🍂 Gather Round! It’s Harvest Feast Season with Chef Kareema!

Hey Foodie Family!

The leaves are falling, the air is crisp—and it’s officially Harvest Feast season! 🍽️ November is a time for coming together, celebrating the bounty of the season, and cooking meals that warm the belly and soul. Whether you're planning a full Thanksgiving dinner or a casual potluck with loved ones, this month is all about flavor, family, and giving thanks.

Let’s set the table and dive in.

🍠 Food Tip: Use What the Season Gives You

November’s harvest brings some of the richest, most comforting ingredients of the year.

🌾 Must-Have Ingredients:
✔ Butternut squash – roast or purée it
✔ Apples – perfect in salads, sides, or desserts
✔ Cranberries – not just for sauce (try a cranberry glaze on meats!)
✔ Sweet potatoes – in everything from soups to pies

Chef Tip: When shopping, look for locally grown produce—it’s fresher, often cheaper, and supports your community.

🥘 Kitchen Tip: Practice Gratitude with a Potluck

Food tastes better when it’s shared. This month, gather your people and plan a potluck-style Harvest Feast.

💡 Try This:
Each guest brings a dish that holds meaning to them—maybe a recipe passed down from Grandma or something they just learned on TikTok. Doesn’t matter—just bring the love.

Chef Kareema’s Signature Twist: Assign a spice or herb to each guest and challenge them to use it in their dish. (You’d be surprised what cinnamon does in a stew!)

🔥 Appliance Spotlight: The Power of Roasting

Your oven is the real star of the Harvest Feast. Roasting brings out deep, rich flavors in both meat and veggies.

💡 Try These Roasting Combos:
✅ Carrots + Maple + Thyme
✅ Chicken thighs + Garlic + Rosemary
✅ Brussels sprouts + Balsamic glaze + Pomegranate seeds

Pro Tip: Don’t overcrowd the pan—roasting is all about that golden edge, not soggy steam.

🔪 Utensil Must-Have: A Carving Knife that Works!

If you’ve ever hacked at a turkey with a dull blade… you know the struggle.

🍗 Invest in a good carving knife and give it a quick sharpen before the big day.
🥩 You’ll get cleaner slices, safer handling, and a presentation that wows.

Bonus: Use it to carve roasts, sweet potatoes, or even that homemade apple pie (because yes, that counts).

🍁 Fun Activity: The Gratitude Jar

Sometimes the simplest traditions make the most impact.

🫙 Place a jar in the kitchen or dining area.
📝 Throughout the week, have everyone jot down one thing they’re thankful for and drop it in.
💬 Read them aloud before or after your big meal—it’s a beautiful way to reflect and reconnect.

📲 Follow me on Instagram @iamchefkareema for fall cooking inspiration, holiday meal hacks, and more behind-the-scenes moments from the kitchen.

💌 Like this newsletter? Forward it to your dinner guests or share the love with someone who makes your table complete.