Replace Your Thanksgiving Turkey with These 5 Bird Alternatives

Last year was my first actual Thanksgiving spent away from home with friends. And, food nerds that we are, it was decided pretty immediately that turkey was off the menu.

It’s not that I’m not a fan of the holiday’s patron saint protein—trust, there’s nothing I look forward to more than my family’s Black Friday menu of leftover sandwiches and turkey soup—but this was more about embracing our chance to eschew tradition. There are lots of birds in the pasture, as you might say, and just because standard operating holiday procedures favor one, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of other worthy candidates.

Maybe a quail or Cornish game hen makes more sense because a whole turkey is too much food for your small group. Or maybe you want to try your hand at the road—ahem, roast—less traveled, and experiment with different flavors and techniques. From duck and goose to quail and capon, here is a guide to our favorite alternative birds and how to cook them.

Duck

More daring than chicken and less challenging to source than capon or goose, duck offers a smaller, gamier alternative to turkey. Intimidating though it may seem to first-timers, duck is actually a fairly forgiving bird to cook, adapting easily to a wide variety of techniques, from roasting and pan-searing to slow braises.

Marmalade-Glazed Roast Duck

Chowhound

If you’re going for the non-traditional bird, you might as well embrace the opportunity to go non-traditional with the flavor profile as well. This tasty mash-up between duck à l’orange and Chinese roast duck uses a combination of orange juice and marmalade to turn up the citrus tang. Keep the side dish game in theme by subbing in miso mashed potatoes and Chinese sausage-sticky rice stuffing for the old standbys. Get our Marmalade-Glazed Roast Duck recipe.

Slow Cooker Duck Confit

Shutterstock

This year, skip the predictable oven drama (“What the hell is going on with the temp?” “How am I going to fit all the dishes I need to cook in here?”), by opting instead for everyone’s favorite no-fuss tool: The slow-cooker. Duck is a classic choice for the low-stress confit technique, aka slow poaching in fat, which results in rich, pull-apart-tender meat. Hey, let’s be honest, Thanksgiving isn’t exactly about moderation, so you might as well really go for it right? (And just think of all the amazing leftovers possibilities: sandwiches, breakfast tacos, spring rolls…) Get our Slow Cooker Duck Confit recipe.

Quail

A smart option for a smaller, more intimate Thanksgiving dinner, these little game birds work perfectly as individual portions. The trick with these guys is to be really diligent about cook time and temperature, overdo it and the meat will be tough and dry, you want the meat to be firm to the touch and for the juices to run clear.

Southern-Fried Quail

Lana’s Cooking

If you love the idea of deep-fried turkey but don’t need a big bird this year or aren’t quite ready to commit to the necessary equipment, try a smaller-scale variation with quail. A heavy hand of salt and pepper, a light flour dredge, and a quick bath in a skillet full of bubbling-hot peanut oil is all you need to achieve deep-fried glory this holiday. Get the recipe.

Roast Quail with Cranberry, Chestnut & Pork Sausage Stuffing

What Katie Ate

For those die-hard Team Dressing fans, this small bird rendition offers quite the perk: Individual quails means individual, no-sharing-necessary portions of sweet-savory pork sausage, cranberry, and chestnut stuffing. Get the recipe.

Goose

Just because the bird is an old-school Christmas favorite doesn’t mean it can’t be considered for your Thanksgiving table. Definitely a specialty shop or online order, there are a couple things to keep in mind when you’re getting your goose. For one thing, don’t ball out and buy the biggest bird you find as the meat will likely be too tough; instead, you want to look for something in the 8 to 12-pound range. And also, if you’re roasting, make sure you sit the goose on a rack in the pan so that it doesn’t sit in the rendering fat as it cooks.

Roast Goose

Chowhound

As long as we’re talking about breaking with tradition here, why wait another month for the roast goose? The rich, flavor-packed dark meat bird offers an unexpected, throwback kind of wow-factor that nevertheless fits in seamlessly with turkey’s tried and true accompaniments. Get our Roast Goose recipe.

Cajun Pecan-Smoked Goose

For the overly ambitious cook who’s really looking to go outside the box this year, try upping the ante with a unique bird and a unique cooking technique. The intensely flavored goose meat works especially well with the bright heat of the Cajun spices and sweet-smoky profile from the pecan wood chips. Get the recipe.

