Thanksgiving – The Salty Exchange

Kendall and Shari’s Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas

November 18, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

We. Love. Appetizers. Like, a lot. Who else is guilty of eating too many appetizers and not having enough room for the actual meal?

Us too! But, that doesn’t stop us from still serving them on the biggest day of food intake every year… THANKSGIVING!

Y’all, Thanksgiving is next week! There will be slaving away in kitchens, burnt turkeys, perfectly cooked turkeys, mashed potatoes, weird casseroles, and pie… lots of pie. Despite all of that, we still need to eat before dinner… or else we will just be hangry and what is supposed to be a meal of thankfulness could very quickly turn in to a hot bed of disaster. So, if you are entertaining this year, here are some of our favorite tried and true apps to keep out for grazing grandparents, BFFs, and third cousins.

The Classic: A Charceturie Board
Meat, cheese, fruit, and crackers. Easy to assemble and easy to eat. It can also be kept out for a while which ultimately means less maintenance for you!
Tip Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PNDmXXbWWQ

The Easy: Chips (or crackers) and Dip!
I love to go to Costco and grab my favorite dunking treats and a few dips. Not only are there usually aways leftovers, but it’s efficient. Serve up the dips in some fun bowls and spread the crackers or chips out in a serving bowl and voila! Food. No fuss, no muss. Save the extras for that upcoming ugly sweater party in a few weeks.

The Fancy: Stuffed Dates and Fruit
Grab some dates and halve them (if not pitted already, then get rid of the pit). Use a small spoon and spoon in some goat cheese to each half of the date. You can top with a fancy nut, herb, or whatever. Serve up with a side of fresh fruit. Dates are really filling and will probably fend of people’s hunger as dinner starts to run behind… because, let’s be honest, that is just what happens.

Also, if you plan on serving wine with dinner, try and provide an easy non-alcoholic drink BEFORE dinner. We love some sparkling water with fresh fruit or even a fun and festive punch. If people are guzzling too much wine, dinner can become a bit of hurried process to help get food in someones’ stomach… let’s avoid that. OR, have a cool cocktail prepped that isn’t super high in alcohol content but still tastes delicious and get’s people feeling all thankful and happy… like The Americano. It’s meant to be sipped before dinner and isn’t too strong!

Well, friends, happy cooking!

Kendall On Gratitude

November 25, 2020November 24, 2020by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

I think it is safe to say that at the beginning of 2020 we all had very different expectations, hopes, dreams, and ideas about what the year would hold for us. And then it was all shot to sh^*. Suddenly life became about simply staying alive, having toilet paper, and enjoying life to the fullest with very little movement… literally. In the midst of this chaos, I woke up in the wee hours of the morning a few months back. I rarely have nightmares but this particular early morning had dealt me a doozy of a dream. I woke up and cried. I cried for all of our worries, our family, our safety, our sanity, and for a general feeling of despair. My husband held me and did his best to soothe me. And, he did. He has this magnificent way of calming me; of steadying me. My husband always tends to say what people need to hear. After my cry, I still felt overwhelmingly worried about our current state of affairs BUT, I also felt something new. I felt thankful.

In that moment I felt thankful for the little bit I do have in my life. This is the year that I actually began to like myself again; to have confidence again. I have the love of a wonderful man, the sweetest daughter, and a devoted dog. Everything I truly need can fit on our bed. This year has made me thankful for the life that we lead in all of the small ways. Our lives and our family are FAR from perfect. We have struggles, we have worries, and we have fears. The past two years have really tested us as a family. And yet, here I am- thankful for it all.

2020 was the year of empathy for me. So much has happened… We here at The Salty Exchange believe in equality. Our hearts literally broke as we continued to see Black life after Black life taken by those who are supposed to protect us. Shari and I felt a deep sense of hopelessness and have tried to figure out what we could possibly do to help make sure the police forces of our country make good and necessary changes to do their jobs better (I personally think it comes down to leadership) and what we could possibly do to help our brothers and sisters in humanity. We still don’t know what the answer is. But what Shari and I did decide to do is to get educated. We have educated ourselves through reading, listening, and asking questions when we have them. We discuss our questions, the issues, and our ideas weekly. For this, I am thankful. I have become less of a passive citizen. I am still figuring it all out and hope to only get better at being an ally to all of those who feel unseen, unimportant, and discriminated against. I am thankful that I can still learn.

