Turkey Day Leftovers Without Reinventing the Wheel

Thanksgiving shepherd's pie making the memory last a little longer

Let's face it, the day after Thanksgiving is not a day for cooking.  In fact it's hard to muster up any energy at all in the kitchen.  But chances are the fridge is stuffed with leftovers, so why not do the most logical thing?  Put it all together in a casserole and enjoy that Thanksgiving feast one more time. Shepherd's pie is nothing new and this is hardly a recipe.  The Shepherds' knew what they were talking about back in the 1800s .  It originated as a dish using up leftover meat with a mashed potato crust on top.  The dish is still very relevant today especially after Thanksgiving.   For those who like a little of everything on turkey day, this is Thanksgiving all over again but it can eaten it in front of the game (or the shows you …

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Kathy Pigott

9:27 am on Friday, November 25, 2011

One of my family's favorites is a Gobbler Sandwich. Two slices of Italian sliced bread, a light smear of mayo, turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. Squish the sandwich down and toast on a frying pan or panini press. Served with a glass of apple cider and it's Thanksgiving all over again.   more ›

What's Your Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition?

Give us your vote! What do you love most about this holiday?

With department stores decking the halls a day after Halloween, and shoppers lacing up their running shoes in anticipation for Black Friday blowouts, what we all love about Thanksgiving can sometimes be overlooked. So take a moment, celebrate this holiday and tell us what you love the most about Thanksgiving. Is it the turkey, stuffing and leftovers galore? Or sitting around the Thanksgiving table gossiping about the new inlaws and fighting over the wishbone? Vote in our poll and tell us in the comments what you and your family are grateful for this holiday, you know, aside from Mom's pumpkin pie.  Happy Thanksgiving From Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch!  

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Local Flavor

A Last-Minute Recipe for the Thanksgiving Rush

This orange and spice cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving will brighten up your table.

Too busy to read this because you're too busy cooking? No worries. This quickie recipe for homemade cranberry sauce can be made in 10 or 15 minutes with minimal fuss and absolutely no hassle. Given to me years ago by my good friend Lorraine Bowyer, I now make a double batch every year at Thanksgiving. The combination of the tart cranberries and orange rind with the warm spices of cinnamon and cloves makes for a very popular dish at the table.   Last minute cooking has its benefits too. Since they are home from school, get the kids involved in the kitchen. They can measure the ingredients, peel the orange and stick the whole cloves in the peel (and snack on the orange while they work). Fresh cranberry sauce is a fast fix and it's done …

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Holiday Gifts for the Foodie

The second installment of the Patch 2011 Holiday Gift Guide reminds you that the holidays are not complete without great food. What better way to thank the foodies in your life than with these unique gifts from Union County shops.

Looking for something special for the foodies in your life or a gift for the host/hostess of your Thanksgiving dinner? You can count on the Patch 2011 Holiday Gift Guide to direct you to the Union County artisans and retailers to find gifts that will make the season bright.   Gifts to Eat   Gifts to Drink   Gifts for the Table Gifts for the Prep Work   Gifts for Fun   If all else fails, gift certificates to your favorite restaurants are always a good option! If you want to share your finds, feel free to upload them to this article and join our live chat about local holiday shopping here now through Black Friday.

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An 'Oldie but a Goodie' Thanksgiving Dessert

Pumpkin cheesecake with bourbon-sour-cream icing has become a holiday staple at the Chmiel house.

For Paula Chmiel, Thanksgiving traditions often come in the form of cooking up those tried-and-true favorites that make it such a special holiday. The South Orange resident is a professional chef. In her family, pumpkin cheescake is one of those recipes that people talk about for weeks both before and after the holiday, so give this one a try if you want to impress! Originally published in Gourmet in 1990, it was a recipe Paula noticed on the magazine cover while at college and she just had to make it. Jump ahead 21 years and the same recipe is still alive and well both in the Chmiel house and online (www.epicurious.com), though she has changed it up a bit here and there. While Paula isn't working in a restaurant kitchen these days — she's…

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Light Up Thanksgiving With This Yummy Side

Potato and onion gratin with thyme tastes as good as it looks!

Nothing inspires comfort food like a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and next to stuffing, nothing beats the potatoes. After all, this is the one dinner that we can be sure is home cooking at its finest — a pull-out-all-the-stops meal where too many sides are never enough and the turkey is never too big. Well this year, I'm featuring a side dish that's comforting, cheesy and light enough you'll still have room for that pumpkin pie. A year ago, this column featured a pretty spectacular Thanksgiving side dish, potatoes au gratin with bacon and scallions. Sure, it was packed with bacon, cheddar cheese and heavy cream. A dish like that is a show-stopper on the table and the recipe was a hit. In fact, it even became a high school …

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