Capon & Cornish Game Hen

Because a regular roast chicken doesn’t quite feel festive enough, why not try something a little more specialty, like capon (aka a castrated rooster) or Cornish game hen (a hybrid, broad-breasted breed of chicken). The latter are fairly easy to find at specialty markets, while the capon may need to be a special order from your local butcher or online.

Roasted Capon with Citrus-Sherry Jus

Chowhound

When turkey’s too big and standard-issue chickens are too small for the group (and perhaps not quite celebratory enough), capon is definitely the way to go. This Italian-inspired variation draws on the bold flavors of garlic, fennel, sherry, and orange to make sure your alternative bird maintains its showstopper at the main event status. Get our Roasted Capon with Citrus-Sherry Jus recipe.

Bacon-Wrapped Cornish Hens

Caroline’s Cooking

Sure, you could do very well by going the roasted-bird-and-stuffing route with a Cornish game hen. But since this is the holiday of over-the-top eating, really celebrate that you’re going against-the-grain with your protein by dressing up your hens in a savory bacon lattice. Thanksgiving could stand to show bacon some more love, if you ask me. Get the recipe.

Apple-Brined Capon

Don’t think you have to ditch your beloved brining technique just because you’re not having a turkey this year. Here, citrus, clove, garlic, and peppercorn infuse with tangy apple cider, giving this tender, juicy meat a wallop of fall flavor. Get the recipe.

Pheasant

The perfect choice for a fan of wild game, you’ll want to source a younger bird, which will be more tender.

Beer Can Pheasant

Honest Food

If it’s still unseasonably warm enough out to fire up the grill, consider swapping in the wild game bird for this typical chicken treatment. Keep it super seasonal by opting for a pumpkin ale or other favorite fall brew. Get the recipe.

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How to Make Chia Pudding, Including Recipes for Fall

If chia seeds were people, they would be over-achievers with stacked resumes. These superfoods excel at pretty much everything—they’re packed with all the good stuff like antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein, and calcium. And because your body digests them slowly, they provide a steady supply of ongoing energy that keeps you feeling full.

But despite all their stellar credentials, chia seeds on their own are flavorless. Luckily, it’s easy to transform them into a delicious and satisfying snack. One of the chia seed’s special skills is that it swells to about 10 times its weight when submerged in liquid. The result is a creamy gel-like substance that’s commonly referred to as chia pudding.

Aside from the aforementioned health benefits, one of the best things about chia pudding is that it’s incredibly simple to make. Like all of my favorite recipes, this one only requires a single bowl.

The first things you’ll need are some chia seeds and any kind of milk (almond is a popular choice) or fruit juice. Whatever amount of chia seeds you’re using, you’re going to need about four to five times as much liquid.  Combine these two ingredients in a bowl. Then, consider adding some sweeteners and seasonings like maple syrup, cinnamon, cacao powder, a splash of vanilla extract and/or a dash of salt. Once you’ve given that mixture a good stir, put it in the fridge and let is set for at least four hours, or overnight, if possible. Then go back to whatever you were doing 10 minutes before you started cooking because you’ve already knocked out a week’s worth of breakfast or dessert in record time!

Once you have the basic blend down, the world of chia pudding is your oyster. You can add whatever mix-ins suit your fancy, so go nuts! (Nuts are good choice, actually.) Since the season is currently blessing us with an abundance of autumnal fruits and veggies, here’s some inspiration for how to incorporate fresh fall produce into your next batch of chia pudding.

Baked Apple Chia Pudding

Lexi’s Clean Kitchen

Add baked apples and golden raisins for a healthy alternative to pie. Get the recipe.

Pear Ginger Chia Pudding

The Almond Eater

This recipe amps up the flavor with pear and ginger, while pecans add some nuttiness and texture. Get the recipe.

Almond Milk Fig Chia Pudding

Vibrant Plate

Use mashed figs for flavor and sliced figs for looks. Get the recipe.

Pumpkin Chia Pudding

Create Mindfully

Another opportunity to use pumpkin spice and puree this season! Get the recipe.

Roasted Quince Chia Pudding

Culinary Adventures With Cam

If you find yourself with a couple of these fall fruits and a couple more hours of prep time, top your pudding with some baked quinces! Get the recipe.

Roasted Grape Chia Pudding

The Almond Eater

Roasted. Grapes. Need I say more? Top with pecans and walnuts and eat this one warm or cooled. Get the recipe.

Carrot Cake Chia Pudding

Sweet Cannela

Carrot cake for breakfast? Yes, please. Get the recipe.

