Turkey Day tips, tricks, and how to’s

November 27, 3:50 AMBirmingham Community ExaminerLuann Dawkins

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The rush to finish all the preparations for the "big meal" can

be stressful.  To help you get through the day a little easier,

is a list of tips, tricks, and how to’s.  Maybe this is all you

need to pull you through the day.

• When setting the table, carry a lint free towel that has been dabbed with vegetable oil or olive oil, on one end and the other end clean.  Swipe each utensil with the oily side first, then polish dry with the other end.  Your flatware will gleam.  This trick can also be used with china and plates that are dull.  Just don’t leave puddles of grease!

• If you find spots on your tablecloth, use a tide to go pen for new stains or use Spray and Wash Power Max with oxygen in the red spray bottle (best stuff ever made for stains). Spray a small amount and let it bubble and set for two minutes. Wipe with a damp cloth. Pat dry.

• For candle wax mishaps, allow the wax to dry, (if on cloth or carpet) rub an ice cube over the top and peal up gently.  If it has melted into carpet fibers, lay a cloth or rag over the top and press a low heat iron in circular motions over the top, the wax will adhere to the cloth. 

• Did you check the turkey before you put it in the oven?  Yes, there are innards stuffed into a raw turkey, the neck is in one end and a bag of organs in the other.  Take those out prior to cooking! 

• If you are not faint of heart and want a really moist turkey, cook it upside down.  The more abundant juices are in the dark meat. If you cook the turkey breast side down, those juices run into the breast and make it scrumptious. Giving up the look of a golden brown turkey won’t hurt a bit, once you wrap your lips around the most amazingly moist turkey ever!  You may never fry another turkey! 

• If a dish tastes to salty while cooking, peel a potato and throw in the pot for 10 minutes, it will absorb the excess salt.

• In the south cornbread is an absolute to make dressing from, but should you find you have no buttermilk, just add a 1/4 tsp per 1 cup whole milk!  The lemon juice curdles the milk and makes impromptu buttermilk.. 

• For fail safe gravy, when you start the process, add your butter (1 stick) or turkey drippings (½ cup) to your skillet and heat till melted.  Remove from heat and let cool a few minutes.  Add about 4 TBSP flour and incorporate into melted butter, add slowly with a spoon, mashing the lump and making sure it is all wet with the fat.  Continue adding flour until it becomes a very loose paste.  You don’t want it to form balls, just make sure it is thin enough to spread around the pan easily, it is better for it to have to much butter than not enough.  Heat your liquid (broth)in the microwave, (if it is cold it will make lumps any way).  Return pan to the heat and on med-low whisk in your liquid.  Now stand and whisk for 3 hours.  Sorry, just kidding, stir till it begins to thicken and reduce heat. This should be your last step, so it is hot and not too thick.

• For the clean up, tell everyone you are done for the day, take a glass of wine, and have a seat.  Let the husbands and  kids clean up, you did all the cooking, it’s only fair!  Yeah that’s gonna happen.

• What will happen is you will go to the kitchen and find pot after pan with burnt, stuck and crusty stuff that doesn’t even resemble the beautiful meal you just took to the dining room.  No problem, take the worst of them and pour some liquid dish washing detergent in the bottoms of each and fill with hot water.  Let them stand 15 minutes and then take that break.  When it is time to wash them, they will wipe up easily.

• Maybe you were able to find some helpful information here, and if not, and you’re still left with a mess, well sorry, it was worth a shot!   Have a safe, happy, fun-filled and family packed Thanksgiving!

Click her for Thanksgiving Day activities, for kids and teens.