Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of YOU!!!

Have any chili heads on your gift list?  We have the perfect answer for you at 20% off and drop-shipped to each person on your list. They would probably like a Chili Madness Gift  Box or Holidays in New Mexico or maybe even a Super-Super Bowl Gift Box Gift Box. Other Gift Boxes are a Finger Lickin' Barbeque Gift Box or perhaps a Quick 'n Easy or Chiles 4 Health  Gift Box.

Each Gift Box contains enough chiles and herbs for several meals and an autographed cookbook.  The only exception is the Holidays in New Mexico where we include the recipes for tamale making and sauce.

We are placing our ever popular Gift Boxes--each with an autographed cookbook,  on a 20% OFF early Black Friday Sale.  Sale prices are good all week, until next Sunday (December 1) midnight.  Now you can armchair shop for all the spice/chile lovers on your gift list.  And they will LOVE  you!  When  you order them, we will drop ship them to wherever you wish in the contiguous United States and remember to tell us how  you want each cookbook autographed.

Or, you may prefer to give a Gift Certificate for spices or a Cooking Class. We have beautiful printable certificates for either, which are good for one year and a month.  To purchase one, just class our office and we will arrange for you to have a printable Gift Certificate.   

Our Holidays in New Mexico Cooking class set for December 5 is sold out, so I have scheduled another Holidays in New Mexico class, set for 2 PM in the afternoon of Tuesday, December 10.  

Saving leftover amounts for great turkey leftover dishes to span for several weeks creates a more exciting meal plan than to just have turkey, turkey, turkey.  Freezing meal sized amounts in freezer packages allows you to pull upon them whenever  you wish.  Turkey Tetrazinni has always been a favorite and so easy to pull off.  A time saving hint is to make two--when you prepare it the first time.  Freeze one and enjoy one.

For each casserole, butter dish well.  Coarsely chop about 2 cups cooked turkey. Boil a meal sized amount of spaghetti until done and drain.  Mix one cream of mushroom soup with 1 cup milk and 1/4 cup sherry.  Measure 1/2 cup Romano or Parmesan cheese.  Set aside 2 Tablespoons bread crumbs.  Layer the spaghetti with the turkey and a few spoons of the reconstituted soup-sherry mixture.  Repeat until casserole dish is full, then scatter a layer of cheese, top with bread crumbs and a few lumps of butter and bake for about 30  minutes at 350% or until mixture bubbles throughout.  ( If desired, slice about 6 to 8 mushrooms and saute in butter and layer in the casserole.)

And, follows is a favorite Turkey Chili recipe.

TURKEY CHILI WITH A MARGARITA SPLASH

I developed this recipe for a special at my former Pecos River Café restaurant in New York City. The tequila adds a pleasant mellow flavor, however it can certainly be left out. Rum or sherry could be substituted.

Yield: 4 servings

1 medium onion, chopped

1, 14 ½ ounce can low-sodium, low-fat chicken broth

½ cup coarsely chopped green chili or 1, 4 ounce can chopped green chili

1, 15 ¼ ounce can black beans

2 cups chopped, cooked turkey or 1 pound ground skinless turkey breast or chicken, sautéed

1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

Optional Garnishes

1 lime

Jigger of tequila

1. Place the onions in a cold, heavy saucepan. Saute over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes, or until the onion starts to brown on the edges. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, or until the onions darkens or caramelize in its own juices. Immediately add the broth, chiles, beans, turkey, and cumin. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Serve with about a teaspoon or so each of freshly squeezed lime juice and tequila.

Note: to sauté the ground turkey in the microwave oven, break up the lumps place in a microwavable bowl, and cover. Cook on high for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir and cook longer if needed. To cook on the stovetop, place the turkey (as above) in a cold, well-seasoned skillet and sauté over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes.