BostonZest

Resources For The Thanksgiving Cook

If the thought of making Thanksgiving dinner is giving you performance anxiety, or if you just feel you need a bit of help, here are a few resources.

Even the pros can find this holiday meal the most intimidating of the year.  Evan Klieman and Russ Parsons of the LA Times discussed that topic on last week's podcast of KCRW's Good Food. Parsons gives some turkey tips that will help relax cooks of all skill levels.

There are lots of ideas on our favorite food sites.

Serious Eats has been researching elements of the meal and posting recipes and ideas for many of the key menu items.

Taste Test: Store-Bought Stuffing

A Guide to Gravy

Meatless Main Dishes for Thanksgiving

The Food Lab: Turkey Brining Basics

Serious Beer Pairings: Thanksgiving Desserts

Thanksgiving facts

The Kitchn has it's own tips for the holiday.

Nervous? What's Your Thanksgiving Dinner Advice?

Vegetarian Thanksgiving: Nutloaf! And Leftover Nutloaf!

Recipe for Warmth: Hot Apple-Ginger Toddy

More after the this reminder that Back Friday starts today over at Amazon and your purchases that begin with a click from Bostonzest will keep information flowing your way. Check out the deals.

What if you need to run to the store on Thanksgiving?

Here's a listing of 24-hour drug stores that may be open on the holiday. We confirmed that the CVS at Copley Square will be open. It's a big store with an aisle of groceries and is located near subway and bus lines.

The next time you're in one of the large 24-hour CVS, Walgreen or Shaw's stores, take a look around to see if they carry things you might need late at night or on a holiday. By the way, we called Shaws/Star Market and their 24-hours stores are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

You can also check your nearby convenience stores. Some will open for a few hours on the holiday.

Finally, here's our own Thanksgiving menu tip-- Braise the turkey for a moist, juicy perfectly cooked result. And, if you make it on Wednesday, it will taste even better on Thanksgiving Day.

Details:
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo © 2008 Penny Cherubino (That's our braised turkey from last year)

Henry Is Our Sunday Dog

Meet Henry! This little ball of energized fur is one of the Class of 2009 puppies in the Back Bay. He's still a bit camera shy and prefers being close to his trusted friend if you want to meet him.

He loves running in great big circles on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, and he'll lay down and wait when an older dog comes along. He sees Autumn as a perfect opportunity to decorate his curly coat with colorful leaves.

One of the best things about living in the city is watching so many puppies grow up before your eyes.

Since they have to do their training out in public, you see their first reluctant walks on a leash. Once they're old enough to meet other dogs, you see the high energy play that will give their family about 20 minutes of "sleeping puppy time" when they return home. 

We'll feature other members of the Class of 2009 in the next couple of week.

Be sure to visit our Amazon shop for dog lovers to see some of our favorite dog items and why we like each one. Here are four of our readers' favorites. 

       

We reviewed Best Hikes with Dogs Boston and Beyond here. It makes a wonderful gift for any active family with a dog.

Reports of Canned Pumpkin Shortage Lead to Coverup

Feeling exposed on the front steps of a Back Bay home, these pumpkins decided that going incognito was the best way to avoid becoming holiday pies.

Unfortunately, the make-up ran out before they disguised their pal on the other side of the stairs.

 

Our online investigators have looked into this rumored shortage and found this report of a ready supply of canned pumpkin.

But, to really put a grin back on this pumpkin's face, consider the alternatives to pumpkin pie offered by our friends over at Serious Eats.

To keep important information like this coming your way, begin all your Amazon shopping from any Amazon link you see here on BostonZest.

InsideOut: The Museum School Art Sale - Our Friday Link

InsideOut, the annual art sale at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (SMFA) is underway. Through Sunday, November 22nd, you can shop thousands of original, fine art pieces by hundreds of artists, including alumni, faculty and students. Proceeds benefit both artists and the School’s scholarship fund.

This is another opportunity to do a little holiday shopping for yourself or someone else and have the money you spend dogood for others and stay here in our community. 

Want a sneak preview? Here's a link to a flickr photostream of some of the items for sale.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/insideoutsmfa

Details:

School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

230 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

617-369-3204

www.smfa.edu/insideout

MBTA stop: Museum of Fine Arts (Green Line, E Line)

Hours: November 20–22, 12–6 pm

Admission to the sale is free.

Daydreaming About a Boston Public Market

We stopped by the Copley Square Farmers' Market, last Friday with mixed feelings. As Fall begins to fill in, the good news is, the outdoor market season is still thriving even as we say our goodbyes to the farmers! (Check our full story on that topic over at "Serious Eats.")



But, it's also the time of year when some of us daydream about a Boston Public Market. "People don't want us to leave," said Barbara Hamilton of Hamilton Orchards, New Salem, MA. "It could go year 'round, I think, and they'd be happy. But," she continued, "the people of Boston have to request it."

Despite the gales of November and a rain-ready sky, there was a good early afternoon crowd. We ducked into the Silverbrook Farm stand, to get out of the wind, just as an angry gust brought down its tent. 