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Here’s the History Behind Football’s ‘Gatorade Shower’ Tradition

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, we don’t mean the holidays! We mean the period of time where two of our favorite sports, football and baseball, overlap. Whether you’ve been cracking open a cold one while watching the road to the World Series, or designate every Sunday to cheering for your favorite NFL team at your local watering hole, you’ve surely noticed that sports and drinks go hand in hand. And one specific tradition is a hallmark of many wins: the “Gatorade shower,” when a tub of the liquid is dumped on a player, coach, or unsuspecting reporter in celebration after a win.

But where exactly did this tradition come from? Sports lore says the custom started with Jim Burt of the New York Giants in 1984, when he doused coach Bill Parcells following a much-needed win for the team (and as a prank on the coach, after he had been tough on Burt in practice that week). Parcells was also the recipient of the first Gatorade shower at a Super Bowl, when the Giants won in 1987. Even former President Ronald Reagan got a modified version of the bath, when Giants player Harry Carson dumped a tub of popcorn on the politician during a White House visit celebrating the team’s Super Bowl victory.

But that doesn’t mean the tradition is limited to just one outdoor sport; baseball players love the Gatorade shower, too.

In the past few years, one of the most well-known MLB players to get in on the fun is Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who started his “Salvy Splash” in 2014, and now does it every time his team wins.

“I like to celebrate the player of the game by pouring the cooler on him during his live post-game interview,” Perez says. “It’s fun for my teammate and funnier when I can also get the broadcaster.” He says some of his favorite “Splash” memories include dousing coach Ned Yost after winning the World Series in 2015 and splashing Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show.”

So why has this one-time prank become such a part of sports? Perez puts it this way: “It’s just fun! Especially after a win, it’s nice to laugh and have a good time.”

Need some ideas of what to eat while you’re watching your favorite sport? Read ahead for some tried-and-true recipes.

Cheeseburger Tots

Homemade Interest

Tatertots are not just for school lunches! This recipe combines the concept of a classic mini cheeseburger with golden, crispy tots for an easy to grab bite. Get the recipe.

Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Chowhound

You’ll want to keep making this simple pulled pork, which can serve as a base for a number of dishes, time and time again. Use it in sliders, top nachos with it, or add it to tacos and watch them fly off the platter. Get our Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.

Loaded Nachos Potato Skins

Chowhound

How can you watch a football game and not eat potato skins? It’s a question for the ages. This loaded version is spicy and filling, and will have you reaching for more. Get our Loaded Nachos Potato Skins recipe.

Game Day Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ball

Belle Of The Kitchen

You’ll need something sweet to go with all the savory foods you’re serving. This cheesecake ball is not only delicious, but since it’s in the shape of a football, it’s Instagram worthy, too. Get the recipe.

Quinoa Chili

Cooking Classy

Try this vegetarian twist on the tailgate staple, which counts quinoa as a base. You won’t even miss the meat, promise. Get the recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Chowhound

No one will believe that this homemade buffalo chicken dip is actually as easy to make as it is. So, we say, keep the details to yourself and just let everyone believe you’re a genius in the kitchen. We won’t tell. Get our Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

Two Peas And Their Pod

These mini bites are perfect for popping into your mouth during half time. Craving something sweet? Top them with cinnamon and sugar instead to satisfy your sweet tooth. Get the recipe.

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Pork Stir Fry with Green Onion

Don’t you love a good stir-fry?

The following stir-fried pork recipe couldn’t be easier. All you need is lean pork, some green onions, and garlic. You marinate thin strips of pork first in a mixture of soy sauce, a little sugar, and cornstarch.

The cornstarch marinade is a useful trick to help keep the pork from drying out when it gets cooked on that high heat. The sugar is just enough to create some caramelization for added flavor.

It helps but isn’t necessary to have a well seasoned wok. Years ago I had this big wok with wooden handles, well seasoned, in spite of a housemate’s attempt one day to scour off all of the pan’s beautiful black seasoning I had worked so hard to create.

Continue reading "Pork Stir Fry with Green Onion" »

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Why Cauliflower Will Save Your Holiday Party

Can I be real? As a person that lives for a good…no, an epic dinner party, I like to please all my guests. This, however, can be challenging when you are not aware of what people can’t eat. Failure to let me know about a food restriction—after I have explicitly bold-type-face-requested it as part of the RSVP—has resulted in no future invitations and disasters in real-time. I apologize for not knowing, they apologize for not realizing they wouldn’t be able to eat anything, I apologize for them even having to apologize, and this continues until we move on to the next course or, hopefully, a bottle of wine.

