Welcome to the first week of November, my friends! Are you getting excited about the holidays yet?
I spent last weekend in Wooster, Ohio with Certified Angus Beef and ten other food bloggers. We had a blast in the Certified Angus Beef test kitchen learning more than I ever could have imagined there was to know about beef.
In addition to all the beef talking, learning, cooking, and eating; I had a great time wandering through the small town and soaking up all of the gorgeous autumn leaves, cool weather, and small town window shopping.
I learned the best ways to choose your meats, how the beef is graded by the USDA, great tips for tying a roast, flavor profiles, and so much more! I was lucky enough to work with Chef Michael Ollier for three days of cooking and playing in the test kitchen.
All four of the chefs were great and I couldn’t have asked for more generous and fun hosts. I’ve never tasted such amazing food in one place in my life. By the end of the weekend, there were at least a dozen dishes that I want to make again.
I had a heck of a lot of fun shooting a handful of quick videos to make your beef buying, cooking, and serving work easier. I have a whole lot of fun things planned to share with you! (I can’t keep all this knowledge to myself, can I?)
You know what else I learned? Certified Angus Beef doesn’t represent a type of cow or certain ranches or cuts of beef.
Certified Angus Beef represents a set of guidelines that were developed to guarantee that when you purchase a product with their label, it is the highest quality possible.
Independent ranchers apply to be graded by those standards through the USDA. Certified Angus Beef doesn’t farm or butcher or do anything else directly related to the animals.
Certified Angus Beef is simply THE standard. Their job is to train professionals in order to get the best results possible from the best quality of beef.
To say that I brought home a plethora of knowledge doesn’t begin to describe how much I learned. I’m looking forward to sharing all of it with you over the coming year!
Disclosure: The Le Creuset giveaway has been provided by Certified Angus Beef ® and Le Creuset. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands I love that help make this site possible!
Kristin says
i will be bringing the appetizers! i plan to make stuffed mushrooms, veggie crudite and a cheese platter…. keeping it light before we get to the main attraction!
sandyhills x says
I will have to say that I will be cooking potato casserole – shaunie on rafflecopter
Muriel Shelswell says
I would make my Mom's stuffing recipe. My girlfriend from high school sends the savory to me every year. Yummy.. turkey is nothing without newfie stuffing…
AbbyK says
Turkey, stuffing and yummy sweet potato casserole for sure.
BethElderton says
Mt SIL will be doing the turkey, so I will be doing a brisket, dinner rolls, and a dessert…haven't decided on the dessert, yet.
Lori Montano says
Something different this year. Lasagne, Fettucni Alfredo and Cannoli for dessert
Susan Knisley says
My family insists on our traditional Thanksgiving dinner each year, which includes both regular bread stuffing and oyster stuffing. And yes, I do stuff my turkey with as much as will fit inside the bird. The rest is baked in a dish with turkey broth in which a stick of butter has been melted to add some of the flavors that would come from being inside the bird. Sides are mashed potatoes with from scratch turkey gravy, candied sweet potatoes (no marshmallows for us!!), home made rolls, and at least five veggies. Green bean casserole has become a tradition in the past few years because my daughter and sister love it, and I created a yummy sage and butter squash dish that is now requested each yea. That leaves three optional veggies that I rotate through the years. I have to say that our whole extended family agrees that Thanksgiving is THE BEST meal of the year. And it continues into Thanksgiving Saturday with creamed turkey (finely minced onions and celery, turkey and baby peas in the leftover turkey gravy to which more turkey broth and some cream have been added) over homemade baking powder biscuits from my great grandmother's recipe.
Anonymous says
My must haves are cornbread dressing and pineapple casserole. I try to make at least one "experimental" item. by Cora
Corrie R says
Pumpkin Rolls!
Kelly says
My favorite dish for Thanksgiving is the brussel sprout hash my husband makes!
Thaydra says
My sister does all of the main-dish cooking for the holidays, and I am usually the one who brings the desserts! This Thanksgiving I think I'll do my caramel-apple cheesecake. It's a process, but well worth it!
Julie V. says
Green bean casserole and 'funeral' potatoes
TaraO says
I will be making turkey, ham and all the Thanksgiving sides!
aaron b says
We do breakfast with my family & Dinner with his!! So , lot's of cooking! Breakfast will be casserole of some sort, blueberry cream cheese danish & a GF quiche for our celliacs! Dinner is Turkey, corn pudding, dressing, mashed potatoes & roasted sweet potatoes with rosemary & red onions…yummmy
D Schmidt mummytotwoboys says
I will be cooking turket but my favorite dish is definitely sage and onion stuffing.
missy says
My favorite dish is homemade stuffing and for dessert is chocolate pie!!! Most of all I enjoy the quality time with my family.
Kitty says
I am roasting some ribs!
Theresa h says
Have to find something special for my vegetarian
Tara L says
Each of us brings a couple dishes so I usually bring Broccoli and Cheese rice casserole, Green Bean Casserole and Corn casserole.
Cheryl L says
Some Fresh Pumpkin Pie, I have three small pumpkins waiting to be carved and the insides cooked for some home made goodness.