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    Blog Posts by Martha Stewart

    • 5 Easiest Thanksgiving Sides

      Streamline your Thanksgiving meal-planning with any of these easy side dishes. We've got you covered with a wide range of recipes for classic- and modern-style holiday sides.


    • Bright Office Gear We Love

      With winter creeping in we're looking for pops of color in the office to distract us from the gloomy outdoors. Even as grown-ups, we want to run to the stationery store for a shiny new batch of school supplies. Trapper Keepers are no longer on our wish lists, but this rainbow of desk accessories is.



      Pops of Color1. Our unofficial staff pen, the Le Pen will inspire you to choose a cool signature hue. $1.75 each


      2. This clever clip means no more crawling around in search of stray cords. From $15


      3. Giant rubber bands in pretty-enough-to-wear prints hold papers securely in file folders. $8 for 2 rubber bands, $5 for 6 file folders


      Plus: Decorating by Color



      4. Color-coded notebooks are a multitasking must-have. $5 each

      5. Create an artful desktop tableau - and keep supplies organized - with an assortment of mod Kaleido metal trays. From $22

      Plus: 5 Ways to Use Color in Your Garden

      6. Sometimes it's the little things, like this blue tape dispenser, that brighten your day. $12

      7. The Refresh

      Read More »from Bright Office Gear We Love
    • Kid-Friendly Fritters in 2 Simple Steps

      Zucchini Fritters!We love everything about fritters-they are kid-friendly, easy to make in batches and reheat in the toaster, they've got egg for protein and dairy babies need, and you can pretty much put whatever fruit or veggie you want in them.

      Read More »from Kid-Friendly Fritters in 2 Simple Steps
    • 5 DIY Holiday Gifts Anyone Can Make

      Making a DIY holiday gift is a great way to add a little extra something to a store-bought present, or the perfect way to show you care without spending heaps of money. Getting started early will give you plenty of time to make a foolproof gift. Here are five simply made presents that can be completed in the comfort of your own home.


      Pecan Cluster PackagingPecan Cluster Packaging
      The base of this package slides out to reveal the delectable confections within. Red-and-white candy cups hold individual treats.

      Use our Pecan Clusters recipe to add a sweet touch to this gift.


      Get the Pecan Cluster Packaging Craft



      Plus: 29 Personalized Gifts






      Yule Log Favor BoxesYule Log Favor Boxes

      Glittered birds have made their nests on top. Wooden disks on the ends of the logs keep the treats -- Champagne-bubble gumdrops -- inside.

      These versions of the yule log, a quintessential symbol of the Christmas season, are actually favor boxes; they resemble birch logs, thanks to our clip art wrapped around paper-towel rolls.

      Get the Yule Log Read More »from 5 DIY Holiday Gifts Anyone Can Make
    • 6 Steps to Making the Perfect Piecrust

      Making piecrust can leave a cook feeling like a magician. Combine flour, water, and butter with just a bit of sugar and salt and -- presto! -- the result is a tender, flaky pastry that elevates just about any filling. The trick, of course, is in the method -- a simple but precise series of steps that, through baking thousands of pies, our test-kitchen staff has trial-and-errored down to a science.

    • 8 Steps to Pulling Off a Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner

      These eight tips, covering everything from how to defrost a turkey to what to make with leftovers, will ensure that your Thanksgiving dinner goes off without a hitch (or at least comes close).


      Choose the right size birdChoose the right size bird1) Choosing the Right Size Turkey
      For a large party, you'll need a big bird -- say, 15 to 20 pounds; figure 1 1/2 pounds for each person. Smaller birds -- 12 pounds or less -- have a smaller meat-to-bone ratio, so allow 2 pounds per person. Remember that the larger the bird, the more likely you are to have leftovers for the next few days.

      Plus: 36 Delicious Turkey Recipes








      Defrosting frozen turkeyDefrosting frozen turkey2) Defrosting Frozen Turkey
      It is best to thaw turkey in the refrigerator, where it's too cold for harmful bacteria to grow. Use the bottom shelf, in case of drips. Place the turkey, breast side up, in its original wrapper, onto a rimmed baking sheet. Plan ahead to allow a full day for every 4 pounds of turkey being thawed.










