• • • • • THE TECUMSEH HER ALD’S • • • • •
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BUY LOCAL,
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November 2016
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THE TECUMSEH HERALD | NOVEMBER 10, 2016
HOLIDAY
Happenings — table of contents —
Local events to celebrate this Holiday Season........................ 2-3 Santa Train rides offered in Clinton two weekends in December................................................4 Give holiday gifts that are hard to forget....................................5 Fluffy marshmallows are easy to make at home............................................................... 6-7 Books make great holiday season gifts............................. 10-11 History of Christmas carols.............................................. 12-13 Don’t be a chicken, carve a turkey with confidence...............................................................14 Rustic fall and Thanksgiving menu ideas shared to help create memorable meals..............................15
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Adrian Water – Culligan..........................15 Antiques & Vintage on the Boulevard.........3 Bailey’s Water Care.................................10 Basil Boys...............................................14 Best Shine - Auto Detailing.......................4 Bibs, Blankets & Bears..............................4 Big Boy of Tecumseh................................9 British Tea Garden...................................13 Carpet on Wheels....................................15 Community Arts of Tecumseh..................11 CVC Vision Centers....................................5 D & P Communications.............................9 Embers Bar & Grill..................................12 Evans Street Station ..............................16 F & S landscape........................................8 Great Ideas...............................................6 Grey Fox Floral........................................15 Hacker Jewelers.......................................6 Hidden Lake Gardens................................8 Hospice of Lenawee...............................12 J-Bar Hobbies...........................................9 Kapnick Orchards.....................................9
Keith’s Automotive..................................11 Lenawee Community Chorus..................16 Lenawee Fuels.........................................8 Little Garden Club of Tecumseh.................3 LoMonaco Health Care..............................3 Martins Home Center..............................16 Naugle Plumbing & Heating......................8 Newburg Meadows.................................13 Paws 4 Grooming.....................................5 Phil Holtz Christmas Tree Plantation........11 Salsaria’s..................................................7 Schmidt & Sons Pharmacy......................11 Sieler’s Water Systems.............................8 Tecumseh Area of Chamber....................14 Tecumseh Coins.....................................13 Tecumseh Insurance...............................10 Tecumseh Parks & Recreation ...............13 Tecumseh Plywood.................................11 Tecumseh Pops Orchestra .....................15 The Daily Grind.........................................2 Tilton & Sons Shoes..................................5 VFW Post #4187.......................................5
Local events to celebrate this HOLIDAY SEASON By JACKIE KOCH
jackie@tecumsehherald.com The holiday season is quickly approaching and area communities will offer plenty of opportunities to shop and attend gatherings and events. First up is Tecumseh’s annual Holiday Open House the weekend of November 11 and 12 in the downtown area. This event will include a recipe walk, streetscape lighting at 7 p.m. Friday and the Holiday Market on Evans, 213 North Evans St., on Saturday. Call 424.6003 for more information. Blissfield’s Yuletide Weekend begins November 11, as well, with Santa’s arrival on a fire truck at 6:30 p.m. and a community Christmas tree lighting at 7 p.m. The festival continues on Saturday, Nov. 12 and Sunday, Nov. 13 with a craft show, Blissfield Model Railroad open house, carriage rides, a chili cook-off and a Yuletide Cheer Grand Give-Away. For more information, call 486.3642. The Holiday Winefest at Evans Street Station will be held Sunday, Nov. 13 from 5 until 8 p.m. featuring the band All Directions and offering wine, food, music and a silent auction. Tickets for this event are $50 and all proceeds will benefit the Historic Carnegie Library Restoration. For more information, call 423.5555. Shops in downtown Adrian will hold a Holiday Open House Friday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., with shopping specials and refreshments. On Saturday, Nov. 19, the Clinton Arts Center, 9842 Fisk Rd., Clinton, will hold a Holiday Sale from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., with unique art gift creations by art center staff and select local artists, interactive art activities, food and music. Customers will be able to purchase a variety of personalized make-and-take gifts and there will be art demonstrations throughout the day. Call 456.5145 for additional information.
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 | THE TECUMSEH HERALD The Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA), 400 N. Maumee St., will feature Tecumseh Youth Theater’s production of “101 Dalmatians” Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. Tickets for the show are $8. Contact the TCA at 423.6617 for ticket information. Small Business Saturday, a national event that began in 2010 to encourage people across the country to support small, local businesses, will take place on November 26. Small businesses in the county will participate in what the organizers call one of the biggest shopping days of the year.
