Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Truffle Salt Giveaway
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope that each one of you is having a wonderful holiday filled with family, friends and food. For Ryan, Pumpkin and I, the plan is to attend two dinners today. They are about 4 hours apart, giving me just enough time to begin digesting the massive amount of potatoes I am going to eat at the first dinner before I eat more at the second. I love that about Thanksgiving. But I also love that Thanksgiving reminds you of all of the things in your life that you should be thankful for. I’m thankful for my family, my friends, this blog and you my readers, my home, my job, food on my table and truffle salt…oh yes I am very thankful for truffle salt. It’s the little things right?
When I was in Italy, I purchased more food products than I probably should have. I’ve got more pasta, balsamic vinegar and olive oil then any normal person should. But then again, when it comes to food I suppose I am a bit abnormal. In addition to the pasta, vinegar and oil, I also bought some truffle salt that I have since used on all kinds of things including this Truffle Popcorn. I simply love this stuff. I have been throwing it on just about everything. It adds an amazing flavor and makes every meal taste a bit more special.
So because it is Thanksgiving and because I figure that its not fair for me to go on enjoying this wonderful stuff without sharing some, I am giving away a jar. And this isn’t a jar that I just picked up at my local gourmet food store, which you can certainly do. No, no my dear readers, this is a jar that I picked up in Siena, Italy. You know, beautiful, wonderful Siena
That’s right, this truffle salt made it all the way back across the Atlantic Ocean and then from New York all the way back here to Seattle and now here it is all wrapped and ready to send to you.
All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite thing about Thanksgiving is. Maybe your Aunt Gertie makes a mean jello surprise or you get a chuckle out of watching Uncle Bill eat far too much and pass out in the recliner with a half eaten slice of pie still resting on his belly. Whatever it is, I’m curious. I’ll randomly select a entry and announce the winner next Friday, Dec 4th.
Rules:
No entries after 5pm (pacific standard time) Thursday, December 3.
One entry per person.
Shipping within the United States only.
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Melissa
December 3, 2009 at 4:24 pmMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is that it can make even the toughest character get all warm and gooey, like the top of my Granny’s candied yams. I will never forget when a few years ago my Pop couldn’t leave the farm and we had to celebrate without him. This John Wayne bear of a man was almost in tears, not just because he was missing my Mom’s infamous cinnamon rolls, but because to him he said, “Thanksgiving is just about being with the people you love.”
Pam Mitchell
December 3, 2009 at 12:52 pmMy favorite part of Turkey day is hearing my mama say that “next year we are going out to eat.” She has said this since I was born…LOL
Taunna
December 3, 2009 at 12:31 pmMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving are the days that follow! Since we don’t really spend a ‘get-together’ with our family on the actual holiday we spend several days the following weekend visiting and visiting and eating and eating. Then there are those left overs that follow each gathering. It’s also the first visit right before the next holiday with family and friends – Thanksgiving just gets the holiday mood started!
Connie
December 3, 2009 at 12:11 pmThanksgiving 2004 was the beginning of a new life for me after my divorce. I am now able to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and prepare the Thanksgiving dinner for them. I am making NEW memories with my family.
nicole
December 3, 2009 at 9:33 amI would have to say family ribbing. When my family gets together, its the playful teasing and harmless sarcasm that makes me smile and appreciate everyone even more. Despite all of us being so very different from each other, were still thick as thieves.
Jayime
December 2, 2009 at 10:10 pmBest part of Thanksgiving is my mom coming from Michigan to Texas to spend a solid week shopping with e!
melanie
December 2, 2009 at 2:46 pmI spend all day with my mother and my sister in the kitchen, and the three of us have a total blast.
Barbara Kiebel
December 2, 2009 at 12:54 pmI love the preparations for the holiday but the most fun is cooking with family and friends. This year my best friend came to spend the day cooking with me since my daughter had to work retail getting Nordstrom’s ready for Christmas and she knew how much I would miss having Lauren be absent. Evidence that family truly is not just limited to our blood relatives; it was like having my sister here.
My daughter and my friends husband and son arrived later in the day and we enjoyed a late dinner with our tradition of telling someone at the table very specifically why we are thankful for them.
Esi
December 2, 2009 at 11:57 amMy favorite thing is that my family mixes in Ghanian food with traditional Thanksgiving food.
Lana
December 2, 2009 at 11:50 amMy favorite thing is the leftovers! Turkey and dressing is so much better the second time around.
Mallory
December 2, 2009 at 11:45 amMy favorite is the stuffing! It’s the only time we make stuffing out of the whole year.
Joy
December 2, 2009 at 11:41 amI love the whole Thanksgiving craziness: deciding whose house to hold Thanksgiving, assigning dishes and then the culmination of it all on Thanksgiving day — the great food and company!
I’ve been hearing about using truffle salt and truffle oil for popcorn! Maybe I’ll get to try that soon. :)
Maria
December 2, 2009 at 11:37 amBeing with family is the best part about the holidays!
Meg
December 2, 2009 at 11:36 amMy favorite thing is spending time with my little bro – well, that and mashed potatoes with gravy and cranberry sauce.
