Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Thanksgiving and Christmas

Now is not too early to think about Christmas and Thanksgiving.  Prepare your menu, look at your recipes, and start buying things now.  That way you won't get stuck in line, or find out they are out.  Remember, the best way to defrost your turkey is in the refrigerator, and that doesn't happen in a short time.  About.com Southern Food recommends the following:

  • 8 to 12 pounds..........1 to 2 days
  • 12 to 16 pounds..........2 to 3 days
  • 16 to 20 pounds..........3 to 4 days
  • 20 to 24 pounds..........4 to 5 days
I f you have waited to the last minute, you can place it in a pan of water.  Make sure your bag is waterproof and allow about 30 minutes per pound:
  • 8 to 12 pounds...........4 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
The refgerator method is safest.  


http://southernfood.about.com/library/info/bltrkeyb.htm

Hurricanes

Just a thought on hurricanes.  If you evacuate your house during a hurricane, make sure you turn the gas and electricity off.  This might save your house from burning down.

Why do we fill the bathtub with water during a hurricane?  To flush the toilet in case the water goes out.  You should have plenty of water in bottles too.

If you will mix about a 1/4 lb. of salt with water and fill a couple of milk jugs with it, and keep it in the freezer, your stuff will stay frozen if the electricity goes out.  The salt lowers the freezing temperature of the water so it will keep the temperature below 32 degrees.  If you just put ice in, it will maintain the freezer at 32 and everything you have in the freezer will defrost.