In a world of gluten-free, paleo, vegan, nut allergies, lactose intolerance, and you name it, all this apologizing is just annoying. What we need, especially with the onslaught of holiday party season, are solutions.

Holiday parties, whether at home or at the office, are places where you literally just don’t have the time or manpower to cover all your bases as far as people’s food restrictions go. The numbers are too high and budgets aren’t big enough. You need food that will please the masses. After all, people are expecting indulgence—not celery and tofu.

So, let’s talk about the food that is giving me life right now: cauliflower.

Pixabay

Yes, I mean it. We are not talking about the tasteless vegetable that your parents made you eat, boiled with a little salt and pepper. We are not talking about that stuff that comes raw in veggie-platters from Stop & Shop. Well, actually, that’s a lie. Yes, we are talking about that cauliflower, but have you seen what the food blogosphere is doing to cauliflower lately?

Let’s start with hors d’oeuvres. All parties need a finger food. Normally, we think of cheese, wings, and charcuterie, so how could cauliflower work?

Crispy Sea Salt & Vinegar Cauliflower “Popcorn”

Blissful Basil

Cauliflower popcorn sounds simple, but this salt-and-vinegar-chip inspired dish is a way to get your health-conscious guests munching away at the start of a party.  It is also gluten-free (if you get certified gluten-free oats) and vegan. If you want to make this dish more savory, just add a little truffle or rosemary oil. Get the recipe.

Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

Jo Cooks

Whether you call it cauliflower bread sticks or cauliflower pizza, this recipe is the easiest way to make pizza appear gourmet. This gluten-free pizza will be also lighter and crispier than your average dough so be prepared for pleasantly surprised guests. If you want to make it a little tastier, I like to add a little onion powder or fresh scallions to the dough. Get the recipe.

Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Gimme Delicious

And what about wings? To that, I say buffalo cauliflower “wings”. The bonus from doing it this way is you can easily make them vegetarian, vegan, and/or gluten-free depending on what you need. Get the recipe.

If hors d’oeuvres aren’t enough, you can make some more substantial dishes.

General Tso’s Cauliflower

Cooking Curries

Try General Tso’s cauliflower. Sure, it is American Chinese food, but I dare you to tell me that you never enjoyed this classic. The sweet, sour, spicy treat will make even the meat-eaters jealous and can be made vegan and gluten-free. Get the recipe.

Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

Pinch Of Yum

How about something creamy? Well, did you know that cauliflower makes a mean Alfredo sauce? Just think of the possibilities. You can make Alfredo pasta, Alfredo pizza, or add it to rice to make a creamy, risotto-like side dish. The recipe I recommend from Pinch of Yum is my favorite cause it still has cheese. It is also a gluten-free and vegetarian option. Get the recipe.

Dreamy Vegan Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

The Endless Meal

However, if you need to go vegan or paleo, The Endless Meal has you covered. Get the recipe.

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini and Goji Berries

Chowhound

If you want to showcase the beauty of the actual cauliflower, try the roasted cauliflower with tahini and goji berries. This colorful, nut-free, vegan, and paleo combination had my tastebuds floored. Cauliflower, especially when baked or roasted, can be both crispy and juicy, so adding the tahini will give your florets or cauliflower steak (thick slices) a satisfactory, nutty flavor that leaves your guests completely satiated. Also, if you need to amp up the nutty flavor, add a side of tahini dressing. Get our Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini and Goji Berries recipe.

Now, nothing is more annoying than skipping out on dessert. So, let’s get to it.

Cauliflower Rice Pudding

Cookies To Kale

To start, one of my favorite desserts just got way healthier with cauliflower rice pudding. It’s paleo, vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free.  Need I say more? Get the recipe.

Cauliflower Brownies

I Breathe I’m Hungry

Brownies, anyone? I can hardly turn down anything chocolate and neither will your guests after they find out this dessert is flourless and gluten-free. Get the recipe.

Cauliflower Ice Cream

The Big Apple Mama

Finally, we already got creamy with Alfredo sauce, but imagine if we could make ice cream! Well, you can. The creamy nature of blended cauliflower will have you thinking about gelato as it melts in your mouth. Plus, it’s vegan and gluten-free. Get the recipe.

Now, do all these new takes on cauliflower mean that we have found our new favorite guilt-free holiday food? 

