The holidays are stressful enough, so why waste time in the big day toiling in the kitchen? Work smarter, not harder this season with easy make-ahead sides, desserts and must have wines. I visit my friends at Houston Life on KPRC and share some kitchen holiday hacks and H-E-B wines for everyone at your table. Also, thank you Kuhl Linscomb for decorating the holiday spread and sharing your great cork ice bucket! Watch the full segment here.
Kick-up your mashed potato game with these savory Gorgonzola-Prosciutto Mashed Potatoes from Jonathan’s the Rub. One hack to making sure your taters stay creamy is making them with a little mayo. They’ll stay silky smooth when you reheat them. To drizzle on top of your potatoes, and whatever else on your plate you’ll need gravy. For added flavor add in a splash of cognac before adding your flour and cream.
If mashed isn’t your style and you’re looking for some pizzazz, Hasselback potatoes are a great alternative. Steak 48 does an amazing version with truffle butter drizzled on top. If you want to try your hand at home, it’s actually quite simple. Place your potato between the handles of two wooden spoon and slice in ⅛ inch-thick intervals. The spoons prevent you from cutting all the way through. Between each layer, sprinkle garlic, cheese, butter or whatever you want for flavor in every bite. Also if you’re looking for something in a casserole-style with the same wow-factor of a Hasselback, this Hasselback Potato Gratin with Winter Herbs and Fontina is to die for!
Cranberry sauce: you either love it or could live without it. If the canned stuff doesn’t quite cut it, this kicked up Tejas Cranberry Sauce from Craft Grill might be what you’re looking for. It has everything in your classic cranberry sauce but with a shot of heat from the cascabel chili pods and ground ancho chili pepper.
Pies are one of the easier dishes to make-ahead for Thanksgiving, so if you’re looking to prep early you can freeze pies weeks in advance. Wrap your uncooked fruit pie in plastic wrap and immediately put it in the freezer. Then, when you’re ready to bake it, pop it in the oven on a baking sheet or pizza stone on the bottom rack to ensure a crispy crust. But, if you want to leave it to the professionals, House of Pies has all of your holiday classics to-go, plus their most popular Bayou Goo.
Tanji’s Finds:
Let’s start with bubbles! The Chateau de Villelongue Cremant de Limoux is made near the champagne region of France where monks have been making wine since the 1500’s. This sparkler is fabulous to this day and can hold its own when compared to fine champagne – and for less than half the price! $20
Next, is the La Storia Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. You’ll get a hint of butter and oak from the oak barrel aging. This wine will pair beautifully with anything on your holiday table. $20
Last, but certainly not least, is the Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune. It is a classic Pinot Noir from Burgundy. It’s well-balanced with layered plums, black cherries and raspberries and acidity. The acid in this wine helps cut the rich dishes on the holiday spread. $48
As always, thank you to our good friends at KPRC Click2Houston! You can find all of these picks at your local H-E-B or online at HEB.com. Don’t forget: Get 10% off your entire purchase when you buy six or more bottles!
Leave a Reply