Flattening (a.k.a. spatchcocking) a whole chicken makes it easier to carve and helps it cook quickly and evenly throughout. Once you become comfortable with this method, customize the recipe by switching up the herbs and seasoning.
The menu at Locanda Sandi, the Polegatos' country inn, offers this specialty of the town of Valdobbiadene. A variety of meats – chicken, duck, rabbit, pork and veal – cook on a spit over hot coals for five hours. This home version is slow-roasted in the oven to achieve the same melt-in-the-mouth quality. Don't be tempted to use lean cuts of meat – the fat keeps the spiedi succulent.
This classic is usually made with ground pork, often with the addition of potatoes for thickening. Mushrooms are unconventional, but tourtiere fans will be happy with the extra flavour.
In The Test Kitchen, we love a brined turkey. In this recipe (which originally appeared in our October 2011 issue), a sweet brine replaces a more traditional salt brine. The result is an ultra-tender and moist turkey with just a subtle hint of sweet apple cider.
Brining marinates to the bone, ensuring a juicy turkey every time. We've created a lower-sodium brining option by replacing salted water with apple cider.
Clarified butter not only seals the mousse in little pots (helping to extend shelf-life), but also adds another layer of luxuriousness to this creamy spread. Allow at least 24 hours for the flavours to develop.
Creamy and rich with colourful vegetables, this pasta is terrific. You can assemble the dish ahead of time to pop in the oven when the group gets together. Use a thick, good-quality pasta sauce.
These dainty pastries are made with a pastry-novice-friendly cream cheese dough and a delectable ground pork filling. Best of all, you can prepare them in several stages and even freeze them.
This is a great alternative to a whole bird for an intimate holiday dinner. You will need about a 2-1/2 lb (1.125 kg) bone-in skin-on turkey breast to yield the right amount of meat. Ask your butcher or the meat department of the grocery store to bone it for you if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself.