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | PAGE 3 7 p.m., where groups, organizations and businesses will have decorated trees displayed at Comstock Park, 263 W. Maumee St. Also on Friday, Dec. 2, the Tecumseh Christmas Parade will roll through town with the theme of “What Christmas Means to Me,” with up to 60 entries, all aglow with lights. The parade, which will bring Santa to Tecumseh, will start on north Union Street at 7 p.m. and will proceed east down Chicago Boulevard, then turn north on Maumee Street. Santa’s house will be located in front of Adams Park next to City Hall, where children will be able to visit him during hours posted on the house. For more information, call 423.3740.
Lenawee County’s historic Old Courthouse, 301 N. Main St., Adrian, will be the site of the City/County Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, The Lenawee County Historical Museum Nov. 29. A Norway spruce, more than 60 will once again offer the Festival of Trees, a feet tall, will be decorated and will remain tradition that includes displays of decorated lit through the holiday season. Christmas trees provided by businesses, non-profits, service groups, families and The Adrian District Library, 143 individuals. A special kick-off event will be E. Maumee St., will hold its annual held Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. until noon Gingerbread House Contest, accepting with live music. Visitors will be able to see entries on November 30 and December 1. the trees during the museum’s open hours of All ages and groups may participate in four 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday categories, and there is no fee to enter. First- and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday. For more place winners in each category will receive information or to arrange to set up a tree, a $25 Amazon gift card. Graham crackers call the museum at 265.6071. may be used to construct houses rather than gingerbread, but all decorations with Hidden Lake Gardens’ (HLG) Holiday the exception of the base must be edible. Festival will be held Saturday, Dec. 3 from In addition to the library staff’s winning 4 until 8 p.m. The Gardens, located at 6214 selections, the public will select a People’s Monroe Rd., Tipton, will be bright with Choice award during Adrian’s First Friday candle-lit luminaries and lighted trees. event December 2 and on Saturday, Visitors will be able to tour the conservatory December 3. The Friends of the Adrian at night and participate in hands-on craft District Library will be selling tickets to activities. Holiday entertainment and a visit vote for gingerbread houses. For more from Santa and Mrs. Claus will round out information, call the library at 265.2265. the event. The holiday sparkle will continue at HLG with Evening of Lights, the annual The theme for the December 2 Adrian tradition of illuminated displays and First Friday event from 5-8 p.m. will be “Buy holiday decorations, held on Sunday, Dec. Local,” featuring holiday music, art, and 4, Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11. many downtown stores that will be open and Admission to HLG is $5 per person with a offering specials and refreshments. At 6:30 maximum charge of $20 per vehicle, and p.m. the Holiday Lights Parade will travel Friends of HLG can visit for free. Call through the downtown area. The parade 431.2060 for more information. will begin on Toledo Street, turning south on Main Street, east on Church to Broad On December 4, Tecumseh Parks and Street, and west down Maumee Street. The Recreation will offer Holiday Christmas Riverwalk Shopping at the Rec, held at the Tree Lighting will be held at
AJ Smith Recreation Center, 810 N. Evans St., from 2 until 4 p.m., with vendors from many different companies selling cash and carry items. Call 423.5602 for more information. Also on December 4, the Tecumseh Pops Orchestra and Community Chorus will present the holiday concert “Sounds of the Season” at the Tecumseh Center for the ARts (TCA), 400 N. Maumee St., beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets for the concert will be $10 and $12. Contact the TCA at 423.6617 for ticket information.
evening hours of 5-8 p.m., merchants will provide holiday spirits and snacks for shoppers. Downtown stores will have wish lists to allow the dudes’ significant others to leave clues ahead of time for their holiday gift desires.
A Holiday Lock-In for children aged five through 12 will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 16 from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. at the AJ Smith Recreation Center, to help parents find time to shop. The cost for the lock-in is $25 ($20 for city residents) for the first child, and $10 for each additional child. Pre-registration is required for this event. Call 423.5602 for Santa Claus will welcome visitors to the more information. Stubnitz Center at Heritage Park, 3221 N. Adrian Hwy., Adrian, Friday, Dec. 9 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 from 6-8 Julie N. p.m. The YMCA of Lenawee County will LoMonaco D.C. partner with the City of Adrian to offer Chiropractor Palmer Graduate this free family-friendly event. All ages are welcome and there will be hayrides, holiday massage available crafts, coloring pages, refreshments and visiting with Santa. Photos with Santa will Open 5 days Sat. by appt. be available for a small fee. For information, call the YMCA at 263.2151.
