From ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s acquittal to protests over Eric Garner’s chokehold death verdict and the launch of NASA’s unmanned exploration spacecraft Orion to the White House’s Christmas decorations, TIME presents the best pictures of the week.
Why Did Meryl Streep Borrow Gwyneth Paltrow’s Oven on Thanksgiving Day?
Streep had a “Thanksgiving disaster”
+ READ ARTICLENext time you find yourself faced with some kind of holiday cooking snafu, just remind yourself: Even Meryl Streep has these moments. The difference between us and Streep? We don’t get to ask our neighbor Gwyneth Paltrow to help bail us out.
Streep appeared on Live with Kelly and Michael Wednesday morning to promote her upcoming film Into the Woods, and shared a peek at how a certain conscious uncoupler had her back on Thanksgiving Day.
Streep, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Nov. 24, had a “Thanksgiving disaster,” she tells host Kelly Ripa. “My oven didn’t work. I hate my oven, I hate it, and you never hate your oven more than on Thanksgiving day when it won’t cook the turkey.”
Streep goes on to explain that they “cooked it for about eleven hours on low heat” and that the white meat was done, but the rest had to be tossed. “But my brother was in charge of the cooking so I could blame it on him,” she adds. Of course, there was still a problem: How to prepare the sides, and that’s where Paltrow came in.
“In my building is Gwyneth Paltrow. She has the best oven I have ever seen in my life,” Streep says. “So I emailed her, and they weren’t there, so I went over and I did all the sides in her oven, and my brother was in charge of the turkey that would not cook.”
Streep says that “The sides were fantastic,” and when Ripa asks if she “walked through” the rest of the GOOP founder‘s home, her answer was no. “I didn’t. I brought one of my daughters, who was dying to. They had to draw lots for who went with me. It’s a beautiful, beautiful place.”
And in case you wondering, Streep doesn’t have a spare key to Paltrow’s place. “The doorman let us in,” she explains.
Pope Francis Begins Turkey Visit
The 77-year-old will become only the fourth Pontiff to visit the Muslim-majority nation
Pope Francis begins a three-day visit to Turkey on Friday, during which he is due to discuss threats to Christian communities in the Middle East with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
After meeting Erdogan, the 77-year-old Argentine will travel to Istanbul over the weekend. He claims to want to forge a closer relationship between the Catholic Church and the Muslim world, reports Al Jazeera.
Turkey boasts only around 80,000 Christians compared to 75 million Muslims. The nation has hit the headlines in recent months as a launching point for jihadists wanting to join the sectarian slaughter wreaked by groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS.)
A radical Sunni cult, ISIS has vowed to exterminate both the region’s Shia Muslims and Christian sects such as the Yazidis.
9 Food Blogger-Approved Thanksgiving Leftover Hacks
When you're tired of turkey sandwiches -- and you know you will be -- we've got you covered with tasty alternative ways to use your Thanksgiving leftovers.
Still got pounds of turkey leftover from your Thanksgiving feast? Or a whole bowl of cranberry sauce? Don’t let your extras go to waste. This year, instead of trying to eat ten turkey sandwiches the weekend after, give one of these nine dishes, all crafted and tested by top food bloggers to use up their own Turkey Day food, a try.
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Thanksgiving Croquettes
Thanksgiving Croquettes TheRusticPlate Recycle several of your Turkey Day dishes with this croquette recipe by Serena Cosmo of the cooking blog, Rustic Plate. These small pan-toasted rolls are made from your leftover mashed potatoes and roasted turkey, and feature — surprise! — an oozy center of cranberry sauce and cream cheese.
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Turkey Gumbo
Work your baggies of take-home turkey into this light and mild version of gumbo created by the Steamy Kitchen food blog. The tomatoes, okra, and Polish sausage in this dish will serve as a nice reprieve from the typical Thanksgiving flavors.
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Spicy Turkey Cranberry Pretzel-Wiches
Spicy Turkey Cranberry Pretzel-Wiches We all make sandwiches from our leftover turkey, but why not try a more adventurous take on the Black Friday classic? This recipe by $5 Dinners uses up leftover cranberry sauce as well as turkey, and requires only two other ingredients.
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Halal Cart Style Turkey and Rice
If you’ve visited Manhattan, you’ve seen the food carts on the street selling Halal-style chicken and rice prepared right there on the cart. But you don’t need to be in New York to get the same taste. The Steamy Kitchen food blog has created a clever hack recipe you can do at home using your leftover turkey.
