Cookbook: Thanksgiving 101

Holiday Feature

Kate Heyhoe

Thanksgiving 101

Celebrate America's Favorite Holiday
with America's Thanksgiving Expert
By Rick Rodgers

Thanksgiving 101 A whirlwind of planning, shopping, chopping, and basting, Thanksgiving is a major event for even the most confident host. Luckily for home cooks everywhere, esteemed cooking teacher, caterer, and author Rick Rodgers lends an expert hand in his comprehensive new guide to creating the perfect Thanksgiving. In his indispensable, fun-to-read, new cookbook Thanksgiving 101, Rodgers shares the expertise he has gained from teaching annual sold-out "Thanksgiving 101" cooking classes. Best of all, with pages of planning tips, expert advice, and dozens of delicious recipes, he's by your side to take all the anxiety-but not the joy-out of this treasured American tradition.

The exciting dishes in Thanksgiving 101 range from the traditional to the contemporary. Beginning with "Just a Little Something to Keep the Edge Off," Rodgers offers crowd-pleasures like Glittering Spice Walnuts and Autumn Glow Punch followed by recipes for Celery Root and Oyster Chowder and a colorful Cranberry Waldorf Salad.

Of course turkey is "The Main Event." Aside from his definitive Perfect Roast Turkey with Best-Ever Gravy, Rodgers highlights turkey's versatility with birds that are Oven-Blasted, Herb-Brined, Deep-Fried, and Smoke-Grilled-ten recipes in all. In addition to the recipes, Rodgers discusses every aspect of grappling with that big bird, from choosing fresh vs. frozen, what size to buy, essential tools, and safe handling, to his favorite-and least favorite-roasting times and methods.

And then there are the side dishes. Rodgers presents pages of flavorful accompaniments, from chutneys to corn breads. Aromatic stuffings and dressings (to be cooked within the bird or without) include traditional Giblet and Apple Stuffing as well as inventive preparations such as savory Sausage Gumbo Dressing. No matter how sated, guests are sure to find Dark Chocolate Cream Pie, Caramel Cashew Tart, and Cranberry Cheesecake completely irresistible.

In addition to the vast variety of recipes Thanksgiving 101 has to offer, Rodgers holds the hand of anxious Thanksgiving hosts by offering clear advice on grocery lists, guest lists, kitchen equipment, table setting, and menu planning. With its great recipes and indispensable information, Thanksgiving 101 is sure to become as traditional as the turkey.

Thanksgiving 101
By Rick Rodgers
Broadway Books
224 pages
Paperback, $15.00
ISBN: 0-7679-0136-3
Information provided by the publisher.