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November 30, 2022

Tips, tricks for cooking the perfect Thanksgiving Day turkey

Use these tips for marinating, brining, baking and frying your Thanksgiving turkey.

COLORADO, USA — Having a perfectly cooked turkey as the centerpiece for your Thanksgiving meal can seem intimidating.

But, in reality, cooking a turkey is actually pretty easy.

Here are some tips and tricks to make sure yours comes out perfect.

Roasting Basics

Here are the basic steps to roast a turkey, from Butterball:

Preheat oven to 325°.
Remove bag with giblets from inside the turkey. Drain juices and lightly pat the turkey dry, using paper towels.
Place the turkey on a rack inside a roasting pan*, breast side up. Turn the wings back. Brush or spray the skin with oil.
Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into the turkey. It should be placed in the lower part of the thigh, not touching the bone.
Begin baking the turkey.
Once the turkey is about 2/3 done, loosely tent with foil so the skin doesn’t burn.
When you think the turkey should be done (check time estimates below), check the temperature to be sure. One the thigh reaches 180° your turkey is done.
Put turkey on a platter on let stand 15 minutes.

*If you don’t have a rack, you can use vegetables or crinkled up aluminum foil to keep the turkey off the bottom of the pan. This ensures it cooks evenly.

Cooking time

The length of time you need to cook your turkey is based on how much it weighs and whether or not it is stuffed.

These are just estimates. Always look at temperature to determine whether or not your turkey has finished cooking. When the thigh reaches 180° and the breast or stuffing reached 170°, the turkey is done.

Brining

Brining your turkey before you roast it is a great way to be sure it stays moist.

As a general rule, you should brine your turkey for about an hour for each pound, according to Butterball. Here’s how it works:

The night before roasting, remove the giblets from your turkey and rinse it inside and out.
Prepare your brine recipe. Mix ingredients until all salt is dissolved and it’s cooled to room temperature.
Place turkey, breast side down, in your brining container or bag. It needs to be able to fit in your fridge and be made of food-grade plastic, stainless steel or glass.
Pour in liquid until in completely covers turkey.
Place in refrigerator for about one hour per pound of turkey.
Remove turkey from brine. Rinse and gently pat dry. Roast as directed above.

Marinating

Where a brine is for keeping a turkey moist, a marinade is to add flavor.

There are hundreds of recipes for turkey marinades: everything from spicy Cajun to sweet pineapple and teriyaki to rich bourbon and cola.

No matter what you choose, you’ll need about 1/4 cup marinade for every pound of meat, according to Butterball.

Depending on the recipe, you’ll marinate the turkey between two and eight hours. If it’s on the shorter end, you can make your marinade early so that the flavors have time to develop before you add the turkey. And be sure to never exceed eight hours to protect the turkey’s texture.

Always make sure the marinade is cool before pouring it over your turkey and marinate your turkey in the fridge.

Frying a turkey

If you aren’t going to roast your turkey, deep frying has become more and more popular over the last several years.

Fried turkeys are especially tender and moist, with a delicious crispy outside.

Here’s how it’s done, according to Butterball:

Remove the giblets from your turkey and ensure it’s completely thawed. Pat dry. If your turkey is 14 lbs or less it can fried whole. Otherwise, separate the legs and thighs to fry them separately*.
Add oil to your fryer. Don’t exceed the maximum fill line on an electric fryer. If you’re using a propane deep fryer, you can figure out the amount you’ll need by putting the turkey in the fryer, filling it with water until the turkey is just covered and marking the line.
Preheat the oil to 375°.
Submerge the empty frying basket in hot oil for about 30 seconds then remove to help prevent sticking.
If you’re using a propane fryer, turn off the burner. Add turkey to the basket and slowly submerge into the oil. If the turkey is not completely covered in an electric fryer, it will still cook fine.
Cook turkey about three to four minutes per pound, then check the temperature. When dark meat reaches a temperature of 175° F to 180° and white meat reaches a temperature of 165° F to 170°, it’s done.
Lift turkey in the basket from fryer and place in a pan or on paper towels to drain. Let stand for about 20 minutes before removing it from the basket to carve.

*If you’re frying pieces of your turkey separately, they should cook in oil that’s heated to 325°. It will take four to five minutes per pound.

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November 30, 2022

USDA Proposes Science Driven Updates to Foods Provided Through WIC | What They’re Saying

Proposed changes promote nutrition security and maternal and child health, increase flexibility for participants

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2022 – This month, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is proposing changes to the foods prescribed to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC. These science-based revisions incorporate recommendations from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

The WIC food packages are specifically designed to supplement the foods and beverages participants already consume and fill in key nutritional gaps to support healthy growth and development. Food and Nutrition Service, or FNS, is proposing changes to align the food packages with the latest nutrition science and support equitable access to nutritious foods during critical life stages.

Taken collectively, the changes will increase the current level of assistance while providing WIC state agencies with more flexibility to tailor the packages to accommodate personal and cultural food preferences and special dietary needs and increase variety and choice for WIC participants, making the program more appealing for current and potential participants.

“USDA is committed to advancing maternal and child health through WIC, helping mothers, babies and young kids thrive,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These proposed changes will strengthen WIC – already an incredibly powerful program – by ensuring it provides foods that reflect the latest nutrition science to support healthy eating and bright futures.”

“For the more than 6 million moms, babies and young children who participate in WIC – and the millions more eligible to participate – these proposed revisions have the potential to make positive, life-long impacts on health and well-being,” said Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services.

The proposed revisions support fruit and vegetable consumption by increasing the amount provided and the varieties available for purchase. Congress previously implemented a significant but temporary boost to the benefit provided to WIC participants for purchasing fruits and vegetables. FNS proposes making that increase permanent, providing participants with up to four times the amount they would otherwise receive. FNS also proposes revisions that give participants a greater variety of fruits and veggies to choose from and adjust the quantity of juice to reflect nutrition guidance, which emphasizes whole fruits and vegetables.

To view a media toolkit with additional information on the WIC food packages announcement, please view the WIC Food Package Media Toolkit page. For a Q&A on the proposed changes to the WIC food packages, please view the WIC Food Packages Proposed Revisions Q&As page.

See below for what they are saying:

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro

“WIC reaches over 6 million mothers, infants, and children – and is a vital tool in our work to end hunger in the United States. The program is evidence and science based and delivers life sustaining outcomes for mothers and their children. The rule announced today will build on the National Strategy released at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, and offer more choice and flexibility to program participants. I am especially proud that it extends the increases in the cash value voucher, which we established in the pandemic response bills and which I helped maintain through our government funding bills as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. I thank my friend Secretary Vilsack for his work to produce this rule that will move forward our work to end hunger.”

House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern

“The historic reforms announced today by the USDA prove we are making exciting progress following September’s successful White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Strengthening the WIC program and reducing disparities within our existing anti-hunger safety net build on the conference’s momentum and directly reflect key objectives within the Administration’s new national strategy. Together, these changes will make a tangible difference in the lives of low-income mothers, infants, and children in communities where quality food is often too expensive or not available.

