Use a Ziploc Bag to Separate the Fat From Your Turkey Drippings
While a basic roux and some decent stock will get you a good enough gravy, it’s the drippings that really make it chef’s-kiss worthy. Drippings are exactly what they sound…
I Drank Ketchup Packets on My Run, for Science
Even before I sucked down my first ketchup packet of the workout, I knew I had fallen for a dumb publicity stunt by Heinz. But as a Pittsburgher, I am…
Freeze Your Thanksgiving Gravy Now, Add Drippings Later
Thanksgiving gravy is a must-have on the feast table. This delectable and versatile sauce is made to elevate everything it touches on the plate, and reflect the savory flavors of…
Fermented Cranberry Sauce Is a Revelation
The Thanksgiving table doesn’t leave a ton of room for real innovation if you’re sticking to the classics. What I feel the spread often lacks is hits of brightness and…
Put MSG in Everything, You Cowards
By now, we should all be completely unafraid of monosodium glutamate, the umami-boosting molecule more commonly referred to as “MSG.” It will not give you headache, it will not make…
How to Make Turkey Gravy Without Pan Drippings
There is a certain (I think) overly romantic expectation that a good turkey gravy must be made from pan drippings, and whisked together just moments before the Big Meal is…
Make a Booze-free Pan Sauce With Coca-Cola and Vinegar
Even though I rarely drink at home, I still have a healthy bar cart, full of liquor bottles I acquired back when I imbibed. I do not, however, have wine…
How to Make Mayonnaise by Hand (With or Without a Blender)
Homemade mayonnaise is a different beast from the store-bought stuff. Even my favorite brands—Kewpie and Duke’s—can’t hold a candle to the rich and tangy DIY mayo. The texture is less…
This Is the Perfect Cocktail Sauce
After nearly three decades of eating (and making) shrimp cocktail, I have come to an inescapable conclusion: The best cocktail sauce “recipe” is a combination of Heinz cocktail sauce, horseradish,…
Use That Last Bit of Dip to Make a Salad Dressing
It’s hard for me to throw out the final scrapings of the dips I love. I want to avoid waste, but I have a hard time letting go of luscious,…