I’m starting to create my menu for Thanksgiving.
I’m currently debating with myself the pros and cons of having Turkey.
What will be on your menu?
Category: Menu Planning
Woodman’s, Buffalo Grove – It’s Finally Open! (Allergy Friendly Grocery Shopping)
This morning I went to Woodman’s in Buffalo Grove. Their Grand Opening is Saturday, but they are open for business as of yesterday afternoon. There were still some holes on the shelves which I am sure will be filled by Saturday.
I have been hearing good things about the selection of allergy friendly products at Woodman’s for years now, but there has not been a store conveniently located to me. Last weekend while visiting friend in Wisconsin I stopped by a Woodman’s near their house to check out the selection. They had some products, it was crowded, I was tired. In the end I came away overwhelmed and anxious about the selection.
When I arrived this morning I entered the door to the store that enters into the bread and bakery section. They had Sweet Ali’s and a few other brands in this section. I did not find any Udi’s or Canyon and started to panic. This place was known for having all the best gluten-free brands. They had to be here.
What I discovered was this Woodman’s has a dedicated Gluten-Free Section!!! Plus two dedicated refrigerated sections for dairy-free milk and yogurt and another for dairy-free cheese.
Here are some of the selections…
Look at all that Canyon Bakehouse and Schar selections. They even had the long-awaited Hawaiian Bread!
The Gluten-Free frozen bread selection is pretty good too.
Almost any Katz product you wanted!
Our favorite Kinnikinnick cookies in new packaging.
The elusive Diaya cheese sauce only pouches.
Free2b Sunflower cups.
And our favorite Yummy Earth Lolly Pops, which are an essential in our house for the winter months.
They truely had the best gluten-free and dairy-free selection I have seen. The one brand I could not find I believe was operator error and I’m hoping on my next trip to locate.
Welcome to the neighborhood Woodman’s. -Susan B.
Today’s Cookbook Reading
Now that I have two pressure cookers I’d like to learn more about them and utilize them more in my everyday cooking. I am hoping to find some good recipes in here.
Cranberry parfait
I can’t resist Trader Joe’s Cranberry sauce. I by it every year and try to find a new recipe to use it in.
This year it was Cranberry parfaits. A two ingredient recipe, cranberry sauce and yogurt.
It makes a pretty pink color if you mix it up. It was a great lunch addition to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.
The soup freezing game changer.
I could make a batch of chicken bone broth a week and it still would t be enough for my household. I had been using freezer bags but was loosing one or two bags full a month when thawing them out in the fridge.
The last two batches I made I froze in Ball jars with plastic lids. What a game changer. Getting the soup into the jars was not as messy as trying to get it in the freezer bags. The one going to remember is you do need to make sure they are room temp before putting them in the freezer. Both batches have worked great!
Do you have a favorite way to freeze your homemade broth? -SB
Clean Out Your Fridge Day
Yesterday (November 15) was National Clean Out Your Fridge Day.
This is a great time to make sure all the old condiments and things you may never finish make room for all the yummy holiday food.
Here is a peek inside my fridge. I try to be on top of old condiments and leftovers, but the physical cleaning of the shelves and drawers I try to do one at a time over a week. Mostly because my fridge is never empty. So mine is more “clean out your fridge week”.
Now back to thinking of my Thanksgiving menu. -SB
So many time lists not enough time.
Thanksgiving is approaching quickly and it’s time to start thinking about your menu, ok it’s actually past time. My family is not really too into the whole Turkey course and I am the only one who seems to enjoy stuffing, but it just isn’t Thanksgiving without them.
My planning usually starts on a post-it. I make a short list and definitely not the final menu I will serve that day. Starting with just the basics and then reflecting on 1. my schedule for the week before, 2. wether or not we will be having guests, 3. what help I will have with cooking. Help me to see what other dishes to add.
I am trying to get my kids more involved in the preparation of the food. They both enjoy cooking and have started to be really helpful when preparing big meals.
Have you started your Thanksgiving menu planning yet? Here is an article with an extensive timeline for Thanksgiving to help you get started. Turkey Day Timeline
Cygnet Organizing 