TURKEY TIPS DO'S AND DON'TS DO roast your turkey at a minimum oven temperature of 325° or higher…NO long, overnight roasting at 225° or 250°.  It takes too long for the turkey to reach a safe temperature.   DON’T thaw your frozen turkey at room temperature.  Thaw in the refrigerator (about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds) or submerged in cold  Change the water every 30 minutes or so to keep it cold.)  Cook immediately after thawing. water (make sure the turkey’s packaging is watertight with no leaks and then figure 30 minutes per pound to thaw.   DON’T stuff your turkey until you are ready to put it in the oven.  You can make the stuffing the night before, but refrigerate it until you’re ready to cook the turkey.   DO use a thermometer to check the temperature of the turkey and the stuffing.  Inserted in the thickest part of the breast and innermost part of the thigh (without touching bone), the meat thermometer should reach 165°.  Check the temperature of the center of the stuffing (whether cooked inside the turkey or in a separate dish) and it should also reach 165°.   DO divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze within two hours of the start of your meal.    DO use an oven cooking bag for easier cleanup and quicker cooking time (follow manufacturer’s directions).  DON’T use a cooking bag if you like brown, crisp skin.

Terry  Ahrens is the Consumer Affairs Director and Corporate Home Economist for the Food City supermarkets.  She holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in home economics education, with a concentration in foods and nutrition, from the University of Memphis.  Terry can be reached at ahrenst@foodcity.com.

 

