Preparing a turkey may be one of the easiest tasks you’ll take on as a cook because all you really have to do is put the turkey in the oven and then take it out when it is done. It’s that simple. Yes, it does take some time to cook, but you don’t have to stand around and wait for it to finish, you’ll have plenty of time to do other activities while it is cooking. You only have to be around when it is finished, or to check on it when it is getting close to being finished.
The first step to cooking a turkey is to let it thaw completely. This could take quite some time, maybe even as much as five or six days depending on the size so be sure to leave enough time for the thawing process.
Once the turkey is completely thawed, be sure it is cleaned thoroughly to ensure that any dirt or debris has been removed before cooking it. Be sure to take out he neck and giblets. These can be cooked separately if you wish.
Next, separate the skin from the breast but do not remove it. This is done so you can spread butter over the breasts of the turkey. Do not butter the outside of the skin. Once this is done, lightly salt and pepper the outside of the turkey to your liking. This will help make the skin a little more crispy, which I’m guessing just about everyone loves.
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. We are only going cook the bird at this temperature for about 20 minutes in order to seal everything together nicely. Be sure not to put any stuffing in the bird as this will affect your cooking time, plus it is not healthy.
Place the turkey in a roasting pan and cook it for 20 minutes at the 475 degree mark that we had mentioned earlier. Once this is done, then reduce the temperature down to around 250 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for an additional 20 minutes for every pound that the bird weighs. When the time is up, check the internal temperature of the breasts. A properly cooked turkey should have an internal temperature of around 170 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
When finished, allow your turkey to cool for about 20 minutes. By this time it should be moist and delicious and ready to serve.
For information on the slow cooker cookbook and other great products, visit SlowCookerCookbookPlus.com.
Two die in auto wrecks
MOREHEAD CITY — Two Carteret County residents lost their lives in car crashes this week, one in Jacksonville and the other in Georgia. San Jamar Klever Kutter Box Cutter
So you want to buy a knife but you are not sure if you want to buy a pocketknife or a folding knife. What is the difference anyway – don’t they both fold?? Well, yes – that is true, but there are differences.
Pocket Knife – According to Wikipedia, “a pocketknife is a folding knife with a blade that fits inside the handle and that is small enough to fit in a pocket.” Most modern pocketknives are for light duty – and are a convenient tool for those many little tasks you might run into when other knives are not handy. Pocket knives have blades that are held in place – open or shut – by a spring mechanism, allowing the user to open and shut the blade easily. Pocketknives come with single or multiple blades and some have additional tools and even forks and spoons – many options depending on your purpose. One drawback to this type of pocketknife – since the blade does not lock open, it can be closed inadvertently.
A Folding Knife, on the other hand, is usually a little bigger, stronger, and has some sort of locking mechanism to hold the blade open. Because of this added strength, they can handle heavier duty tasks. But since they are bigger, they are normally carried in sheaths, not in the pocket. This locking mechanism makes the folding knives a little safer because the lock prevents the blade from accidentally being closed. These knives come in many styles and usually have only one blade.
Before you buy a knife, you should check local knife carry laws. Most pocketknives are legal to carry (except in places like courthouses, schools, etc). Whether a knife is “legal” to carry is usually determined by blade length – from my limited research, knives with blades of less than 3 ½ – 4 inches are usually legal – but do check your local laws.
IN SUMMARY – A small personal knife is a valuable tool that has many uses – I actually carry two most of the time – no matter what purpose you have for a knife I know there is a knife just for that purpose – whether it is a pocket knife or folding knife – the choice is virtually endless – enjoy the shopping – find the right knife for you – buy it – and take care of your knife so it will serve you for many years.
Larry Clark is the founder of the website http://www.PocketKnivesPro.com – providing a wide variety of pocketknives, folding and fixed blade knives, as well as multi-purpose tools and sharpening tools
Product and company promotion has come a long way, and more and more businesses have begun to think outside of the box when it comes to getting their name out there. Promotional items are becoming more stylish, more useful, and, all in all, more attractive to the consumer, which is bringing in huge profits for those wise enough to use them. From logo-clad umbrellas in the rainy city of Seattle, to stamped gym bags for the health-savvy city dwellers of L.A. But one idea that has been used more frequently as of late is of promotional knives.
