After working through the morning, I closed up shop around noon to head out to do some grocery shopping for our Friendsgiving party tomorrow. I went to two different stores, headed home and got to work in the kitchen!
My mother-in-law is the queen of hosting big brunches around the holidays and always does a ton of prep work the night before. I am copying her today and trying to get as much done before tomorrow so we won’t have a ton on our plate after our race in the morning.
Since my day has been a little abnormal, I’ve been feeling all over the place, so this blog post is going to be all over the place too as I share some random musings that popped into my head throughout Friendsgiving prep this afternoon:
- I hate cooking bacon.
The grease burns me. I burn the bacon. There’s just a lot of burning going on.
- Burned bacon is a delicacy in Dog World.
All I said was “sit” and Sadie went through every trick in her arsenal in 1.5 seconds to get me to hand over that piece of burned bacon.
- Pandora needs a Thanksgiving station.
I ended up cooking to Pandora’s Destiny’s Child station and tearing bread for stuffing to the tune of “Bootylicious.” I think the Pandora Thanksgiving station should be totally cheesy and feature a whole bunch of songs that say “thank you.”
Like “Thank You For Being a Friend” from The Golden Girls or Alanis Morissette’s “Thank You. ”
(Source)
And the Pandora Thanksgiving station would have exactly one listener: Me.
- Cooking makes me ridiculously thirsty.
- It is impossible to break apart two loaves of bread for stuffing without eating every third piece and yet all I want for dinner is stuffing… and pumpkin pie.
- What can I do with half of a can of evaporated milk?
Post edited to add: The winner of the New Balance giveaway is:
- #1843, Adelyn: “Great giveaway for a great cause! Thanks NB! Love your blog and your positive message!”
Congratulations, Adelyn! Please email me at pbfingers@gmail.com with your mailing address and shoe size.
Question of the Afternoon
- What is something that should be ridiculously easy to cook or bake that you just cannot seem to master?
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Pie crust. I cannot master pie crust, and the fact that I can’t annoys me to no end. If the Pandora Thanksgiving station played The Golden Girls song I would totally listen. Love that show!
so then they’d have exactly TWO listeners!! 😀 woo!
Uh… How much coffee have you had today? 🙂
Stuffing is pretty much the only thing I eat on Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite! Have fun tomorrow
You should try cooking bacon in the oven. I just put it on a baking sheet and put it in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. No getting burned by grease this way!
i am definitely doing this next time!
Yes, cooking it in the oven is so easy. And, there’s no burning and grease flying everywhere. And, it’s even cooking every time.
I agree – the oven is the way to go.
Oh, and you can freeze that half can of milk (not in the can!)
I also agree cooking bacon in the oven is the best! If you are only doing a few slices I put it in the microwave. But the oven is easy.
I always line the baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup 🙂
THIS. I was amazed when I first cooked my bacon this way and now I do it every time. Better yet- cover the cookie sheet in aluminum foil and it’s simple clean up!
I just learned about the whole cooking bacon in the oven trick a few weeks ago and LOVE it! I put them in the oven for 10 minutes, take them out and flip them over and put them back in for another 10 minutes. My husband suggested using foil last night when I was about to cook the bacon (he thought he was a genious : ) as did I, until I saw the above post!) and it definitely took longer to cook…
Definitely do this!! Just make sure you put the bacon on foil that is folded up like a rectangular bowl (hard to describe – hopefully you know what I mean) to catch the drippings in the oven…I started an oven fire once because the grease fell to the bottom and caught on fire!! Plus it stunk up the whole house. I hate cooking bacon too but I do it in the oven with my “grease catcher” and it is much better than frying it. Also did you know buying center cut bacon is better because there is less fat (which is what burns).
You can also get a small baking rack and put the bacon on that and then put the rack on a cookie sheet/jelly roll pan, eliminates all the grease! Perfect bacon every time!
Definitely do the oven. Just remember to start the bacon in a cold oven.. This lets the grease render. If you use a rack, spray it liberally, other wise the bacon will stick and not come off the rack.. Happy friendsgiiving!
Brownies….they seem so easy…but I give up!
Haha I would so be into Pandora Thanksgiving. And pumpkin pie + stuffing are pretty much all it takes to make me happy on Thanksgiving – I don’t even care about the turkey or mashed potatoes!
Kale. I can make good kale chips, but whenever I try to steam it, the leaves come out as a shriveled up mess!
poached eggs, it always looks so easy but every time I give it a try the yolk breaks in the pot and I nearly throw up from the sight of it… good times!!
