24 Hour Turkey Brine

If you’re not brining your turkey for Thanksgiving what are you even doing?

Brining allows for the turkey to be more tender and flavorful as the salt breaks down some of the turkey’s protein. Though the process at surface level seems complicated, it’s really not, just ensure that you have given yourself enough time.

You can be as creative and complicated or as simple as you’d like with your brine. I like incorporating citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, garlic, rosemary, and bay leaves.

Ingredients

  • 7 Quarts (28 Cups) Water
  • 1 1/2 Cups Kosher Salt
  • 2 TBSP Black Pepper Corn
  • 2 TBSP Dried Rosemary [or use Fresh]
  • 2 TBSP Dried Thyme [or use Fresh]
  • 2 Oranges, sliced
  • 3 Lemons, Sliced
  • 1 Head of Garlic, the top removed
  • 6 Bay Leaves

Let’s Get Brining

First things first, make sure you have a thawed turkey and a container large enough to hold it. I use a roasting pan and flip the turkey 12 hours into the brine.

Line the bottom of your roasting pan with your lemons + oranges + garlic cloves. I also like to stuff a few orange slices and garlic cloves into the turkey while it brines.

In a saucepan, combine 4 cups of water + 1.5 Cups Kosher Salt + 2 TBSP Black Pepper Corns + 2 TBSP Dried Rosemary + 2 TBSP Dried Thyme + 6 bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the salt dissolves, about 3-5 minutes. Immediately remove from heat and place the saucepan into an ice bath to allow to cool.

Take the salt mixture that was just created + remaining 24 cups of water and submerge the turkey into whatever vessel you are using to brine. Use a weight if needed to keep the turkey submerged.

Keep refrigerated for 24 hours. Remove from the brine and pat dry 1 hour before you intend to roast it. Be sure to remove any citrus or garlic you stuffed into the turkey as well.

I would love to know if you brine your turkey and what else you add to yours!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Anthony Bourdain’s Candied Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving, the Chef’s Holiday, is on it’s way.

My mom’s side has been doing an early Thanksgiving for 3 years now and honestly, it has been so nice! Way less pressure and no lines at the grocery store! What I love about Thanksgiving is all the sides, though the turkey is the main the side dishes are really the stars of the show! These sweet potatoes from Anthony Bourdain deserve their own recognition as one of the best. They feature apple cider and bourbon giving you a perfect taste of fall! A perfect addition to your Thanksgiving Day menu!

Ingredients

  • 3 LBS Sweet Potatoes, cut into quarters
  • 6 TBSP Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, Packed
  • 1/3 Cup Apple Cider
  • 1/4 Cup Bourbon
  • Pinch of Salt

Let’s Get Cooking

Preheat the oven to 375F

Place the sweet potatoes in a medium pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to HIGH simmer, and cook for 15-20 minutes. At this point the sweet potatoes should be cooked through but offer some resistance to a fork. Drain and once they are cool enough to handle, peel the potoates and cut them into 1-inch chunks.

Use 1 TBSP of Butter to grease a roasting pan thats large enough to hold the sweet potatoes in a single layer, place the sweet potatoes in it.

In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 5 TBSP of Butter + 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, then whisk in 1/3 Cup Apple Cider + 1/4 Cup Bourbon + Pinch of Salt. Let bubble on the stove top for 1 minute, then remove and drizzle over the sweet potatoes, tossing gently to coat. Roast in the oven, stirring with a wooden spoon every 10 minute for about 40 minutes, until the sweet potoates are tender.

Serve with the rest of your delicious thanksgiving meal!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Cracked Pepper Pasta with Spicy Sausage, Spinach, & Sundried Tomatoes

I have been scrounging around in my kitchen because I do not have the motivation to do a full grocery hull even though I should. Instead, I have been attempting to make new creations out of the ingredients I have and this may be one of my favorite things I have come up with. This cracked pepper pasta is perfect for a weeknight meal or meal prep for the week! This recipe is written out as a single serving as I am a single person so feel free to tweak as needed!

Ingredients

  • 1 Serving Pasta of your choosing, cook per package instructions
  • 1 Hot Italian Sausage Link
  • 1.5 TBSP Black Pepper Boursin Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Spinach
  • 1 TBSP Sun-Dried Tomatoes
  • 1/2 Cup Reserved Pasta Water
  • Salt + Pepper

Let’s Get Cooking

Cook your pasta per package instructions, reserve 1/2 Cup of pasta water.

In a large skillet brown your sausage, making sure to break it down into small pieces. Once mostly browned add in the 1 TBSP of sun-dried tomatoes.

When the sausage is fully cooked add in the reserved pasta water + 1/2 cup spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted. Stir in the 1.5 TBSP of bourisn cheese and simmer until the sauce as thicked.