“My sincere thanks go to Secretary Vilsack and the Administration for ensuring everyone in this country has access to nutritious food. This takes us another step closer in our fight to end hunger and improve the health of every American.”

House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott

“The Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) proposed rule makes critical improvements to the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). By advancing a science-based review of the foods available and expanding options that align with dietary guidelines, more families will be able to access the food they need to live healthier lives. These steps are particularly important considering the continued inequities in access to nutritious food and disproportionate impact of diet-related conditions in low-income areas. Today’s announcement is further evidence that the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to helping every family put nutritious food on the table.”

Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Chairwoman Suzanne Bonamici

“Today’s update to the WIC food package is an essential update to enhance healthy food access some of the most vulnerable in our country, including infants and pregnant and nursing moms.”

Senator Cory Booker

“It is great to see USDA’s new proposed rule increase WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefit. The new WIC package will strengthen a program that is proven to help mothers and babies flourish.”

Congressman Joaquin Castro

“I applaud USDA for its proposed updates to WIC, which will enhance the nutritional quality of food packages and increase support for dietary needs & cultural preferences. These key changes will help families across the nation lead healthier lives.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski

“Since 2014, I’ve been advocating that more low-mercury fish, like Alaska wild salmon, be included in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. I am pleased that USDA’s proposed rule for updating WIC food packages will do just that. Once this rule is final, moms and young children across the country will be able to add more healthy Alaska wild salmon to their diets.”

Congresswoman Kim Schrier

“Last year my bipartisan bill was signed into law that allows WIC families to receive higher benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables during the pandemic. I’m thrilled that USDA is making this change permanent. So many pregnant women and young children will benefit!”

Former Agriculture Secretaries Dan Glickman and Ann Veneman

“The proposed rule released by USDA on the WIC food packages is a win for food and nutrition security for the over six million WIC participants. With the increase in the overall value of the WIC benefit and updated food packages that align with current nutrition science, including the 2017 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommendations and the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, these updates maintain WIC’s role as a strong public health nutrition program. We are pleased to see that these changes align with our policy recommendations from our Strengthening Child Nutrition Programs report released earlier this year.”

American Heart Association Executive Vice President of Advocacy Mark Schoeberl

“A healthy diet is key to promoting proper development, growth and overall health. The WIC program plays a vital role in providing nutritional support to pregnant, postpartum and nursing women, and infants and young children. The American Heart Association strongly supports USDA’s efforts to update the WIC food package to reflect current nutrition science and increase access to nutritious, culturally appropriate foods.”

American Academy of Pediatrics President Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD, FAAP

“The American Academy of Pediatrics has long championed the importance of the WIC program, which offers nutritious, healthy foods for mothers and babies. Pediatricians interact regularly with WIC and routinely refer patients to the program. WIC is effective because its food packages are based on what scientific experts recommend to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children. We support USDA’s efforts to move forward with a science-based process to update WIC food packages and look forward to providing feedback on the rule.”

American Public Health Association Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD

“Ensuring that families have access to adequate nutrition is a key method to promoting health equity and ensuring healthier future generations. The WIC nutrition program is science-driven and addresses nutrition gaps faced by vulnerable families and children – increasing the value of the WIC program would further expand its public health reach and is a change fully supported by the American Public Health Association.”

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics President Ellen R. Shanley

“Increasing access to healthful foods is an imperative step to achieving health equity. Serving millions of participants every day, WIC improves health outcomes for pregnant mothers, babies and children. So it is essential that the WIC food packages contain important nutrients and improve diet quality while also being mindful of people’s cultural preferences and customs. The changes announced today will provide welcome advancements in each of these areas.”

Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs CEO Terrance E. Moore

“Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is critical to the health and wellbeing of pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, as they need substantial amounts of nutrients to support both their own health and the health of their developing baby […] By establishing a permanent increase to fruit and vegetable benefits for WIC participants, the USDA can significantly address disparities in health equity by providing all families the opportunity to achieve a healthy nutritional status during pregnancy and the critical first year postpartum.”

Bread for the World President and CEO Rev. Eugene Cho

“Making the WIC ‘fruit and vegetable bump’ permanent will increase families’ access to nutrition at a time when food prices continue to rise. The 1,000 days between pregnancy and a child’s second birthday is the most critical period in their development. Children who lack good nutrition during this time are significantly more likely to experience lifelong health problems, along with physical and intellectual delays. A permanent fruit and vegetable bump will ensure millions of children receive the nutrition they need to thrive.”

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities President Sharon Parrott

“The proposed changes, recommended by the National Academies, position WIC to strengthen its proven record of improving birth outcomes, diets, and development and help reduce racial disparities in maternal and child health outcomes. We will continue to work to make sure low-income families get and stay connected to WIC to help them stay healthy and thrive.”

Center for Science in the Public Interest Executive Director and President Dr. Peter Lurie

“We commend the USDA for proposing an update to the WIC food package that is achievable and science-based. It will ensure that women, infants, and children participating in the program get the nutrition they need, particularly with an increase in fruit and vegetable benefits and strengthening key nutrition standards, while honoring food choices and cultural preferences.”

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Senior Director Rev. Amy Reumann

“The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recognizes that families need access to sufficient and nutritious food to thrive. As a society, we must dismantle the barriers to health that stand in the way of each person reaching their potential. This mission is directly supported by the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in its purpose to support and promote maternal and child nutrition. The proposed WIC food package rule contains essential improvements that are vital to ensuring a healthy start for all children, no matter their economic status.”

Feeding America Chief Government Relations Officer Vince Hall

“For nearly fifty years, WIC has worked to put food on the table for families and ensure children have access to the nutritious foods they need to grow and thrive. The Feeding America network has long partnered with WIC providers to strengthen food security in communities across the country. USDA is now delivering on a key commitment included in the National Strategy by working to expand access to healthy foods in long-overdue updates to the WIC food packages. Coupled with new investments in WIC program modernization, we are encouraged that a stronger and more robust WIC program can continue to reduce hunger and improve health outcomes for the next generation.”

Food Research and Action Center

“The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for today’s announcement of the proposed food package for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which will go a long way in making this critical program even healthier, more accessible, and easier to use.

The proposed WIC food package will build on the White House “National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health” to modernize WIC by supporting the increased value of WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefit, allowing additional flexibility in food package sizes, increasing accessibility to culturally relevant food options, and fastening alignment with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

This package is a step in the right direction toward increasing program participation, improving WIC participants’ health outcomes, addressing health inequities, and ultimately, helping end hunger in this country.”

Hennepin County Medical Center Chair of Pediatrics and Co-Lead Principal Investigator for Children’s Health Watch Dr. Diana Cutts

“I see the power of WIC to promote health in my clinic every day. Boosting benefits for fruits and vegetables in WIC has a profound impact on a family’s ability to offer their child a wide variety of foods, which are necessary for establishing a strong foundation of healthy eating.”

Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative Executive Director Erin Parker

“WIC’s targeted nutrition support is particularly crucial for strengthening pregnancy and birth outcomes in Indigenous communities. WIC food packages’ inclusion of more fruits, vegetables, seafood and whole grains furthers the closing of disparities in access to healthy foods while respecting cultural eating patterns and tribal customs. With more than thirty tribes and intertribal councils directly administering WIC services, robust WIC benefits translate to healthier outcomes and return money to local businesses and farm economies in Indian Country.”

Leslie, a mother of three participating in Arkansas WIC

“The increase for purchasing fruits and vegetables has been so helpful! My two-year-old has had the chance to try new fruits and vegetables that I would not have been able to purchase for her otherwise. She loves trying new foods and I love getting to give her healthy options.”

March of Dimes Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs Stacey Brayboy

“As an organization leading the fight for the health of all moms and babies, March of Dimes applauds the Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its proposed rule revising the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in an effort to reach more pregnant and postpartum women, and their babies. As preterm birth rates continue to rise in the U.S., the country needs leadership to ensure that expecting moms are supported throughout their entire pregnancy, including access to healthy foods, especially for families in underserved communities. This proposed rule will help address this crisis by increasing access to healthy foods for pregnant women and their families.”

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger President and CEO Abby J. Leibman

“The Biden-Harris Administration clearly understands the effectiveness of federal nutrition assistance programs like WIC, which provides critical support to millions of families around the country. USDA’s proposed changes build on the longstanding success of WIC, promising to improve and strengthen the program in some critical ways. We are particularly pleased to see the proposals to permanently increase the value of the WIC benefit that will enable healthier food purchases, align the increased value with science-based recommendations, enhance the WIC shopping experience, and support the different needs of the diverse WIC population with a greater range of culturally and religiously-appropriate food options. In light of the recent White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, it is clear that charity alone cannot end hunger — we must strengthen our country’s safety net and advance bold solutions to improve the systems that allow hunger to persist.”

MomsRising Executive Director and CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner

“Millions of moms and families are struggling with the high cost of groceries and other necessities,” said MomsRising Executive Director and CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “Moms support the new proposed rule because it will – at long last – increase the value of the WIC benefit and incentivize and support the purchase of healthy food. Moms welcome the flexibility to maximize variety and choice so we can purchase the foods that our families want and need most. In turn, these changes would provide a significant and welcome boost for our children’s health. Nothing is more important than ending hunger and food insecurity and keeping kids and families healthy.”

National WIC Association President and CEO Dr. Jamila Taylor, PhD

“USDA’s action today to revise the WIC food packages underlines what the White House made clear in their National Strategy: WIC will play a critical role in building a healthier future for families. WIC’s targeted nutrition intervention is already proven to reduce healthcare costs, close nutrient intake disparities, and improve health outcomes for low-income families and communities of color. The proposed revisions will build on this strong record of public health success by following independent, evidence-based recommendations from the National Academies. We applaud USDA’s thoughtful steps to strengthen WIC by enhancing the value of benefits for underconsumed food groups like fruits and vegetables, strengthening nutrition standards to improve whole grain intake and decrease consumption of added sugars and saturated fats, and expanding healthy choices through package size flexibility and inclusion of a broader range of cultural foods.”

National Indian and Native American WIC Coalition Chair Cheri Nemec

“Fruits and vegetables were staple in the traditional diets of Native Americans. The increased cash value benefit has given families the opportunity to bring more fruits and vegetables into the home, especially as access to affordable fruits and vegetables is a challenge in rural tribal communities. This helps our Indigenous families provide more foods from those traditional diets that promote good health. With an even stronger food package, WIC can have a further reach to ensure families have the foods and complementary nutrition education on how to prepare nutritious meals that highlights and respects the foods of their ancestors.”

NETWORK Lobby Executive Director Mary J. Novak

“Our Catholic faith holds that children are a blessing and a gift from God. As such, special care must be taken to ensure that children and their families have what is necessary to live healthy lives including combating disease caused by low-quality food. NETWORK welcomes the Biden Administration’s newly proposed WIC regulation to increase the dollar amount of the cash voucher and update food guidelines consistent with the science allowing a wider variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. This regulation is grounded in the best of our values. Since it serves more than 6.2 million people, mothers and their infants, and young children, it will have a transformative impact on countless lives both in the short and long term. As people of faith we say, Amen.”

Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Jennifer Ortiz, MS, RD, LD

“Oklahoma WIC is proud to provide nutritious supplemental foods and nutrition education to families across our state. We are pleased that USDA is moving to update the food packages we provide to families in a manner consistent with the latest science. In particular, the expansion of the Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables has been tremendously beneficial for the food security and promotion of health for our families over the past 17 months. We are excited that USDA recognizes the profound impact of this increase and will make this change permanent. Additionally, Oklahoma WIC has long prioritized the provision of whole grain cereals to participants as consumption of whole grains is prioritized by the Dietary Guidelines and associated with reduced risk of a myriad of chronic diseases. We welcome USDA’s steps to align every WIC program in providing whole grain-rich cereals so that all WIC participants may enjoy the benefits of increased whole grain consumption.”

Salud America! National Latino Health Equity Program at UT Health San Antonio Director Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez

“WIC remains one of the nation’s most successful, cost-effective public health nutrition programs. WIC participants, including those who are Hispanic/Latino, are more likely to have a more nutritious diet and better health outcomes, with participation tied to fewer infant deaths, fewer premature births, increased birth weights, and lower health care costs, according to research.”

Share Our Strength Senior Vice President Lisa Davis

“The WIC Cash Value Benefit allows families to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables their growing children need, providing flexibility to buy those that are culturally relevant and their kids will eat and enjoy. Permanently increasing this important and valued benefit will make sure families have even more access to fresh fruits and vegetables; it also supports local farmers and food vendors, leading to stronger local economies.”

Texas Association of Local WIC Directors Benny Jasso

“As nutrition professionals, we see the effects of food insecurity in families that cannot afford nutritious foods. The new WIC food package allows families more flexibility to make sound food choices according to the family health needs, culture, and preferences. The increased access to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy options will support the nutrition messaging in public health nutrition to address the health disparities in our communities by removing barriers which can make maintaining good health difficult.”

Tufts University’s Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, Dean for Policy and Jean Mayer Professor of Nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and Co-Chair of the Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

“WIC is a cornerstone of American health policy, where science-based nutrition standards and public health programming meet to provide mothers and children with critical access to the healthy foods they need to grow and thrive. I applaud the Administration for advancing its National Strategy commitment to make meaningful improvements to WIC, increasing nutrition security for American families and allowing our nation to build a stronger, healthier future.”

UnidosUS Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Eric Rodriguez

“As it has in the past, if adopted, the proposed package will advance health equity as it brings healthier food options to many lower-income, Latino neighborhoods throughout the country. By giving Latino families improved access to affordable fruits, vegetable, and whole grains, USDA’s proposed standards will lower rates of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity that disproportionately harm low-income Hispanic families, primarily because of barriers they face to accessing healthy and affordable food.”