Merry Christmas!
The Wassail Fest will be held in downtown Blissfield Friday, Dec. 9 beginning at 6 p.m., and will include the Hot Cha Cha 5K Mug Run and an ugly sweater contest. Also in Blissfield, on Saturday, Dec. 10, a downtown scavenger hunt and a grand giveaway will precede the Parade of Lights, which will be held at 7 p.m. Call 486.3642 for more information. The Adrian Center for the Arts (ACA), 2300 N. Adrian Hwy., Adrian, will hold an Enchanted Forest celebration and sale Saturday, December 10 from noon until 5 p.m. There will be original art for sale in Gallery One and from the clay studio, the glass studio, the letterpress studio and the woodshop. Resident artists will have open studios for visitation and refreshments will be served. For more information, call the ACA at 442.4560. Downtown Adrian merchants will hold a Desperate Dudes shopping event on Thursday Dec. 15 all day, with sales and extended hours until 8 p.m. During the
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THE TECUMSEH HERALD | NOVEMBER 10, 2016
Santa Train rides offered in Clinton By JACKIE KOCH
jackie@tecumsehherald.com
two weekends in December The Southern Michigan Railroad Society will bring Santa Claus to Clinton during two weekends in December, providing train rides and an introduction to the jolly fellow for children and adults alike. The Santa Train will depart from the Clinton station at the society’s museum, 320 S. Division St., on December 3 and 4 and again on December 10 and 11. The half-hour rides will run between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and from noon until 4 p.m. Sunday. The event culminates with a Santa visit when the ride returns to the station. Tickets for the Santa Train are $7.30 for children aged two through 12 and $16.75 for all other seats, and are sold online at www.smrs.org. Babies in arms may ride free. Prices include a small service charge for booking online, and phone orders for tickets are slightly higher. Groups may book the entire caboose, which has a capacity of 30, for $211. Reservations are recommended, as Santa Train tickets are
expected to sell out quickly. According to the railroad society’s website, the historic rail cars are 71 and 88 years old and are not heated, so riders are advised to dress for the weather. The Southern Michigan Railroad Society is a non-profit, volunteer organization that owns and preserves Michigan’s oldest
branch line railroad. For more information on the Santa Train, call the business office at 456.7677 or email RideSMR@gmail.com.
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 | THE TECUMSEH HERALD
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | PAGE 5
Holiday Give
(StatePoint) — Those creating a holiday shopping list focused on all the latest trends should remember the hottest items are not always the most cherished. Sometimes it’s the warmest gifts that are the most unforgettable. “The holidays are times of nostalgia and remembrance, from stories of when
gifts that are hard to forget
we were children to the smell of cookies baking in the oven,” says Christopher Warnack, vice president of marketing and visual at Things Remembered, a personalized gift retailer. “Likewise, the gifts you give are not just objects to enjoy now; they should create a joyful memory that can be cherished for years.” To this end, Warnack recommends personalizing gifts with a loved one’s name, a monogram, a shared memory, a thoughtful message or an inside joke. “Something that makes it just for them, and only from you,” he said. For a seasonal gift to mark the passing years, consider a personalized ornament or snow globe. The gift recipient can look back on the ornaments received each year and be reminded of those holiday memories. Above all, remember to take into
consideration the style, hobbies and favorite colors of the gift recipient. You can customize a gift for anyone. Scarves or jewelry personalized just for him or her can be enjoyed for years, and with the monogram, become a real statement piece. Consider mugs, apparel and other gear that commemorates the person’s favorite sports team, that may become part of their game-day traditions
and celebrations. Personalized toys, stuffed animals and other snuggly gifts are great for kids. Seek out gifts at retailers that specialize in customized items, which can create one-of-a-kind gifts in an about an hour (and a little longer for embroidery and other specialized techniques). “Everyone remembers the best gift they ever received,” says Warnack.