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Trashed Up Barbecue Turkey Pizza
Trashed Up Barbecue Turkey Pizza foodiewithfamily By the second or third day of leftovers, you’ll probably be dreaming of ordering pizza just for the sake of change. But you can get all that melted cheesy goodness and still make use of those pounds of turkey. This free-style recipe from the blog Foodie with Family calls for all the pizza classics like crispy crust and multiple cheese varieties but “trashes” it up with BBQ sauce, olives, onions, cilantro, and cubes of avocado.
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Sweet Potato Pancakes With Cranberry Maple Syrup
Still got mounds of mashed sweet potatoes? Too many spoonfuls of cranberry sauce? Try this recipe by Erin Chase of the cooking blog $5 Dinners for a sweet and easy breakfast-take on Thanksgiving flavors.
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Turkey Pho
Turkey Pho foodiewithfamily Leave behind the classic flavors of Thanksgiving and work your leftover turkey into a warm, spicy Vietnamese noodle soup with this recipe by food blog Foodie with Family. Add a couple of jalapeno slices, sriracha, and hoisin sauce to the bowl and you’ll barely realize you’re still eating turkey all these days later.
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Golden Raisin-Apple Stuffing Cups
Reinvent your leftover stuffing by turning it into bite-size morsels with any extra pie crust you may have from baking pumpkin or apple pies for the holiday. For advice on how to form your flaky pie cups — or ideas for jazzing up your stand-by stuffing recipe with a few extra ingredients — see $5 Dinner‘s recipe.
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Pumpkin, Sage, & Crème Fraîche Pappardelle
Here’s one that was definitely not served at the first Thanksgiving feast: Try turning your leftover pumpkin puree or even sweet potato casserole into a creamy pasta sauce with this recipe from the food blog Two Red Bowls. If you’re feeling especially ambitious, the recipe includes guidance on making your own noodles.
Morning Must Reads: November 27
As most of the U.S. prepares to celebrate Thanksgiving, spare a thought for more than 200,000 American families who were facing the holiday without electricity after heavy snow felled power lines from West Virginia to Vermont early Thursday
Is Turkey Actually Good for You?
Do the nutritional perks of turkey deserve to be at the center of your Thanksgiving feast? Our weekly poll of five experts answer the questions that gnaw at you
Ferguson Rallies Across the U.S.
Demonstrators across the U.S. took to the streets in protest against a grand jury’s decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson
TIME for Thanks: Public Figures Count Their Blessings
Thanksgiving is a time when families across the country gather around their dining room tables and reflect on life’s many blessings—not least of these being the blessing of family itself. This year, TIME asked public figures to reflect on what they’re thankful for
How Parkinson’s Disease Changed One Family
“Taking Care” is a series intimately covering the lives of caregivers and the people they care for. Photographer Abby Kraftowitz, who has been documenting one family since 2012, offers a deep look into those affected by the disease
Cricket Star Phillip Hughes Dies
Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes has died at Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital. The 25-year-old was hospitalized in critical condition after he was hit on the head by a ball while batting during an important domestic tournament on Tuesday
8 Gadgets to Help You Survive Thanksgiving
Let’s be honest: Even if we love grandpa, we’ve heard the same story every year since 2003. So we’ve put together a Thanksgiving survival guide: eight gadgets for putting up with eight troublesome family members
Ebola Cases in Sierra Leone Will ‘Soon Eclipse’ Liberia
Sierra Leone will “soon” dethrone Liberia as the hardest-hit country in West Africa’s Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization cautioned Wednesday. Nearly one-fifth of its total cases were reported in a three-week period that ended Sunday
Amazon Slashes Kindle Prices for Black Friday
Amazon’s $79 Kindle e-reader will be on sale for $49, and the company’s Kindle Fire tablets are also dramatically cheaper, with the Fire HD 6 going for a mere $79 (vs. its usual $99 price tag) and the Fire HD 7 on sale for $109 (vs. $139)
Cleveland Officer Shot 12-Year-Old Within Seconds on Scene
The Cleveland officer who fatally shot Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy, on Saturday was a rookie cop who fired his gun within moments of arriving on the scene, according to surveillance video and police statements released Wednesday
Avatar Sequels Will Be ‘Bitchin” Cameron Says
James Cameron has divided Avatar sequel scripts to a team that includes Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silva, Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno. “I can tell you one thing,” Cameron told Empire magazine, “they’re gonna be bitchin'”
Labor Group Plans Strike of Walmart Stores on Black Friday
Employees at Walmart stores in at least six states and Washington, D.C., plan to strike on one of the busiest shopping days of the year to protest workers’ wages and hours. For the third year in a row, OUR Walmart is organizing a massive strike on Black Friday
Watch President Obama Pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey
Gobble gobble
+ READ ARTICLEU.S. President Barack Obama pardoned this year’s Thanksgiving turkey Wednesday to continue a White House tradition that goes back 67 years.
