Special Holiday Feature: Trenice's Tasty Tips

Turkey Safety Tips

TIP# 1 
By now, I pray that you all have placed your turkeys in the fridge for thawing, if NOT, STOP and do so ASAP. If you haven’t done so, PLEASE don’t place it on top of your counter to thaw. Your TURKEY will be susceptible to all types of bacteria. Trust me you don’t want your guests to be awakened up out of their sleep in the middle of the night with horrific stomach cramps, because YOUR turkey was improperly thawed. My suggestion to you is to leave that frozen turkey in the freezer for CHRISTMAS and buy a thawed or partial thawed turkey. BUT if you want to be HARD HEADED and most of you WILL, place that turkey, with its wrapping still on, in a CLEAN sterilized SINK, run COLD water over it and let sit for about 4 - 5 hours, insuring that water remains cool, then stick it back in your fridge. That will get it partially thawed and it will continue to thaw HOPEFULLY safely in your fridge. So GOOD LUCK!

TIP#2
Here’s the PART EVERYONE needs to pay CLOSE ATTENTION to because again, you don’t want to get sick behind THANKSGIVING DINNER. Please try your BEST to time your TURKEY to be done along with your sides. Please don’t get up and cook your turkey at 8:00am and by 12:00pm it’s cooked, and NOT one side dish is done. Once your turkey is cooked, let it rest for about 15 – 30 min, if your sides are not completed and dinner is still some hours away, place your turkey in a cool area or in the fridge. You can reheat, it will not dry your turkey out if you reheat with a lid or foil over the top, BUT DO NOT let your TURKEY sit out, AGAIN it will be susceptible to bacteria that ONLY like to show themselves in the wee hours of the morning, LOL. 

TIP#3
Look, the bottom line is this, maybe you haven’t gotten sick, BUT just because you haven’t does not mean that your guests won’t, especially the younger kids and older adults/senior citizens. Your hot side dishes should be HOT, and your COLD side dishes should be cool. Hope everyone has a blessed, YUMMY Thanksgiving!

Special Holiday Feature- Trenice's Tasty Tips!!

I am so pleased to introduce my very special sister Trenice, who will be a feature over the next few days to share some priceless tips to make your holiday meal extra special. 

First stop...

Mac and Cheese

TIP 1#: When boiling your Pasta for your Mac and Cheese, do NOT follow the instruction on the back of the Pasta Box. If you do, you WILL have mushy PASTA in your Mac and Cheese. If the BOX says cook for 8 - 10 Minutes, only cook for 4 - 5 Minutes. REMEMBER your Pasta will continue to cook once you add ALL your ingredients together and bake in the oven.

TIP 2#: Velveeta Cheese sodium is OUT the DOOR, and it changes the texture of your Mac and Cheese, puts you in mind of Stove Top Mac and Cheese. STAY AWAY from the Velveeta, especially if you or your guest have Blood Pressure issues. Colby, Jack, Cheddar (sharp and mild), American (NOT the SLICES!!!)

TIP 3#: If you USE evaporated milk, use either half and half, heavy cream, or milk along with the evaporated milk. Just using evaporated milk alone will leave your Mac and Cheese somewhat dry and dense.

Tommorrow come back for Turkey Tips! (hygiene, preparation, thawing) 

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPER ALERT!

And the deals keep rolling in:

Cabela's Outdoor Store
Lowe's
JCPenney's See the actual circular here
Kmart
Walgreens
Staples
Best Buy - This page takes a while to load and you have to scroll to the middle of the screen for the ad circular.
Sam's Club - This page takes a while to load and you have to scroll to the middle of the screen for the ad circular.

Sweet Potato Cake!

