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The Holidays Are Here!
November 8, 2011
 When any holiday rolls around I can't help but think of the food that goes with it. I guess it's an addiction to my craft (or just to food in general), but I love thinking about what I'm going to cook or eat for any special occasion. Plus, cooking for my friends and family is an important way I show my love for them. So here we are again at the beginning of November with "The Holidays" right around the corner and these thoughts and emotions are coming full force. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years and my birthday will all be happening in the next few weeks, so lots will be going on in my kitchen too. You are welcome to check in. Just go the LAFW Facebook and have a look at what I'm cooking up next.
November is often called the Gratitude Month. This month I have a friend who is practising being extra mindful of what she is grateful for in her life. One of the things she doing is making a daily post to her Facebook Page. I look forward to checking in and seeing what she is thinking about. It always inspires me. I am grateful for...my amazing and beautiful children, my supportive family and friends, my unique talents, my fun business, the excellent chefs that work with me and my wonderful clients. Thank you for allowing me to share my love of all things in the kitchen and thank you all for a great year!
Recently, I added a blog to the LAFW website. It has an archive of all the past newsletters with recipes, tips and much more. Click here and check it out. Then have a look below at the special holiday entree we will be doing through December. I've also got a great recipe for Thanksgiving and information on where you can get the best turkey in town!
Looking forward to cooking with you soon!
Rose
Special Holiday Entree Selection
 How can you have a holiday menu without cranberries as a main ingredient? This holiday season, along with our regular Fall-Winter Menu, we are offering a special entree item through the end of December; Game Hen with Double Cranberry and Thyme Sauce. LAFW is fortunate to be busy the next couple of months but it's not too late to book your holiday event with us! We still have some great dates available, so if you're on the fence about what to do this year, have your holiday party with LA Food Works. Come out and create lots of delicious dishes in our kitchen while celebrating the season. Or let us come to you! We even have an option to enhance your experience while serving the greater community with our Cooking for a Cause program. So do something fun, interactive and interesting this year and celebrate with an LA Food Works event!
Special Holiday Entree Option
Game Hen with Double Cranberry and Thyme Sauce
Leek and Garlic Savory Bread Pudding
Butternut Squash with Shallot-Cider Glaze
Broccoli Florets with Caramelized Onions
For more information or to reserve a date for your event,
contact Rose LeBoeuf at 310-288-0100
The Best Turkey
 For the past 7 years, I have been serving a Willie Bird Turkey every Thanksgiving. They are the bird of choice from my wonderful butcher Harvey Gussman because they are just so fresh and so delicious. He sells them to all his clients; caterers, restaurants and families. One year, I came in to get mine, and the chefs from Campanile were heading out with 30 for Thanksgiving dinner at their restaurant. Willie Birds are free range turkeys raised up in the Sonoma wine country where they enjoy lots of sunshine and a special diet without growth stimulants or hormones. No preservatives or additives are used during processing and they are only available during the holiday season. I like to brine mine in an citrus-spice mixture that infuses even more flavor to the meat. You can get that recipe on the LAFW Facebook book page. Just click here and you'll go right to it!
To get your Willie Bird, call Harvey at 323-937-4622.
Hurry, supplies are very limited!
Rose's Holiday Stuffing
Last year I shared with you my favorite cranberry chutney recipe. This year, it's my stuffing. I have very traditional tastes in my house, so this recipe is right in line with my family's pallet. I use regular breakfast sausage and the 365 Stuffing Mix from Whole Foods. If you want something a bit more exotic or spicy, use your favorite pork or turkey sausage. You can also give it an added dimension of flavor by sauteing the giblets, chopping them up and adding them to the mix at the end with the cranberries and apple. This is a super easy and versatile recipe. Add your special ingredients and make it your own! If you'd like the recipe for the cranberry chutney, it's right there in the archives of my new blog. Click here and have a look.
1
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pound breakfast sausage
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1
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cup butter - 2 sticks |
1
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cup diced celery |
1
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cup diced onion
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2
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10 ounce packages of seasoned stuffing cubes |
| 3 1/2 |
cups chicken stock, or 2 14 ounce cans chicken broth
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3/4
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water
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| 1 |
cup apple, diced |
1
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cup dried cranberries
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1
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tablespoon lemon zest |
2
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tablespoons poultry seasoning
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salt and pepper to taste
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Break sausage into small pieces and brown in a skillet over medium heat. Drain fat and set sausage aside.
Melt butter in a deep saute pan over medium heat. Add celery and onion and cook lightly. Remove from heat and place in a large mixing bowl. Add stuffing cubes, chicken stock and water. Mix well. Stir in sausage, apple, cranberries, zest, poultry seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste.
Stuff into your turkey being careful not to pack in too tightly as stuffing will expand while cooking. Place any left over stuffing in a 9x9 inch baking dish covered with buttered foil. Bake at 375F for 40 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake an additional 15 minutes.
If you prefer not to stuff your turkey, bake in a 13x9 inch baking dish covered with buttered foil for 1 hours. Remove foil and continue to bake an additional 15 minutes.
Yield: 17 cups or 18 servings. Per Serving: 261 Calories; 21g Fat (72.6% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 13g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 45mg Cholesterol; 908mg Sodium.
WANT TO USE THESE TIPS AND RECIPES IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you do not alter the information in any way and include a credit that reads "by Rose LeBoeuf, www.lafoodworks.com, Interactive Cooking Classes, Parties, and Corporate Team Building Events for Groups Looking for a Fun and Unique Dinning Experience."
LA Food Works Events
Ideal for Team Building, Holiday Parties, Client Entertaining, Birthday Parties, Showers and Private Gatherings.
Let LA Food Works make your party one which your guests will not soon forget!
No previous cooking experience required!
Just willingness to put on an apron,
get your hands a little messy,
indulge in some great food
and have lots of fun playing in the kitchen!
We also happily design Custom Cooking Parties. If you have a group of 10 or more foodies who love great food and playing together in the kitchen, contact us and we will design a custom menu or theme class for you and your group.
Our interactive cooking parties both unify and entertain...perfect for any occasion that requires great food, interesting activities and lots of fun!
For information or to book your event, contact Rose LeBoeuf at 310-288-0100 for an event planning kit, pricing and availability.
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