If you're looking to add a little luxe to your holidays, choose from our favorite specialty goods, where a little goes a long way.
Da Rosario Organic White Truffle Flavored Olive Oil
($21 for 1.7 ounces, amazon.com)
An affordable alternative to raw truffles, which can command $240 per ounce, this truffle oil uses no artificial flavoring-only the real thing. Stir a little into homemade mac and cheese, or drizzle lightly over garlic bread.
Try it on:
Too-Tasty-to-Be-Good-for-You Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese »
Callipo Solid Pack Light Tuna in Olive Oil
($13 for a 7-ounce jar)
With its ridiculously toothsome chunks of yellowfin tuna hand-packed in olive oil, this catch demands attention. Make it the star of an antipasto platter. Looking for a steal? Try Bumble Bee Prime Fillet Tonno in Olive Oil ($1.99 for a 5-ounce can).
Try it in:
Salad Nicoise Bites »
f-- e Total 0% Greek Yogurt
($2.29 for a 5.3-ounce cup)
It's hard to believe this yogurt-with its velvety-smooth texture and creamy
Blog Posts by RachaelRaymag.com
Fancy feasting: Best fine foods you can buy on the cheap
By RachaelRaymag.com | Work + Money – Tue, Dec 7, 2010 9:57 PM ESTLighten Up! Slash 9 holiday party classics down to size
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Fri, Dec 3, 2010 12:57 AM ESTCut down on all the bad-and keep all of the good!-in these 9 festive holiday appetizers, drinks and desserts.
What's in -- and out -- at supermarkets in 2011
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Thu, Dec 2, 2010 11:53 PM EST
Read More »from What's in -- and out -- at supermarkets in 2011
We give you the lowdown on grocery trends for 2011: what you'll be eating, buying and believing in the coming year, straight from the mouths of top forecasters and supermarket experts.
TRENDS IN PACKAGING
What's Out: Less plastic.
What's In: No plastic. Sustainable options like cardboard tetra packaging and compostable pouches are projected to swell 40 percent over the next five years; Coca-Cola has already introduced a plastic-free bottle made partly from sugarcane. "A lot of companies will abandon plastic bottles entirely," trend forecaster Faith Popcorn predicts.
Read More: Easy eco-friendly green tips »
TRENDS WITH FLAVORS
What's Out: Americanized ethnic cuisines.
What's In: Authentic ethnic cuisines. Thanks to the popularity of food TV, consumers (especially Gen Xers and Yers) are hungry for bold new flavors-and they want the real thing, says Craig Julius, senior culinologist with Sterling Culinary Inc. "Indian is going to be the next big trend in packaged foods,"Taste Test: The Best Frozen Waffles
By RachaelRaymag.com | Work + Money – Tue, Nov 30, 2010 7:54 PM EST
Read More »from Taste Test: The Best Frozen Waffles
We taste-tested dozens of frozen waffles from the grocery store and picked our favorites.
Best Classic: Van's Natural Foods Mini Waffles
"They're so crunchy-they taste fried!" one panelist raved. And instead of artificial flavors and corn syrup, Van's uses cane and rice syrups. The size is great for dunking. (at most grocery stores) Read more »
Best Berry: Kellogg's Eggo Blueberry Waffles
Buttery and berry-studded, these took our tasters back to breakfasts their moms used to make. Gushed one judge, "Tastes just like a blueberry muffin!" Read more »
Best Healthy: 365 Organic Flax Waffles
"Moist and fluffy," these lightly sweetened waffles are made with whole wheat flour and flaxseed, which lend a nutty flavor and 3 grams of fiber per serving. (at Whole Foods Markets) Read more »
Best Gluten-Free: Nature's Path Organic Homestyle Gluten-Free Waffles
"Tender-on-the-inside, crisp-on-the-outside," these are made from a blend of brown rice, potato and corn12 fake-out fabulous desserts for the holidays
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Tue, Nov 30, 2010 7:21 PM ESTEach of these 12 delicious, party-friendly holiday desserts comes together in about a half hour, more or less-with help from a few store-bought ingredients.
30-Minute Meals: Make 'Em Guilty or Guilt-Free
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Mon, Nov 29, 2010 9:55 PM ESTCook your way through the holidays with these guilty, or guilt-free, dinners that take only 30 minutes or less to pull together.
Rachael Ray's picks for her favorite food gifts
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Mon, Nov 29, 2010 8:23 PM ESTWhat do you get for your food-loving friends and family this holiday? Here's what's on top of Rachael's list-think of it as her present to you!
The top 10 most common turkey mishaps (and how to fix them)
By RachaelRaymag.com | Work + Money – Tue, Nov 16, 2010 10:56 PM EST
Read More »from The top 10 most common turkey mishaps (and how to fix them)
We asked Every Day with Rachael Ray readers to share their top Thanksgiving troubles-then we turned to our test kitchen food team to help turn around all your big messes into big successes.
1. I forgot to defrost my turkey!
Soak it in a brine solution. Unwrap the turkey, rinse well and place in the sink or a large container, breast side down. For a 16-pounder, dissolve 1½ cups kosher salt in 2 gallons of cold tap water. Change the brine every 30 minutes. This trick should halve your defrosting time to 15 minutes per pound. We tried this in our test kitchen with a 16-pounder-and shaved the thaw time from seven hours to four!
More frozen turkey tips »
2. My turkey breast always turns out dry, every year.
You're probably overcooking your bird. Make sure you use a meat thermometer, and take the turkey from the oven when the temperature reaches 155°. Once out of the oven, the turkey will continue to cook and the temperature will rise to 165°. Remove any stuffing from the cavityEvery Day with Rachael Ray's Thanksgiving Dinner—in 60 Minutes!
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Fri, Nov 12, 2010 8:28 PM ESTIf you'd rather spend Thanksgiving chilling with family and friends than slaving away in the kitchen, this dinner comes with a foolproof game plan so you can be done in one hour-not a minute more! Believe it: Our test kitchen director Tracey tried this menu several times with big success, so you can do it too.
MENU:
Golden Potato Mash »
Spiced Pumpkin Mousse Trifle »
EXTRAS:
Get + print the shopping list »
Get + print the 60-minute game plan »
VIDEO HELP:
How to make a roast turkey in an hour »
How to make the world's easiest mashed potatoes »
By Tracey Seaman | Photography by Yunhee Kim
MORE LIKE THIS:See all Thanksgiving recipes »
Read More »from Every Day with Rachael Ray's Thanksgiving Dinner—in 60 Minutes!7 easy pork loin recipes that bring the zing!
By RachaelRaymag.com | Shine Food – Thu, Nov 11, 2010 10:08 PM ESTPork loin is an incredibly easy, versatile and cost-kind cut: Put it in the oven, whole, for a fuss-free roast, or turn it into quick-cooking boneless chops with just a sharp knife. No matter how you prepare it, these 7 dishes make the most of the lean meat, pairing it with bold flavors and seasonal sides for delicious everyday dinners.
