Thanksgiving in my home is usually just the two of us. Every year, the spouse says “Let’s just get a turkey breast this year.. no need to get a whole bird.” But every year I get a whole turkey anyway. I really enjoy roasting a whole bird and take a lot of pleasure in the…
{from scratch holidays} How to Make GF Stuffing
Family recipes for stuffing are as unique as families themselves. No matter what recipe you follow or what you add to your stuffing, here’s how to make delicious stuffing that just happens to be gluten-free: 1) Bake or buy a loaf of gluten-free bread. For stuffing, my preference is gluten-free white sandwich bread. Why? It…
{from scratch holidays} Cranberry Squares
Thanksgiving and its attendant leftovers are my favorite things about that holiday. I’m sure my family isn’t alone in that planning the Thanksgiving meal also means planning for maximum leftover efficiency. We all have our favorites – my son is the stuffing king, my daughter hoards the mashed potatoes and gravy, and my husband loves…
{edible gift} Apple Leather
I have been blessed to find new neighbors who own apple trees this year! Though I am somewhat sheepish to go up to a random person’s house, knock on their door, and ask if they use their apples, I do it anyhow. Both times I’ve done this, the people have responded kindly, and say…
{fsc housekeeping} FSC Classes & Events
Before we continue our ‘from scratch holiday’ series, I wanted to update our FSC ACADEMY’s November & December class schedule both at Brookside Museum and at The Arts Center of the Capital Region, plus announce the winner of the latest giveaway and reminder you all of our Special Event Class & our Troy Farmers Market…
{from scratch holidays} Thanksgiving Tablescaping Part 3
Editor’s Note: Ms. Lauren from Craft My Life Away is back with her final installment in her three-part Thanksgiving Tablescaping series. Her first installment ran on Friday and her 2nd piece, FILLED with patterns & instructions, ran yesterday- check it & craft on! -Christina I’m back with Part 3 of my 3 Part Installment obsessing over Thanksgiving Tablescaping. All of the…
{from scratch holidays} Thanksgiving Tablescaping Part 2
Editor’s Note: Ms. Lauren from Craft My Life Away is back with her 2nd installment in her three-part Thanksgiving Tablescaping series. Her first installment ran yesterday– check it & craft on! -Christina I am back with Part 2 of my Three Part Installment obsessing over Thanksgiving Tablescaping: I will be discussing topics 4 & 5: Going…
{from scratch holidays} Thanksgiving Tablescape Part 1
Editor’s Note: We are taking a break from our usual recipe-driven ‘from scratch holidays’ posts to concentrate on your holiday tablescaping creativity! We’ve never ventured into the crafting world, but who better to educate us than newbie swapper & lifetime crafter, Lauren of Craft My Life Away! I’m excited to share Lauren’s 3-part series that…
{from scratch holidays} A Spicy Thanksgiving
By the time the Puritan Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, there were actually many settlements already established by the Spanish in what would eventually be considered the United States, like Santa Fe NM, El Paso TX and St Augustine FL. So what and where was the first Thanksgiving in the United States? Was it the…
{fsc podcast} Episode 8: The Homemade Pantry
Those of you following along with the blog or the FSC Book Club know that we love Alana Chernila and her cookbook, The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying & Start Making. So it should come as no surprise that we are absolutely thrilled to bring you a fascinating, in-depth interview with Alana during…
{scaling the northeast grain system} Fall Plantings & Rotation
When I first started gardening, I couldn’t imagine planting anything in the fall. Sure, I knew about tulip bulbs, but I thought of putting them in the ground as winter storage, kind of like keeping your sweaters safe from moths in summer. I couldn’t wrap my head around plants that didn’t follow the path of…
{from scratch holidays} Bourbon Brown Butter Sweet Potatoes
The leaves are on the ground, pumpkins on every doorstep and the crazy holiday season is creeping up on us. I love this time of year and I tend to cook more intensely during this season. The crisp freshness of summer foods usually cooks quickly and effortlessly. This time of year food slows down and…
{from scratch holidays} Quick-Braised Carrots
For the holidays, we totally don’t go for traditional recipes. This is due partially to me remembering jello salads and various different riffs on Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup from my childhood. This is also partially because of my husband’s opinion that turkey is really dry no matter what, and usually requires way more effort…
{edible gift} D.I.Y. Cocktail Bitters
My friend Julie turned me on to homemade infusions years ago. She has a big shelf in her amazing kitchen/dining room filled with homemade bitters, digestifs, infusions, shrubs, and the like. It’s like walking into a delicious apothecary. Julie recently attended the FSC Schenectady Food Swap and brought with her a bunch of her homemade bitters…
{recipe recap} From Scratch Holidays
I know, I know. Halloween was only yesterday. BUT like magazines, we want to be weeks ahead of the game so you have time to prepare, shop for & create dishes for your Thanksgiving meal, appetizers for a your holiday party, and cocktail suggestions for a New Years Celebration. We also strive to provide you…
