Suburban Lifestyles in Westwood: All Around the House

Countdown to Thanksgiving:

Most of us during the next two weeks prepare for visiting family, friends and eating food, food and more food. For Wolverine fans, it is the between  and Holliston (the game will be on the road this year). 

For others, it may be finding just the right turkey and some new ideas for side dishes!

I have a few favorites that my family has enjoyed over the years – I’ll list them below with recipes. Hope you enjoy them!

Cranberry-Orange Sauce

This dish is easy to make, can be doubled and freezes well!

A modification of a recipe from the Junior League of San Francisco’s cookbook:

• On the cooktop, 1 cup orange juice and 1 cup sugar.
• Heat at med level until sugar dissolves.
• Add one bag of cranberries and raise heat to med high..the sugar syrup will begin to bubble, cook about five minutes more until cranberries start to “pop” reduce heat, smash some cranberries against side of pan.
• Turn off heat source and let cool in the pan. Serve chilled.

Popovers 

For those who are fortunate to have an EXTRA oven:

Credit for this recipe goes to Blueberry Hill Cookbook – a wonderful Vermont Inn!

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Use Crisco shortening to grease tin with 12 popover – place tin in oven for 5 minutes to melt Crisco.
• Beat together: 1 cup whole milk, 1 Tbsp melted butter, 1 cup sifted flour, then add two beaten eggs ( large). 
• Fill cups ¾ full and bake for 15 minutes. 
• DO NOT OPEN the oven door, reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake 20-25 minutes longer until golden brown. 
• Serve immediately!

Fancy Tables

Our colonial forefathers didn’t focus much on table manners at the first Thanksgiving! 

Napkins didn’t become the norm until mid 19th century – and with the growing popularity of napkins in America came the European art of Napkin Folding! 

From the bottom of my Baker’s rack, I found the November-December 1981 edition of Colonial Homes which featured FANCY FOLDS by Linda Hetzer.

Try out the Astoria on your Thanksgiving table!