To that, I say “Guilt is an emotion that doesn’t need to get indulged.” Eat and be merry!

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How to Preserve Fall Fruit Using Brandy

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about when it’s doused with brandy and sugar? Well, the jury is still out on the health benefits of brandied fruit, but the concoction is a perfect way to stretch the sweet tastes of summer into the fall.

With Oct. 20 officially designated as Brandied Fruit Day, it’s an optimal time to dive into learning more about this sweet invention. Typically, brandied fruit is made by combining brandy, sugar, and ripe, fresh fruit into a glass jar and allowing it to cure. Along with those basics, spices are often thrown into the mix for additional flavor, and nuts are sometimes added as a topping. Though it’s not necessary to spring for the priciest brandy ever for these recipes, it’s best to pick one that is at least 80 proof, steering clear of the super cheap options.

Pre-modern times, this kitchen method had a pragmatic purpose: preserving fruit for eating during the colder months. Today, however, brandied fruit serves as a complementary topping for cake, ice cream, and other desserts. Though you’ll want to get it on your plate ASAP, making it requires a bit of patience, as most recipes require the mixture to sit for at least a month before it’s ready. As anyone who is a fan will tell you, though, once you take the first bite, you’ll realize it was worth the wait.

Ready to try your hand at making this treat? Keep reading for the brandied fruit recipes you need to try immediately.

Brandied Cinnamon Apples

Savory Spice Rack

Too impatient to wait several weeks to serve yourself some alcohol infused fruit? Then these cinnamon apples, cooked over a saucepan with brandy, sugar, and spices, are for you. Serve them over waffles for a boozy brunch to remember. Get the recipe.

Brandied Fruit Cake

Country Cleaver

This cake is an ideal dessert to bring along with you as you visit friends and family over the holidays. This recipe calls for using dried fruit smothered in brandy that will eventually make its way into the cake. As a bonus, you can repurpose the brandy to pour into your hot cider on a cold day. Get the recipe.

Slow Cooker Peach Compote/Pie Filling

12 Tomatoes

If you want to experiment with a hands-off dessert, try this slow cooker-centric recipe. The peach compote works as a great filling for a pie. Get the recipe.

Brandied Pear-Walnut Tart

Chowhound

With its aesthetically appealing geometric design and flavorful crust, this tart is sure to be the pièce de résistance for any dinner party. Serve it with crème fraîche to make it even more decadent. Get our Brandied Pear-Walnut Tart recipe.

Canned Pears in Vanilla Syrup

Put Up Or Shut Up

The combination of pear, brandy, and vanilla bean make this recipe stand out from the pack. The Instagram-worthy jars also make great gifts to hand out during the holidays, for those looking for an alternative to coffee shop gift cards! Get the recipe.

Fig and Brandy Jam

Use Real Butter

This easy jam is made by macerating fresh figs for about 24 hours in the refrigerator, then coming back to them the following day to cook in a sauce pan. The final result is a flavorful jam that is an excellent addition to a charcuterie board. Get the recipe.

Brandied Cherries

Nourished Kitchen

This recipe separates itself by including anise, cloves, or cinnamon sticks for additional flavor. The final result is a garnish that is perfect for adding to cocktails as an alternative to your typical maraschino cherry. Get the recipe.

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Rediscovered sources of flour and starch entice product developers

The classic "grandma's" kitchen starch (such as corn starch) and wheat flour are gradually being supplanted or supplemented with other sources of starch and flour.

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Cereal as a Snack

Almost one in five (17%) say they have cereal as a snack away from home and 10% enjoy cereal on the go.

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Three Limited Edition SNICKERS Flavors

The new flavors will join the popular "Hunger Bar" campaign and have everything fans love about SNICKERS® – peanuts and caramel covered in milk chocolate, now with a bold new flavor-infused nougat – espresso, hot pepper or salted caramel-flavor.

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Enjoy Life Foods Limited-edition Halloween Chocolate

Halloween Chocolate Minis come in three flavors, including Dark Chocolate, Ricemilk Chocolate, Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate.

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Foodstirs Modern Baking to Expand

In addition, the brand is unveiling new Foodstirs Organic Snickerdoodle Blondie Mix, and three limited-edition holiday SKUs: Foodstirs Organic Very Merry Gingerbread Cookie Mix, Foodstirs Organic Chocolate Chippy Pumpkin Bread Mix, and Foodstirs Organic Pumpkin Spice Stacks Pancake Mix.

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