U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Executive Director Nikia Sankofa

“The WIC program comprises a critical piece of the national infrastructure supporting infant and young child nutrition security. The WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program and other WIC breastfeeding promotion and education resources serve as a crucial lifeline for millions of families who want to breastfeed. WIC is an obvious and effective conduit for advancing lactation and other science-based nutrition standards outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

November 30, 2022

@ChefBaeSTL takes on Ruler Foods for Southern Classic Recipes

Digital creator & Executive Chef of Two Times Catering, Chef Bae STL, joins us in the kitchen to share his take on red beans & rice, cornbread, catfish & “BaeRolls”.

ST. LOUIS — We sent digital creator & Executive Chef of Two Times Catering, Chef Bae STL, to Ruler Foods on a mission to create budget friendly recipes.

Chef Bae’s culinary expertise is rooted in Creole, Caribbean and Italian cooking. So, it was only natural that he brought southern classics to the Show Me Kitchen! He shared his take on Southern Fried Catfish with Creole Red Beans & Rice, Cornbread.

Catfish

(8-10) Thawed Catfish Fillets

(3 Cups) Seasoned Cornmeal Mix

Heat Canola Oil in Cast Iron Skillet to 350*.

Rinse fish, and pat dry with paper towel.

In separate bowl add seasoned cornmeal.

Toss Catfish in breading until evenly coated.

Fry fish for 5-7 minutes until golden brown.

Remove and place on cooling rack.

Red Beans & Rice

(2) Red or Green Bell Peppers (Diced)

(8) Stalks of Celery (Diced)

(1lb) Smoked Turkey Sausage (Diced)

(1/4Cup) Creole Seasoning

(2 tbs) Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

(1lb) Long Grain White Rice

Rinse beans, and then soak in a large pot of water overnight.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic oil for 3 to 4 minutes.

Rinse beans, and transfer to a large pot with Chicken Broth & Vegetable Broth. Stir cooked vegetables into beans. Season to taste with above seasoning mix. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 1/2 hours.

Stir sausage & smoked turkey wings into beans, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the rice. Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve beans over steamed white rice.

Cornbread

(5 Cups) Yellow Cornmeal Mix

Combine all above ingredients in large mixing bowl.

Mix well, but do not over blend

Pour mixture into greased 9” Baking Pan or Muffin Pan

Bake at 400* 15-19min or until golden brown.

For more recipes and content from Chef Bae STL, follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

For further information about Two Times Catering, click here.

Looking for more recipes that you can create using Kroger products from Ruler Foods? We have you covered!

Check our October segment with Lydia Gwin of Gwin’s Tiny Kitchen.

Plus, content Creator, and mother Jeanie Smith took a trip to Ruler Foods to whip up this easy and budget friendly fall recipe!

For further information on Ruler Foods click here.

THIS ARTICLE INVOLVES COMMERCIAL CONTENT. THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FEATURED APPEAR AS PAID ADVERTISING. FOR MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL US AT SMSL@KSDK.COM.

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November 29, 2022

17 Best Vanilla Vodka Cocktails (+ Easy Drink Recipes)

Classic flavor combines with nontraditional ingredients to create these incredible vanilla vodka cocktails.

Vanilla vodka has so many uses. It’s sweet with a light, creamy flavor that instantly changes the dynamic of any cocktail.

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Add it to fruity drinks for a subtle sweetness. Add it to coffee cocktails for a familiar flavor.

You can even use it in chocolate cocktails for a decadent indulgence.

This list of vanilla vodka cocktails has something for everybody.

From sweet to sour, creamy to stiff, these drinks are anything but boring.

The lemon drop you know and love just got a dreamy upgrade.

Using vanilla-flavored vodka, this tart drink gets a sweet twist.

The flavor of vanilla vodka mellows out the bright and zesty lemon.

It’s not too sweet, not too sour, and perfectly creamy. If you love lemon cake, this is the cocktail for you.

Cherry vanilla vodka soda is a light and refreshing cocktail that’s super tasty.

The perfect balance of fruity and sweet, this cocktail might be too easy to sip.

The bright flavor of juicy cherries is absolutely delicious.

Sweet vanilla vodka has a bit of a creamy flavor. This drink feels like it’s right from an old-fashioned soda fountain.

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One sip and you’ll be hooked.

The vanilla sky cocktail is a twist on a drink from Caribbean cruises.

Whether you’ve tried it or not, you’ll love this vacation in a glass.

Delicious tropical flavors and smooth vanilla dance through this cocktail experience.

It starts with vanilla vodka and orange Curacao.

It also has almond syrup, lime, and pineapple. The ingredients create a melody of sweet, fruity paradise.

A Baileys martini with vanilla vodka is a sweet and creamy dessert in a glass.

Whatever the occasion, this cocktail is the ideal way to end any night.

Rich and creamy Baileys Irish cream combined with sweet vanilla vodka is heavenly.

Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top for a hint of that warm spiciness. This drink is so good any time of year.

However, it always makes the holidays feel more special.

You know her. You love her. Shirley Temple is all grown up.

This cocktail is the non-alcoholic drink you’re familiar with but with a boozy twist.

Start with the basics: grenadine and ginger ale or ginger beer. Add maraschino cherries and vanilla vodka.

This cocktail has all the nostalgia of a Shirley Temple but it’s way more fun.

Creamy and refreshing on a hot summer day, this cocktail will cool you right down.

Fruity, citrusy, and bright orange flavors mingle with creamy vanilla.

Use vanilla ice cream and vanilla vodka for the most dreamy cocktail you’ve ever tasted.

Good orange juice will add the perfect contrasting flavor.

You’ll dream of this cocktail all year long. But guess what? You can make it anytime you want.

The Nilla Wafer martini is a strong drink with a delicate sweetness. It’s full of flavor and full of booze.

Combine vanilla vodka with amaretto liquor for a drink that will not disappoint.

Like a traditional martini, this cocktail is all alcohol and no fluff.

It’s sweet but not overwhelming and can even be enjoyed as a pre-dinner aperitif.

Blackberries and vanillas are a dynamic duo in this delicious drink.

Fresh blackberries are tart and fruity. Add sweet and creamy vanilla vodka for a berries and cream sensation.

Don’t stop there, add lime juice for a punch of flavor. Add some mint to cool it all down.

Blackberry season has a whole new purpose with this flavorful cocktail.

Rich and decadent Godiva chocolate martinis will be your new favorite dessert. It’s chocolate milk for adults!

The chocolate flavor comes from Godiva chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, and chocolate syrup.

Then, add vanilla vodka for extra sweetness and milk for extra creaminess.

Godiva chocolate liqueur even comes in white and dark chocolate varieties.

You can easily switch up the flavors for a custom treat!

