Thanksgiving Countdown: Brined or Grilled & Gravy

Hi Friends. Here's my best of taking the turkey to the grill! Hands down- my Apple Brined Roasted Turkey Recipe is an all time winner for a moist and flavorful turkey. I've prepared this recipe on my TV show, on Live with Regis & Kelly, and for my toughest audience, my family. Sure, emails for requests and success stories pour in, but my toughest test was still before me with my family; a group with more food issues and conditions than should ever be under one roof. Somehow, I don't remember my Nana having such a tough group. She cooked. We ate and were happy. 

Need more kitchen? If your oven is all jammed up- take it outdoors and grill-it. Or, make a Thanksgiving turkey challenge. Cook 1 turkey in the oven and 1 on the grill. Yep. Been there, done that. 

Apple Brined Roasted Turkey Recipe

Turkey on The Grill

Savory Herb Gravy

Turkey Carving Tips

What Coming UP Tomorrow: Thanksgiving Turkey Countdown Continue with Sides: Veggies


Apple Brined Turkey Recipe

The bird is the center of the plate, so do it well. This is a no-fail recipe - just follow the steps and it will be juicy and tender. This is my tried and true favorite turkey recipe; and by the numerous success emails I've received from my TV series viewers and my appearances on Live with Regis & Kelly it is surely worth saving, sharing and using year after year! 

NOTE: this recipe requires 2 days prep.

Thank You Mr. and Mrs. Benedict

The story behind this world famous legendary brunch dish may or may not be true. But, when a dish calls for eggs to take center stage, or center of the plate this is always the one that first comes to mind. Here's my Eggs Benedict Recipe, taken from Know Your Fire cookbook by George Hirsch with Marie Bianco. Enjoy!

 Know Your Fire cookbook by George Hirsch with Marie Bianco

Chimichurri Burger

Chimichurri, also spelled Chimmichurri is an Argentine marinade and sauce usually used for steak. But why should this easy-to-make flavorful sauce only grace a rib or strip steak when burgers are sadly only topped with ketchup.

It's prepared simply by combing, fresh chopped flat leaf or Italian parsley, fresh chopped garlic, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, a few red pepper flakes, pinch of sea salt and ground black pepper. The exact amounts? If you ask my dear Argentinean friend, she would tell you- no measure, just mix and taste; measure with your heart not your head. Let's give a South American spin on my Ultimate Burger. Prepare the Chimichurri sauce and top your uncooked beef patties with 3/4 of the prepared sauce as a marinade. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Then, proceed to grill as directed. Top cook burgers with remaining Chimichurri and serve. 

Then if you wish do the tango. 

Ultimate Burger 

Recipe by George Hirsch | Makes 6-8 burgers 

2 pounds ground beef, very cold 
1/4 cup sweet onion, finely chopped 
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/3 cup Chimichurri Sauce

Accompaniments: crusty hard rolls, lettuce and sliced tomato

In a 2-quart mixing bowl, combine beef, onion, mustard, parsley, and pepper. Mix with a fork, taking care not to overwork the meat. Divide into 6 or 8 equal portions and form into 3/4 inch thick patties.

Cover with 3/4 of Chimichurri and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Place the burgers on a hot grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, turning once. Lower the heat slightly and cook for another 2-3 minutes until desired doneness. Remove burgers from grill to a platter and drizzle extra Chimichurri Sauce on top of burgers.

Serve on rolls with lettuce and tomatoes.

image: Hhltdave5

Oh My Schweinhaxe

In honor of OKTOBERFEST this Saturday. Time to take out your lederhosen. Do you have an UMPaAh band and stein near you? Prost!


No, that's not a song. It's German culinary delight, aka pork ham hock. Just how did I find the best place to get it in Germany? My best kept secret (well not really, but close) came from a lovely member of an American Airline flight crew. This may have been one of my best inflight location tips yet. 

So here's where to go. For a little Weinerschnitz or Schweinhaxe go straight to Gaststätte Baseler Eck (the corner) on Baseler Platz 7, Frankfurt. It is well worth the detour or ideal if you have a long layover at the airport. It's approximately 20 minutes by tram from airport.

Baseler Eck is a family place that fills up every night. You are guaranteed a great meal and a good time. Whenever I’ve brought anyone there, they wanted to return the next night. I admit to being the American who returns for consecutive dining, happily. So repeat business must be their marketing campaign, because they don't have a website. The food is traditional home cooked German fare. You may have to wait for a table, but it’s fine; wait at the bar and enjoy a perfect Pils. By the way, as with much of Germany, one of the owners does speak English.

Gaststätte Baseler Eck‎
Baseler Platz 7
60329 Gutleutviertel, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
069 252439

images: Schweinhaxe, Baseler Eck