Low and slow. I could never get pancakes to turn out either than somebody told me I had the heat on too high. Now they turn out great.
i am terrible at poached eggs, too!
have you all tried adding a bit of vinegar and swirling the water as you break the egg into the water? my fav way to do it- i LOVE poached eggs and my dad taught me his tricks 🙂
For some reason, I CANNOT make good pancakes! Yours always look so delicious and no matter what, even if I follow the recipe to the T, mine turn our burnt or undercooked! AHH! So, I stick to eggs and cereal for breakfast. 🙂
erica replied to your comment, but accidentally replied to the comment above. 🙂 just didn’t want you to miss it!
Eggs. They’re the first thing everyone learns to cook but I never ate them and now I finally like them and can’t seem to cook them on my own.
Oh my gosh – Golden Girls! My brother and I would sing the theme song as loud as we could every time it came on. I probably made him do it 🙂
I have a strawberry dessert recipe that I can never, ever get to turn out and the whole pan ends up in the trash every time. But I have not given up on it yet and I will make it one of these days!
rice. no matter what its either too mushy or still crunchy!
I cannot for the life of me cook an over easy egg. It is maddening!
Cookies! Like from the tube, store bought dough, kind of cookies. I always over cook or burn them, and they turn out hard as rock! I can not seem to master the soft and chewy cookie. Should be so simple right?
Add the evaporated milk to your mashed potatoes instead of butter or cream!
You should totally do bacon in the microwave or oven! It’s 10x easier to clean up and you can do other things at the same time. Plus it’s just as tasty 🙂
Make caramel! It works better with a closed can but there are a few pan options… Here’s a link! http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Caramel-from-Sweetened-Condensed-Milk
Caramel is made using sweetened condensed milk — looks like Julie’s can is just evaporated milk.
you can sweeten it with brown sugar and add butter…the link shows you how! 🙂
I always hated (and burned) bacon too, then a friend told me the secret to cooking bacon is over low heat and with lots of patience. If you fry it at a low heat, the grease doesn’t spatter as much and the bacon cooks evenly and slowly. Drain the grease (to a can or glass jar) halfway through cooking, placing the bacon on a plate lined with paper towel (while you drain). Put the bacon back in the pan and continue to cook at a few more minutes at low heat until it reaches the crispness you like.
I’m sure someone has mentioned this already … but BAKE your bacon!! I started this years ago and it’s the best!
Put it in a cold oven, turn to 400deg, and walk away for 20-30 minutes (or until done the way you like it.) This renders off a TON of fat and gets it nice and crispy! I use a roasting pan with mine so all the fat drips down in the bottom layer pan.
Works like a charm!
Anything that requires phyllo dough! So frustrating. Have a great Friendsgiving!
I started keeping powdered milk around so I can make as much evaporated milk as I need. Also handy if you are baking and run out or milk(I don’t especially care to drink it).
burgers. They always end up too well-done, or under-done, or too dry. Ugh!
I cannot make good cornbread. It always turns out badly even when I’ve made it from a box mix. I don’t understand it because most other things I bake turn out fine. So I’ve given up and I buy cornbread now if I need it.
You’re right; bacon is a real biotch to cook!
Best trick for cooking bacon: “bake” it in a 350-400 degree oven on a broiler pan until crispy (about 15-20 mins). Even easier if you line the broiler pan with aluminum foil to catch as much of the grease as you can.
I put a splash of evaporated milk in my coffee or tea if there is some left over.
Trying baking your bacon on a cookie sheet with foil on it, soooo much easier!
Bake your bacon!! It’s a lifesaver! I use a baking sheet with a cooling rack on top. That way the bacon gets crispy, and the grease collects in the bottom pan. I bake it at 350 for 15-20 minutes depending on thickness.
I can’t cook rice to save my life. I don’t understand it, it’s just do x amount of water and y amount of rice and don’t touch it. I just can’t do it though.
SAME! Except for me it’s a different problem: I can cook the rice just fine, it just always sticks to the bottom of the pot and it takes aaaaages to clean.
I haven’t feed Louie, our 14 week old shih tzu, anything other than dog food. I am just concerned he will think he can eat anything we eat and start begging me all the time. Does Sadie do that?
