Thanksgiving: Recipes for a Holiday Meal

For those of us longing to be festive, we officially announce that Christmas prep is on! In Great Britain the last Sunday before advent is Stir Up Sunday—November 24 this year. A Victorian tradition, this is the day to make those Christmas treats that need to be made well ahead—such as Christmas pudding, fruitcake, and the mincemeat for mince pies. Several weeks of maturing and being ‘fed’ regularly with spirits ensures they are at their tip top best when the time to serve them comes around.

Everybody loves chocolate – we couldn’t agree more! In her new book Everybody Loves Chocolate: Delicious Recipes from Around the World, Australia-born food writer Jennifer Donovan takes an enthusiastic journey through Europe, Asia Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, gathering chocolate goodness along the way. There is a chocolate recipe here for every person and every mood.

This week we are delighted to welcome La Comida del Barrio: Latin-American Cooking in the USA to ckbk. This 2003 cookbook was the debut title from chef Aarón Sánchez, who is now known to millions in his role as a judge on the US edition of Masterchef.

Nick Malgieri, baker and former executive pastry chef at Windows on the World, is the James Beard Award-winning author of numerous bestselling cookbooks which are now available on ckbk. With the holiday season approaching, we asked Nick to share his top tips for baking successful holiday cookies.

The American holiday of Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November – this year November 24. Its origins lie in various days for thanksgiving across US history, and since the 1800s has become established as a date that brings families across the US together. Cooking for a crowd brings its challenges, even before you factor in everyone’s expectation of the special meal. Fear not, we’ve got everything you need to keep everyone happy.

Growing up, I have no memories of a cranberry that didn’t come from a can or bottle. It wasn’t until after I finished university that I made cranberry sauce for the first time. While that one didn’t end up being a winner, it did introduce me to the joys of fresh cranberries. Once I’d tasted the real deal, there was no going back – I’ve tried every cranberry recipe I could get my hands on.

Our team offers up four themed menu ideas to guarantee a Thanksgiving your guests will remember.