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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.
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:
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!
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
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
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