• 20Nov

    I bought a 19.06 lbs turkey from my local grocer, Giant Food.  It was for 49 cents a pound.  Not a bad deal.  I was contemplating on getting a fresh turkey this year as opposed to the frozen turkey I’ve always gotten in previous year.  I decided to go with the frozen turkey again.  I read an article from Reader’s Digest which said to buy frozen.  It says that according to Norma Ferrell, a consumer-education-specialist at the National Turkey Federation, there is no real difference between fresh or frozen turkeys.  There may be a chance that “fresh” turkeys can be days old by the time you get around to buying them – and can cost 50% more.  Therefore, I decided to save myself some money.

    I started to thaw my frozen turkey this morning at 11AM.  I had two choices.  For an 18-20 lbs. turkey I can thaw it in my refrigerator for 2 – 3 days.  If your refigerator is anything like mine and you need all the space you can get, I’d suggest the second option.  I’m still going to have to house the thawed turkey in my refrigerator, but at least the space will be taken up for less time, leaving room for other things.  This is how I’m doing it.  Keeping your turkey in its orginal wrapping (making sure it is not punctured) submerse the turkey in a tub of cold water, breast side down.  Change the water every 30 minutes.  Thawing time is 30 minutes for every pound your turkey weighs.  I don’t have a deep kitchen sink, so what I do is every time I change the water I would change the side that would be on the bottom.

     turkey-thaw-4-small.jpg

    While the turkey is thawing, I can start prepping my dry ingredients and other things I’ll need to get done for the side dishes.  On to the next thing!

  • 20Nov

    Meals don’t have to always be so complicated.  Especially when you’re a new mom and have just gotten back to work and trying to keep it all together.  My girlfriend sent me an email and chatted with me online today asking me to help kick her Chicken Alfredo with Pasta up a notch.

    Here’s our conversation:

    On 11/19/07, Lily of the Valley <xxxxxxx@gmail.com > wrote:

    Dear Recipe Guru, 

    I don’t have much time tonight, but I am defrosting some chicken breasts. I want to make a chicken alfredo, but have the chicken turn out a little more “tasty” and either marinated or friend to put on top of alfredo sauce and linguine. Any advice?  Lily of the Valley 

    Instant Messenger Chat:  

    me:  when do you need it ?  tonight?

    LOTV: yes

    me: for tonight?  okay let me see what I can do. you want a quick version or a detailed version i can do it a bunch of ways

    LOTV: quick!  I’m a mom.  quick quick quick

    me: okay so you don’t mind canned stuff right?

    LOTV: no

    me: you just want the chicken more tasty

    LOTV: we have canned alfredo

    me: gotcha=]

    LOTV: i dont have time tonight to make it fresh and im tired

    LOTV: it’s easy then

    me:  I’ll get you something in a bit

    LOTV:  k thanks

    On 11/19/07, GotFood13 <GotFood13@gmail.com> wrote:

    Dear Lily of the Valley, 

    From our brief conversation I was able to gather that you’re not interested in a very involved recipe tonight.  So instead of giving you a recipe, I’m going to help you with kicking the taste of your chicken up a notch.   

    Basically boil your pasta as you would usually.  You indicated that you were going to use canned alfredo sauce.  So I’d leave that up to you as far as which brand you like and which you’re going to use.  Start simmering the alfredo sauce in a sauce pan while you work on the chicken.

     The chicken: 

    1. Cut your 1/2 lb of chicken breast in to bite size pieces.  (I’ll leave this up to your preferences)

    2. Put cut chicken pieces in a mixing bowl.

    3. Sprinkle some salt & pepper (2 – 3 small pinches of salt and 2 shakes of pepper)

    4. If you have garlic powder sprinkle some on.

    5. If you have Italian seasoning, add a dash.

    6. Mix the chicken and ingredients.

    7. Let sit for about 10 minutes.

    8. Heat up a skillet on high heat and add a little bit of oil.

    9. Once oil is hot put chicken in and spread out the pieces evenly.

    10. Let chicken pieces sit for about a minute before turning.  This is for color and to sear the chicken.

    11. Turn the chicken a few times.  Once all the chicken pieces have turned white from cooking, lower heat down to medium and cook for about 8 – 10 minutes or until chicken pieces are cooked.

    12. Once chicken has been cooked remove from pan straining the oil.

    13. Put chicken pieces into sauce pan with the alfredo sauce simmering and cook for another 10 minutes on low – medium heat.

    14. Then serve over your pasta of choice.

    I hope these quick tips helped!  Let me know when you leave a comment! GotFood13

    On 11/19/07, Lily of the Valley <xxxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:

    Thanks Got Food! 

    I’ll try it tonight! 

    LOTV

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