There are 3 ways to thaw your turkey safely, and letting it sit on the counter isn't on the list.11/15/2016 There are 3 ways to thaw your turkey safely — in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.1. RefrigeratorKeep the turkey in its original wrapper. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak. A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen. 2. Cold WaterWrap your turkey securely, making sure the water is not able to leak through the wrapping. Submerge your wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed. Do not refreeze. 3. MicrowaveCheck the owner's manual of your microwave (or look up your specific microwave online). It should tell you what size turkey will fit, how many minutes per pound it will need to thaw, and what power level to use. Remove all outside wrapping, and place on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak. Cook your turkey immediately. Do not refreeze or refrigerate your turkey after thawing in the microwave. REMINDER: Remove giblets from the turkey cavities after thawing. Cook separately.Information from: USDA Let's Talk Turkey—A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey
Let's choose one of our quick recipes from the Desserts section of our recipe library. We will look at the number and the quality of the ingredients. Nutty Apple Crisp The next time you're shopping for that perfect dessert for your guests, instead of heading to the frozen apple pies, keep walking on over to the produce section and the baking aisle to select the individual ingredients. SNAP4CT recommends this favorite fall recipe for Nutty Apple Crisp. It's full of nutritious *whole* ingredients like apples, old fashioned oats, and whole wheat flour. Here is the full list of of the nine simple ingredients in this recipe: ![]() apples raisins lemon juice old fashioned oats whole wheat flour cinnamon brown sugar nuts butter Find the Nutty Apple Crisp Recipe here. First, let's contrast the ingredients in the Apple Crisp to the ingredients on the back of a frozen apple pie we found in the grocery store freezer aisle. Here they are:
Filling: Fresh Apples Water Sugar Modified Food Starch Salt Spice Citric Rod Crust: Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid) Vegetable Shortening (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil) Water Dough Conditioner (Dextrose, Wheat Starch, Salt Baking Soda, Calcium Propionate, Vegetable Shortening (May Contain Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Cottonseed Oil), Sodium Bisulfite) Salt Crumb Topping: Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid) Brown Sugar Vegetable Shortening (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oils) Sugar Salt Spice Dextrose Yikes! Too many to count. And some have partially hydrogenated oils which are definitely not good for us! Secondly, let's explore the quality of one of those ingredients in both lists. See that 5th ingredient in the Nutty Apple Crisp list - whole wheat flour. SNAP4CT posted back in early October about using whole grains such as whole wheat. Compared to enriched wheat flour, which has been stripped of its nutrition and given additives to put the nutrition back in, whole wheat flour has more fiber, and will keep you feeling fuller, longer. Including whole grains in a dessert, which is typically sweet, means you probably won't taste the difference! So if you've been wanting to try out (or make the complete switch to) whole wheat flour, use this recipe as a test. It's a perfect opportunity! The last and final reason it's healthier to cook at home is the chance to cook alongside family members, and then share that meal together around the table. Research shows us that children who have at least three meals around the table with family per week are 12% less likely to be overweight than children who don't share meals. They are also 20% less likely to eat unhealthy foods, and 24% more likely to eat healthy foods than children who don't sit down with family to share a meal.1 So there is real evidence that spending time with family in a regular tradition of sharing meals together is good for kids! Sticking with wholesome, homemade dishes cooked together with family at home is the healthiest way to cook! 1. Hammons A and Fiese B. Is Frequency of Shared Family Meals Related to the Nutritional Health of Children and Adolescents? Pediatrics. 2011 Jun; 127(6): e1565–e1574. What Are Whole Grains?WHOLE GRAINS are food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or cereal grain, that contain the entire grain kernel. REFINED GRAINS are food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or cereal grain, that have been milled, a process that removes parts of the grain. When grains are refined they lose beneficial nutrients
like dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins Most refined grains enriched, meaning some vitamins are added back in. Dietary fiber does not usually get added back.
Shopping For Whole Grains
Making The Switch to Whole GrainMaking whole grains part of your diet should be a switch, not an addition. You should try to replace refined grains with whole grains, instead of simply adding whole grains.
Did You Know?
At least half of all the grains you eat should be whole grains. Quick Tip: You can use rolled oats or a crushed, unsweetened whole grain cereal as breading for baked chicken or fish! |
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