“It is a little puzzling that I do this every year, but I will say that I enjoy it because with all the tough stuff that swirls around in this office it’s nice once in a while just to say, ‘Happy Thanksgiving,'” said Obama.
The 50-lb. turkey named Cheese was voted to escape the knife this year by the public on Twitter.
Cheese, and his alternate Mac, were raised by the National Turkey Federation.
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4 Surprising Ways to Use Turkey Leftovers
From curry soup to delicious Reuben hash, F&W's Kay Chun offers up four great ways to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey
Turkey Curry Soup
This quick stew is rich and fragrant with curry, lime and herbs. It’s an excellent way to use leftover turkey.
In a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons canola oil. Add 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste and 4 cups kabocha squash (1 1/2-inch pieces) and cook over high heat, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce and 4 cups of water; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until the squash is tender. Stir in 3 cups shredded roast turkey, 3 tablespoons lime juice and 1/2 cup chopped mixed cilantro and basil; season with salt and pepper.
Turkey Tonnato
Leftover turkey gets totally transformed when it’s topped with a creamy sauce made with yogurt, herbs and tuna.
In a food processor, combine one 6 1/2-ounce can drained tuna, 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas and 1/4 cup plain yogurt. With the machine on, drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil. Transfer to a bowl; stir in 1/4 cup chopped capers and 1/2 cup chopped mixed tarragon, dill and chives; season with salt and pepper. Serve with roast turkey breast.
Turkey Reuben Hash
In this 25-minute hash, leftover turkey is combined with potatoes, sauerkraut and caraway for a fun play on a Reuben sandwich.
In a cast-iron skillet, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add 1/2 small chopped onion and 1 coarsely grated peeled baking potato and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, for 8 minutes. Add 1 cup drained sauerkraut, 2 cups shredded roast turkey, 2 chopped scallions and 1/8 teaspoon caraway seeds. Cook until golden, 3 minutes.
Turkey-Stuffing Salad
This fresh, fun salad is a play on traditional Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing, combining turkey and croutons with celery, apple, fennel and parsley.
In a bowl, whisk 1 tablespoon each of Dijon mustard and lemon juice with 1/2 cup olive oil. Add 3 cups chopped roast turkey, 3 sliced celery ribs,1 sliced fennel bulb, 1 chopped crisp apple and 1 cup parsley. Season with salt and pepper; toss. Top with croutons.
This article originally appeared on Food & Wine.
More from Food & Wine:
5 Things You Didn’t Know About the History of Thanksgiving
Some tidbits about the holiday you can use to impress everyone around the Thanksgiving dinner table
+ READ ARTICLEIf not for some fortunate circumstances, Thanksgiving could have been a holiday of fasting — rather than feasting — every fourth Thursday of November. And though it’s a well-cherished occasion today, it was met with some disapproval in past centuries.
In the video above, we present you with a few facts about the history of Thanksgiving that just might give you a few more things to be thankful for this season.
Is Turkey Actually Good for You?
Gobble, gobble?
Welcome to Should I Eat This?—our weekly poll of five experts who answer nutrition questions that gnaw at you.
4/5 experts say yes.
As if you needed our blessing—but for the most part, experts say you can feel good about your Thanksgiving main dish. All of the bird lovers applauded turkey’s lean, filling protein. It packs the entire spectrum of B vitamins, in addition to selenium and potassium.
Two experts recommended skipping the skin, if you’re watching calories. Skin adds 35 calories to a typical 3.5-ounce serving, says Harriette R. Mogul, MD, MPH, associate professor of clinical medicine at New York Medical College. And sans skin, turkey’s low in saturated fat, says Kylene Bogden, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic.
Don’t fall for the tryptophan myth, either. Tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes sleepy-time serotonin, is no more abundant in turkey than in many other meats. “In truth, it’s those carbohydrate-laden trimmings, not the turkey, that promote that all too familiar post-prandial sleepiness on Thanksgiving Day,” Mogul says. Because it’s so rich in protein, turkey stabilizes insulin levels after a meal and actually diminishes sleepiness, she says.
But serving a turkey isn’t all wishbones and three-cornered hats. “Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful and to enjoy the company of loved ones, and we can do that without killing an animal,” says Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, an animal rescue organization (and past subject of TIME’s 10 Questions). “In addition to all of the delicious traditional Thanksgiving dishes that are naturally plant-based, there are countless plant-based turkey alternatives widely available on the market today that make it easy to skip the dead bird.” Instead, Farm Sanctuary urges you to Adopt a Turkey for $30—color photo and “fun details about your new friend” included. Sponsor a whole flock for $210—the perfect holiday gift.