I know it sounds like a strange idea, giving sharp, pointy object to your potential customer base, and maybe you think that they would be uncomfortable by the idea. But the results of the companies who have used them show the opposite to be true, and have found that the customers who request specific promotional items when offered always seem to go for the knife.
One of the reasons this is such a marketable idea is because it can be adapted for different target audiences in order to maximize the results. The most popular utilization of the promotional knife is the multipurpose knife. It’s useful, has several tools located within a keychain sized case, and can easily house your companied logo imprint on the front. It’s great for anyone who carries keys, which is a large majority of the population, and customers who receive them seem genuinely pleased with the item. It’s also cost efficient, especially when ordered in bulk, and plenty of providers offer discounts on 100 ? 1000 of the little marketing gems, with the cost of the promotional imprinted or laser engraved logo built into the asking price.
But there are many other ways you can twist this idea to work for you, and anyone who calls themselves a customer. For instance, when dealing with a higher end client, one that provides higher annual profits then the average consumer, or even an affiliate you would like to show your appreciation for, you could adapt this idea to market to them by turning it into a set of steak knives nicely imprinted with your logo, or perhaps chopping knives, each with your logo engraved on the blade. While it isn’t a marketing angle you could take with the majority of your clients, it’s great for the odd one out that you really want to show their importance too.
In addition, there are other knives and blade products widely offered for bulk orders that have the same marketing potential. Pizza cutters, pastry knives, utility blades, scrapers, bag cutters, pill box cutters…the list really goes on and on, and each are easily engraved or imprinted with your companies name and logo.
So don’t miss out on this incredible marketing opportunity. Promotional knives are one of the most popular (and easily customized) promotional items on the market, and one that your customers will be sure to love. Show them you care, and bring them back again and again.
Letters to Santa
Dear Santa, Hi my name is Raven. I had been a good little girl this year! What I would like for Christmas is a bike, sparkle flats shoes 7 ½, doll, Hannah Montana DS, cloths size 8, Hannah Montana movie, watch, easy bake, MP3 player, Barbies, Moxie girls, Wii, play dough ice cream shop, play dough hamburger, ball, jump rope, operation spong bob, zhu-zhu pets. Verbal Threat – Box Cutter
When it comes to using tip cutters and scissors within your salon, there are a few rules that you need to follow. The main tool that you have to be careful with is scissors; as if they are used incorrectly they can cause the most damage to the nail and the surrounding skin.
What you should Use Scissors For
Using scissors within your salon can be tricky if you do not know what you can and cannot use them on. For example, you can use scissors to cut fabric, to help with nail art design and to remove pre tailored tips. However, they should never be used to cut through natural nails.
You need to think about the results that scissors will leave if you do use them on natural nails. Firstly they are not designed to be used to cut nails. Even the sharpest of scissors can have a problem cutting through the nail and if they can cut through, the results that you are left with are not usually very good anyway. It is so easy to cut the skin too if you use sharp scissors, so more damage can be caused to the client. Overall it is simply not worth attempting to use scissors to cut the nail; you might as well just use nail clippers.
However if you have pre tailored tips to work with then you can use scissors to remove the contact area of the tip. For best results it would be better if you chose curved blade scissors for this purpose. You may also need to sometimes cut off the side of the tip but this is fairly uncommon.
No matter what you use the scissors for; usually they will not come into contact with the skin. This means that you do not have to spend time sterilising them frequently. Of course it would help to keep them clean and sterilise them every now and again purely for an added peace of mind, but it is not essential.
Understanding Tip Cutters
Tip cutters tend to look like the type of cutters that vets use. They are heavy duty cutters and they are used to cut hard artificial tips. The way in which they work prevents any pressure being placed onto the nail and therefore no damage is caused.
As with scissors, they do not really have to be kept overly clean. Just wiping them with a solvent will be good enough.
Overall both tip cutters and scissors can come in useful within the salon. They do not need to be frequently cleaned and they come in for a number of different uses.
Looking for top quality nail supplies in the UK? – VivaLaNails.co.uk Established by Una Pecatti, Viva La Nails is a professional nail supply company with a difference. Una has completed various nail technician courses and she still works with clients on a daily basis.
