Know-How Archive - Page 10 of 15

Holiday Pantry Necessities

So much about celebrating the holiday season centers on food. Many of our cherished memories evoke images of enjoying favorite meals and desserts with loved ones. While Thanksgiving dinner revolves around the turkey and all the trimmings most of us are familiar with, Christmas has more of a diverse menu customized by family traditions, which may include a Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day brunch, and Christmas Day dinner. Leading up to Christmas, of course, are all of the work events, potlucks, social gatherings, cocktail parties, and school activities that involve food.

Placing an order with us for your holiday meal entrée and side dishes can save you time and effort later. Did you know you can also order our delicious desserts, cakes, pies, and pastries ahead of time?

We also know there are many items you want to make yourself. To ensure that you are prepared for whatever holiday event might come your way, even last minute, we’ve created a list of helpful basic ingredients all holiday pantries should be stocked with.

Eggs

Whether it’s for baking Christmas cookies or serving your famous breakfast casserole, you can never have too many eggs on hand during the holidays.

Fresh Cranberries

Cranberries are a very versatile seasonal flavor. Not only can you cook and mash them to create a delicious cranberry sauce, they can be the finishing touch on your cake or the main ingredient in any number of baked sweets. Leftovers can be strung with popcorn as decoration around the house or tossed into sparkling wine or cider for a festive touch.

Nuts

Good for desserts, soups or salads, and side dishes, a variety of nuts can add a welcome crunch. Pour some in a bowl for a snack for guests or yourself while cooking. If anyone has nut allergies, seeds are an easy substitute.

Wine

Whether you’re running out the door to a party and need to bring a host gift, or you’re reducing it for a sauce for the meal you are serving, both red and white wines are nice to have in stock.

Coffee, Tea, etc.

An inventory of k-cups, coffee grounds, tea bags, hot chocolate, and eggnog will allow you to offer your guests their choices of favorite cold weather and holiday beverages.

Broths

Cook rice, meat, and veggies with chicken, beef, or vegetable broth instead of water to give your dishes an extra burst of complimentary flavor.

Oil and Butter

Almost any given recipe calls for oil and butter. You’ll need it for greasing a pan to sear your meats or a cake pan for baking. Even if you don’t use it all, butter will stay good in the fridge or freezer for up to six months.

Spices

Whether it’s allspice, nutmeg, and cloves for homemade mulled wine or pumpkin bread, vanilla and cinnamon for cookies and breads, or garlic salt, rosemary and oregano for perfect roasted potatoes, making sure your spice cabinet is stocked with fresh spices is imperative to a tasty holiday gathering.

Sugar

Granulated, brown, and confectioner’s sugar should be stored in a cool area of the pantry. No matter what kind of dessert you’re preparing, you’ll be glad to have all necessary sugar varieties on hand.

Chocolate

Unsweetened cocoa, baking chocolate and chocolate chips are important ingredients for baking a holiday cake or brownies, making chocolate-covered fruit, or creating a festive ganache, you can never have too much chocolate in your pantry.

Use the checklist above to help prevent rushed trips for groceries during the frenzied holiday season. It’s better to make one organized trip to Butcher Boy for all the basics for a well-stocked pantry. You can also do a little holiday shopping by purchasing Butcher Boy gift cards as stocking stuffers, and don’t forget to place your holiday order and holiday dessert order!

Countdown to Thanksgiving: A Checklist

Whether you are hosting a big crowd for your Thanksgiving meal or the holiday will be a more intimate dinner with a small group of family and friends, planning can be stressful. But it doesn’t have to be! Stick to our Thanksgiving checklist that will help you organize the shopping, prepping and cooking so that you’re not rushed or stuck in the kitchen.

Early November

1. Establish the guest list. Extend your Thanksgiving invitation to friends and family. The headcount will help determine your menu, from the size of the turkey to the number of side dishes, which you might select based on ease of preparation for the number of people you expect.

2. Order your turkey as well as any prepared sides or Order a full Thanksgiving meal prepared for you.

Two Weeks Before Thanksgiving

1. Confirm your guest list, and ask if there are food allergies or special dietary needs you should consider.

2. Set the menu. Traditional Thanksgiving fare can be delicious, but if you’re inspired to raise the bar on what to serve with the turkey, check out these suggestions for easy sides to take the holiday meal to the next level.

3. Create shopping list. Butcher Boy’s Thanksgiving Order Guide can lead the way, along with your recipes. Use it to make sure your pantry is stocked ahead of time.