Stir in your pasta and ensure that it is fully coated.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Butternut Squash & Sausage Pasta

Fall is officially here and I could not be happier. I love nothing more than being cozy, snuggled up, with a hearty and comforting meal. In trying out some new recipes this year I stumbled across a few recipes for butternut squash pasta and I figured I had to try it, and I had these super cute Halloween-shaped noodles.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 Cups Butternut Squash, cubed
  • 1 Yellow Onion, chopped into halves then quartered
  • 3 Garlic Cloves
  • 2 TBSP Olive Oil + 1 TBSP
  • 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
  • 16 oz Hot Italian Sausage
  • 2 TBSP Butter
  • 1 TBSP Dried Sage
  • 1/2 TSP Nutmeg
  • Salt + Pepper
  • 1/4 Cup Parmesan
  • 1lb Pasta, cooked according to package
  • 1/4 Cup Pasta water

Let’s Get Cooking

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Place butternut squash + onion + whole garlic cloves on a baking sheet. Toss with 2 TBSP of olive oil and toast for 15-20 minutes.

Once roasted, add to a blender + 1/2 Cup chicken broth and blend until creamy.

Cook the pasta according to package instructions. While the pasta is cooking add the remaining 1 TBSP of olive oil and cook the sausage. Remove and set aside.

In a large skillet, turn the heat to MED-LOW and add in butter. Once it begins to melt add in the 1 TBSP of sage and cook until fragrant. Add in the squash puree + salt + pepper + 1/2 TSP nutmeg. Slowly add in the reserved pasta water and allow to thicken up. Add in cooked pasta + cooked sausage + parmesan and toss to coat.

Serve immediately & enjoy!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Creamy Boursin Spaghetti Squash

I am here with another easy weeknight dinner; the hardest part of this recipe is cutting the squash. This recipe is everything you need, it’s creamy, it’s cheesy, and you’re getting some vegetables in. Also, great meal-prep if you’re a single person like me; enjoy half for dinner and lunch the next day! I got this recipe from @themodernnonna on TikTok.

Ingredients

  • 1 Spaghetti Squash, halved and seeds removed
  • 1 Boursin Cheese, [I used Garlic and Fine Herbs]
  • 1 Container of Cherry Tomatoes
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt + Pepper

Let’s Get Cooking

Preheat the oven to 400F

Place your halved spaghetti squash on a lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil + salt + pepper. Flip the squash over and puncture the hard outer skin with a fork a few times.

In a separate baking dish, combine cherry tomatoes + borsin cheese + olive oil + salt + pepper.

Bake both the squash and tomatoes for about 45 minutes. Remove the squash from the hard outer shell with a fork, making spaghetti-like strands, and place it into the dish with the cheese + tomatoes. Mix until the squash is well coated with the sauce. I like to top it with a little extra parm.

Serve immediately and enjoy.

Made with Love,

Hannah

Gochujang Pasta

I live for an easy weeknight recipe that spices up the usual weeknight routine. This gochujang pasta is the perfect switch-up, it’s spicy, it’s creamy, it’s savory and oh-so-delicious. If you want to surprise your taste buds I would add this dish to your weeknight routine.

Ingredients

  • 6 oz Pasta of your choice
  • 1 TBSP Unsalted Butter
  • 1/2 Small Shallot, diced
  • 1 Garlic Clove, Minced
  • 3 TBSP Gochujang
  • 2/3 Cup Heavy Cream
  • 3 TBSP Freshly Grated Parmesan

Let’s Get Cooking

Fill a large pot with water + salt and bring to a boil. Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water.

In a small pan, stir in 3 TBSP gochujang + garlic and toast for about 1 minute.
Stir in the 1/4 cup reserved pasta water and mix until smooth. Stir in 2/3 cup heavy cream and simmer for 1 minute. Add in the 3 TBSP of Parmesan and continue to simmer until the sauce slightly thickens.

Toss the pasta into the sauce until coated evenly.

Divide the pasta into the bowls and top with more parm.

Enjoy!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Seafood Stock

I live laugh love making stock! It makes me feel better about not having food waste and using these shells for another purpose & I get to make tons of yummy things with it. I made this stock using leftover crab leg shells and scampi shells that I had frozen. Feel free to use shrimp shells or lobster shells as well.

Ingredients

  • 6 Cups Cold Water
  • 3 Cups Dry White Wine, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
  • 1 Yellow Onion, quartered
  • 2 TSP Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • 1/3 Cup Marsala Wine
  • 1 TBSP Dill
  • 1 Bundle of Parsley
  • 1 Stick of Butter
  • 5 Stalks Celery, sliced
  • 1 Clove of Garlic, top removed
  • 2 Carrots, Sliced
  • 2 Cups Crab Legs, or Shrimp Shells, Lobster tails

Let’s Get Cooking

Preheat your oven to 400F

Place your shells onto a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes.

Place the remaining ingredients into a large pot. Allow the roasted shells to slightly cool before adding to the pot.