Just like Key lime pie, this Key lime martini packs a punch of citrus flavor.

The combination of tart lime and sweet vanilla will keep you coming back for another sip. The flavor is divine.

If you like your dessert with a side of booze, this cocktail couldn’t get any better. This drink has a few surprise ingredients.

They’re what make it taste just like the pie you know and love.

If you love coffee, especially sweet lattes, you’ll love the vanilla white Russian.

Vanilla vodka and vanilla Kahlua are a match made in sweet heaven.

This drink is basically a boozy latte but with more alcohol and less actual coffee.

You can’t get this at your morning cafe pit stop.

Speaking of coffee, this black Russian takes coffee cocktails to a whole new level.

Similar to a white Russian, the black Russian includes Kahlua and vanilla vodka.

However, this drink also has a healthy pour of cold brew coffee.

This is a fantastic cocktail for brunch or a late afternoon pick-me-up.

It has a wonderful coffee flavor with a light vanilla sweetness.

Looking for a delicious way to stay warm during the cozy season? You’re in luck.

This warm cocktail is not only tasty, but it’s keto-friendly.

Use your favorite coffee for the best flavor. Add vanilla vodka and the sweetener of your choice.

Plus, the delicious milk foam on top is such a fantastic finishing touch.

This coffee drink is fun and super easy.

First, freeze coffee in an ice cream tray.

You can use these for any iced coffee recipe you like. Although this one makes a great grown-up latte.

Add the coffee ice cubes into a glass. Pour in Bailey’s Irish cream, vanilla vodka, and half and half or your favorite creamer.

It’s creamy, flavorful, and gets even better as the cubes melt.

As soon as you feel that first chill in the air, pumpkin fills your every craving.

Creme de cacao and heavy cream make this cocktail nice and creamy.

Pumpkin and nutmeg add the signature flavors and vanilla adds a hint of sweetness.

The pumpkin pie martini is my favorite way to indulge in this seasonal sensation.

It’s adult-exclusive and the flavors are delicious.

With just three simple ingredients, this pineapple cocktail will be your fruity go-to.

This isn’t your average vodka pineapple. The vanilla vodka adds just a hint of sweetness to balance the tart pineapple and lime.

This cocktail will transport you to an island getaway in just one sip.

I don’t think a drink could possibly have a more appealing name.

The coconut cloud martini is where tropical dreams meet cocktail reality.

Rum and vanilla vodka act as the boozy base for this martini.

Plus, it has more coconut rum and coconut cream. It’s not for the faint of heart, but you’ll quickly feel like floating on cloud nine.

Vanilla Vodka Cocktails (+ Easy Drink Recipes)

November 29, 2022

54 Cyber Monday Kitchen Deals 2022

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photo: Retailer

As the Strategist’s kitchen and dining writer, I live and breathe the equipment, tools, tableware, and ingredients you need to make your cooking (and serving) as efficient, effortless, and fun as it can be. Cyber Monday, of course, is the perfect opportunity to buy anything you might be missing, whether that’s an upgrade to the coffee maker you’ve been using since college, a chili crisp you never knew you needed (you do), a holiday gift for the chef in your life, or a fancy new appliance that’s usually out of your price range. But it’s also true that the sheer number of discounted items out there can be more overwhelming than exciting — and we all know that decision fatigue can lead to a regretful purchase, or even no purchase at all.

To help you navigate all that’s available, I did the work for you and rounded up some of the very best kitchen products on sale right now. There are options from some of our favorite smaller companies, like Material Kitchen’s gorgeous new table linens and a collection of Fly by Jing’s essential condiments, as well as choice picks from larger retailers like Amazon and Target that are some of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen. And to make it easier to sort through, this list has been organized alphabetically by merchant.

While I’m done updating this post, there’s still time to shop, so take a look at all of the Strategist’s Cyber Monday guides here, and sign up for our email newsletter to stay on top of the very best deals as they come up.

It’s no secret that Amazon loves a good sale. While the site is at the top of our list for good Cyber Monday deals, the volume of discounted products it offers can be a lot to take in — which is why we picked out a handful of kitchen products here that we’ve written about (and strongly endorsed) in the past. But for even more Amazon promotions, check out our dedicated (and highly curated) post.

Breville Convection and Air Fry Smart Oven Air

An air fryer is basically a small convection oven that heats up in no time and results in the most evenly cooked, crispy food you can imagine. This one from Breville is an expert-recommended model that doubles as a toaster oven. Food writer and editor Alyse Whitney says it’s so efficient that she uses it as her regular oven most days of the week (and as an extra oven when she’s hosting).

If your coffee maker needs an upgrade, consider this one from tried-and-true brand Oxo. “The real selling point for me is that it has a valve hole in the lid for the coffee to brew directly into the carafe,” says Noah McKeown, a general manager at Go Get Em Tiger in Los Angeles. “It traps heat and aromatics better, and it’s safer because the liquid doesn’t splash out.”

Or if you prefer a single-serve model, consider this compact machine from Keurig. You can brew an eight-, ten-, or 12-ounce cup, and the water reservoir holds up to 42 ounces so you don’t have to refill every time. The drip tray at the bottom is removable, too, which means you can fit your taller travel mugs directly underneath the dispenser.

Buying a full knife set can be tricky, given that they often come with more blades than you need or without the particular pieces you might want to use. That said, this one on the larger end will have you fully covered if you’re starting from scratch. It includes all the basics, plus kitchen scissors and a collection of steak knives.

For kitchen scissors that don’t come apart, this small but mighty pair will do you well. They’re a chef favorite because the shorter blades mean you have greater control over delicate tasks like snipping herbs — but they’re so sharp they can cut through tough foods, too.

Staub is one of a few companies that reigns supreme when it comes to quality Dutch ovens. This five-quart one in a sleek matte black will look handsome set out on both the stove and table, and fits enough food to comfortably feed at least four people.

We’ve written about how great Stasher’s reusable bags are many times over the years. They come in so many different shapes and sizes to hold anything you would otherwise store in a disposable plastic bag. “They can go in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher; absolutely never stain or leak; and even though I’ve washed mine in the dishwasher hundreds of times, they haven’t fallen apart or degraded in any way,” Strategist contributor Alison Freer says.

Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Bottle with Flex Cap

We’ve declared that Hydro Flask makes the very best water bottle because of how many people endorse it — including many members of the Strategist’s own team. It’s incredibly well-insulated, keeping hot and cold drinks at their respective temperatures for hours (even in intense situations, like ice water inside a car on a sunny day). They’re also durable and long-lasting, and come in many shapes, sizes, and colors with lid variations (straw, twist cap, handled, etc.) depending on what fits your lifestyle.

If you tend to put the cork back into an unfinished wine bottle to save it for later, upgrade your system with a set of these basic but well-made stoppers for 30 percent off. They come in dark and muted tones, are easy to rinse off after each use, and seal perfectly well.