Cassie
December 2, 2009 at 7:25 amI love finding new recipes for Thanksgiving to mix with the old traditions. It’s safe to experient with all the rest of the yummy faves!
Deseree
December 1, 2009 at 10:09 pmThank you everyone for your comments! I’m enjoying reading them all. Jackie- The ingredients only list salt and truffles but I believe its sea salt.
Jackie
December 1, 2009 at 6:25 pmHi Des
What type of salt is the truffle salt made with.
Xochi
November 30, 2009 at 12:42 pmHi Des,
Oh wow that truffle salt looks good! My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is definitely cooking all morning with my Mom. I live about 400 miles away from my parents now (thanks first to college and now to work) so I really only go home for the major holidays which means a lot of BIG meals. I treasure the hours before a holiday meal is served when I learn little cooking tricks from my mom and listen to old stories of her childhood Thanksgivings. Thanks for the happy thoughts Des! :)
Jenny
November 30, 2009 at 11:05 amMy absolute favorite thing about Thanksgiving is the mashed potatoes with the home made turkey gravy. YUM. To me, its like candy! Aside frm the potatoes and gravy, its being with my family. :-)
Katie
November 30, 2009 at 10:51 amMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is visiting with my family! I live in California, and they live back East, so it’s wonderful to be able to go back and visit with them! The food is also spectacular; my family are all wonderful cooks. Each year, no matter what wonderful new dishes they make, though, someone always makes my Grandmother’s traditional cranberry-apple crisp, and asparagus casserole. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without these two traditional family dishes!
Carole
November 30, 2009 at 5:17 amWhat a nice giveaway. Something I could use but probably would never purchase.
Hope your Thanksgiving was as good and warm as mine was.
Barr
November 30, 2009 at 4:58 amThe food is amazing, but the afternoon nap is what its all about! Great job as usual Des!
Tori
November 30, 2009 at 1:37 amAs a kid, my favorite thing about Thanksgiving had to be getting a kiss on the cheek from my great-great Aunt Virginia. I would beg her for a kiss on the cheek because she always wore her bright red lipstick – it tickled me to see the mark it left. And she always obliged. I learned when I was older that Aunt Virginia’s signature lipstick color was called “Cherries Jubilee.” Today, my favorite thing about Thanksgiving is remembering Aunt Virginia.
Sabine
November 30, 2009 at 1:37 amI’ve just turned 25 and am still waiting for my first REAL Thanksgiving. Having lived in Germany for the better part of my life I’ve never been able to experience a proper American Thanksgiving. I really love the holiday and have hosted a couple of Thanksgiving dinners myself, but it’s just not the same. Hopefully one day I’ll make it to the States for my very own original Thanksgiving experience.
Maggie
November 29, 2009 at 2:18 pmI love Thanksgiving for the food! Also, when in Kansas City you can go to the Plaza and watch the lighting!
Jennifer
November 28, 2009 at 3:09 pmThis was my first Thanksgiving with my new husband, his kids and my parents. I really enjoyed cooking and the turkey came out perfectly.
Katy
November 28, 2009 at 9:13 amMy absolutely favorite thing is trying new dishes out to see if I can make my 84 year old Russian grandfather nod his head in understated, but all the move meaningful, approval. This year I made a cauliflower and brussel sprout gratin and he actually skipped a serving of Turkey to have more. Then he asked for some to go. I was overwhelmed.
Stephanie
November 28, 2009 at 6:15 amMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is the food. Those foods we only have at Thanksgiving: dressing, sweet potato casserole, chicken and dumplings.
Larry
November 27, 2009 at 9:09 pmCooking the carcass down to make Gumbo!!
Marilyn
November 27, 2009 at 4:16 pmMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is being with family and talking all about when the children were small and all were together.
Kim
November 27, 2009 at 2:19 pmMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving was having my kiddos all around the table at the same time and hearing them laugh and catch up. So weird to be talking business issues with them now instead of GPA’s and homework.
emily
November 27, 2009 at 1:21 pmfavorite thing about thanksgiving this year was skyping with my family in virginia while i hosted my first meal away from home, in colorado.
Theresa
November 27, 2009 at 11:48 amI love marching in Philly’s Thanksgiving Day parade and seeing all the families coming out to watch. Then I enjoy eating waaaaaaaay too much and going into a food coma. But this year I think the best thing was getting to meet my brother’s brand new puppy!
Jenn
November 27, 2009 at 10:21 amMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving… the cooking!!! I love being in the kitchen.. and being in the kitchen on a day where I get to make things I normally only make once or twice a year..well, that’s like a little piece of heaven :)
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Des!
Jason B.
November 27, 2009 at 10:11 amLeft-over turkey for making wraps, quesadillas, enchiladas, tortilla soup, and paninis.
Jay Fitzpatrick
November 27, 2009 at 8:55 amOl Mr. Nate ,son in law, Lib Democrat and terrific cook did ol Mr. Gobbler up great. Dressing was best,great sides and pecan pie.Thankful ,oh yes. Thanksgiving in middle America with relatives and friends from far and wide . [ Who cares if the Turkey was 11/2 hours late getting to 160 degrees]
Sharon A
November 27, 2009 at 8:35 amMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is spending it with friends and family.