3 C Grated raw sweet potatoes (about 2 medium sized)

4 Eggs

2 C Sugar

1 C Vegetable oil

1 tbsp Bourbon

2 1/4 C Flour

2 tsp Cinnamon

2 tsp Baking soda

1 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Nutmeg

1 C Chopped walnuts (optional)

For the frosting

1 C (2 sticks) Unsalted butter at room temperature

2 (8 oz) Packages cream cheese at room temperature

1 lb (approximately 4-4.5 cups) Confectionary sugar

1-2 tbsp Bourbon

1 tbsp Heavy whipping cream

1 tsp Vanilla extract

1/2 C Caramel sauce

1 C Walnuts, chopped

Instructions

1. Peel sweet potatoes. Use a grater to shred the sweet potatoes into a bowl. When finished, use your hands to squeeze out excess juice from sweet potatoes. Pour out excess juice. Re-fluff sweet potatoes with your hands.
2. Preheat oven to 350° and grease and flour two 8” pans. If you choose to use a different size pan, you will need to adjust the baking time accordingly. This can easily be made in a 9” pan as well as a Bundt pan.
3. Lightly beat eggs with a fork. Add sugar and beat on low speed until smooth. Add oil and bourbon. Continue to beat on low speed until well mixed.
4. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; mix together. Slowly add flour mixture to wet ingredients and beat until incorporated.
5. Fold in walnuts.
6. Pour batter in greased baking pans. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Use a toothpick or knife to check the center of the cake. If your toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. Allow cake to cool completely.
7. Prepare the frosting by allowing the butter and cream cheese to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. Combine butter and cream cheese in a mixer. Beat on a medium high speed until its light and fluffy.
8. Slowly add powdered sugar one cup at a time, until each cup is incorporated. As the frosting thickens, add bourbon, one tablespoon at a time. Reserve the second table spoon if you prefer a stronger taste.
9. Add heavy whipping cream and vanilla last. Incorporate into frosting and then increase speed to medium high and beat for additional 2-3minutes to whip air into the frosting.
10. Refrigerate the frosting for at least 30-60 minutes while cake cools.
11. To prepare the cake, use a cake leveler or knife to cut the dome off the cake, leaving a flat top on both cakes.
12. Apply a crumb coat the cake (a thin layer of frosting) and put in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. Remove from freezer and add remaining frosting. Keep refrigerated.
13. Before serving, use your hands to apply walnuts to the sides of the cake. Drizzle the caramel over the top of the cake and gently spread to the edges with an offset spatula.
    

Thankful Crafts

These are from the Make and Take blog website. Enjoy! 

The wee crafters:

1. Handprint Tree of Gratitude:: The House of Hendrix

Love the use of Alpha-Bits cereal for adding words of gratitude to these cute trees.

2. Clothespin Wreath :: Chica and Jo

This would be fun to set-out at your family Thanksgiving gathering so everyone can add to the wreath.

3. Giving Thanks Paper Quilt :: Let’s Explore

This is one of my family’s projects that we made when my girls were 6 and 8. I still love putting it on display every fall!

4. Grateful Turkey Table Toppers :: Creating Couture Parties

You will have the most-adorable centerpieces at Thanksgiving dinner with these pinecone and handprint turkeys.

5. Thankful Jar and Printable :: Mama Miss

An adorable gratitude jar is easy to set-up with this free printable!

For the big crafters:

6. Origami Ninja Star Thankful Ornaments :: One Dog Woof

Such a cute idea – fold and write on these origami stars all month long, then hang them on your Christmas tree, too!

7. Chalkboard Gratitude Rocks :: Junk Market Style

I would love to have a basket of these on my kitchen table for jotting down words of gratitude all month long.

8. Paper Bag Gratitude Journal :: Confessions of an Over-Worked Mom

Encourage your kids to jot down their thoughts with an adorable journal made from paper lunch bags.

9. 30-Day Gratitude Photo Challenge :: Positively Present

Use this list as is, or as inspiration for your own list of 30 things to be grateful for. Take your daily photos, then turn them into a photo album or collage. I know my girls would LOVE doing this!

10. Thankful Pumpkins :: Eclectically Vintage

Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween! Kids will love writing or drawing on a painted white fake pumpkin.

Here’s to appreciating all the small and big things we have to be thankful for.