Let's Talk Turkey!

WHAT! I thought you were taking it out!

Have you ever forgotten to defrost your bird before the big day? Or thought it was completely thawed and it wasn't?

Submerge your turkey (still in the wrapper) in cool/cold water. You can use a cooler, a five gallon, or whatever is handy. Be sure the water covers the entire bird.

Allow approximately 30 minutes per pound :

4 to 12 pounds - 2 to 6 hours
12 to 16 pounds - 6 to 8 hours
16 to 20 pounds - 8 to 10 hours
20 to 24 pounds - 10 to 12 hours

Jazz Up Your Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce doesn't always need to be served in the shape of the can it came out of. Try making festive cranberry minis. They look adorable and taste so much better than a slab of the other stuff.

Take out a muffin tin and place a paper liner in each cup.

Ingredients:

1 can- crushed pineapple in juice

2 packages- raspberry gelatin

1 can- whole cranberry sauce

2/3 cup-chopped walnuts

1 chopped apple

Drain the pineapple, reserving the juice for later use. Add enough water to the juice to equal 2 1/2 cups. Pour into sauce pan and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling, stir in the gelatin until dissolved. Stir in remaining ingredients and spoon into the muffin tin. Allow to cool for 2 1/2 hours or until firm.

Before you serve them, remove the paper liners and you have precious individually sized servings!

Expecting People to Arrive Fashionably Late? Have a Cocktail or Two!

Does Aunt Ethel always arrive late to Thanksgiving dinner? Accommodate for late arrivals by planning a cocktail hour. It will give you and your guests a chance to relax before the big feast! Try our festive cocktail, The Celestial Fizz.

We can't take all the credit for this one. We thank Craig Cooper from Chicago!

Celestial Fizz Cocktail

Combine 1.5 ounces cognac, 1/4 ounce good orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier), and because it's Thanksgiving 1 ounce of 100% pure cranberry juice (not cocktail). Top with champagne and garnish with a cranberry baton.

To make a cranberry baton, simply skewer several fresh cranberries onto long toothpicks or skewers. For a festive baton, alternate white and red cranberries!