Did you wait until the last minute to get a gift for your cigar lover? Well, it might not be too late to get something he will love, but you need to look in the right places. Everyone gets caught up in buying the perfect gift, but there are generic gifts out there that are perfect for any cigar smoker.
As a cigar smoker, I know that there are certain things I can always use when it comes to smoking a cigar. Of course, some of them are toys. Some are fancy and some are not, but the real functionality of these cigar accessories is of the utmost importance. All cigar lovers need nice cutters, lighters, and travel cases. What’s more, if you can get us a nice cigar accessory tool with some cigars thrown in – the entire better! I have some great suggestions for the 2009 Holiday Season that can get you out of a pinch and that I’m certain any cigar lover would want!
First, Diamond Crown is a premium cigar maker and they also make some of the nicest accessories on the market. They’ve released a 2009 Edition of their leather traveling case with 3 cigars included. The leather on this case is very soft and feels exquisite and the cigars are some of the most sought after cigars on the market.
Secondly, the God of Fire Lighter Set and the God of Fire Cutter Set are two very hot options for any cigar lover. The set comes with 5 limited edition cigars and each also comes with a limited edition lighter or a limited edition cutter. These are absolutely perfect gifts for any cigar smoker. Trust me; we’re always looking for our elusive favorite cutter!
Finally, I would suggest that you look over some cigar samplers that might get your giftee into something new. During the Holidays all of the major manufacturers put out limited edition gift-sets and samplers and they typically have something special to offer in each set. Arturo Fuentes puts out a beautiful e
xtremely Rare Sampler every year. Oliva has released two 5 cigar samplers this year and the Oliva V Sampler comes with a special shape.
Again, I would encourage you to look around at the obvious cigar gifts out there and try to find something special for your cigar lover that is hidden in plain sight. Every cigar smoker loves a good cutter or a good lighter because we’re always losing them! Good luck and Happy Holidays!
Still wondering for cheap and discount cigars, if yes! You should visit texcigars.com which offers the high quality cigars to choose from a collection of premium cigars, accessories and cigar samplers.
You can find custom cookie cutters made today in virtually every style and shape imaginable. If you know someone who enjoys baking, you may want to consider getting him or her some custom cookie cutters as birthday or holiday gifts that’s sure to delight them. They’re an unexpected and thoughtful way to give a gift that’s truly personal and a bit unexpected.
You can get a set of custom cookie cutters designed around a holiday, such as Christmas or Easter, or around a theme, such as popular flowers like daisies and daffodils. You can find custom cookie cutters for animal lovers in the shape of various dog breeds, fishes or forest animals.
But truly custom cookie cutters are the ones you design yourself or have someone design for you. Perhaps you’d like to make cookies in the shape of safari animals for your son’s birthday party, or ballerina themed cookies for a celebration after the dance recital.
Look online for a cookie cutter shop that offers custom cookie cutters made to order. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. There will be a small charge to design, set up and create the first cookie cutter, but each cookie cutter after that shouldn’t cost much more than the price of a standard cookie cutter. A typical set-up fee might be $20-$30, with each additional cookie cutter costing less than $5 each. Consider going together with some friends or family members who would like to have their own cookie cutters in the shape you have designed to share the cost.
Of course, custom cookie cutters make great gifts. Does your family have a particular hobby that’s shared? Have cookie cutters made to reflect their love of sports, miniature trains or playing golf. Golf club cookie cutters, various train engines and even team mascot cookie cutters can all be the hit of your next family gathering. Or choose a special shape. Whether it’s your own take on a snowflake, a ballerina or a cowboy, you can tie custom cookie cutter to their gifts in place of a gift tag for each person in your family at the holidays.
If someone in your family is an avid baker, consider ordering a complete set of custom cookie cutters that span the seasons. She’ll love being able to make Easter cookies shaped like crosses or lilies, autumn cookies shaped like leaves and acorns and even clovers for St. Patrick’s Day! You’ll really impress her if you have one or two custom cookie cutters for every month of the year so she can bake beautiful, eye catching cookies year round.
