LIFE
NOVEMBER 7, 2012 • CJN-MMA • B3
Time for Thanksgiving preparations Thanksgiving countdown begins! The one tip I’ll be sharing over and over is about thawing frozen turkey. Think ahead! If you thaw incorrectly, bacteria will grow. That’s because bacteria’s favorite Rita temperHeikenfeld ature is RITA’S KITCHEN about room temperature, 60 to 70 degrees. If you’re thawing turkey on the kitchen counter, the outside will thaw fairly soon, but the inside will still be frozen. Best temperature for thawing turkey? Around 40 degrees, which is the temperature in your frig. Keep turkey in original wrapping, put in pan to catch moisture and allow 24 hours thawing time for every 5 pounds. If you forget, put packaged turkey in cold water and change water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. Count on 30 minutes thawing time per pound. Before roasting, check cavities and pull out the pouch of giblets. (The first time I roasted a turkey, I
⁄2 to 3⁄4 cup dark brown sugar or to taste 1 ⁄2 teaspoon ea: dried sage, oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil 1
Braised root vegetables is a side dish to serve during the fall, since winter squash and root veggies are in season. THANKS TO RITA HEIKENFELD
didn’t know to check, and it was not a pretty sight when they slipped out, intact in pouch, after roasting). If you’re worried you won’t have enough, roast a breast along with the whole turkey. That gives you more white meat plus extras. Remember to focus on blessings, and put burdens in God’s hands. That’s where they belong, anyway. Whether your table is laden with gourmet food or a simple buffet, know that contentment is not the fulfillment of what you desire, but the realization of how much you already have. My childhood friend Ann Rudloff, a Northern Kentucky reader, told me
years ago: “The most important things in life are not ‘things.’”
Braised root vegetables
This is one of my favorite sides to serve during the fall, since winter squash and root veggies are in season.
1 large sweet potato 2 regular potatoes 1 winter squash (I like butternut) 1 large carrot 2 turnips or parsnips 4 nice big leeks, white part only 2 beets 1 head garlic, separated into cloves and peeled 1 ⁄2 to 1 stick butter
Preheat oven to 350. Peel and cut vegetables into 2-inch pieces. Heat butter in large ovenproof pan with lid. Add sugar and herbs and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add vegetables and garlic. Place in oven for 40-60 minutes until tender. Adjust seasonings. Tip: Peeling squash: Poke holes with fork all over. Microwave on high a couple of minutes. Use mitts to remove. Cool and peel.
Cranberry celebration salad like Kroger This is in my “recipe hall of fame.” I can’t tell you how many requests I get for this each year. Kroger’s salad has a loose texture, and the following recipes replicated this.
15 oz crushed pineapple, drained – save juice 1 ⁄2 cup cranberry juice 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 pkg, 3 oz, raspberry gelatin 15 oz can whole cranberry sauce 1 ⁄2 cup chopped walnuts 1 ⁄2 cup celery, chopped (opt but good)
Boil pineapple, cranberry and lemon juice together. Add gelatin. Remove from heat and stir in cranberries. Put in fridge till almost set. Add pineapple, nuts and celery.
Ginny Moorehouse’s cranberry celebration salad. “I’ve been making this for years for my family”, Ginny said. 1 pkg cherry or strawberry gelatin 1 cup boiling liquid: 1/2 cup ea orange juice and water 1-3⁄4 cups cranberry sauce, jelled type
Try substituting cherry gelatin if you like.
gave the contractor a deadline to complete the work and, when it wasn’t done, fired him. She’s now hired another company to complete the job – but still hasn’t been able to get her money back from the first man. Under the city of Cincinnati home remodeling ordinance, a contractor is not allowed to collect more than 10 percent of the money upfront. In addition, the company must give a written contract containing the start and completion dates. Having the completion date in writing makes it a lot easier to determine when a company has walked off the job. Lippelman says, “This has been following me for so many months I would like to see some form of justice done.” So, I had her contact Cincinnati Police because of the alleged violations of Cincinnati’s home remodeling ordinance. In the meantime, I
called the contractor who claimed he never walked off the job – but admitted having problems getting the work finished. He says he’s willing to repay the money and has now set up a payment schedule with Lippelman to avoid possible criminal prosecution. Bottom line, even if you don’t live in the city of Cincinnati, I suggest you follow these same guidelines in order to protect yourself. Howard Ain answers consumer complaints weekdays on WKRC-TV Local 12. Write to him at 12 WKRC-TV, 1906 Highland Ave., Cincinnati 45219.
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Tip from Rita’s kitchen
“Gray/blooming” chocolate. Temperature changes can sometimes make the surface look a bit gray. That’s called “blooming” and means the cocoa butter or fat in the chocolate has worked its way to the surface. It’s still perfectly safe to eat, and when melted, will regain sheen. Rita Nader Heikenfeld is an herbalist, educator and author. Email her at columns@communitypress.com with “Rita’s kitchen” in the subject line. Call 513-248-7130, ext. 356.
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ished the porch and then I didn’t see him again, except off and on for an hour at a Howard time,” she Ain said. AccordHEY HOWARD! ing to the contract, Lippelman paid the contractor more than $6,700 upfront. There’s just $1,750 due at the completion of the porch – so the contractor received most of his money before he ever started work. “I continually stayed in touch with him, called him, asked him when he was going to finish the project and received a myriad of excuses,” Lippelman said. That went on for three months, during which Lippelman had to use the back door of her house because the front door porch was full of debris. Finally, Lippelman hired an attorney who
Dissolve gelatin in boiling liquid. Add cranberry sauce and blend. When it starts to congeal, add other ingredients.
Hate your Tub & Tile?
Marilyn Hoskin’s cranberry celebration salad
Don’t pay too much upfront money When you hire a contractor to do work around your house, how much money should you pay that person upfront? Often, contractors ask for 50 percent or more before they’ll do anything. But, that’s not only a bad idea for the homeowner, it may even be illegal. Robin Lippelman wanted to fix up her Clifton home earlier this year. In March, she hired a contractor to remove a porch from the left front of her home. She says that went well. “When he demolished the porch, it was discovered my main porch had literally just an inch of concrete in some places. It was going to collapse,” Lippelman said. So, Lippelman hired the same contractor to do more work. “I contracted with him to do the main porch and he asked for money ahead – which, unfortunately, I did give him. He came and demol-
1 cup diced celery (opt but good) 1 ⁄2 cup chopped walnuts 3 ⁄4 cup crushed drained pineapple
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