If you’re committed to eating the bird, however, choose wisely, says Stacia Clinton, RD, regional director of Health Care Without Harm. “Turkeys raised conventionally are routinely given antibiotics,” she says, in order to prevent the spread of turkey illness in crowded conditions. “This is causing the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria that threaten our health by reaching us through air, water, and contaminating the meat we purchase,” she says. This year, Health Care Without Harm asked clinicians to pledge to buy drug-free turkeys from local farms that don’t use antibiotics in feed or water.
Cage-free, vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free turkeys are a must, agrees Theo Weening, global meat buyer for Whole Foods Market. But please, for the sake of flavor, make sure yours is truly fresh, too, he says—it cooks faster and tastes better. “It’s a little known fact that when you buy a ‘fresh’ turkey from many conventional grocers, it can actually be from birds that have been harvested 9 months or more before Thanksgiving,” he says. “Before taking home your turkey, ask your butcher when it was harvested and where it came from.”’
Now that’s talking turkey.
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The Staggering Cost of a Hipster Thanksgiving — and Other Pricey Alternatives to the Classic Feast
The average Thanksgiving dinner for a party of 10 costs about $50. But who wants a holiday meal that's merely average?
The traditional Thanksgiving dinner feast can be very affordable. On a per-person basis, the average meal easily costs less than bringing the crew to a fast food joint for supper.
But the total price of your Thanksgiving spread can vary by hundreds depending on where you shop, what you’re buying, and the overall quality and prestige of the meat, sides, and dessert, as well as how much time and effort you’re willing to devote to preparing your feast.
To give you an idea of what some different Thanksgiving dining styles will cost you, we’ve rounded up some sample pricing for groups with varying tastes and budgets–including some options for those who don’t want to cook at all.
The Average American
For a classic Thanksgiving dinner, plus leftovers, the American Farm Bureau Federation estimates you’ll spend $49.41 this year to feed a party of 10, including a 16-pound turkey plus bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberries, peas, rolls with butter, carrots and celery, pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream, and coffee and milk. Even though the wholesale price of turkey has soared for supermarkets this year, widespread price promotions have kept overall costs down for consumers, and the bureau’s estimated total for Thanksgiving dinner is only 37¢ higher than last year. That averages out to under $5 per person, which is still quite a deal.
What’s more, there are easy ways to cut costs even lower. If you were to take advantage of coupons, sales, and supermarket promotion, you could spend a lot less and still provide a feast. Wal-Mart estimates that you could buy the same menu for just $32.64 by shopping at its stores.
The Hipster
If you were to upgrade that conventional turkey to an organic, free-range one, the price jumps from $21.65 to well over $100 at specialty shops. A 16-pound turkey from Fleisher’s Pasture Raised Meats in New York City rings in at $127.84, or $7.99 a pound vs. the roughly $1.35 per pound for a supermarket bird. Add in organic, locally-sourced vegetables and dairy for your meal, and the costs for sides rise at least $15 over the Farm Bureau’s projection, according to our estimates. Altogether, a healthy, hipster-approved, fully organic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost in the neighborhood of $170.
The Vegan
For a vegan thanksgiving, the “turkey” costs would be similar to that for an organic free-range bird. The soy-based Gardein Stuffed Holiday Roast, picked by Slate as the tastiest of the the faux turkey bunch, costs about $8 a pound. The costs for vegan side dishes and desserts would only be about $5 more than those of the Farm Bureau’s classic menu. Combine the price for 16 pounds of faux turkey and all the trimmings and dessert, and a 10-person vegan Thanksgiving dinner costs about $155.
The 1%
Upgrading to a purebred heritage turkey–which are leaner than standard supermarket birds, take twice as long to reach market weight, and have lineage that can be traced back to the 1800s–will cost upwards of $10 per pound for the meat portion of the meal. Factor that in, along with similarly upgraded sides and desserts, and Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will easily run $250 or more.
The Lazy Non-Cook
Not into cooking at all? Prepared meals save you hassle and time, but you’ll pay for it in more ways than simply losing out on the quality of home cooking. A prepared meal for 12 people from Boston Market, which includes an 11-pound turkey, spinach artichoke dip appetizer, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish, vegetable stuffing, dinner rolls and two pies, rings in at $99.99. That’s roughly double the Farm Bureau’s estimate for a home-cooked meal–but perhaps it’s money well spent if you’re hopeless in the kitchen or simply don’t have the time.
Supermarkets will happily do the cooking for you as well, for a price. A meal prepared by Whole Foods Market for 12 people, including a fully cooked 14- to 16-pound standard turkey, stuffing, cranberry orange relish, mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy, costs $200. An organic cooked turkey will add an extra $50, more or less, pushing the total up to $250 or more.
