Fast and flavorful pre-holiday recipes
Hello, food friends.
This week, I really appreciated our contributor Kate Itrich-Williams’ take on mojo pork, our featured recipe at the end of this newsletter. The dish immediately struck me as a nice option to make the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving — quick and easy, likely to please a crowd and full of flavors you probably won’t encounter elsewhere in your holiday spread.
Kate’s 5:30 Challenge column is full of recipes that are excellent for filling awkward gaps like the night before Thanksgiving. That Wednesday is always a tough night for cooks and holiday hosts. There’s a crowd to feed, but you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen when you’re likely to be cooking much of the next day. You want something light since you’re looking down the barrel of some serious overindulgence. And the logistics of going out to eat or ordering takeout might just be too complicated or expensive.
Kate’s recipe also happens to be very allergen-friendly, solving another challenge many face during the holidays. In my family, we account for sensitivities to gluten, dairy and corn. When it comes to the big holiday meals, my strategy is to add more dishes that everyone can eat rather than replacing our traditional recipes, but that’s not practical for every meal. Recipes that make everyone happy while also fitting into our various dietary requirements are worth their weight in gold.
Our newsletter next week will be delivered to your inbox a little earlier. Expect a Thanksgiving extravaganza, with all the latest recipes, hosting tips and restaurant happenings from our recent coverage. Happy eating!
Do you have tips, thoughts or questions for the AJC’s food and dining team? Reach out to me at henri.hollis@ajc.com
About the Author
Henri Hollis is a reporter and restaurant critic for the Food & Dining team. Formerly a freelance writer and photographer with a focus on food and restaurants, he joined the AJC full-time in January 2021, first covering breaking news. He is a lifelong Atlantan and a graduate of Georgia Tech.