4. Shop for non-perishables. A couple of weeks ahead of Thanksgiving is not too soon to buy the ingredients that won’t spoil.

5. Count your plates, platters, cookware, serving bowls and utensils to ensure you have everything you need. – rent, purchase, or borrow additional if necessary.

6. Count chairs and place settings – rent, purchase, or borrow additional if necessary. Don’t forget the kids table if you need one!

One Week Before Thanksgiving

1. Decorate the house. Make it easy by using what’s available in nature – or in our produce section! You can create centerpieces with gourds of various shapes, sizes and colors.

2. Set up the bar. Check out Butcher Boy’s selection of micro-brews and wine. Set out clean glasses, pitchers and ice buckets.

3. Clear out your fridge and freezer. You’ll need to make room for your shopping bounty as well as the leftovers that come later. Purchase a supply of to-go containers, wrap and bags so that you can send your guests home with food and store the rest.

4. Pick up your turkey and shop for the rest of the items on your shopping list.

Two Days Before Thanksgiving

1. There is a lot you can do to prep the meal ahead of time and save yourself a full day in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day.

a. Prep the stuffing (but don’t bake it) This may involve cubing the bread and setting it out to stale a step one or if you don’t want to go through the trouble, you can order our traditional bread stuffing with Bell’s seasoning or our bread stuffing with dried apples and dried cranberries.

b. Prep the glaze for the turkey and make the gravy base (we found a great recipe for bourbon gravy for a twist on the traditional) To save time, you can also order our homemade turkey gravy.

c. Prep the cranberry sauce and any additional sides.

d. Just refrigerate and everything will be ready to go when it’s time to pull your whole meal together on Thursday.

2. Got pie? Make them now if you didn’t already put in an order to our bakery for an Apple crumb pie, pumpkin pie, cheesecake, or fruit tart.

3. Pick up any last-minute items you may need. Don’t forget the dinner rolls!

Thanksgiving Eve

1. Chop the vegetables and refrigerate. If you don’t think you’ll have the time, you could also order vegetable dishes from our guide to include: mashed potatoes with real dairy, butternut squash, and green beans almandine.

2. Chill wine and beer.

Thanksgiving Day

1. Happy Thanksgiving! Consult our turkey roasting guide for notes on preparation and cooking times for your bird. Set your cooking schedule for the rest of the meal accordingly. Don’t forget the turkey should rest out of the oven for at least 20 minutes before serving, so you’ll still have time to finish preparing side dishes if necessary.

Day After Thanksgiving

1. Heat up leftovers, make turkey sandwiches, continue to savor the flavors of Thanksgiving

Traveling or out of time? Let us help! Order freshly prepared dishes that can be heated and served as a delicious complement to any holiday table or you can order your entire Thanksgiving dinner complete with sides and dessert. All the details are available in our order guide.

We are taking Thanksgiving orders now so be sure to reserve your turkey and anything else you may need today!

Tips for Fall Entertaining

With the holidays approaching, you’ll want to be fully prepared for your guests. That includes everything from your home décor to family activities and menus. We’ve created a list of suggestions to spark your imagination as you plan for entertaining.

An autumn-themed gathering is perfect for making caramel apples, painting pumpkins, or carving jack-o-lanterns. The weather this time of year can still be mild enough for outdoor fun. Halloween doesn’t have to be all about candy and costumes. Make a pre-trick or treating celebration more fun for family and friends with a corn hole tournament or more sophisticated with a hard cider tasting. We sell many types of hard cider to satisfy all tastes. A fire pit or some warm blankets on the deck add a nice touch while extending a New England afternoon.

If you want to give guests a little something extra to take home, party favors such as dry hot cocoa & mini marshmallows in a mason jar, a small painted pumpkin, or a dressed-up bag of caramel popcorn are simple and memorable.

Hosting Thanksgiving provides an opportunity for creativity with indoor decorations. Pumpkins, apples and leaves are basic common themes, but there are many possibilities for how you decide to display them.

Make tea light holders out of fresh apples in a variety of colors. Use gourds of different shapes and sizes on the mantle, or to create a centerpiece, place card settings, serving bowls, or even luminaries. Take advantage of the foliage and flowers of the season by adding varying hues of mums and leaves.

Your fall theme can also inspire the featured cocktail of the day, perhaps something apple, cinnamon, or pumpkin flavored.

What will you serve on your autumn party or holiday menu? We’ve discovered some tasty appetizers that bring out the best flavors of the season. Try bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts, cranberry chicken salad on apple slices, or pear, brie, and caramelized onion quesadillas.

