Holiday Tips

Holiday Meal Tips
By Corbin Tomaszeski, Restaurant Makeover

Tired of the same holiday meal? Give your dishes a new spin with the suggestions below.

Deep Frying It
I’ve done this a few times and it is spectacular. Simply inject your bird with a simple marinade (i.e. lemon juice, olive oil and seasoning) and marinate for a few hours. Place some frying oil (peanut oil works great) into a Turkey Fryer (available at most BBQ Shops) and heat to 350 degrees, slowly lower the turkey into the hot oil and fry until crispy and golden. Many people assume that the turkey becomes greasy, but it does not. The turkey crisps up on the outside and the meat is juicy and tender on the inside. Cooking time is cut in half and the clean up is a breeze. Options- experiment with different marinades and rubs and the traditional turkey will never be the same, oh and remember to do this outside.

Roasting a Duck or Goose?
Swap up the turkey with something new! Add some cherries, balsamic and sage and suddenly Christmas dinner has never tasted so good.

De-Boning and Rolling
Take the Holiday bird and have the bones removed. You can do it yourself or you can give your butcher a box of chocolates and he will do it for you. Simply place the traditional stuffing on top and roll the turkey to form a large roll. Tie it and roast it in the oven. Go the extra mile and reinvent the stuffing--how about corn bread with lots of dried fruit, nuts and spicy Italian sausage? Roasted Turkey has never tasted so good!

Smoked Turkey
Sounds painful, but it is not! Use the BBQ or a smoker to create your very own recipe. Experiment with different woods; apple and hickory are nice. Rub the bird with your favorite spice blend and take it to the Grill. Christmas will be a smoking!

Brine It
Simply make a brine of water, brown sugar, maple syrup and salt. Mix the ingredients to form a brine and marinate over night. Drain and pat dry and roast in the oven. Try adding Soy sauce to the recipe with some chilies. Citrus also adds a splash of flavor

Holiday Drink Ideas
By Corbin Tomaszeski, Restaurant Makeover

Put some extra cheer into your holiday beverages with the tips and suggestions below! It's all about being festive, so why just serve the traditional Crantini? How about...

• Vodka, Grand Marnier and White Cranberry Juice Cocktail (garnished with candied orange rind).


• Did someone say Champagne? Give this holiday fizz a facelift! Add some fresh raspberry puree, raspberry vodka and instantly it becomes a festive treat.

• Whatever happened to the “Hot Totty”? It's just brandy and lemon! Mmm, that will take the chill out of you.


• Holiday and Amaretto go hand-in-hand. Try mixing a bit of it into your favorite tea or coffee. Nutty!

• Experiment with different liqueurs with your coffee and tea; try something new like vanilla and chocolate liqueur.

• And, for the Kids… Make Hot Chocolate from scratch: melted semi-sweet chocolate, warmed milk and cream. Garnish with whipped cream or mini marshmallows and use a candy stick flavored with cinnamon as a stir stick, which can be purchased at most candy stores (candy canes work well too).