This air fryer is one of the simpler models on the market but works especially well for baking, says Gracie Bensimon of Gracie Baked. She leaves it on her counter set to around 370 degrees, and whenever the need for a cookie strikes, she simply turns it on and plops a ball of dough (which she always has on hand) onto a piece of parchment paper inside. Eight minutes later, it’s done.

For an air fryer with even more functionality, try this Ninja. It has options to air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate — the last of which is only otherwise found on the much more expensive Breville above.

The First Mess’s Laura Wright says that Vitamix’s 5200 model makes the best smoothies, which she blends and drinks every single day. She’s tried a good handful of other machines before, too (Vitamixes and non-Vitamixes alike) for that job specifically — and none besides this one create the optimal thick-and-creamy texture she is after.

The problem with most blenders is that they’re big. If you don’t have room for the Vitamix above but still want a regular smoothie fix, the Magic Bullet is a much smaller (and less expensive) appliance. Bonus: It comes with multiple sizes of blending cups, all of which you can detach with your drink inside and take on the go.

We always anticipate Brightland drops, so you can imagine our excitement to learn that the California-based olive oil company is holding its own Cyber Monday sale. If you spend $100, you get 15 percent off; if you spend $200, you get 20 percent off; and if you spend $300, you get 30 percent off — plus free shipping on all tiers. The discounts last through November 28 (at 12 a.m. PT).

Though Brightland is known for its olive oil, it also sells honeys and vinegars. This two-pack includes the balsamic and Champagne varieties. “We tried dozens and dozens of types of vinegars and producers and purveyors of all sizes and ultimately, we went with a husband-and-wife team,” founder Aishwarya Iyer told former Strategist writer Nikita Richardson. “They have blackberries on their farm, which they use to double-ferment their balsamic, and they get citrus from a nearby farm for the Champagne vinegar.”

Through the end of today, coffee company Cometeer is offering $60 off your first four boxes of its flash-frozen capsules and $25 off if you buy one box.

Though Cometeer’s product looks a lot like your standard coffee pod, they’re anything but. The capsules are filled with extracted coffee made from beans sourced from some of the best roasters in the country, which the company then brews at ten times the strength of a normal cup and flash-freezes to lock in flavor and freshness. You simply defrost one at a time and add hot or cold water for a cup as good as any you’d find at your local coffee shop.

Pretty much every time Fly by Jing discounts its products, we let you know — and this Cyber Monday is no different. The food and condiments company, which makes its products in the Sichuan province of China, is offering up to 20 percent off its dumplings, up to 30 percent off its sauces, and up to 50 percent off of its sets through November 28, a favorite of which you can find below.

This collection of Fly by Jing’s essential sauces includes its Sichuan Chili Crisp, the tingly, crispy condiment multiple famous folks have told us they can’t live without. But that’s not all: You’ll also get the extra-spicy version (not for the faint of heart); the sweet, tangy, umami-rich dumpling sauce; and the signature potent spice mix, the backbone of many Sichuan dishes.

Food52’s shop is a go-to for some of the most beautiful and useful kitchen tools around. From now until November 28, it’s marked down everything on the site by 20 percent if you use code CHEERS20, a rare offering (usually only select items are on sale at a time). It’s worth perusing everything, but here, we’ve pulled a few products we’ve written about before.

Another beloved product by the site’s own brand is this adjustable rolling pin — perfect for all your pie- and cookie-baking needs for the rest of the season (and beyond). The spacers allow you to roll out dough evenly, which ensures a better final product in both taste and look.

In our exhaustive guide to the best flatware, this set was recommended by Liza Curtiss, principal at Le Whit design studio. She calls it “playful yet refined,” and with 18 different color options (including mixed sets), you’re sure to find one that fits your style.

A cake stand makes any dessert look grand (even a pile of cookies), but it can also function as a fruit plate or a platter for pretty much anything else if you like the idea of varied height on your table. These Mosser ones are classic, come in a range of sizes and beautiful colors, and offer the option of adding a glass dome.

Great Jones is having its biggest sale ever, with up to 50 percent off most of their beloved cookware until November 28. Plus, if you spend over $200, you’ll get a free Holy Sheet, its nonstick sheet pan, with code HOLYSHEET. And on November 28, its special electric-kettle collab with cult-favorite coffee brand Fellow will be $25 off.

Speaking of that sheet pan, multiple professional cooks and recipe developers have told us how much they love it — and not just because it looks more fun than your standard metal ones. Recipe developer and cookbook author Erin Jeanne McDowell says “its beautiful appearance hasn’t caused its capabilities to suffer in any way. It hasn’t warped, scratched, or chipped.”

There’s no dispute that Lodge’s classic cast-iron skillet is great, but if you want something that stands out, the King Sear will give you all of the function with a bit more style. It comes in three of Great Jones’s signature colors: bright blue, forest green, and mustard yellow.

Wellness and superfood brand Golde is marking down everything on its site by 25 percent until November 28. Below, a few products we’ve written about before that we particularly love.

Strategist contributor Aisha Rickford first tried Golde’s latte blend to help with digestive issues. But what she didn’t expect was for it to “become my go-to for calming my stomach, clearing my skin, boosting my energy, and even serving as the secret ingredient in lots of my homemade baking recipes,” she says.

Along with latte powders, face masks, and supplements, Golde makes a rechargeable milk frother; you simply plug it into a USB. There’s one simple button that goes from fast to superfast and then off, and the whisk head can be detached for easy cleaning.

For Cyber Monday, kitchenware brand Goldilocks is offering an exclusive to Strategist readers: You can get 20 percent off sitewide using the code STRAT20 from now until November 29.

When Strategist editor Maxine Builder tested a bunch of products from direct-to-consumer kitchenware companies years ago, she found that Goldilocks made the best professional-grade gear overall. In particular, she was fond of its 12-piece utensil set, which she still uses to this day. It includes basics like tongs, two types of spatulas, a wooden spoon, ladle, and microplane-style grater — but also bonus pieces you wouldn’t necessarily think qualify as utensils, like mixing bowls, measuring cups, and a colander.

Macy’s Cyber Monday sale is one for the books, with steep discounts on items across all departments. But here a few kitchen items that caught our eye.

We named the Crux the best air fryer for its price — which is now a whopping 70 percent off. Ben Mims, a Los Angeles Times cooking columnist and the author of a cookbook devoted to the appliance, has been using his regularly for years and it has held up great. If you’re interested, act quickly, as this deal only lasts until tomorrow.

Bodum Classic Chambord Copper 8 Cup French Press Coffee Maker

Bodum makes one of the best-known French presses around, and we particularly love this one in rose gold, a striking replacement for its classic silver press. If you didn’t know, you can also use a French press as a milk frother, which several experts say works just as well (or even better) than electric versions.

Joyce Chen Professional Series Carbon Steel Wok

We named Joyce Chen’s 14-inch flat-bottomed wok our favorite in a story dedicated to this particular type of pan. The carbon-steel material means it heats up and cools down with precision, and the high sides allow you to toss ingredients with gusto; both features will have you making the best stir-fries of your life.

