Souped up Canned Chicken Noodle

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

It never fails that whenever you add the word, “holiday,” on top of your usual activities, a cold or worse seems to be lurking around the corner. I've heard that the flu season is well under way and that this is a very virulent strain…oh great, just what we need!

Some of us think we are super human and can juggle everything without any reckoning. But when your body starts to talk to you, listen. It’s saying, slow down. And if that doesn't work, your body will just take control and put on the brakes… possibly rendering you bedridden with an ailment.

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A Party in your Pantry

Special Fork celebrates Entertaining Week. Stay tuned for party tips and recipes from our Special Fork bloggers all week long. This week also kicks off our annual holiday kitchen tools sweepstakes. Please check our Facebook page to learn about the tools we've selected for the sweepstakes and how you can enter to win our prize package (estimated retail value: $122).

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

Over the years I’ve learned a lesson: you don’t always have to make everything from scratch. Yes, that would be nice in a perfect world where we are all kings and queens of our domain and life is a bit less hectic. Let’s face it …it’s a rare moment these days.

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Quick Fix Dinner

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

Tomorrow, 11 people will be showing up on my doorstep to stay for four days and many meals. One of the meals is the big turkey day; the rest involves several breakfasts and lunches. So tonight, I am a cookin’ fool.

Right now I have a stock simmering away, cornbread cooling and am in dire need to get my pie dough made, as it is 6:30 p.m. and I have to get some early shuteye. The house is relatively clean, at least for now. Dishwasher is full with a sink full of dishes yet to load. I could use a kitchen fairy about right now to cook me up some rocket fuel to make it through the night.

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Cranberry Memories

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

Thanksgiving is a food person’s special holiday! How could it not be? It’s all about sharing great food – and lots of it – with family. What’s not to like?

Okay, okay, there are some things that are not to like but let’s forgo the drama for at least one week and enjoy and embrace the holiday and each other.

My favorite part of the meal is dark turkey meat, crispy skin, stuffing made from day-old, cut-up bread or cornbread ; a root vegetable gratin; creamed onions like the kind my mother makes with the jarred onions. (I know, not so PC!)

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Pork Roast: How Lori Weathered Sandy

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

As mentioned last week, I got through Sandy by cooking two roasts, one beef and the other pork, in an attempt to soothe and satisfy neighbors who were not as fortunate.

Below is the recipe for the roast pork. My leftovers are sitting in my now-working freezer and will serve as the base for a delicious pork and white bean chili for the night my Thanksgiving guests arrive.

I spent part of last week sorting out and clearing out my pantry, freezer and fridge…long overdue. It was very cathartic and now I’m ready to cook from what survived in my pantry from the storm.

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