Category: Entertainment

Cooking, Entertainment, Family, Holidays

Carving Meat

Lora Knows...

Some family traditions have relatives sharing ham, while others opt for turkey, prime rib or a meatless main course. Regardless of the choice, mastering the art of carving is important.

A few decades ago, the first Thanksgiving Dean and I shared, I wanted to show off my skills. I watched Martha Stewart carve the most beautiful roast turkey. I recorded her artistic carving on a VHS tape from a television show. I watched it, rewind, play, pause, rewind – I definitely felt ready, however that poor turkey didn’t stand a chance against me and our dull butcher knife. The following year we had purchased our first few professional knives, and Dean took over the carving.

Turkey Carving:
Cover the turkey loosely with foil and let it rest for a minimum of 30 minutes before carving. Employ a specialized carving knife designed for slicing. Maintain the bird’s tenderness by cutting the meat against the grain.

Bone-in Ham Carving:
Create a stable base by trimming one to two slices from the ham’s bottom. Employ a carving fork alongside a knife to ensure stability during the cutting process. Craft thick, uniform slices down to the bone, using the knife skillfully to release slices from the bone.

Beef Roast Carving:
Secure the carving fork beneath the top rib, and initiate horizontal slices. Glide through each slice with one or two smooth motions to prevent meat shredding. Utilize the knife’s tip to cut along the rib bone, freeing each slice with precision.

Cooking, Entertainment, Holidays

Decorate Holiday Cookies

Lora Knows...

Nothing says the holidays are coming like spending a a day listening to music and baking treats. Here are some great tips for decorating sugar cookie with flood icing.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Wilton® Color Flow Mix (or a brand you like)
  • ¼ cup + 1 teaspoon water
  • 4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

Materials

  • Piping bags
  • Decorating couplers
  • Wilton® icing tips size 2, 3, or 4 (or a brand you like)
  • Rubber bands
  • Gel food coloring, colors of your choosing
  • Tip covers
  • Squeeze bottles with covers

To Prep

  1. Prepare your piping bags with the couplers. Cut off a small tip of the bag, and remove the ring from the base of the coupler. Put the coupler base inside of the bag, and attach the desired tip size (2, 3, or 4) to the outside of the bag. Secure with the ring to lock the bag in place, and repeat with the remaining couplers and bags.

To Make Icing

  1. Make the icing by beating all ingredients in stand mixer on low speed for about 5 minutes.
  2. If using white, place some of the plain icing into one of the piping bags, and secure with a rubber band to maintain the consistency.
  3. Take another small amount of white icing, dilute it slightly with small amounts of water until it flows easily, and place into squeeze bottles. (Tip: Make sure to keep icing covered with a damp cloth or paper towel to avoid crusting throughout the decorating process.)
  4. For colored icing, separate the remaining white icing into different bowls, and add gel food coloring. Add water in 1/2 teaspoon increments until thin enough to spread easily.
  5. Add the thinner, colored icing into squeeze bottles.

To Decorate

  1. Make sure the cookies are cooled before you begin decorating, and then start outlining your cookies with chosen color from the piping bag.
  2. Next, take the thinned icing from the squeeze bottles and squeeze into the inside of the cookie. Using a toothpick, spread around to make icing even. Allow the first layer to dry a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight.
  3. Once dry, add any additional designs on top of the first layer, using the same technique, or drawing on with the piping bag. Allow all new layers to harden overnight. (Tip: Always keep the piping bags covered when not in use.)

Cooking, Entertainment, Holidays

Halloween Cocktails, Boo!

Lora Knows...

I love to do different types of cocktails for friends and family to enjoy as we spend time together. These festive Halloween Candy Corn Martini cocktails will be a hit at our next game night!

  • 1 ½ Ounce Whipped Cream Vodka – we use Pinnacle
  • 3 Ounce Sour Mix – can be purchased, but I make my own (recipe below)
  • 2 Ounce Pineapple Juice
  • ½ Ounce Grenadine – we use Liber & Co.
  • Whipped cream for topping – homemade is fun, but store bought works just as well

Instructions

  • Combine Whipped Cream Vodka, Sour Mix and Pineapple Juice in a shaker with ice, shake away
  • Pour mix into a martini glass
  • Slowly pour Grenadine into mix so it settles at the bottom
  • Top with whip cream

Sour Mix Recipe

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Juice the lemons and limes
  • In a heavy bottomed sauce pan add the sugar and water. Heat over medium heat, stirring now and then. Once all the sugar is dissolved remove from the heat.
  • Pour the citrus juice into the simple syrup and mix together. 
  • Let it cool completely and strain through a fine mesh strainer.
  • Pour final product into a container. I use a glass bottle with a lid.
  • Place in the refrigerator, will last for up to three weeks.