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Terry's Kitchen

HOMEMADE PANCAKES ARE EASY! Let’s Try Avocado! YOU’LL NEED A KNIFE AND FORK FOR THESE RIBS Savory Side Dish. SOUTHWEST FLAVORS IN A PIZZA! YOU’LL LOVE YUKON Another Seafood Recipe CAJUN STYLE CATFISH Broccoli Mandarin Salad. HUMBLE AND HEARTY. A MEAL IN A JIFFY! FROM YOUR CUPBOARD… LOVE CHOCOLATE? LOVE CHERRIES? QUICK FAJITAS. Cheery, Cherry Pork Chops Sloppy Joe Pizza Chicken Cacciatore CHICKEN COMFORT DISH Easy Chicken Veggie Soup YOU DON’T HAVE TO WATCH THIS CHICKEN. EASY HOLIDAY HAM. MORE TURKEY LEFTOVERS! PLAN FOR LEFTOVERS! A Family Favorite Casserole that Company Loves, Too! Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts Cook in a Hurry! ENJOY A RESTAURANT QUALITY MEAL COOKED AT HOME Family Friendly Quesadillas. Warm Pear Topping. Quick, Stir Up Some Quick Bread! YOUR SLOW COOKER COOKS THESE PORK CHOPS TO PERFECTION! “Gooey, Sweet, Buttery and Crunchy!” A Few Minutes of Prep Tonight and A Few Minutes of Cooking Tomorrow. QUICK AND EASY ZUCCHINI ENJOY RICE FOR DESSERT. GET OUT THE SLOW COOKER! A Breakfast Treat. CHIPOTLE CHICKEN CATFISH WITH A REAL TWIST! SUMMER IS SALAD TIME. PASTA SALAD, PLUS A SWEET SUMMER TREAT. HAVE YOU TRIED FLAT IRON STEAK? DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS! TIME FOR GRILLING GRILLED LEMON CHICKEN. Easy Lemon Parmesan Fish A Twist on Chicken Salad. VIDALIA ONIONS STAR IN THIS SNACK. TRY CHICKEN STROGANOFF. FAMILY FRIENDLY CASSEROLE. FOR THE BROCCOLI LOVER. TILAPIA IS A MILD FISH. ENJOY SWEET ONIONS EGG SALAD WITH A TWIST. BANANA BREAD, ONE BETTER. HERE’S A SPICY PORK CHOP. HURRAY FOR POTATOES! FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS! Homemade Chicken Nuggets. CRUNCHY FISH WITHOUT FRYING. TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH PASTA. ONION MUSHROOM BURGERS. WARM UP WITH RED BEANS AND RICE. A PRETTY AND DELICIOUS TREAT FOR YOUR TABLE YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR HAM LEFTOVERS HAVING COMPANY? FRESH AND LIGHT. TRY THIS SASSY SNACK! ANY TIME CASSEROLE SWEET AND SPICY. ENJOY FRESH POMEGRANATES RIGHT NOW! Easy Spiced Apple Cider POPCORN TREATS. QUICK AND EASY FAJITAS. CELEBRATE NATIONAL PASTA MONTH PORK CHOPS AND BAKED APPLE COMBINE PHILLY CHEESE STEAK AND PIZZA CAULIFLOWER WITH A TWIST SPICY CATFISH FIRE UP THE GRILL FOR GREAT STEAKS! WARM WEATHER SALAD. EASY PEACH ICE CREAM. FLAVORFUL GRILLED PORK CHOPS! QUICK AND EASY CHICKEN. WARM WEATHER ALTERNATIVE TO PIZZA. REFRESHING SUMMER WATERMELON. A DIFFERENT TWIST ON GUACAMOLE. HAVE FUN WITH KABOBS SWEET BLUEBERRY TREATS. SUMMER SQUASH AND CORN. LET’S HAVE GRILLED CATFISH. BETTER BUTTER FOR YOUR FRESH CORN VARIATIONS ON A RASPBERRY THEME! TUNA SALAD, PLUS Get Garden-Fresh Vegetables from our Produce Department MEXICAN FLAVOR AT HOME. CANCER FIGHTING FOODS. TRIPLE HOT CHICKEN. THIS COMBINES TWO SOUTHERN CLASSICS. STOVE-TOP HAM AND BROCCOLI “CASSEROLE.” BE SURE TO PLAN FOR HAM LEFTOVERS. Love The Sizzle of Steak? MARINATED BROCCOLI WITH A TWIST. LIP-SMACKING RIBS! THIS FISH IS EASY! DO YOU LOVE SEAFOOD? A SPECIAL STEAK FOR A SPECIAL DINNER. MUSHROOMS ARE EASY TO COOK. ENJOY FRESH STRAWBERRIES. PORK ROAST DURING THE WEEK. WARM UP ON A COLD DAY! A TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR’S DISH FRESH CUCUMBER SANDWICHES BEEF TENDERLOIN FOR COMPANY. IF YOU’RE TIRED OF TURKEY, TRY THIS! TRY THIS TURKEY STUFFING! BANANA SPLIT BREAD EASY GLAZED CARROTS SWISS STEAK. EVER HAD PORCUPINE MEATBALLS? QUICK AND EASY PORK TENDERLOIN. TRY TILAPIA. FETTUCCINE WITH CHICKEN AND MUSHROOMS. ENJOY A SPECIAL APPLE CAKE. A HEARTY SIDE DISH TRY THIS LIGHT FISH DISH. CELEBRATE PANCAKES! GRILLING AND PORK…MADE FOR EACH OTHER. ALMOST STUFFED PEPPERS. A NEW WAY TO FIX CATFISH! A HEARTY CHICKEN “SALAD.” AN EASY WAY TO SAVOR SUMMER FLAVORS. THERE’S MORE TO VINEGAR THAN MAKING PICKLES!