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THE TECUMSEH HERALD | NOVEMBER 10, 2016
fluffy marshmallows are easy to make at home By JACKIE KOCH
jackie@tecumsehherald.com From ancient Egypt to modern hot cocoa, marshmallow has been consumed for hundreds of years, lending its gummy sweetness to confections that once quelled sore throats and now adds airy fluff to desserts, candies and beverages. According to www.inventors.about.com, the first marshmallows were named for the Marsh-Mallow plant, which grew in salt marshes and near large bodies of water. The juice from the plant’s roots was cooked with honey and egg whites and whipped into a meringue that hardened, producing medicinal candy that was soothing to sore throats. As marshmallows became more popular and mass production was needed to keep up with demand, the process of making the fluffy treats was altered to eliminate the marshmallow plant sap, which eliminated their cough suppressant and immunity-boosting qualities. Gelatin replaced the sap and now modern marshmallows are made from corn syrup or sugar, gelatin, gum arabic and flavoring. In the late 1800s, candy makers began to create marshmallows in molds made of modified cornstarch. In 1948, Alex Doumak developed the extrusion process, which produced marshmallows by piping the airy mixture through long tubes and slicing the tubular shape into equal pieces. The marshmallow recipe has been formed into chicks, bunnies and many other shapes by Just Born, the company that supplies the world with Peeps, which are now made in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors.
Peeps have been manipulated and eaten in various ways, including microwaving, freezing, roasting and putting them on pizza. Marshmallows can be made at home from hundreds of recipes found on the Internet, which utilize some unique flavors to personalize the sweet pillowy treats. It’s best to use a stand mixer. Here are two basic options.
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 | THE TECUMSEH HERALD
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | PAGE 7
Simple Homemade Marshmallows Ingredients: • 1 1/2 cups water • 3 envelopes unflavored gelatin (about 2 teaspoons per packet) • 2 1/4 cups sugar, granulated • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • Powdered sugar for tossing, optional
In a medium saucepan on the stove, add water and sprinkle gelatin over. Let set one minute. Add sugar and vanilla, stir to combine. Heat mixture just until sugar is dissolved, about 3-4 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool until able to touch by hand. Transfer to stand mixer and beat on high speed for 15-20 minutes until stiff peaks form. Transfer to 13x9 pan and chill at least two hours or overnight. Cut into oneinch squares. Toss in powdered sugar if desired. For colored marshmallows-divide batter and add coloring before pouring into pan. From www.hoosierhomemade.com. Recipe adapted from Company’s Coming Gifts from the Kitchen Book
Easy Peppermint Marshmallows Ingredients: • Butter for greasing • 1/3 cup powdered sugar • 2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin • 1/2 cup cold water • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar • 1 cup corn syrup • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/2 cup water • 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract • 8 to 10 drops red food color
Generously grease bottom and sides of 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with butter; dust with one tablespoon of the powdered sugar. In bowl of stand mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water to soften; set aside. In twoquart saucepan, heat granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Heat to boiling; cook without stirring about 30 minutes to 240°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water forms a ball that holds its shape but is pliable; remove from heat. Slowly pour syrup into softened gelatin while beating on low speed. Increase speed to high; beat 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture is white and has almost tripled in volume. Add peppermint extract; beat on high speed one minute. Pour into baking dish, patting lightly with wet hands. Drop food color randomly onto top of marshmallow mixture. Pull table knife through food color to create swirl pattern over top. Let stand uncovered at least eight hours or overnight. Dust cutting board with about one tablespoon powdered sugar. Place remaining powdered sugar in small bowl. To remove marshmallow mixture, loosen sides from dish and gently lift in one piece onto cutting board. Using sharp knife greased with butter, cut into one-inch squares (11 rows by seven rows). Dust bottom and sides of each marshmallow by dipping into bowl of powdered sugar. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to three weeks. Recipe from www.bettycrocker.com
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THE TECUMSEH HERALD | NOVEMBER 10, 2016
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 | THE TECUMSEH HERALD
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | PAGE 9
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THE TECUMSEH HERALD | NOVEMBER 10, 2016
Books make great
H O L I D AY
S E A S O N
G I F T S
(StatePoint) — No matter who is on a holiday gift list this season, great books make for great gifts. The following five books are suggested as gifts or stocking stuffers for knowledgeseekers to enjoy during the season: Gem Lovers Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution, “Gem” is a visual guide to precious and semiprecious stones, organic gems, and precious metals, and features over 1,000 specially commissioned images. “Gem” reveals the science, natural history, mythology, and true stories behind the most celebrated gems and jewel-laden artifacts, including the Hope Diamond and Queen Elizabeth’s pelican brooch. Readers can learn about the exquisite jewelry of cultures around the world, find out what characteristics are needed for a record-breaking gem, and follow the history of the world’s most famous jewelry houses and designers.