Made In is offering great discounts on much of its cookware and tableware from now until December 4. You’ll find 30 percent off glassware sets, its bakeware set, and its carbon-steel grill set; 25 percent off some of its stainless-steel sets and nonstick frying-pan set; 20 percent off of its Dutch oven, knife set, wok, baking dishes, and more; and 15 percent off its nonstick pans and plates, bowls, mugs, and platters. A couple of standouts are below.

We named this comprehensive cookware set the very best you can buy. If you’re stocking your kitchen from scratch or giving it a complete rehaul, you’ll get every piece you could possibly need: two sizes of saucepans, a large stockpot, a sauté pan, a stainless-steel frying pan, a carbon-steel frying pan, and a nonstick pan — the last of which White Bark Workwear founder Charlie Pennes told us has held up for three years with no scratches.

Made In has you covered when it comes to knives, too. This four-piece set has the essentials — a small paring knife, a chef’s knife, and a serrated knife — plus the addition of a straight-edged Nakiri knife. While the Nakiri is not strictly necessary like the others, it’s particularly great at slicing through vegetables with ease.

Material’s holiday sale has been going on for a bit and will run until November 30. You’ll find 20 percent off its products sitewide, including its just-launched glassware and linens. Not only that, but for every purchase you make, you have the opportunity to direct a portion of your savings to the Lower Eastside Girls Club, an easy way to give back.

Cloth napkins are a simple way to upgrade your table setting, and these linen ones that come in six beautiful, muted colors are sure to fit in with any dinnerware you set out. Material also has tablecloths and place mats made from the same fabric, if you’re in the market for other kitchen textiles.

If your nonstick skillet needs an upgrade (and let’s face it: It often does), consider investing in this super-high-quality one. The standout feature is the core, which is made from copper, a material that conducts heat, retains heat, and cools down in an incredibly exacting way. Plus, it’s one of the most attractive options on the market.

Plastic cutting boards get a bad rep — and with good reason. Many are poorly made so that they stain and warp with time and need to be replaced pretty frequently. Not so with the reBoard, which so many professional cooks own and love that we named it the very best one you can buy. The surface is slightly textured to prevent it from slipping; the build is super-sturdy but still lightweight; and it’s easy to clean, holding up for years with no wear. Additional plusses are that it’s made from recycled materials and comes in a range of “deep and saturated” colors, says food stylist Judy Kim.

Nordstrom’s sales are notoriously good, and this Cyber Monday, they’re keeping up their reputation with discounts on many actually nice (and giftable) items. For a full list of all the best products, you can head here — but we’ve also rounded up our favorite kitchen items below.

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Pour Over Kettle

The Stagg EKG is one of those products that has been recommended so many times, it’s almost Strategist royalty. Just about the sleekest-looking electric kettle on the market, it’s built with exacting temperature control and a gooseneck spout for ultra-precise pouring. “The design is amazing,” says Kyle Ramage, co-owner of Black & White Coffee Roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina. “It’s sturdy and eloquent.”

All-Clad Four-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker

Speaking of the holiday season, if you’re hosting out-of-towners, what better way to feed a crowd than with waffles? This All-Clad model is a favorite of Diaspora Co. founder Sana Javeri Kadri, who says that in a “sea of cute-but-useless” versions, she’s found it to be “super-sturdy — like industrial grade.”

Sophie Lou Jacobson Bilboquet Wine Glasses

These Sophie Lou Jacobson wineglasses are a bit different than your standard set — but undeniably gorgeous. With details in colored glass, they’ll stand out on your bar cart and make you feel stylish every time you sip from them.

Omsom, a Southeast Asian and East Asian spice-mix company, is offering 20 percent off sitewide with the discount applied as soon as you add any item to your cart. Plus, you’ll get free shipping if you spend $35 or more.

In collaboration with some of the most accomplished chefs in New York City, sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham launched a line of spice mixes that pack all the flavor into dishes like larb, lemongrass barbecue, bulgogi, and more. A set of their best sellers would make an excellent gift for the food-loving person in your life who doesn’t always have the most time to spend in the kitchen.

Until November 28, you’ll find up to 30 percent off of Our Place’s cookware, 25 percent off its tableware, up to $125 off its best sellers, and up to $150 off its bundles.

You’ve probably seen this pan around Instagram — and we think it lives up to the hype. While Our Place says it’s meant to replace eight different pieces of cookware with all its different functionalities, the most impressive feature is the high sides, which give it a level of versatility that most nonstick skillets don’t have. You can braise, steam, sauté, and make sauces in it, all while capturing splatter that would otherwise end up on your stovetop.

This tabletop set is owned and loved by multiple Strategist staffers. Junior writer Brenley Goertzen says she loves “the just-thin-enough plates and speckled detailing.” Especially impressive, though, are the stackable glasses, which “feel wonderfully hefty in your hand, look more expensive than they are, and are great for drinking everything from water to old-fashioneds to wine,” writer Dominique Pariso says.

If your pantry or fridge needs an organization overhaul, Our Place’s pretty storage containers that come in amber, teal, and clear will surely inspire you. Strategist senior editor Chelsea Peng says “it’s actually kind of happy-making to see them in the fridge,” where the tinted glass helps make leftovers seem more appealing (and more likely to be used).

Like Amazon, Target has so much to offer that it can leave you feeling overwhelmed. So we sifted through and pulled the best deals, all of which you can find here, with even more kitchen-specific picks below.

KitchenAid Variable Speed Cordless Hand Mixer

Most immersion blenders come with a cord attached — and while many of those function well, the benefits of a cordless model are obvious: It gives you greater flexibility when blending over the stove or counter. Whitney told us that the charge on this one “lasts for a really long time” or 25 uses.

Maybe 2023 is the year you get into vacuum sealing. It’s a great way to sous-vide, but also to preserve everything from meat in the freezer to dry goods in your pantry. Multiple experts recommended FoodSaver to us, the most popular brand on the market for home use because of its straightforward functionality.

For the air-fryer curious, the Dash is a great place to start. The price is always on the lower end, but especially so today, when you can snag it for just $40. Recommended by recipe developer and blogger Madeline Park, it’s small and simple to use, with just two dials for temperature and time. “I live alone and only cook one portion at a time,” she says. “I can cook a dish in 20 minutes, and it’s really intuitive to use.”

Sur La Table is a one-stop shop for some of the nicest kitchenware around, and its Cyber Monday deals are nothing to sleep on, with up to 60 percent off on tried-and-true brands like Vitamix, Breville, Staub, All-Clad, Cuisinart, Zwilling, and more. Plus, it’s offering free shipping if you spend over $75.

If you’re not in the market for an entire knife set like the one above, Global’s chef’s knife is the cream of the crop — so much so that we named it the best overall in our deep dive into the subject, with many experts citing it as their favorite. It has a comfortable grip, balanced weight, and super-sharp edge.

