This Old Chef

I had some chicken breast (1 small breast and a small piece I had trimmed off the 2nd breast) that I needed to use, and the curry craving was strong. 

I cut the chicken into about ¾ inch cubes and…

Mother's other "famous" Christmas cookie contribution was the "Melting Moment."

I know these are seriously out of fashion... but I don't care...

The texture is sooooooooo different from most cookies... because of the cornstarch.  But it's the very, very lemony…

Forgive me.

The switch from "after Thanksgiving" foods to Christmas prep can induce whiplash...

And now it's mid-December!

So let's get going, people...  Over the next few days, we'll be re-posting our greatest Christmas cookie hits.

You're welcome!

(And please…

Stop What You're Doing and Make These!!!

Seriously.  I love all the traditional Christmas cookies.  But I'm telling you:  make chocolate shortbread and bring those elves to their knees!

These come from Chef Extraordinaire Bob Chambers.  You will never, I…

Shortbread.

I have always been helpless when confronted with a plate of shortbread...

And these have forever replaced decorated sugar cookies in my affections.

Shortbread

Yield:  Approximately 50

Cream:

1 lb. Unsalted butter

1 C Sugar (processed fine)

½ t…

Who doesn't love chili?  This beans-and-bird combination will have your family gobbling up every morsel!

So... we all have good days and bad days.  But you know what makes a GREAT day?  The arrival of a box from @sitkasalmonshares...

...truly extraordinary seafood!

Do yourself a huge favor and give them a try during the holidays!

…

You must you must you must try Julia's Cranberry Chutney, and catch my debut on thekitchn.com!

Here's a great memory of my very first time roasting a spatchcocked turkey, and my case for spatchcocking your Thanksgiving turkey...  Norman Rockwell was a painter, not a cook!

I know it looks like road kill but...

It's happened...  I've…

Perhaps turkey cooked "en cocotte" is more to your liking this year, especially if you're opting not to serve an entire bird.  Here's my recent MyRecipes article on the technique for your consideration!

What Cooking "En Cocotte" Means and Why…

I'm still celebrating my first time having a recipe featured on the cover of Food & Wine magazine, which was just one year ago!

Check out my luscious Rutabaga, Celery Root and Potato Gratin... you and your family will love…

I've been making Thanksgiving dinners since 1978, and I've learned a thing or two...  Which I would like to share with you!

Thanksgiving Lessons Learned Over the Years