Keith Winkler, product marketing manager at dinnerware giant Replacements, Ltd. “When you talk about Thanksgiving, I think most Americans picture that iconic Norman Rockwell painting with the mother serving the perfect turkey on a huge platter. Even though that image has been reinterpreted in so many ways as times have changed, the platter has always remained the centerpiece of the gathering, even for those who by-pass the bird to serve another main course for their Thanksgiving meal.” Winkler notes there’s also a strong sentimental attachment to this seasonal favorite. Turkey platters oft en become heirloom pieces, handed down in many families, making the platter even more special. The history behind Turkey patterns and ultimately the iconic platter is literally as old as the holiday itself. When Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving offi cial back in 1863, English potters seized the opportunity to target the growing American market by producing turkey-themed dinner plates and platters. These ingenious designers generally took an existing design and replaced the center with a turkey motif to create those fi rst Thanksgiving patterns. Manufacturers such as Spode, Mason’s and Wood & Sons used their colorful transferware patterns to start a new holiday tradition, which became an instant hit. In fact, Replacements’ most popular Thanksgiving pattern, His Majesty by Johnson Brothers, started as an accent plate in the company’s Friendly Village pattern. The English manufacturer received so much demand for this particular motif that the company turned the proud Tom Turkey-adorned plate into its own pattern. Designers say you don’t have to buy entire set of turkey-themed dinnerware to fi nd the perfect platter. Replacements’ Julie Robbins notes you can fi nd platters that blend well with any pattern, from the very old to the very new. Robbins added that she’s seen people do wonderful things with a small turkey, such as placing vegetables around the bird to fi ll out the larger platter and complete the look. Turkey platters aren’t only fun, many are also functional. Lenox and several other manufacturers produce turkey-shaped platters and other autumn themed serving pieces in alternative metal serveware. This is a special alloy that when heated or chilled maintains temperature to keep foods warm or cold. Not sure where to start? Find a list of Replacements’ most popular fall and Thanksgiving patterns on the company’s website, replacements. com. (BPT) Turkey platters are a sentimental favorite, even with the family dog.
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