COMPANY STEAK. ENJOY FRESH BLACKBERRIES! COOL AND REFRESHING. IT’S TIME FOR BURGERS ON THE GRILL! GREEK-STYLE PITA BURGERS. FIX A HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY TREAT! ENJOY GREAT-TASTING DAIRY! LET’S HAVE HOT CORN ON THE COB! PERFECT FOR MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH! “COULDN’T BE EASIER” PORK CHOPS. START A FIRE FOR THIS “HOT” CHICKEN! SWEET ONION SIDE DISH. SOMETHING NEW WITH YOUR LEFTOVER HAM. FOR STRAWBERRY LOVERS. GOT LEFTOVER HARD-COOKED EGGS? A NEW WAY TO EAT FISH. TASTY BAKED SALMON. “CRUNCHY” FISH FROM THE OVEN. THE PERFECT BAKED POTATO. HOORAY FOR CHOCOLATE! TRY THIS SAVORY DISH WITH CHERRIES. COMPANY PORK ROAST. HEARTY, HOT AND HEALTHY. GREAT FOOTBALL FOOD! GOLDEN POTATOES. QUICK STIR-FRY AT HOME. QUICK AND EASY SEAFOOD. BEEF TENDERLOIN FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE. Brighten Up Wintertime Meals With The Zing Of Citrus Fruit! HOMEMADE SLOPPY JOES. LIGHTER SIDE DISH SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR LEFTOVER TURKEY! INSTEAD OF A CASSEROLE TASTE OF FALL. THE MICROWAVE MAKES IT QUICK! IT’S FALL APPLE SEASON! ADD SOME FLAVOR TO YOUR NEXT BURGERS TRY THIS EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIKE FISH! OOPS. I MADE A MISTAKE ON A RECIPE! ADD A LITTLE RICE. COMBINE OATS WITH HONEY FOR THIS DESSERT! PLENTY OF MUSHROOMS. REFRESHING SUMMER CUCUMBERS. GET OUT THE GRILL! TRY SEAFOOD IN THE MICROWAVE. IT’S SO PEACHY! MAKE ICE CREAM SPECIAL! SLOOOW-COOKED RIBS. HAVE YOU TRIED TILAPIA YET? HOMEMADE PEACH COBBLER ENJOY THIS LIGHT WARM-WEATHER SALAD. IT’S TIME FOR CHICKEN ON THE GRILL. EASY GLAZED SALMON. Sweet Vidalia Onions. Refreshing Cucumber Salad. FAMILY FRIENDLY PIZZA CASSEROLE. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Homemade Guacamole. DON’T FORGET DAIRY! CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRIES. SPARKLING FRUIT SALAD. GOT HAM LEFTOVERS? Restaurant Quality Salad at Home! It’s Really Not Hard to Cook Seafood at Home. TRY THIS TEXAS-STYLE CHILI. LET’S BRING BACK FRUIT PIZZA! SIMPLE SEAFOOD Guess What? You don’t have to fry it to love it! WHY NOT BOSC OR ANJOU? TIME FOR SOUP. A LITTLE HEALTHIER SWEET TREAT. PIZZA FOR MUSHROOM LOVERS! ELEGANT ENOUGH FOR COMPANY LAST MINUTE GIFT? CELEBRATE WITH PUNCH! Orange Almond Rice. ENJOY THOSE TURKEY LEFTOVERS! TRY THIS FUN BUBBLE PIZZA! Cranberry Walnut Cookies. CUT THE SODIUM AND ADD FLAVOR TO YOUR STUFFING. FRESH PEARS, A FALL FRUIT. LET’S HAVE PUMPKIN! ELEGANT AND CREAMY SCALLOPED OYSTERS. IT’S PASTA MONTH! SWEET ONIONS FISH FOOD! ENJOY AN APPLE TREAT! LEFTOVERS FOR COMPANY? NACHO PIE AN ELEGANT RICE SIDE DISH. COOK BRATWURST FOR LABOR DAY! FRESH PLUM SAUCE. TEXAS BRISKET Is that Pineapple Ripe? TRY THIS PEAR SIDE DISH. LET’S ADD FLAVOR. Celebrate National Ice Cream Month Mediterranean Style Catfish Easy Ham Steaks QUICK AND EASY Slooow Cooked Beef Brisket Chicken Marinade Burger Mania! Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Breezy Blackberry Pie Triple Cheese Pasta Primavera Apricot Barbecue Chicken Stir Fry Asparagus Marinated Salmon Black Bean Fajitas Grilled Vidalia Onions with Vinaigrette Dressing Hearty Egg Salad Ham and Fruit Spread Cowboy Baked Beans Broccoli Soup Au Gratin Focus on good nutrition Easy Cashew Chicken Cherry Truffle Squares Pecan Catfish What Is A Sharon Fruit? Seafood Nachos Hamburger Steak, Plus Oh My Darling Clementine Classic Banana Bread Easy Hot Turkey Sandwich For Mushroom Lovers Mexican Layered Dip Caramel Apple Pizza Cooking With The Crockpot Hearty Chili Fresh Apple Muffins October 2003 Healthful Hint Let’s Try Snapper Pear Oatmeal Cookies Supper From A Pantry Staple September Is National Honey Month Hawaiian Turkey Burgers Burgers Galore