“I look at the spread on the counter. I took Jacob's advice and went all out on the classic Southern good luck… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“The next forty minutes are a festival of soul eating. I know many immigrant families incorporate their traditional dishes into the Thanksgiving… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“I want coffee to taste of coffee. Maybe a little cream and sugar. I do not want coffee that tastes of potpourri… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Caroline has laid out a beautiful spread, which is a combination of some of my favorite things that she has cooked, and… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“With the heady scent of yeast in the air, it quickly becomes clear that Langer's hasn't changed at all. The black-and-white-checked linoleum… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“I've been developing killer updated versions of things like Black Forest cake, now with bittersweet devil's food cake, a dried-cherry conserve, and… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Caroline made a steamed fig pudding with brandy hard sauce. Hedy and Jacob brought a platter of dense, moist gingerbread squares studded… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“The feast is family-style, of course. Every six-person section of the table has its own set of identical dishes: garlicky roasted chicken… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Andrea is coming to pick me up in about thirty minutes to head to her folks' house for Thanksgiving. I've got buttery… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Maria winks at me, takes a mouthful of stuffing, and rolls her eyes in ecstasy. The next forty minutes are a festival… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“The menu is spectacular. Passed hors d'oeuvres include caramelized shallot tartlets topped with Gorgonzola, cubes of crispy pork belly skewered with fresh… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“There are food stations around the room, each representing one of the main characters. The Black Widow station is all Russian themed,… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“After escargots swimming in garlic butter, steak with the crispiest, thinnest fries imaginable, and simple salads of butter lettuce in a peppery… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Jack was the kind of guy you could take into any situation and he would figure out how to fit in. Wayne, not so… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Volnay is prancing, head up proudly; her squat little bowlegs producing a smooth gait that would make the dog show people preen. She carries… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Deciding that he was essentially useless, I made him a large glass of sangre del tigre- "blood of the tiger"- a lethal Bloody Mary… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“I cooked with so many of the greats: Tom Colicchio, Eric Ripert, Wylie Dufresne, Grant Achatz. Rick Bayless taught me not one but two… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Last night I read about a dish Gemma made for the staff for breakfast, which sounded really good despite its horrible name. Toad-in-the-hole. Seriously,… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“I'm going to explode," my dad says, rubbing his stomach gleefully. He's just put down a massive sandwich piled with corned beef, pastrami, chopped… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Miss A-la-na here seems to think that my pork medallion with caramelized-onion pan sauce is a little heavy-handed, that the onions need a lighter… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Relax, princess. If your prince arrives, I'll vacate. Just keeping you company. Besides, he should know better than to leave a beautiful girl waiting… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Yeah, just what I needed, a massive three-day Hostess binge, followed by a week of trying to replicate recipes so that if no one… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“Going to the gym...all those people who always told me that you get addicted to it, that endorphins kick in, that eventually you crave… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“This year I am doing praline pecans, an old favorite family favorite, easy and addictive. And a festive holiday dark chocolate loaf cake, with… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
“I pick up my teaspoon and take a small bite, and am transported. The cake is nutty and moist, the cream with the barest… — Stacey Ballis Copy Share Image
