One thing that is always certain at Thanksgiving dinner is that there never seems to be enough stuffing to go around. People love stuffing on Thanksgiving, helping themselves to extra portions and fighting over the last remaining spoonful. Who can blame them? Stuffing is always delicious and a rare treat, and if its a family recipe, then it is even more prized than traditional store-bought stuffings.
But if you're a vegetarian or you possess a gluten intolerance, and you're going to be enjoying the holiday dinner at family or friends who do not share the same food restrictions, then you may have be unable to partake and enjoy of the wonderful stuffing that the other guests all consume greedily. They may express false sympathy for you, but inside, they are secretly happy, because it means more for them.
But there just happens to be a number of vegetarian stuffing recipes and gluten-free stuffingrecipes available on the internet, making this holiday treat accessible to everyone. If you are preparing the Thanksgiving feast yourself, you can easily prepare one of these alternative stuffing recipes for your family and guests to enjoy, or you can bring it to the home of the hosting party as an additional side dish.
For the list of great websites where you can find a large assortment of vegetarian and gluten-free stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving, please click this link
Apple cider is a popular beverage once fall arrives, and it is enjoyed through much of the harvest calendar months. But there is much more you can do to enjoy the refreshing tartness of fresh apple cider. Recipes for mulled cider, apple cider stews, apple butter and more can be found all over the internet. I myself have tried several recipes using apple cider as one of the main ingredients, and with a few modifications and some experimentation, I've found some that I and my family have greatly enjoyed and now insist upon making every fall.
Mulled Cider Recipe
To start off simply, mulled cider is quick and easy to make, and is especially heartwarming and deliciously refreshing on chilly fall days and nights. Mulled cider is essentially apple cider simmered with various spices, usually, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg, but there are many variations that also use orange zest, cardamom, allspice, and others.
The mulled cider I have come to rely on starts with a 1/2 gallon of apple cider. Simply pour the apple cider into a large saucepan and allow it to heat up. While the cider is being heated, prepare 3-5 sticks of cinnamon (or 2-3 tablespoons of ground cinnamon), 2 tablespoons of whole cloves (or 2 teaspoons of ground cloves), and a teaspoon of nutmeg. Add the spices to the apple cider in the saucepan and cover until simmering. Then remove the cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes more.
For some variations, I sometimes will add a small handful of blackberries, crushing them against the sides of the saucepan once they have been simmering for about 15 minutes. You can also add orange zest, cardamom, or brown sugar if you desire. Adults can add a cup of rum or a 1/2 cup of brandy to the pot as well if they so desire.
After simmering, drain the mulled cider through a fine mesh sieve and serve with a cinnamon stick for garnish, or a tiny sprinkle of nutmeg.
Continue to the other two recipes...
One thing that is always certain at Thanksgiving dinner is that there never seems to be enough stuffing to go around. People love stuffing on Thanksgiving, helping themselves to extra portions and fighting over the last remaining spoonful. Who can blame them? Stuffing is always delicious and a rare treat, and if its a family recipe, then it is even more prized than traditional store-bought stuffings.
