Help for the Holiday Cook

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  • Allison Burch
  • November 05, 2010

Can you believe it’s already November? It seems like yesterday, I was frantically running around trying to pull together my son’s Halloween costume. We got it together in the nick of time and he was the cutest 15 month old cowboy in Texas.Now, with the holidays fast approaching, I’m doing all I can to plan ahead so I’m not so frazzled at the last minute. My husband and I really enjoy making a big Thanksgiving meal from scratch. But, with a toddler ruling the roost, I concede that we’ll probably need some help this year. If using bagged stuffing and canned pumpkin pie mix means I’ll be less overwhelmed and more up for enjoying my family, then by golly, bags and cans it will be.Thankfully,  even the packaged products we carry meet all our high quality standards opens in a new tab, including no hydrogenated oils or artificial preservatives. Plus, there are so many organic options and choices for people with special diets. That means I don’t have to concede my good food standards for the sake of convenience.Here are just some helpful products that you might want to have on hand for the holidays:

Earth Balance Natural SpreadsEarth Balance natural buttery spread is free of  trans fats, hydrogenated oils and artificial ingredients. There are several varieties, with vegan and organic options, to suit all your cooking needs, from sautéing to baking: Whipped Buttery Spread, Buttery Sticks, Soy Garden Spread, Shortening, Soy-Free Buttery Spread and Original Buttery Spread.Warm up your ovens and keep up with our Whole Story blog because later this month we’ll be announcing the details of a Whole Foods Market and Earth Balance holiday baking contest. Prizes will include a year’s supply of Earth Balance products and Whole Foods Market gift cards. 
365 Everyday Value® Organic BrothAny great sauce or soup starts with a great base, which is why our organic broths are all made with real veggies and other organic ingredients, and our chicken broth is made with free-range, organic chicken. Available in Chicken, Beef Flavored, Vegetable and Low Sodium Chicken. 
Streit’s Kosher MixesThese handy mixes make it easy to achieve traditional latkes and perfect matzo balls with just the right taste and texture. Choose from Potato Pancake Mix, Matzo Ball Mix, Whole Wheat Matzo Ball Mix, and Matzo Ball and Soup Mix. Since 1925, when Aron Streit opened his first matzoh bakery, Streit’s has been a premiere purveyor of kosher foods. 
Simply Organic Roasted Turkey Gravy MixSimplify your holiday meal! Just mix with water and heat it on the stovetop for a thick, full-flavored gravy made with organic ingredients. Plus, Simply Organic gives back 1% of sales to support organic farming causes. Imagine Organic Gravy

No lumps here. Just rich, thick, organic gravy with a special blend of savory herbs and spices. I am all about the gravy and not just on turkey—I ladle it on my mashed potatoes, stuffing and other side dishes and I’ll even drizzle it on my leftover turkey sandwich the next day. Their gravy comes in Roasted Turkey, Savory Beef or Wild Mushroom flavors. 

Lars Crispy OnionsAdd a delicious, crispy crunch to holiday recipes with these imported, golden brown, crispy onions. Onion is the number one ingredient on the label and nothing artificial is added. Of course, it’s perfect for your Thanksgiving green bean casserole but have you ever tried crispy onions on soups, or on salads or burgers? You should! 
365 Everyday Value® Organic Cranberry SauceThe holiday table wouldn’t be complete without a dish of our bright, cheery cranberry sauce. Made with real organic cranberries and naturally sweetened with organic sugar. No artificial flavors or colors and no high fructose corn syrup. Choose Jellied or Whole Berry. 
365 Everyday Value® Organic Stuffing MixHere’s a convenient stuffing mix with the benefits of organic ingredients and a pleasing texture from the cracked rye and cracked wheat in the bread base. Try the original recipe or with the added twist of cranberries. Farmer’s Market organic fall vegetables

You can enjoy seasonal comfort foods without the prep, peeling and pureeing. These convenient cans are packed with ready-to-use pureed organic pumpkin, sweet potato or butternut squash. The Organic Pumpkin Pie Mix contains just the right blend of organic spices, sweetened with organic evaporated cane juice, for pie filling in an instant. 

365 Everyday Value® Canned PumpkinBursting with intense flavor and loads of beta carotene, the 365 Everyday Value® Canned Pumpkin is a great value and a versatile ingredient for all your holiday cooking needs. Stock up and get creative in the kitchen with freshly baked pumpkin muffins opens in a new taband breads opens in a new tab or even pancakes. 
Field Roast Celebration RoastField Roast has created a delicious vegan stuffed entrée that is perfect for the holidays and at any celebratory meal. This satisfying "grain meat" roast has bold flavor, a pleasing texture and rich aromas. Read more about the "grain meat" story on the Field Roast web site opens in a new tab. Field Roast’s Celebration Roast is seasoned with rubbed sage, garlic and lemon, then wrapped around a savory, sausage-style stuffing made from butternut squash, apples and mushrooms. Each roast is made by hand, wrapped in cotton netting, and simmered to perfection. You simply heat and serve. Slices make a fantastic leftover sandwich, too!What holiday helpers do you like to keep on hand in your kitchen?

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