Melanie
November 27, 2009 at 8:21 amStirring the turkey and trimmings into a post-Thanksgiving casserole is my favorite part of the holiday!
Joan
November 27, 2009 at 7:01 amMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is decorating this year’s Christmas tree with my 82 year old mother.
kATHY
November 27, 2009 at 6:12 amlove having all the family and having them say how good the food is !!!!
Eric
November 27, 2009 at 5:33 amPie. Enough said.
Ange Michelbach
November 27, 2009 at 4:26 amwhatever new ingredient winds up in the cranberry sauce, this year it was figs!
alecho
November 27, 2009 at 2:05 amIt’s all about the stuffing, baby! :) Love it!
katklaw777
November 27, 2009 at 1:34 amActually I lost my Mom the day after Thanksgiving 3yrs ago and my Dad 2mos later, now I kind of hate the holidays. I imagine this has happened to others and every year now I try to stay positive and be thankful for what I do have, a wonderful husband, two great grown up kids, but it’s hard. Sorry to be a downer, I am just being honest. Wish it was not so and hoping time will help the healing……………..
Sammie
November 26, 2009 at 7:36 pmThe leftovers the day after, and the day after that, and the day after that.
Keri Startzman
November 26, 2009 at 7:36 pmEver since I was little I always remember my mom or grandmother(s) making dinner and my sister and I ALWAYS looked forward to the mac & cheese, especially the leftover mac & cheese! We would eat it for days after Thanksgiving, even for breakfast! Now my fiance does the cooking, and he makes an Awesome Mac & Cheese with 5 White Cheeses & White Truffle Oil ! Everyone just absolutely loves it, especially our 3 year old son, now he is following in my footsteps, he couldn’t wait for Daddy’s “Special Mac & Cheese” to be served today!!!! :-)
Hope Everyone Had A Great Thanksgiving!!!
Kevin
November 26, 2009 at 7:14 pmMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving, is being able to share my time with others to make their day brighter. Volunteer.
KatieBea
November 26, 2009 at 5:44 pmI’d have to say the mashed potatoes and gravy! And then after everything is put away, I always make chocolate chip cookies and then fight with my dad over the left-over cookie dough.
Star Im
November 26, 2009 at 5:34 pmWe’re so busy in our lives that to me It’s powerful to see how the people you love make time out of one day in your life to base it on the blessing, delicious food and It’s company. My favorite part about this holiday is a reminder that you always have someone who thinks of you and reminds you that you have a home. How fortunate I really am to be that person and grateful to be fed by the people I love on this holiday.
Jeff
November 26, 2009 at 5:07 pmMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is my mother’s turkey gravy on riced potatoes. Don’t tell my grandmothers, mother in law or wife but nothing anywhere beats my mother’s turkey gravy. :)
Diane
November 26, 2009 at 4:57 pmMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is when you try a new dish and it turns out perfectly. Of course, my least favorite part is when you mess up one of your tried and true dishes…bummer.
…and, yes, both things happened to me today!
Melissa K
November 26, 2009 at 4:07 pmWhen dinner is out and served. Then I can spend time visiting with my company and enjoy a nice strong drink. Actually, that’s my favorite part of pretty much every dinner I host.
Sarah
November 26, 2009 at 3:52 pmI’m with Becky: My favorite part of Thanksgiving is all of the cooking and chaos that ensues in the kitchen as everyone tries to balance time on the stove, in the oven, in the fridge or freezer for their contribution resulting in a delicious feast for everyone involved. What can I say, I love that rush. That and all the side dishes. Happy Thanksgiving.
Becky
November 26, 2009 at 1:32 pmThe planning. Looking at new recipes, reading the blogs and deciding what new things to try this year. Wait, I can do that any time of the year. Whoo Hoo!
Sharkcam
November 26, 2009 at 1:27 pmTurkey dinner is my favorite meal of all time. The part I love the most is snacking, drinking, eating, napping, snacking and then eating Thanksgiving DINNER! Yes it is all about the glutony. :) Happy Thanksgiving Des. Hope you get your fill of mashed potatoes.
Sharkcam
Alison Cook
November 26, 2009 at 12:57 pmMy favorite thing about Thanksgiving is the mashed potatoes and gravy! Also, it is the start of the Christmas season, and when people finally stop making fun of me for listening to Christmas music :)
Judy
November 26, 2009 at 12:04 pmMy daughter always says that she likes to hear me eat at Thanksgiving. No, it’s not the chewing or smacking; it’s that appreciative sounds of the good food…mmmmmmmmm, nummmmmmm and maybe some of the smacking, too.
Jean Fraser
November 26, 2009 at 11:32 amOur favorite thing at Thanksgiving is the family ALL together, good food, and pleasant memories.
Jessie
November 26, 2009 at 10:15 amFavourite thing about Thanksgiving is a full belly at the end of the day and leftovers to look forward to on the day after.
Happy Thanksgiving!