For dinner, this one pan autumn chicken dinner is easy to prepare and will serve your entire party. A good chili or pot roast are great for feeding a crowd. Our experts can help you choose the best cut of beef and ideal size for your anticipated number of guests. For a smaller gathering, impress with fall-inspired stuffed pork chops.

Don’t forget about a warm fall dessert such as roasted pears. These are simple and delicious – baked in the oven, then topped with brown sugar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Even better, take the burden off your time and kitchen by coming to our bakery to pick up a fresh pie or two.

Already anticipating Thanksgiving Day? Stay tuned for our Thanksgiving checklist, publishing next month, that will help you simplify holiday shopping and cooking.

For more fun ideas for entertaining, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

Falling in Love with Squash

It’s that time of year when fall and winter squash abounds, and the possibilities are endless. Not only is it a tasty option for cooking and eating, but squash is great for inspiring seasonal creativity.

Visit the produce section of our store for the best fresh varieties. Select squash that is firm and store it in at home in a dry, cool place – but not the refrigerator – and be sure to use it within a month or so.

Squash pairs very well with a roast or grilled steak. Whether you grill it, mash it, or roast it, the slightly sweet flavor of squash makes for a delicious side dish or complement to the main attraction. Try this recipe for roasted acorn squash with honey ginger pork and it could make a regular appearance on your fall or winter dinner menus.

Squash can also play more of a starring role in something like stuffed acorn squash. Let us help you with flavor combinations. Ask our meat clerk to choose the sausage or chicken that will work best for various recipes.

Preparing spaghetti squash is also an easy way to add more vegetables and decrease carbs at the dinner table. Grill some steak to go with your spaghetti squash and you have a delicious dinner for the entire family.

Having trouble convincing your kids to eat squash? There are a few ways to incorporate squash into the menu that will have them coming back for seconds. Well- seasoned butternut squash fries are sure to please younger palates and they are a healthier alternative to the traditional potato counterpart.

Squash can even offer a nutritious dessert. The hubbard squash, rich in vitamin A and iron, is popular for mashing or pureeing. We found a sweet hubbard squash custard pie recipe that promises to rival the tastiest pumpkin pie.

For additional ideas, revisit the recipes we’ve shared before for fall-themed squash and pumpkin dinners.

You can even decorate your house for the season with these versatile gourds. Try painting some pumpkins white or gold for a stylish way to celebrate the season. Wrap and glue some twine to the top of your acorn squash to make it look like acorns. With a little felt and creativity, turning a butternut squash into a moose for your decorations will be quite the conversation piece that’s easy for the kids to help create. Or simply cut the tops off small gourds and mini pumpkins, place some tea lights in them or flowers, and you have a beautiful centerpiece.

Subscribe to our email newsletter for tips and suggestions straight to your inbox.

Ease into Fall

Labor Day is only the unofficial end to summer. The beach vacation is over and the kids are back in school, but you can still take advantage of the beautiful evenings and weekends. There are a few ways to ease into fall without leaving all of summer behind at once.

Plan to continue spending time outside on the deck or patio. When the sun goes down, a heating lamp or fire pit work well for staying warm on chillier nights. Cozy throw blankets are a comfortable choice, too.

For sports fans, this is the time of year when baseball and football seasons collide. You can watch a Red Sox game one day and cheer on the Patriots the next. You could even host a game-day party in your home. Be sure to visit our prepared foods department for all the snacks and appetizers you may want to serve. Why fry your wings when you can grill them and get some outdoor time before kickoff? Check out this simple guide to grilling chicken wings.

Days sunning at the beach and lake are traded in for trips to the apple orchard and mountain hikes. When the foliage starts to pop, you’ll be glad you took the drive to enjoy the New England outdoors. Cape Cod is extra beautiful when the traffic quiets down as visitors head back to school and work. Take a day trip or overnight adventure to walk the beaches and do some shopping in the local shops. There are also fall fairs and festivals, like the ones at Smolak Farms. Check out their calendar of events!

Now is a great time to move from summer to autumn fruits and veggies in your recipes. If you’re looking for some culinary inspiration to get into the spirit of the new season, try some of these delicious dinners we love. How about a wine-marinated pot roast? Let us help you choose just the right cut of beef which, along with a bold red wine sauce highlighting sweet root vegetables, mushrooms and onion. For something sweet, try a spiced pear and cranberry cobbler. Whatever is on your fall menu, remember to check out the fresh marinades and dry rubs we offer.