Star Gazers Chart the wonders of the cosmos with “The Stars.” Packed with threedimensional artworks of each constellation and new imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope, ground-based observatories and more, this guide features fascinating objects like glittering star-birth nebulae and supermassive black holes. The position, size and color of every night-sky object are revealed and a three-dimensional model of the celestial sphere that surrounds Earth charts all 88 constellations. From the Big Bang to the search for extraterrestrial life, astronomy and cosmology topics are covered in an easy-to-digest visual format.
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 | THE TECUMSEH HERALD
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | PAGE 11 American Girl Fans Offer American Girl fans a treasured bookshelf addition with “American Girl: Ultimate Visual Guide,” which includes images of every BeForever and Girl of the Year doll, an expanded section on the TrulyMe dolls and a detailed timeline of the company. Readers can learn about favorite dolls, historical eras, outfits, pets, accessories and more.
Automotive Enthusiasts Classic car collectors and enthusiasts may enjoy “Classic Car,” a visual guide created in association with the Smithsonian Institution. Featuring the most iconic classics of every decade from the 1940s to the 1980s from the Aston Martin DB5 to the Chevrolet Corvette, the book offers detailed profiles of trademark models, as well as the famous designers and manufacturers behind them, featuring more than 1,300 photographs and two prints suitable for framing.
Inventors Readers can build and explore 28 childsafe experiments, crafts and activities with “Maker Lab.” Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution and supporting STEAM education initiatives, the book will get young inventors’ wheels turning, making science fun. Explaining science through photographs, facts and real-world examples, each activity is appropriate for kids ages 8-12 years old. Requiring only household materials, young makers can build an exploding volcano, make bath fizzies, construct a solar system and more.
Budding Builders Encourage builders to look at their LEGO bricks in new, creative ways with “365 Things to do with LEGO Bricks,” an interactive book featuring imaginative play and building ideas, from projects that take just a few minutes to those that keep one occupied for hours. Activities include building a LEGO pet, challenging friends to make the tallest tower while working against the clock, and organizing a LEGO bricks treasure hunt.
This holiday season, give a gift that may inspire endless wonder.
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THE TECUMSEH HERALD | NOVEMBER 10, 2016
The History of
Christmas C
STORY BY: www.whychristmas.com
Carols
arols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles (The word carol originally meant to dance to something). The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around December 22. The word Carol actually means dance or a song of praise and joy. Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived. Early Christians took over the pagan solstice celebrations for Christmas and gave people Christian songs to sing instead of pagan ones. In 129, a Roman Bishop said
that a song called “Angel’s Hymn” should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. Another famous early Christmas Hymn was written in 760, by Comas of Jerusalem, for the Greek Orthodox Church. Soon after many composers all over Europe started to write “Christmas carols.” However, not many people liked them as they were all written and sung in Latin, a language that the normal people couldn’t understand. By the time of the Middles Ages (the 1200s), most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas altogether. This was changed by St. Francis of Assisi when, in 1223, he started his Nativity Plays in Italy. The people in the plays sang songs or “canticles” that told the story during the plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but
normally they were all in a language that the people watching the play could understand and join in. The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries. The earliest carol, like this, was written in 1410. Only a very small fragment of it still exists. The carol was about Mary
and Jesus meeting different people in Bethlehem. Most Carols from this time and the Elizabethan period are untrue stories, very loosely based on the Christmas story, about the holy family and were seen as entertaining rather than religious songs. They were usually sung in homes rather than in churches. Traveling singers or minstrels started singing these carols and the words were changed for the local
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 | THE TECUMSEH HERALD
people wherever they were traveling. One carols that changed like this is “I Saw Three Ships.” When Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power in England in 1647, the celebration of Christmas and singing carols was stopped. However, the carols survived as people still sang them in secret. Carols remained mainly unsung until Victorian times, when two men called William Sandys and Davis Gilbert collected lots of old Christmas music from villages in England. Before carol singing in public became popular, there were sometimes official carol singers called “Waits.” These were bands of people led by important local leaders (such as council leaders) who had the only power in the towns and villages to take money from the public (if others did this, they were sometimes charged as beggars). They were called “Waits” because they only sang on Christmas Eve (This was sometimes known
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | PAGE 13
as “watchnight” or “waitnight” because of the shepherds were watching their sheep when the angels appeared to them), when the Christmas celebrations began. Also, at this time, many orchestras and choirs were being set up in the cities of England and people wanted Christmas songs to sing, so carols once again became popular. Many new carols, such as “Good King Wenceslas,” were also written in the Victorian period. New carols services were created and became popular, as did the custom of singing carols in the streets. Both of these customs are still popular today. One of the most popular types of Carols services are Carols by Candlelight services. At this service, the church is only lit by candlelight. Carols by Candlelight services are held in countries all over the world. The most famous type of Christmas Service might be a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, where carols and Bible readings tell the Christmas Story.