For a go-big purchase, consider an Ooni pizza oven, which is “brilliant at achieving very high temperatures near 900 degrees,” cookbook author Nik Sharma says. “And not only is this oven wonderful at cooking pizza, I’ve also found it to be an amazing tool to replicate the conditions inside a tandoor oven. Naan, tandoori chicken, and all sorts of kebabs turn out wonderfully.”

Or you could invest in one of the best blenders on the market. Vitamix is by far the most-mentioned brand whenever we talk to chefs and recipe developers about the appliance. This one is on the slightly smaller side compared to other Vitamixes (good for storage) and has manual controls instead of predetermined settings.

The Click and Grow allows you to grow herbs inside, no matter how much natural light you have in your house. It’s small — about the size of a loaf of bread, Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo says — but with enough space and power to support three plants at a time. It’s also very easy to maintain, she notes. We think this would make a sweet holiday gift for anyone who is mourning their summer garden.

Walmart is another retailer that goes big on Cyber Monday, offering a wide range of discounts on all sorts of products. Below, one we think is particularly great.

Instant Pot Duo 11-in-1 Crisp and Air Fryer

This Instant Pot includes its classic function: pressure-cooking. But it has the addition of an air fryer if you want a workhorse that can turn out pretty much any dish. “It preheats in minutes and I’d argue outperforms the oven for various tasks,” says Courtney Kassel, co-founder and co-writer of the newsletter Sifted. Because it does so much in one, “I can further justify the space it eats up in our limited kitchen storage,” she goes on, “and it’s a lifesaver on nights when the ‘What’s for dinner?’ conversation doesn’t even kick off until 7 p.m.”

A cast-iron skillet is an absolute necessity in the kitchen because it can pretty much do it all: get really hot and retain that heat, go from the stove to oven, and hold a fairly nonstick surface if seasoned properly. (Lodge cookware comes pre-seasoned, which is really helpful, though it might require some upkeep.) You can sear, sauté, braise, fry, and bake with it — and it will last you a lifetime and then some.

Williams Sonoma has tons of deals through November 28, including on some higher-end products. See below for some favorites.

This “really is the Ferrari of steam ovens,” says Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla, who tested it out for a story on the best toasters. You pour a teaspoon of water into a top opening to create steam, which allows your bread to get crisp and golden brown on the outside but stay super-soft and fluffy on the inside. “The effect really re-creates the taste of just-baked bread, as promised,” says food writer and editor Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner.

If you don’t own a microwave, it’s pretty much impossible to reheat a cup of coffee. Enter the Ember mug, which former Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson says is the best of its kind on the market. She calls it “sleek and streamlined” and appreciates that the settings hook up to an app on your phone, which gives you exact degrees to choose from.

Cuisinart reigns supreme when it comes to food processors, and at 20 percent off, now is a great time to buy one. This sleek-looking model has simple controls and an extra-large feed tube to make adding ingredients without taking the lid off easy.

Taiwanese general store Yun Hai is offering 15 percent off sitewide through November 28. Just apply the code XIEXIE15 at checkout.

Food writer Cathy Erway told us that her rice cooker, ubiquitous in Taiwan, works like an electric steamer: Instead of mixing rice and water directly together, the Tatung heats water in a larger compartment around the bowl that holds the rice. This generates steam and helps the individual grains cook super evenly. But it also means that “you can steam other foods, like eggs or broccoli, without boiling them,” she says. Yun Hai is currently the sole distributor of Tatung in the U.S. and worked with it to make the machine in these striking colors it had never produced before.

For less than a tenner, throw in this underground “It” bag that’ll provide a fun contrast to your winter fits. It’s “sheer, small, colorful, and light, but the woven nylon can hold the weight of a MacBook comfortably,” Peng says.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

November 29, 2022

Rather Be Cooking: Get cooking advice and recipes from Shaq

Check out “Shaq’s Family Style” for recipes and stories. Contributed photo

I couldn’t wait to show my coworkers the new cookbook that arrived in the mail several weeks ago.

“Look what I got!” I said while waving my copy of “Shaq’s Family Style” in the air.

They all had the same, kind of pleasantly shocked response to basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal’s new cookbook.

“He cooks?”

“Let me see it.”

We flipped through the pages together and admired the pretty food images and recipes from best buttermilk fried chicken thighs to Oreo cookie brownie sundae.

Yes, the cookbook is filled with recipes I’d like to try, but there’s much more to the book.

Shaq tells stories about his history with food throughout the 232-page book. Much of it is a tribute to his mama, who kept Shaq and his family fed.

“Even though we didn’t have much, we always had good meals,” he writes in the introduction. He calls his mama a “stretcher” because she knew how to “make a lot from a little.”

A few years ago, Shaq decided to learn how to cook. He said he learned from some all-stars, including his mama, Lucille O’Neal; his personal chef, Alex Conart; and his executive chef partners, Matt Silverman and Matt Piekarski. The “Matts” comment on most recipes with tips or ideas.

Shaq said he learned to cook by trying simple recipes from his childhood and following directions.

It’s many of those straightforward, no-fuss recipes that you’ll find in this cookbook. Recipes that his mama made, including meatloaf and banana pudding, are sprinkled throughout the book.

The recipes are accompanied by a little commentary from Shaq, along with some humor. In this case, the humor is at the expense of another basketball icon. He says smack ramen chicken Alfredo is so easy, “even Charles Barkley could do it.”

It’s fun to read Shaq’s many references to his favorite foods, including boneless chicken thighs, pancakes and Frosted Flakes. His favorite cereal appears in a few of the recipes. Shaq also references his line of kitchen appliances and his chicken restaurant.

I really enjoyed reading this cookbook. I’ve marked several recipes to try and have made the slow-cooker Southern mac ’n’ cheese. Shaq says in the cookbook that it’s his mom’s recipe and one of his favorite things to eat.

“She called it ‘Li’l Shaq’s Easy Mac,’ and when I was a kid, she made it for me after every game,” he wrote.

We enjoyed it. I do like my baked recipe better, but it’s a good quick and easy option.

I think this book would make a great gift for a basketball fan or anyone who’d like straightforward and tasty recipes such as Southern-style turkey chili with cheddar cornbread waffles, traditional beef stew with sour cream dumplings or Frosted Flake Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Lisa Boykin Batts has been writing a weekly food column since 2001. Her column includes recipes she and her family enjoy.

Slow-Cooker Southern Mac ’n’ Cheese

1 pound elbow pasta

1 pound Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

3 cups whole milk

1 1/2 cups evaporated milk

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Lightly coat the insert of a 6-quart cooker with nonstick cooking spray. In the prepared insert, combine the pasta, Velveeta, whole milk, evaporated milk, butter, salt and pepper and mix well to incorporate. Cover the slow cooker and turn the heat to high. Cook, covered, for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or so. Top the pasta with the cheddar. Replace the cover and cook for 20 minutes.

Serve the mac immediately.

— “Shaq’s Family Style”