Want to get tips and guides delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Butcher Boy’s email newsletter.

Low-Stress School Lunches

The start of the school year is invigorating. Motivated by fresh notebooks, new pens, and clean lunch boxes, the first couple of weeks of school are often organized and ambitious. That includes sending the kids to school with creative, nutritious lunches every day.

Inevitably, life’s busy and over-scheduled routine sets in, leaving us without the time or energy to keep up the perfect lunch pace. But hope isn’t lost for the next eight months! We have some tips on how to make school lunches stress-free and delicious for everyone in your family.

Try to take some time on Sunday afternoons or evenings to plan ahead. Package up weekend leftovers into lunch-sized portions that the kids won’t mind eating cold: pasta with pesto, salad with a few extra toppings like cheese and dried cranberries, beef skewers or sausage kebabs, or homemade pizza with veggies.

Hard boil a few extra eggs while making breakfast. It’s a great protein and convenient to grab from the fridge on a busy morning. For snacks, cut up fruit and raw vegetables that can be stored in baggies to throw into lunch boxes. Do your kids like dips? Pack a small container of ranch dressing or hummus to go with the fruits and veggies. Those are delicious with pretzels and crackers, too.

You’ve shopped our specialty meats for grilling and entertaining, but what about our deli? We have a variety of cold cuts, cheeses and breads to choose from so no one will suffer from sandwich boredom. No bread? No problem. Simply roll up slices of roast beef, turkey or ham together with cheese.

We also offer prepared meals, sides, and salads to go. One prep-free option is our precooked, shredded rotisserie chicken that can easily be put into sandwiches and tossed into salads. Put a simple soup into a thermos and add the chicken for extra substance.

Looking for additional inspiration? Check out more of our perfect lunch ideas and recipes. And sign up for our newsletter to get meal tips delivered right to your inbox.

Less Work, More Play for Your Labor Day Weekend Cookout

It’s time to plan for summer’s last hurrah. If you’ll be entertaining friends and family over Labor Day weekend, we have some ideas for making sure your guests are well-fed and entertained.

The Menu

Have you been able to practice our fool-proof tips for perfect steak on the grill? Or maybe you have favorites you’ve cooked already this summer, like those we suggested for the Fourth of July. Visit our store for the best ground beef for your homemade burgers, a variety of quality sausage, and flavorful marinated chicken or beef tips.

Take advantage of late summer veggies such as corn and tomatoes for a fresh salad. Or a twist on traditional antipasto. Both will add color to your outdoor buffet table. Don’t forget to see what produce we offer to inspire other side dish or main course ideas.

The Vibe

Freshen up the backyard landscape with pretty potted flowers or plants.

When the sun goes down, give your summer send-off a bit of creative lighting or put up a few tiki torches. Tiki torches can perform double-duty as mosquito repellent. Other ideas to keep the bugs at bay are citronella candles or essential oils

The Fun

Lawn games are almost always a hit with a crowd. Form teams for corn hole, bocce, or wiffleball. For more laughs, host your own field day events for kids and adults, complete with a three-legged race, an obstacle course, and relays.

If you really want to surprise your guests by thinking outside the game box, try a do-it-yourself version of Twister. Use yard paint to spray red, yellow, green, and blue circles on the grass. Add as many rows as you want so that even more players can join in on the game of physical balance and skill.

For nighttime entertainment, rent or borrow a projector for your own backyard movie. Lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks are all you need for a relaxing “drive-in” experience.

Cheers to the beginning of fall! Watch for more tips and guides inspired by the new season. Want them delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Butcher Boy’s email newsletter.

Back to School – Easy Weeknight Meals for the Whole Family

Back to school means back to busy routines that might make you wish there were more hours in the day. No more leisurely dinners after work or time to even prepare a good meal without watching the clock. But in between the after-school activities, sports, and homework demands, it is possible to enjoy dinner on the run. We’ve got some ideas for meals you can prep ahead of time to make weeknight dinners simple as your family gets back into the school year routine – even if you have to eat it in the car.

1) Buy rotisserie chickens on Sunday and cut it up for the week. Use the meat for sandwiches, toss it into salads, or make quick quesadillas.

2) Roast and sauté enough vegetables to last a few days. At Butcher Boy, we even have chopped veggies to make it easier on you. Mix them into some of that rotisserie chicken, pasta, or use them as side dishes with different main courses.

3) You can also get in your daily servings of vegetables by prepping and portioning some fixings for salads that you can pull out of the fridge for eating at home or packing it to go. We have your favorite lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots and other produce available.

4) If you have time to fire up the grill over the weekend, cook a lot of chicken and beef at once. You’ll have it ready to make several different meals and you can give each one a new taste by using our various marinades. Or grill a London broil large enough for two dinners. Use any leftovers to make tacos, sandwiches, and wraps.

5) The Crock Pot isn’t just for cold weather comfort food. Slow cooking is a great way to prepare a meal ready to eat any time you walk in the door. Serve it in heat resistant containers the kids can take along to practice or lessons, or eat as a family if it’s not too late when the day is done. Try one of our pork roasts or brisket, which you can shred for easy barbeque sandwiches.

6) When you just need a snack, hard boiled eggs are a great protein on the go, and pre-cut fruit or raw veggies can take the edge off until you get home for dinner.

With a bit of planning, you can survive the transition from summer to fall. For the rare night the game is rained out or you just happen to be unscheduled, be sure to visit our wine aisle and pick out a bottle to enjoy at home. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest for more tips and resources you need.

Make No Mis-Steak With Your Grill

We like to share recipes with our customers. It’s fun to try new combinations of flavors or prepare our specialty meats in different ways. But when it comes to grilling steak, a recipe is only a winner if the steak is cooked just the way you — or your guests — like it. If you’re unsure about the general rules for cooking times of various cuts of steak, we’ve put together this helpful Steak Grilling Guide.

Keep in mind that cooking times are based on:

the cut of meat
the thickness of the meat
desired doneness

That’s why you can’t grill different types of steak for the same amount of time and expect the same taste and texture. The guide chart is customized to give you the best results for each cut of steak.

Universal tips for grilling the perfect steak:

Don’t take the steak out of the fridge and throw it directly on the grill. To make sure the meat cooks evenly, let it come to room temperature first.
Oil the grill grates. When it’s time to flip the steak, it will turn easily and not stick.
Be patient and let the steak cook on one side for the full recommended time before turning it. Flipping a steak too often will disrupt the grilling time and dry it out.
Searing a steak creates tremendous flavor. After you get a good crust on steak thicker than an inch, grill it over indirect heat so that it won’t burn before it finishes cooking on the inside.
Don’t be afraid to use a digital thermometer to keep a more accurate eye on your steak.
Always let your steak rest for about five minutes after you take it off the grill and don’t cut into it before.

About those grill marks…

Have you figured out the technique for creating those criss-crossed grill marks on steaks? Place the steak at a 45-degree angle on the grill. Flip it at the same angle. Turn the steak over a second time, rotating it 90 degrees. One last flip for a quick sear at the same angle will give you that familiar diamond pattern.

For more information about cooking all types of beef, check out our Beef Roasting Guide. You can also revisit similar guides for roasting pork, ham and turkey. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

Steak Grilling Guide

FILET MIGNON
Thickness	Rare 110° to 120°	Medium Rare 120° to 130°	Medium 130° to 140°
2″	4 Min Each Side	4.5 Min Each Side	5 Min Each Side

DELMONICO (BONELESS RIBEYE)
Thickness	Rare 110° to 120°	Medium Rare 120° to 130°	Medium 130° to 140°
1 1/2″	3 Min Each Side	3.5 Min Each Side	4 Min Each Side

PORTERHOUSE
Thickness	Rare 110° to 120°	Medium Rare 120° to 130°	Medium 130° to 140°
1 3/4″	6 Min First Side 5 Min Second Side	6.5 Min Each Side	8 Min First Side 7 Min Second Side

CLUB (SIRLOIN STRIP STEAK)
Thickness	Rare 110° to 120°	Medium Rare 120° to 130°	Medium 130° to 140°
1 1/2″	6 Min First Side 4 Min Second Side	6 Min Each Side	7 Min Each Side

Tips

Don’t take the steak out of the fridge and throw it directly on the grill. To make sure the meat cooks evenly, let it come to room temperature first.
Oil the grill grates. When it’s time to flip the steak, it will turn easily and not stick.
Be patient and let the steak cook on one side for the full recommended time before turning it. Flipping a steak too often will disrupt the grilling time and dry it out.
Searing a steak creates tremendous flavor. After you get a good crust on steak thicker than an inch, grill it over indirect heat so that it won’t burn before it finishes cooking on the inside.
Don’t be afraid to use a digital thermometer to keep a more accurate eye on your steak.
Always let your steak rest for about five minutes after you take it off the grill and don’t cut into it before.