Trevor Sieck, from Siena Farms, was trying to stay warm, "It's time to get out of the cold," he said. "It's just motivation to get a 365-day market. We're working on it. We talk about it. That's something."

Chowhound, we found the first whisper about a possible winter market in Wayland, MA. We know there was a winter market in Pawtucket, RI. And, on trips to Portland, ME we've seen the cooperative marketplace that replaced the public market in that city.

In the months ahead, we'll explore these options to see if any might work for our farmers, as we all await an official public market in Boston. Meanwhile, the Copley Market is open Friday November 20th, and the last market of the season is Tuesday November 24th.

The cool weather is perfect for big pots of slow braised food. Need a gift for a new cook. Teach them to braise and they'll be entertaining and feeding themselves and their friends with ease.

Details:

Writer: Ed Cherubino

Photos: © 2009 Penny Cherubino

Location: Copley Square Farmers' Market 

Copley Square, Boston, Ma (map)

Friday and Tuesday 11am - 6pm

Resource: Boston Public Market Association

www.bostonpublicmarket.org

What's Open on Thanksgiving and MBTA Schedules 2009

Here's a run-down of what is open in Boston on Thanksgiving November 26, 2009.

Here's a link to our 2011 What's open on Thanksgiving Post.

Restaurants, bars: Many will be open- check for special hours and menus

Convenience stores: many are open, check for special hours

Supermarkets: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws"

Retail stores: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws"

Liquor stores: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws" 

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.

Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

Boston Trash Collection: Regular pick up in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Charlestown,
Chinatown, Fort Hill, Financial/Leather, North End, Roxbury/Mission Hill and South End.

Thursday and Friday collections in the following areas delayed one day: South Boston, Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury

And finally, sections of Jamaica Plain that have trash collection 2 times per week will have no delay, regular trash & recycling schedule. If your trash & recycling is collected one day a week in Jamaica Plain, trash and recycling is delayed a day

http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/sanholidays.asp

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. International markets are open.

MBTA Schedule changes from: http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/news_events/?id=18545

Wednesday, November 25

• Additional service during peak hours on Silver, Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines
• Regular weekday schedule for buses, The Ride, Commuter Rail, Quincy Commuter Boat, and Inner Harbor Ferry
• The 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 ppm Commuter Boat departures from Rowes Wharf to Hingham will be substituted with departures at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm; the last boat departing Rowes Wharf will be at 7:00 pm

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26

• The Red, Orange, Blue, Green, and Silver Lines will operate on a Sunday schedule.
• Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule.
• The Ride will operate on a modified schedule.
• Commuter rail will operate on a Sunday schedule EXCEPT for the Fairmount and Needham Lines, which will not operate.
• Inner Harbor Ferry service from Charlestown to Long Wharf, as well as Commuter Boat services from Hingham, Hull, and Quincy, will not operate.

Friday, November 27

• Green line will operate two car trains every eight minutes throughout the day.
• Red, Orange and Blue lines will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
• Silver Line will operate on an enhanced schedule.
• Buses will operate on a regular weekday non-school-day schedule.
• The Ride, Commuter Rail, Inner Harbor Ferry service, and Commuter Boat services will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

 

Shiny New Parcourse on the Esplanade

If you're like me and would rather exercise outdoors, a parcourse can add variety to your workout. When it comes to exercise, I'm a runner at heart. But, no matter how often I vary my route; it can get a little boring.

The next time you run, cycle, skate, or walk along the Charles, try pulling over at the newly rehabbed parcourse. It's located on the Boston side, between the B-U and Mass. Ave. Bridges.  

You'll see apparatus setup in a series on a brick red surface. It may look a bit "playground basic," but in reality it's well designed. Wait until you feel that recycled rubber matting. I couldn't resist giving a few test bounces.

There are signs with instructions for getting the most out of the equipment. Separate panels give guidance for use from a wheelchair. 


According to Wendy Fox, Press Secretary for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the current parcourse, was paid for out of a state bond issue. This sleek metal version replaces a wooden "Parcourse Fitness Cluster" that was donated to the park in 1985 by Bay State Health Care, Inc.  

While many people prefer to stay fit at an indoor gym, you'd be surprised what this open-air equipment can do. It lets you work the upper and lower body– a lot like you might have done naturally as a kid using tree limbs and rocks. And, it's free- no membership fees. So, the next time you're exercising on the Esplanade, take time to play at your new parcourse.

Need a gift for a runner? Here are a couple of suggestions. Support BostonZest by doing your Amazon shopping from here.

 
 

Details:

Posted by Ed Cherubino

Photos ©2009 Penny Cherubino

Thanks to Wendy Fox and DCR archivist, Sean Fisher for their assistance with the history.

Parcourse is on the Esplanade
Boston side between the BU and Mass Ave Bridges, near the Sherborn Street pedestrian crossover. This map will put you near the spot. (map)

Click here for more information on parcourses.