Budget:
First check your budget....are you on track? If not, adjust now!
One week to Thanksgiving and you are probably hosting, visiting or meeting your friends and family (restaurant) for T-day. If it's your turn to host you may have several questions regarding the preparation of the turkey. Some quick questions answered below and an informative article can give you more details.
Vegan Thanksgiving/Vegetarian Thanksgiving:
If you are having a vegan or vegetarian meal then skip this section and send us some of your "Great Thanksgiving Vegetarian/Vegan recipes"! I know our readers would love to have them!
Below are short answers to the Thanksgiving Turkey FUNdamentals you may need to assure you have a fantastic Thanksgiving meal. Read the entire article for additional information. See article: USDA Turkey Fundamentals by Pat Moriarty, R.D. Registered Dietitian.
"Believe it or not, taking care of "Tom" isn't that tough. Just follow our "Turkey FUNdamentals" and your bird will turn out fine without a lot of toil and trouble. The experts at USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline say that each November, both novice and experienced cooks have the same basic questions on preparing a turkey." Here are the answers.
How Big a Turkey Should I Buy?
You'll need about one pound per person, or a pound and a half per person if you have hearty eaters or want ample leftovers.
When Should I Buy the Turkey?
While the quality and taste of frozen and fresh turkeys are quite similar, the keeping time is not. A frozen turkey can be purchased months in advance, but a fresh bird should be bought only 1 to 2 days ahead.
What Kind of Turkey Should I Buy?
There are basically two types of raw birds to choose from--a prebasted bird (typical ingredients include vegetable oil, broth, spices) or an unbasted bird to which nothing has been added. Is a "Tom Better than a Hen"? Age, not gender, is the determining factor for tenderness. All turkeys in the market are usually 4-6 months old. A hen generally weighs less than 16 pounds and a Tom is usually over 16 pounds. A fresh Organic Turkey is a great option too!
How Long Will It Take to Defrost a Turkey?
It's best to defrost your turkey in the refrigerator. The rule of thumb is a minimum of 24 hours of defrost time for every 5 pounds of turkey. Thus it can take 4-5 days to defrost a 20 pound turkey. A completely thawed bird will last for an additional 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator once defrosted.
How Long Should It Roast?
Roughly 15-18 minutes per pound for an unstuffed bird, and 18-24 minutes per pound for a stuffed bird. Have your oven preheated to 325F. USDA HIGHLY RECOMMENDS THE USE OF A MEAT THERMOMETER TO DETERMINE DONENESS.
What Do I Do if the Turkey's Not Done on Time?
About the only thing you can do is keep cooking! You can turn the oven up slightly, or cover the bird tightly with a lid...
Can You Roast the Turkey the Day Before?
Yes. In fact, more and more people are taking this route. However, for safety reasons, the cooked bird must be deboned before being refrigerated.
Additional Questions?
For additional questions on cooking your holiday bird, call USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline. Call 1-800-535-4455. Washington, D.C. area residents call 202-720-3333.
I hope these Turkey Tips Help!
Holiday Cleanup!
This week should be devoted to changing bed linens, with extra attention to bathrooms. The rest of your house gets a 15-20 minute cleanup.
Thanksgiving Day: Be sure and clean your counters and cooking dishes as you go. Taking the time to wash and put your dishes away while you are preparing the meal will help to give you more time with friends and family and less time in the kitchen. Our Brightly Green Dishwash is perfect for quick cleanups. Just squirt a little in your sink and soak your dishes for a couple of minutes...your dishes will sparkle and be squeaky clean. Makes Thanksgiving Day clean up easy!
Thanksgiving Decorations:
Refer to your HG Labs Holiday Planning Notebook for your Thanksgiving table decorations and any special recipes you want to use. Making meal plans and purchases ahead of time will help you not be too overwhelmed.
Continue to share some of your great recipes. We may put together an HG Labs Favorite Holiday Recipe Book!
This Saturday look at our blog for some holiday recipes and tips that you, our readers, have suggested!! Keep sending us your recipes, holiday tips and traditions! We love them!!!
Brightly Green Thanksgiving Shopping Specials: 10% Off everything in the Brightly Green store, Free Shipping and a special Thanksgiving gift just for your Home Sweet Home. Hurry...Ends 11/26/11!!!!!!!
Next Week: Christmas Planning Countdown! (4 weeks to go)
Remember to send us your favorite Holiday recipe!
Please Leave a comment and a link to your Blog and or website!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave your comment!
Please, don't be shy...thoughtful comments, questions, new information and relevant links are always welcomed and appreciated. Please share your info here. Your URL from your website and Blog is welcome!