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The holidays are coming! What are a few of YOUR favorite things?

by on ‎10-23-2014 04:33 PM

Alright, who’s with me? Of course the hustle and bustle of the approaching holidays has me in a caroling, cookie-swapping, gifting, menu-planning mood. Especially since just walking into QVC these days is like stepping into Santa’s workshop.



And with Cooking on Q: Holiday Edition right around the corner on Sunday…well, let’s just say I’m getting a head start on sampling plenty of yummy holiday goodies. Not to mention, a head start on my gift list, too. (Santa’s little helpers will definitely want to check out my temp-tations Facebook page Oct 23, 24 and 25. Each day leading up to Cooking on Q, you’ll be able to “unwrap” a brand new temp-tations item we’re offering early exclusively to my Facebook family!)


This is also a great time to remember one of my other favorite holiday traditions. Every year, whenever my calendar starts to fill up with holiday projects, events and gatherings, I make it a point to block out a special night just for me…and Fraulein Maria. Smiley Wink


From the time I was little, “The Sound of Music” has always had a special place in my heart. Of course, I sing along to every song. But I always sing “My Favorite Things” loudest of all. (Sometimes, Fozzie even helps!) For me, this song is the perfect reminder to celebrate MY favorite things about the holidays, so I don’t get buried in all the planning, prepping and projects.



So even though I was right in the middle of Cooking on Q prep this week, I made it a point to settle in with a big bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup and “The Sound of Music.”


I sang louder than ever. And came up with this list of my four favorite things about the holidays:



  • Every year, just after we say Thanksgiving grace, my family goes around the table and we all list all the things we’re most grateful for. We all put so much love into making a beautiful holiday meal and setting a beautiful table. And that one moment where we pause to appreciate it with our family is what I love most about the holidays.



  • When I was little, my sister and I were able to open one present from our stocking on Christmas Eve. It didn’t matter what it was, that one present felt so special. As we got older, that turned into a tradition of celebrating the holiday on Christmas Eve with all our friends and family. Over the years, we’ve adopted so many different traditions from our friends and extended family members…It’s like a quilt of special moments that tie everyone together. To this day, I still make authentic Swedish Meatballs every Christmas Eve – and they always remind me of my mom’s best friend, Diana, who was originally from Sweden and would bring them every year.



  • Pumpkin ANYTHING. Seriously, pumpkin is one of my favorite flavors, and I work it in just about any chance that I can get…and even more so when holiday entertaining season rolls around. Here’s a super-easy, super-delicious recipe that’s always a hit at my holiday gatherings. And it’s gorgeous in our temp-tations 3 qt Soup Tureen.


TARA’S PUMPKIN SOUP



6 slices of bacon, cooked until crisp, then crumbled (1 Tbsp bacon grease retained)


1 Tbsp olive oil


1 small onion diced


2 Granny Smith (or any tart apple) apples, peeled, cored and diced


½ tsp kosher salt


4 cups vegetable stock


½ cup natural applesauce


½ tsp ground white pepper


1 tsp chopped sage


1 tsp chopped thyme


½ tsp ground nutmeg


1 large can (29 ounces) pumpkin puree


¼ cup brown sugar


½ cup Greek yogurt


Heat a Dutch oven or large stock pot over medium heat.  Add the bacon grease and 1 Tbsp olive oil and heat until it shimmers.  Add the diced onion apples and salt.  Sauté until onions are translucent, about 7 minutes.  Add the vegetable stock, applesauce, pepper, sage, thyme and nutmeg.  Bring to a boil and cook until the apples are very tender, about 5 more minutes.


Add the pumpkin, brown sugar and cook for 10-15 minutes over medium heat.  Use an immersion blender and blend soup until it’s smooth.  (You can use a blender to blend the soup in batches if you want to.) Add the crumbled bacon and yogurt to the soup and heat through over very low heat.  (Simply add water at this stage if the soup is too thick.)  Remove from heat and serve.  Garnish w/dried apple slices, pumpkin seeds or sliced scallions.


And, did you know you can also make this recipe on the stove top, using my new, incredible temp-tations Old World 3.5 quart Stove-Top Baker? It’s debuting on-air during Cook Event, so be sure to tune in…you just have to see this oh-so-versatile baker to believe it!




  • Gathering…It doesn’t matter whether it’s a formal holiday dinner, a causal buffet, brunch, dessert or drinks. I love any excuse to get together with others to celebrate around the holidays. And because so many people used to come and gather around my mother’s table for the holidays, I have plenty of practice!


In fact, here’s one of the recipes my mom passed down to me. I love it because it’s so easy. And you can even make it in your temp-tations crock pot, so it’s perfect for a holiday crowd.


MY MOM’S SAUSAGE STUFFING


1 (14 ounce) bag bread cubes


1 Tablespoon dried thyme leaves


1 teaspoon dried sage


1 teaspoon salt


½ teaspoon black pepper


1 (12 ounce) package bulk sausage


1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth


1 medium onion, chopped


3 ribs celery, finely diced


½ cup butter


1 egg, beaten



  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  • Pour the bread cubes into a large bowl.  Sprinkle in thyme, sage, salt and pepper.  Set aside.

  • Place sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook until browned.  Crumble, drain and add to bread mixture.

  • In the same pan melt the butter over medium-high heat.  Sauté the onion and celery until the onion is soft, but not brown.  Add to bread mixture. Pour the broth and egg over the bread and toss to combine.

  • Spoon stuffing mixture into a temp-tations 13” x 9” baker, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for another 15 – 30 minutes or until golden brown. Or, try this crock pot method: Heat your temp-tations crock pot on high for 10 minutes, spoon stuffing mixture into crock pot, dot the top with 2 tablespoons of butter, reduce to low setting and cook 3 – 4 hours.


So how about you? No need to sing about it (unless you want to, then go right ahead!) I can’t wait to hear what tops YOUR list of a few favorite things to focus on during the holidays.


And here’s how temp-tations can help. We’ve got plenty of brand new arrivals in store for you this week on Cooking on Q. So tune in Sunday for everything from great gift ideas to incredible temp-tations pieces that will make your holiday entertaining so much easier.


If you want to be the first to find these new temp-tations, remember to keep checking in on my Facebook page this week for exclusive early offers that you won’t find anywhere on QVC until the day of the Cook Event.


And did I mention Easy Pays? Plenty of them to go around…Looks like all my temp-tationistas and temp-tationisters are on Santa’s “Nice” list this year!  


Happy Cooking on Q to one and all!


XOXO Tara