This was also the year of really stepping up to support small business. Vermont rallied during this pandemic. Local businesses were, of course, affected. Our community tried its best to shop local, eat local, donate to the food bank, shelter our most vulnerable populations, and follow the guidelines set in motion by our state leadership. Overall, we did a decent job. We want to protect ourselves, our friends, and yes, our economy. Sometimes that doesn’t just mean shopping locally or donating locally but it means getting informed about the different industries and their struggles. It was eye opening. It was eye opening to see people of all different backgrounds- rich or poor, average, working, unemployed, etc. try to help make a difference wherever they could. I am thankful for that. I am thankful to have experienced that. I am proud to call Vermont “home” now.

And finally, I am thankful for technology. FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc. I have some great memories of using these platforms to communicate with friends and family. Before my dad came out to Vermont in September (don’t worry, we all quarantined and got tested before mingling), we would FaceTime him EVERY day at 8 am PST. I am so grateful he is here until after the holidays. Rosemary is getting so much grampy time and he isn’t alone anymore. He has a pod with his daughters. I am thankful my sister lives .2 miles away and that I had her close during all of this madness. Even though she lives close, we still video chat multiple times a week. I am thankful that WhatsApp has allowed me to have wine nights with my girlfriend, Paulina, who lives in Spain. It’s been a sanity saving grace. Creating The Salty Exchange with Shari has been one of the funnest parts of this year for me. I am thankful for Shari. Shari is the kind of friend you can talk to about anything and because of FaceTime, I have been privileged enough to do just that with her.

Wherever you find yourself this Thanksgiving, please stay safe. Follow the damn rules. If we don’t protect ourselves responsibly, some of this 2020 madness will never end. So- suck it up. Find what you are thankful for in the smallest of places because when everything else is stripped away- that’s what matters. That’s what Thursday should be about.

Shari On Gratitude

November 25, 2020November 24, 2020by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

In honor of Thanksgiving this week, Kendall and I decided that we would each write a post on gratitude. What are we thankful for in this season? We ask this while fully understanding that 2020 has been an abnormally hard year for many.

“It’s impossible to feel sad or have any negative feeling when you’re grateful. If you’re in the midst of a difficult situation, look for something to be grateful for.” – Rhonda Byrne

I am naturally an optimistic and happy person. But I’d be lying if I told you that I haven’t had a lot of tough moments and seasons throughout my life. Reminding myself what I am thankful for has been something I have done for years and at the beginning of quarantine back in March 2020 I wrote a list of what I was grateful for. Here is a small sampling of that list:

– Facetime dates with friends

– The (short) morning commute from my bedroom to the office

– Bike rides through an empty campground

– Card games outside with neighbors

– Experimenting with vegan recipes

– Produce box deliveries on Wednesdays

– Finding out how it feels to cancel all my plans and feel surprisingly content with that

Looking back at that list, I can’t help but smile because during that time it was hard to find the good on a daily basis. I am proud of myself for making this list and slowing down long enough to be grateful for these things while also re-planning our wedding, learning how to work from home, and struggling with all of the changes. Summer then brought a loosening of restrictions and more outdoor activities which relieved some stress. But now, here in Washington state, we are in quarantine 2.0 and it feels like a really good time to write out another gratitude list. Here is what I am currently grateful for:

– Connecting with friends on Marco Polo (app)

– Almost fully healed sprained ankle

– New office space in the dining room (I love it actually)

– Borrowing the neighbor dog and taking her for a walk

– Decorating for the holidays

– The smell of slow cooker meals, homemade bread, and seasonal treats

– Family Board games

– My job and thoughtful coworkers

– Our family’s health (I am so grateful we are all healthy)

– The Salty Exchange, a creative outlet with a fantastic friend

Those are just a few of the MANY things I am grateful for. I often just sit at my desk daydreaming and feeling grateful for specific people like my husband, my stepchildren, my parents, my brothers’ families, and my friends. If there is ever a time to stop and reflect on what you are thankful for, it is now. Happy Thanksgiving, no matter how different the holidays look this year… I guarantee we all have things to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving Edition: Kendall’s Homemade Mashed Potatoes

November 19, 2020by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

It blows my mind when my family tells me that as a small kiddo (we are talking the ages of maybe 2-3) I didn’t like mashed potatoes. Like, seriously… WHAT was wrong with me. I never turn my nose up at a starch or carb. Evidence of which is on my hips.