Bring the liquid to a simmer and reduce heat, allow to simmer for 3-4 hours. Once the stock has cooked, remove it from heat and strain to remove the shells.

Place your stock into jars & freeze for up to sick months, or use immediately!

Made with Love,

Hannah

“New Bacon-ings” Burger

The moment I built this burger I was singing the intro to the Krabby Patty in the Krusty Krab training video … DA DADUM DUM DUM DUM DAA. This right here is a classic burger – there’s no way you can fuck this up. I made a few changes when cooking this burger – like swapping cheddar for pepper jack and not making Bob’s fancy bacon fries because I was too tired. This burger is a good reminder that the classics are delicious for a reason.

Ingredients

  • 1 LB Bacon
  • 1 LB Ground Beef
  • 1 Cup Whole Milk
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 4 Buns
  • Green Leaf Lettuce
  • 1 Large Tomato, sliced
  • 1 Red Onion, sliced
  • 4 Slices of Cheddar Cheese [or Pepperjack]
  • Par-baked French Fries

Let’s Get Cooking

Preheat your oven to 400F.

Chop up all but 8 slices of bacon and fry over MED heat until almost crisp. Drain the chopped bacon on paper towels, wipe out the skillet, and fry the remaining slices until crisp.

Par-bake your french fries, or par-fry them and set aside.

Combine milk + egg in a large bowl. Coat the par-baked french fries in the mixture and spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Toss the coated fries with the chopped bacon and return to the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the fries are extra crispy.

While the fries are cooking, make 4 patties and season both sides with salt and pepper and cook to your doneness. When they’re just about finished cooking, top with your cheese slices.

To build your burger: bottom bun, lettuce, cheeseburger, tomato, bacon slices, onion, top bun.

Serve with your bacony fries & enjoy… you’re going to need to unhinge your jaw for this one.

Made with Love,

Hannah

Crispy Lemon Potatoes w/ Whipped Dill Ricotta

When you first read this recipe title it seems like it’s going to be complicated, I promise you it’s not. This recipe is so damn delicious it is on my MUST-MAKE list. It is the perfect side dish, thanks to The Feed Feed, as the potatoes are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and have this amazing lemony flavor. THEN paired with this cooling and herby ricotta sauce to dip them in, truly I cannot say enough, I almost said fuck it and ate them as my main dish instead. The recipe calls for baby potatoes, but I used leftover russets I had and cut them into 1-inch slices and they turned out perfect.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 LB Baby Potatoes, halved/ or russets cut into 1-inch thick slices and halved
  • 1 TSP Kosher Salt
  • 2 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 Lemon, Juice + Zest
  • 2 TSP Dijon Mustard
  • 1 TSP Smoked Paprika
  • Kosher Salt + Black Pepper to taste

Whipped Dill Ricotta Dip

  • 1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
  • 1 TBSP Greek Yogurt
  • Handful Fresh Dill / I used 1 TBSP Dried Dill
  • 1 TBSP Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1 Garlic Clove, finely diced
  • Kosher salt + pepper to taste

Let’s Get Cooking

Add the prepared potatoes into a large pot and cover with cold water. Add in salt and bring to a boil, cook until they are fork tender, about 8 minutes. Drain the potatoes and place them back into the pot, allowing them to steam for a few minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425F.

Add olive oil + lemon zest + lemon juice + Dijon mustard + smoked paprika + grated parmesan cheese + black pepper to the potatoes. Stir well to coat. Place the lid onto the pot and shake the pot back and forth, creating some texture to the potatoes

Spread the potatoes evenly on a lined baking sheet with parchment paper, cut side down, for 32 minutes, or until crispy.

While the potatoes are cooking, combine the ingredients for the whipped ricotta in a food processor or blender. Blend for one minute and adjust the seasonings to your taste.

Once the potatoes are finished cooking, let cool slightly before enjoying with a side of the dip.

Made with love,

Hannah

Chippy Boys

Every once in and while there is a ‘viral’ recipe that I just have to try. I came across this snack recipe from the creator Kaelah on TikTok and it has everything I love in a snack. It’s crunchy with the potato chips, it’s tangy because of the cheese, and sweet with the balsamic – it’s literally perfect! It’s also so freaking easy to make – with 3 ingredients – it’s a win/win! I paired it with sitting outside and a nice Pinot Grigio.

Ingredients

  • Kettle Cooked Potato chips, salted [I used salt & vinegar because they are the best kind]
  • Any funky blue cheese [Gorgonzola, Blue Cheese, Roquefort]
  • Balsamic Vinegar

Let’s Get Cooking

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spread out your chips onto a single layer. What’s great about this recipe is you can make as much or as little as you need!

Sprinkle your gorgonzola cheese over the chips and broil on HIGH until the edges of the chips start to brown and the cheese gets melty.

Remove from the oven and drizzle over your balsamic vinegar, mix to coat.

& that’s it!

Pair with a nice glass of white wine, share with friends or don’t!

Made with Love,

Hannah