Sonja, we have a 12 week old bulldog puppy and the vet and all our other dog owner friends said it was best to not give her human food until we’d firmly become the “pack leader” mostly to keep her from having aggressive dominance or territorial behaviors later on. Not only this, but to reduce the preference for the taste of human food and begging and hovering at meal times. After just a month with us, she’s already ignoring our food and sometimes even falling asleep while we cook or eat dinner! We’ll probably start to give her human treats in a few months after she knows more commands and does them as quickly as Sadie does! 🙂
You’ve got the heat too high for the bacon. Lower the heat and you’ll be fine.
I tried the oven bacon trick but it did not work for me. I don’t know if it was the bacon I used but it was so salty!
I can’t make pancakes. I gave up. I’m asking for a waffle iron for the holidays.
Cook the bacon in the oven…perfect every time.
Are you going to share your stuffing recipe? 🙂
I also cook bacon in the oven. It is the WAY TO GO! I also just posted my battle with Oreo Truffle Pops, which was supposed to be easy!
omg, RICE!!!!! it’s either sticky or crunchy. can’t find a freakin happy medium.
Bake your bacon on a cookie sheet. So easy. So delicious. Tastes fried. I do like 425 for 15 minutes or so. Single layer, foil lined cookie sheet. e
I burn the bacon too – I’ve found baking it works a lot better!
For the life of me, I CANNOT make pancakes! So frustrating on those breakfast-for-dinner nights when the hubby asks for pancakes.
I also used to burn the bacon, until I started baking it 🙂
Does Sadie “supervise” your every move during meal prep? I usually have a Cooper nose in-between me and kitchen counter! Looks delish!
Here’s the real deal for bacon. Cookie sheet AND cooling rack. 425 for about 20 min. spray the cooling rack with olive oil (important) then lay the bacon on the rack place rack in cookie sheet (to catch drippings) and no burning (you or the bacon-sorry Sadie)
Also for your evap milk. use in your pancakes or make a batch of pumpkin cranberry muffins:)
You’re right Pandora does need a Thanksgiving station and I would totally listen with you…..especially if they play the golden girls theme song!!
I literally CANNOT use a manual can opener for the life of me. I bought three before giving up haha.
I used to hate cooking bacon until I started baking it. Put in on a pan lined with tin foil and bake at 350 for about ten minutes or until it reaches the crispness you like. It’s so much easier because you don’t have to flip it and there’s minimal grease.
As those above said, I highly recommend cooking it in the oven! It’s SO much easier and the bacon comes out better (in my opinion) too! Way to get a head start on everything for tomorrow. I’m sure it’ll all turn out great! 🙂
I hate cooking baking!!!! ANd I think you can make fudge with that milk, for realsies!
Hi Julie!
Have you ever been to NYC and tried the Bread Pudding at Magnolia Bakery? It’s to DIE for..and the recipe calls for evaporate milk! It’s super easy to make and doesn’t have an overwhelming banana taste. Below is the link with the recipe I used.
http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2010/04/16/banana-cream-pudding/
sorry I meant *banana pudding
My dad makes bacon in the microwave, he just puts it on top of several layers of paper towel with one paper towel on top to soak up the grease. It works really well!
What can you do with your can of evaporated mi?
Make some Hot Cocoa for you and ryan tongiht….
http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/131109/Sensibly-Delicious-Hot-Cocoa/detail.aspx
Yummy!
Good luck with your party!!
p.s. try baking your bacon in the oven…..
Sadie is so funny 🙂 I am just like you. All I really want for Thanksgiving is the stuffing! And the dessert. They’re just the best….sorry turkey!
I would have to agree with the first commenter that pie crust doesn’t work. Even pre-made. It just doesn’t like me.
I have a GREAT recipe for chocolate caramel brownies that you make with german chocolate cake mix and the caramel mixture calls for evaporated milk!
Was going to same thing as others posted. Bacon in oven only way I go. Friendsgiving will be for us on actual Thanksgiving. No family for a lot of us so it’s what we do.
why thats funny you ask Julie! I tried to make your protein peanut butter bars, which def seemed easy enough. I used agave syrup instead of honey, but I think that was my downfall because it didnt seem sticky enough to pull everything together you know? So I decided to add some of my friends HOMEMADE apricot jam. that seemed to do the trick. Question, is the peanut butter suppose to be melty texture before taking it off the heat? My peanut butter didn’t seem to want to melt and I was seriously concerned I’d burn the agave syrup and brown sugar. I didn’t try them yet so we shall see!
Use the evaborated milk and make that greek yogurt pie!!! hmmmmm.