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THE TECUMSEH HERALD | NOVEMBER 10, 2016
Don’t be a Chicken! Carve a turkey with confidence
(StatePoint) — Many preparing a Thanksgiving dinner this year are able and willing to serve up mashed potatoes, tasty cornbread and sweet pie but have reservations when it comes time to carving and serving the turkey.
Save time and energy and be safer and neater by using a sharp straightedge knife and a carving fork to steady the meat. This will prevent tearing the meat and making a mess. • On one of the most important cooking holidays of the year, cooks will want to make sure the kitchen is prepped to handle the work. Sharpen all the knives needed in advance, particularly the turkey carving knife. Consider using a compact electric knife sharpener.
The following tips can help give cooks confidence during this final step of feast prep: • Schedule the turkey to come out of the oven about 20 minutes before carving it. This will make handling the hot turkey easier and give the meat’s juices time to redistribute for maximum deliciousness.
• A true holiday meal should be a feast for all the senses. So, after arranging the carved turkey on the serving platter, use fresh in-season herbs, fruits and vegetables to give the main course extra appeal.
• Remove the string first. Then, remove each leg and thigh from the body of the turkey, using hands to separate, and a knife to slice through the meat. • Next, separate the thighs from the legs by pulling on a leg and using a knife to slice. Target the ‘V’ area with the knife, feeling around until finding the joint. Slice the meat away from the thigh bone and place it directly on a serving platter. Next, remove the wings using a similar method. By identifying where the joint is; cooks can avoid slicing bone. • Slice each breast slightly off the
With the right, well-maintained tools and the right technique, carving can be the simplest step of your Turkey Day preparations.
midline with an even stroke. Gently pull the breast away to the side. Slice each breast into quarter inch thick slices. Place on a platter. Alternatively,
cut slices of breast directly off the turkey, parallel to the rib cage. Either way, keep slices even on both sides.
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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | PAGE 15
Rustic fall and Thanksgiving menu ideas shared to help create memorable meals (StatePoint) — This autumn, gather family and friends to celebrate the harvest season and Thanksgiving holiday with a countryside menu filled with rustic farm-fresh fare and delectable wines. For starters, welcome guests with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Zinfandel. Serve hors d`oeuvres of fresh goat cheese with herbs and lemon zest, marinated olives, cipollini onion hummus and warm
homemade bread. This combination of fall flavors should satisfy guests prior to the main course. When preparing the main course, embrace the outdoors by firing up the grill to cook the turkey or other meats. This will make room in the oven for scrumptious sides such as fennel baked in cream, apricot and walnut stuffing or winter squash flavored with thyme and sage. The herbs and spices included in the menu can make choosing a wine difficult. A spicy refined, Zinfandel with a long, silky finish would be a good choice for robust fall flavors. The Reserve Zinfandel 2013 (SRP: $39.99) from St. Francis Winery and Vineyards, features classic structure with aromas of cinnamon, dark mixed berry that merge with flavors of blackberry jam, ripe raspberry and a touch of peppercorn. The winery’s luxury line of Reserve wines is certified sustainable, handcrafted and produced in small batches. “These luscious, elegant, fruitdriven wines complement the many flavors and textures of the holiday table,” says Christopher Silva, CEO of St. Francis Winery and Vineyards. This wine selection can be served with every course of a fall feast, including this seasonal dessert recipe for Pumpkin Panna Cotta by Chef Bryan Jones, who oversees the wine and food pairing program at St. Francis Winery and Vineyards.
Pumpkin Panna Cotta Ingredients: • 1 3/4 cup cream • 1/4 cup sugar • 1 tablespoon gelatin
• 1 cup milk • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla • 1/2 cup pumpkin pie mix
Preparation: • Simmer cream and sugar for 5 minutes. • Soak the gelatin in the milk a few minutes. Add the bloomed gelatin to the cream mixture. Cook 2-3 minutes. • Add the pumpkin pie mix and vanilla. Place the mixture in an ice bath and cool to room temperature. • Pour mixture into six 4-ounce ramekins. Refrigerate until set. When designing a Thanksgiving menu and other fall celebrations, be inspired by the season’s oldest traditions and rely on freshly harvested ingredients and rustic flavors to make meals memorable.