Anyways, my mom made the BEST mashed potatoes. When she died, I vowed to figure out how she did it and replicate it. Some days, I get it just right while others, I am left wondering what I did differently. Cooking is sort of magical and even if you have a recipe, you are using your imagination to add a little more salt there or an herb as a garnish over here. It’s… fun! Thanksgiving cooking… it scares me. I am so afraid of disappointing people so I stick to my lane and I am always responsible for mashed potatoes.

Everyone has their own recipe for mashers. And in all honesty, all of them are really good. Some people add a hint of lemon or garlic while others keep the skins on or use a medley of different potatoes. Without further ado, here are my tips and tricks and recipe for mashed potatoes!

Things To Consider:
Mix it up! A lot of people I know are married to the idea that you can only use one kind of potato for mashed potatoes. My friends, this is simply not true! I love to use a medley of red, gold, AND russet.

Watch the water! One of the biggest mashed potatoes fails happens because the potatoes boil too long. Stand at attention and check your potatoes every few minutes once they’ve started really boiling. Set a timer on that smart phone if you need to… just don’t get lost and start thumbing through Facebook or Instagram because then you will really forget to check on the coveted Thanksgiving side dish.

Once they are perfectly boiled and you are mixing them together, do me a favor. DO NOT OVER MIX. That’s when the texture gets all goopy instead of whipped.

Ingredients:
4 Medium Russet (or baking) potatoes
3 Medium Yukon Gold potatoes
3 Medium red potatoes
*Mix up the medley however you want, just know you want around 5 pounds of potatoes total
8 Tablespoons of butter
1 cup of milk
Salt (I use Johnny’s Seasoning Salt because my mom did but you can also use something like Lawry’s or plain ole’ regular salt)
Pepper
Electric mixer of your choosing

Instructions:
Peel and cut the potatoes up into even sized pieces. Mine are usually about an inch thick.
Put the potatoes into your pot that you will be using for boiling.
Fill the pot with cold water until the water sits about an inch or so above the potatoes.
Throw some salt in your pot- about a tablespoon or a tablespoon and a half.
Turn the heat on high and start boiling.
Once you get a good rolling boil going turn the heat down just a smidge to keep the boil consistent.
Here is where it gets tricky, but you HAVE to watch your potatoes. In theory, your mashed potatoes should be done in about 12-15 minutes. But they might be done as soon as 10 minutes or take longer than 15 minutes. Every stove top is a little different… so watch them. The test for me is being able to take my wooden spatula and cut a potato piece in half… that shows they are soft enough.
Once your potatoes are soft enough, drain the water. Transfer your potatoes to whatever bowl you will be using for mixing.
Drop your butter in and let it melt within the hot potatoes. Also, at this stage, season with salt and pepper.
Start mixing! Once they are almost to your desired fluffy goodness point, slowly add the milk (you may not use all of it) and finish mixing.
Adjust salt and pepper to taste!

Then eat and eat and eat and don’t let anybody make you feel bad about it.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Thanksgiving Edition: Shari’s Green Bean Casserole

November 19, 2020by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

When Kendall and I decided to share a pre-Thanksgiving recipe, I thought it would be super easy to choose my favorite to share with you. I was mistaken. There are too many dishes that I love and must have at the dinner table including (but definitely not limited to) stuffing, sunshine jello, salad, dinner rolls, and our family pickles- check out Shari’s family recipe here! The reason I ended up choosing the Green Bean Casserole is because it makes me think of Thanksgiving and we (my husband and I) have been asked to make it the past several years.

The beauty of the Green Bean Casserole is that you can buy all the ingredients from the store and throw it together super quickly OR you can make it from scratch. This year I told my husband that I wanted to make the cream of mushroom from scratch and he said, “Well, we don’t use cream of mushroom soup”… WHAT?! It’s true!! I just forgot. Below is the recipe we have been using the past few years and everyone raves about it! Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Ingredients:
3-4 cans cooked & cut green beans – Green Beans (our family cans our own green beans so I will be using two jars of those)
1 small Onion
3 tbsp Butter
1 tbsp Flour
4-6 oz Sour Cream
1 dash of black pepper & salt

Topping:
1 container – Fried Onion Pieces (Trader Joe’s 8 oz can)
1 small package of Cheddar Cheese

Directions:

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F.
Saute (finely chopped) onions in butter until they are translucent.
Add in flour, stir.
In a large mixing bowl stir together green beans, onion mixture, and sour cream. Mix thoroughly.
Pour mixture into the casserole dish and add toppings (optional) fried onions and/or cheese on the top.
Bake for 15 -20 minutes.

Serve immediately!