Fun Stuff - Turkey Trivia

Turkey Trivia

President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving forward one week, as it is celebrated today.

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented the President of the United States with a live turkey and two dressed turkeys in celebration of Thanksgiving.

There is an annual presentation ceremony after which the President pardons the turkey and the turkey retires to Disneyland to live out the rest of its years.

Nearly 88 percent of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation eat turkey at Thanksgiving.

The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds.

Gobble Gobble

Source: The National Turkey Federation

Using Thermometers

Tip of the Day

Kitchen thermometers are invaluable cooking accessories. They take the guess work out of food temperatures. Food thermometers come in a variety of types and styles, and vary in level of technology and price. They range in price from under $10 (US) to expensive (I’ve seen them for just under $200 (US)… obviously the more features…the more expensive they get. Food thermometers can be digital or dial.

Before I go any further….it is important to follow the instructions for your specific food thermometer. Be sure to read instructions on use (most are very basic and easy) and care instructions… that’s extremely important…. you don’t want to ruin your thermometer by cleaning it improperly…. most are not dishwasher safe.

I've used thermometers since I learned to cook… they take the guesswork out of cooking. A meal can be easily ruined by cooking it to the wrong temperature… not to mention certain foods such as meats need to be cooked to certain temperatures to be safe to eat.

It wasn’t until I did some more research for this post did I realize just how far technology has taken us…. there's even a voice alert meat thermometer.... I definitely want to look further into purchasing some new gadgets…. before I get into that… I just want to say… don’t be frightened off by highly technical gadgets… basic tried and true thermometers work well and aren’t expensive… if your budget allows, then expand to ones with nifty features… otherwise stick to the basics.. at least for now.

Purchase a good meat thermometer… I don’t know about you… but I don’t think I ever purchased a roast that had an even weight…. so that leaves the cooking time in question… place the thermometer into a roast and just check on it occasionally…

This basic meat thermometer is by Taylor and can be found at Williams Sonoma... it was listed for $20.00 (US)



Or use a thermometer fork combination that allows you to check the temperature by “stabbing the meat”….. this way you don’t have to guess when the meat reaches the ideal internal temperature....great for grilling.

This thermometer fork is an exclusive at William Sonoma and was priced at $29.99 (US).




One thermometer in particular intrigued me.… the oven cord thermometer. This is the description of it that I found at the Partnership for Safe Food Handling website….”This thermometer allows the cook to check the temperature of food in the oven without opening the oven door. A base unit with a digital screen is attached to a thermistor-type food thermometer probe by a long metal cord. The probe is inserted into the food, and the cord extends from the oven to the base unit. The base can be placed on the counter or attached to the stovetop or oven door by a magnet. The thermometer is programmed for the desired temperature and beeps when it is reached. While it was designed for use in ovens, these thermometers can also be used to check foods cooking on the stove”……. How neat is that???? You can find this one by All Clad at Williams Sonoma for $49.99 (US).

Whatever type you choose…. It will definitely be an asset to your kitchen.
Some thermometers aren’t quite so versatile… but they cost a lot less too. Just make sure you have one that will be good for roasting meat, grilling, deep frying or candy.

I particularly like the fork style for grilling… its dual purpose and takes the guess work out of grilling… and eliminates the need to cut into the meat to be sure it’s done.

I also like this type of oil and candy thermometer because it easily attaches to the side of the pot. It's by Taylor and can be at William Sonoma for $20.00 (US).






And in case your wondering if I get something for talking about William Sonoma... the answer is no.... I truly like their products... both their exclusives and the brands they carry... I just went to their site and got the information. I'd recommend you check around and see what else is out there... but as you can see thermometers are affordable.... and well worth the investment.

Okay...just one more... this one is very neat... this infrared thermometer registers the surgace temperature of grills, waffle irons, griddles, skillets and pizza stones in half a second. It literally takes hte guesswork out of predicting the right time to set down food for cooking. You can be cooking like a pro in no time!...I found it at Chef's Catalogue on their website and sells for $49.99 (US).



