RDU on the Rise: Election analysis & writer’s Thanksgiving recipes
Hey, everyone! Happy Friday! I’m Colleen Hammond, and I’m a breaking news reporter at the N&O.
Since you last heard from me, I’ve been keeping very busy. Last week I got to spend my first election night in the newsroom! Special thanks to Ethan Hyman for joining me at the watch party for Mary-Ann Baldwin and taking some very sweet candids.
Roundup of post-election news
Vote counts in Arizona and Nevada finished up, making it clear that Democrats will hold onto the Senate.
In North Carolina, voters elected a number of diverse candidates, Will Doran reports.
Will also has a look at the race for N.C.’s Senate seat and how Black voters didn’t seem particularly energized by Cheri Beasley.
For a more local look, check out this week’s episode of Under the Dome, featuring an all women panel discussing local elections, including yours truly and a delightfully honest depiction of the Bo Hines watch party by Korie Dean.
One month after the shooting in Hedingham, NC Insider hosted a community discussion on gun control in the Triangle featuring several experts, moderated by Lars Dolder with a story from Aaron Sanchez-Guerra.
Prep for holiday travel
It’s my first Thanksgiving in the Triangle, and I hear it could be a rainy and cold one. Kimberly Cataudella will fill you in on what the Farmer’s Almanac says about it.
If you’re anything like me and live several hundred miles away from your family, Richard Stradling’s news of a budget friendly airline announcing new nonstop flights out of Raleigh-Durham International is music to your ears.
If flying isn’t your cup of tea, beware of high gas prices wherever you drive.
Before you travel, get your updated and COVID-19 booster and your flu shot. This season’s cold and flu season have been brutal. Getting your vaccines is a lot like voting: It’s not particularly fun, but you should participate as a member of our society. Plus, you can get your flu and COVID booster in the same visit.
Get the kitchen ready
If cooking isn’t exactly your forte or you happen to burn your turkey, Drew Jackson has compiled a list of restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving.
While I am new to the area, every local tells me the Christmas decorations at Angus Barn are worth the visit this season. Counting House in Durham also made Drew’s list. I highly recommend the Ruthie Martini if you stop by.
But before you go anywhere, you’ll want to be sure your chosen eatery has a passing sanitation score. Korie Dean will fill you in.
If going out isn’t exactly in the budget this year, check out Kimberly Cataudella’s guide to affordable Thanksgiving food.
With rising prices, you may be in need of help at this time of year. Kimberly also has everything you need to know about getting food from a food bank this holiday season.
Writer’s recipes
Last time I authored RDU On The Rise, several readers reached out about my cranberry citrus scone recipe. Given that Thanksgiving is less than a week away, I’ve decided to include some of my favorite (and easiest) holiday recipes.
While I do know how to make a lot of the classics, I prefer to bring something less traditional that ends up being the talk of the party.
First, here is my take on a silo cookie. These cranberry and walnut filled sweets are essentially a better version of an oatmeal raisin cookie. I include cinnamon and nutmeg in the recipe to ensure that cozy holiday flavor in every bite. (Click here to enlarge the image.)
Baker’s note: These cookies do a lot of extra baking as they cool, so it’s perfectly normal for them to look underbaked when you take them out of the oven. If you wait for them to fully brown in the oven, I promise you will burn them, and they will be rock hard.
Second, this fall I’ve honed my go-to seasonal boozy punch. With a blend of bourbon, apple cider and homemade simple syrup, this is the perfect way to contribute to a party with pretty minimal effort. I made this for a Halloween party last month, and it was a big hit. (Click here to enlarge the image.)
VIDEO: Turkey 101: How to cook a turkey
A word on gratitude
This year has been an absolute whirlwind for me. I have been lucky enough to achieve some of my most outlandish goals and have an amazing support system cheering me on every step of the way. So this year, I am particularly grateful for my health, my parents’ truly endless support (they drove a moving truck 9 hours from Pittsburgh to Durham and then unloaded it in 103 degree heat!) and the opportunity to pursue my passion in a new city. What are you grateful for?
Join us next week for a post-holiday debrief by Lars Dolder.
Have a great weekend, and a happy Thanksgiving!
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