If you’re interested in having custom cookie cutters made, put some thought into what you really want and keep in mind that not all objects translate well into cookie cutter shapes. You only have two dimensions to work with rather than three when creating a cookie cutter, so you need to design a shape that has a very distinctive, easily recognizable outline for the best results. A horse will be instantly recognized, but a golf ball won’t look like a golf ball unless you ice it properly to add the needed details such as dimples. Think creatively about shapes when designing your cookie cutters. A mouse will look great in profile with his pointy nose at one end and a long, curvy tail at the other end. The front view of a mouse would probably be unrecognizable. Also keep in mind that some features may be too slender to translate into a cookie cutter because it would be easy for the cookie to break – A fishing pole might work, but you can’t translate the fishing line to a cookie cutter.
Once you have several good designs on paper, find an online store that specializes in nothing but cookie cutters and contact them. They will work closely with you to create custom cookie cutters that will become cherished family heirlooms.
Dog cookie cutters are getting trendy nowadays. With an exclusive shop dedicated for cookie cutters you will never get disappointed with the huge collection of our cookie cutters.
If you’d like to do something special for your four-footed best friend, use dog cookie cutters to create charming dog treats for him or her. If you’ve never made dog treats before, look up a few different recipes on the Internet. There are several great recipes for making dog biscuits or dog cookies that are simple and nutritious. You can find charming dog cookie cutters through an online store specializing in cookie cutters. Look for the traditional bone shaped cookie cutter, or perhaps some dog cookie cutters in the shape of your breed. Imagine how cute a dachshund shaped cookie would be for your little guy!
There’s something special about giving your dog freshly baked treats right from your oven. For one thing, you can be sure the ingredients are the freshest possible, and you’ll be able to flavor them to suit your pet’s taste preferences. Peanut butter and cheese are two very popular flavors for dog treats. If you want something a bit sweeter, you can toss in some carob chips for something close to a chocolate chip cookie that’s safe for you pet (Dogs should never be given chocolate).
If you’re like millions of other pet owners in the United States, you celebrate your dog’s birthday or give him or her presents at the holidays. Consider making treats for your little buddy’s friends as party favors the next time you have a birthday celebration for your dog. Or give out small bags of homemade dog treats to his canine friends from the doggy day care, kennel or dog park. Their masters will appreciate your thoughtfulness and will be charmed when they see you took the time to use dog cookie cutters to make the treats extra-special.
Dog cookie cutters are just the start of a beautiful canine cookie. Try decorating them with royal icing or a similar frosting that can be dyed with food coloring. You can use a small paint brush to decorate your cookies or dog biscuits in great detail, capturing the colors and markings of each breed in icing or colored sugars. Or let your kids get creative and use wild, bright colors for more playful cookies.
Dog Cookie Cutters are a Hit with Humans, Too
Once you have a set of dog cookie cutters in your kitchen, you’ll find lots of opportunities to use them beyond making dog biscuits for your pet. Just think of all the people who help protect your pet and make sure he or she is healthy and happy. Make beautiful sugar cookies for the veterinarian’s office, your pet’s groomer and the dog walker! A plate of holiday cookies in the shape of various dogs will be greeted with oohs and aahs when you drop them off at the veterinarian’s office or the doggie day care.
To make the gift even more personal, consider including a few recipes for cookies with your plate of cookies. You might include your favorite sugar cookie recipe plus a recipe for dog cookies so the recipient can make treats for everyone in the family. Now finish off the package by tying a few dog cookie cutters like the ones you used to the gift. They’ll look forward to making their own version of these beautiful cookies themselves. In fact, the next time you take your dog to the groomer’s shop, you may find a fresh plate of cookies sitting out for visitors that look just as great as the ones you made with your original dog cookie cutters.
Dog cookie cutters are getting trendy nowadays. With an exclusive shop dedicated for cookie cutters you will never get disappointed with the huge collection of our cookie cutters.
Looking Back: Christmas past in Ridgefield, Part I
Here is Tom Belote’s annual look at what was happening for the holidays in Ridgefield over the past century or so. This is part one. December 1899: Ridgefielders looked forward to the 20th Century by celebrating the holidays in all the local churches. Boxcuttuhzs Audition for America’s Best Dance Crew Season 3