PLEASE NOTE: these prices were as of today and I'm sure they will change at some point... I'm not responsible for any errors... you need to go to these sites and check them out yourself...yada yada yada... I only gave prices to give you an idea of what to expect.

You can find additional useful information about safe food handling and the types of thermometers at a great website…. The Partnership for Safe Food Handling…. http://www.fightbac.org

Pictures of the thermometers are from the Williams Sonoma website.. you can purchase these and other thermometers there.

Measuring Pasta

Tip of the Day:

When making parties… large or small… it’s always a challenge to decide just how much food to prepare. You don’t want to be in a position where you don’t have enough but you also don’t want tons of food left.

If you are preparing pasta, a great source for helping you decide on how much pasta you want to make is the Barilla website… go to their site and click on Recipes and Cooking…then on Pasta 101… then Measuring Pasta.

They have a terrific chart that lists all the kinds of pasta and what the .... the dry amount and the yield amount after cooking. It gives you a better idea of how much a package of pasta will make…. It’s very useful in deciding how much to figure you want to make per person.

Commentary: Pasta Dishes

You have decided one of your entrees will be a pasta dish…. Now the question is what will it be. There are a number of options that work well.

Baked Rigatoni with Bechamel Sauce offers a really nice creamy balance from something like Baked Ziti. It also can be prepped ahead and baked while the party is starting… while it is baked at a higher temperature than Baked Ziti… the nice thing about tomato sauce based casseroles… you can up the temperature… you will just have to keep an eye on it and make sure the the cheese on top of the Ziti doesn’t burn… you will probably need to tent a piece of foil over it.

The Baked Rigatoni with Bechamel Sauce recipe that I will post is from the Food Network…it’s fairly plain… but absolutely delicious….other than the cheesy cream sauce it contains only prosciutto.

Another recipe from the Food Network that I will post is Pasta with Creamy-Mushroom- Pea Sauce… while not baked… you can still really prepare this mostly ahead. The pasta can be boiled ahead and then just re-heated… the sauce can be made ahead up until the cream is added. This is a recipe I would definitely consider making for a party.

You can make your own pasta and creamy sauce combinations. I will discuss ways you can create your own pasta dishes in another post.

If you want to cut corners on the cooking… or maybe you aren’t the best at making cream sauces….you could use the “Four Cheese” blend of Knorr sauce. I really like to make my own sauces but I do also use their sauce packets. They are fool-proof and easy and offer a major time-saving alternative… I don’t think you compromise too much in taste… I always top the dishes with freshly grated Parmigianno Reggiano… make the sauce in a sauce pan before your company arrives… and re-heat before serving…no one will be the wiser.

Commentary: So Just What Are Grits?

This blog is frequently read by people from all over the United States and the world… as far away as Australia… so in case you don’t know what grits are…. Here you go… here’s the definition according to Wikipedia:

“Grits is a Native American corn-based food common in the Southern United States, consisting of coarsely ground corn. It was traditionally served during war.
Grits are similar to other thick maize-based porridges from around the world such as polenta. It also has a resemblance to farina thinner porridge.”

There are some called instant grits. You can find instant grits on most shelves at the supermarket, but they really don’t do justice to the actual grits of the south. They come in little packets that are emptied in a bowl, water added and microwaved. They are not the grits of choice to a true southerner. As the memorable quote from a character in the movie “My Cousin Vinny” says: “No self respectin' Southerner uses instant grits. I take pride in my grits.”.

The ones I would recommend you use are called “Quick Cooking Grits by Quaker Oats”. If you can’t find them in a store near you… you can order them online from the Quaker Oats Online Store and have them shipped to you.

While I was putting together a list of various breakfast/brunch buffet foods.. I decided early on to include grits. Living in the south, I have come to learn that this is a southern staple. Every southern household has their signature grits recipe…. and they’re not only eaten for breakfast… they're part of main meals as well.

I love grits… I always have. I remember going to Florida on one of the many road trips from my childhood and waiting until about Virginia where we would stop at places like Shoney’s and have grits with breakfast. Back then it was rare, if you could at all, find grits in the north. Nowadays, grits can be found all over…. but if you can’t find them… you can order them.