What's Cookin': A relaxing holiday meal Happy Thanksgiving! Here we go again-- time to prepare another large family meal. If all the time in the world were available, life would be so much smoother! But, most of us, I imagine, are going to work our regular jobs (or jobs), look after our home and family, complete our volunteer obligations, run errands AND attempt to put on a lovely Thanksgiving meal. Well, I plan on having a relaxing holiday meal and here's how I plan to manage, maybe some of these ideas will help you too... I am using a frozen bird this year and I took mine out of the freezer yesterday (because we're having our family dinner on Saturday night). Depending on the size, these things can take 2-3 days to thaw, so don't leave it to the last minute. Put in a container or on a baking Apple Cranberry Galette Serves 6 19 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, October 7, 2010 Lori Gysel & Gerry Kentner sheet or something to catch any drips and store it on the lowest shelf in the refrigerator (so that there is no ready-to-eat food underneath). I plan on ignoring the housecleaning-- no time to cook and clean. So I've chosen to cook. I will check for large dust bunnies surrounding the dining room table that may form a coup and overthrow the guests at dinner, but that's it. My plan is to have candlelight and a fireplace going (the house and the guests look better in low light), I'll have a pot of apple cider with cinnamon sticks and orange peel simmering in the kitchen-- that will make the house smell good. And I will ensure there is no stinky hockey equipment on the main floor. I have already made homemade soup for the first course, so that is one less thing to do on the day of the party. And I'm going to make this apple cranberry galette for dessert (along with pumpkin pie of course) because it's so simple and quick! I plan to withhold driving privileges and computer access to any children who refuse to do the dishes-- doubt it will get to that point. I plan to be drinking a glass of wine already when the guests arrive, so even if I have forgotten something I won't care! Have fun and keep cooking! Email comments/questions to Lori and Gerry at whatscookin@ independentfreepress.com Dust off your beer mugs, and join (from left) Bett Leverette, Ray Hammond, David MacFarlane and Rudy Lipp for the annual Oktoberfest beer mug competition at an authentic Oktoberfest Dinner on Sat. Oct. 23, 5:30 p.m. at St. John's United Church, 11 Guelph St. For $25 tickets, call the church office, 905-877-2531 or David and Jackie MacFarlane, 905-8777668. Info: www.stjohnsuc.ca Photo submitted Ingredients · 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed but cold · 2 apples peeled, cored and sliced thinly (Royal Gala, Cortland, Empire) · 1/3 cup frozen or fresh cranberries · 1 tbsp white sugar · 1/2 tsp cinnamon · 2 tbsp butter · 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice · 1 egg, beaten · 1 tbsp white sugar Method Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Place puff pastry on parch- ment lined baking sheet. Stir together apples, cranberries, 1 tbsp sugar, lemon juice, butter and cinnamon. Mound apple mixture in centre of pastry, leaving 2" border. Pull pastry border up and over edge of apples leaving centre apples exposed and pleat pastry as you go. Brush pastry with beaten egg and sprinkle with 1 tbsp white sugar. Bake for 30 minutes. Cook's Note: Optional with peaches and blueberries :\UKH` >VYZOPW H[ ! HT 5\YZLY` HUK 1Y >VYZOPW MVY JOPSKYLU St. John's to host Oktoberfest Dinner 4HPU :[YLL[ ZV\[O VM 4HWSL ^^^[VNL[OLYH[NHJJVT KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH God's Word for Today's World. www.knoxgeorgetown.ca REV. DR. JAMES COOPER 116 Main St. S., Georgetown, ON 905-877-7585 Chair-lift access available. 'Sunday's Cool' youth ministry program for ages 4 & up. Service Dial-in: 905-702-1629 SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES: 11:00 A.M. GEORGETOWN CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH welcomes you! Lead Pastor: Rev. Gary vanLeeuwen Youth Pastor: Brian DeBoer Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am & 6:00 pm 11611 Trafalgar Road (north of Maple Avenue) www.gcrc.on.ca 905-877-4322 SUNDAY SERVICES · Lord's Supper 10 A.M. · Ministry Meeting 11:00 A.M. · Fellowship Lunch 12:00 P.M. · Ministry Meeting 1:00 P.M. Meeting In: Georgetown Seniors Centre Address: 318 Guelph Street Phone: 905-873-1005 Website: www.haltonhillsbiblechapel.com Huttonville United Church ANNUAL SHORE SUPPER (Fish Fry) October 21st, 2010 - 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Huttonville Community School Adults: $15.00 Children (12 & under) $7.50