      Cleaning the birdCleaning the bird3) Cleaning the Turkey
      When you bring a fresh turkey home or thaw

      Read More »from 8 Steps to Pulling Off a Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner
    • If Pinterest Planned Thanksgiving Dinner…

      If Pinterest were a place, it would be a wonderland of ombre decor, chalkboard menus, and bunting flags (Pinterestlandia!). And here's what your holiday table would look like if you made only our most-pinned Thanksgiving recipes:

      Apple Cinnamon RumApple Cinnamon Rum
      Drink: Apple Cinnamon Rum
      A spicy-sweet autumnal cocktail to kick-off the feast. The recipe has been re-pinned over 400 times!
















      Starter: Baked Brie with PecansStarter: Baked Brie with Pecans Starter: Baked Brie with Pecans
      Creamy Brie with toasted pecans and maple syrup gets stomachs growling.

      Plus: 25 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes
















      Roasted-Pumpkin SoupRoasted-Pumpkin SoupFirst Course: Roasted-Pumpkin Soup
      Butternut squash works, too, in this simple, healthy starter.


















      Muffin-Pan Potato GratinsMuffin-Pan Potato GratinsSide Dish: Muffin-Pan Potato Gratins
      Who can turn down these portioned piles?


















      Roasted Cabbage WedgesRoasted Cabbage WedgesSide Dish: Roasted Cabbage Wedges
      Out with the old (green beans) and in with the new (cabbage wedges), which were re-pinned over 550 times.


















      Roasted Sweet PotatoesRoasted Sweet PotatoesSide Dish: Old Bay-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
      The natural sugars caramelize, giving each bite a smoky sweetness.

















      Roasted Spaghetti Squash with HerbsRoasted Spaghetti Squash with HerbsSide Dish: Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Herbs
      Toss with brown

      Read More »from If Pinterest Planned Thanksgiving Dinner…
    • 10 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes

      With multiple appetizers, an epic array of side dishes, and an assortment of pies to prepare -- not to mention the great big bird at the center of the table -- making Thanksgiving dinner can be overwhelming to even the most seasoned cooks. That's why we like to make as many dishes ahead of time as we possibly can. Here are our best make-ahead recipes for appetizers, side dishes, and desserts so you can have more time to enjoy your guests on Thanksgiving Day.

      Read More »from 10 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Mile-High Apple Pie

      Five and a half pounds of three kinds of apples go inside a flaky, buttery pate-brisee crust to make one showstopping pie.

      • Makes one 9-inch pie

      Ingredients
      • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
      Deep-Dish Pate Brisee or store bought pie crust, dividied into two pieces, one larger for covering the pie.
      • 5 1/2 pounds firm tart apples (about 14), such as Empire or Granny Smith
      • Juice of 2 lemons
      • 1 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
      • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
      • 3 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
      • 1 large egg yolk

      Directions
      1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out a smaller piece of pate brisee into a 15-inch round about 1/8-inch thick, dusting surface with flour to prevent sticking, as needed. Brush off excess flour. Roll dough around rolling pin, and place over a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Line plate with dough, pressing it into the corners. Trim dough to within 1

      Read More »from Mile-High Apple Pie
    • 6 Healthier Alternatives to Potato Chips

      These veggie-filled recipes are loaded with nutrients and are baked instead of fried.

      Coconut Chips
      Coconut Chips

      Ingredients
      1 coconut
      Coarse salt
      Directions
      Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Test each of the three eyes at the stem end of the coconut to see which is the softest. Then use an ice pick (or a screwdriver) and a hammer to pierce two of the eyes. Strain water through a fine sieve into a bowl; reserve for another use or discard.
      Place coconut on a rimmed baking sheet; bake for 30 minutes, or until coconut shell begins to crack. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
      Wrap coconut in a clean kitchen towel; holding coconut with one hand, hit it with a hammer in the same place several times to crack the outer shell and split the coconut into several large pieces.
      Separate coconut flesh from shell, and use a vegetable peeler to remove the dark outer skin, if desired. Rinse and dry coconut. Using a mandoline or a vegetable peeler, remove strips from edges.
      Divide coconut strips Read More »from 6 Healthier Alternatives to Potato Chips

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