Turkey Fires!

And other burnt food

Deep Frying a Turkey

A Moment in African American History

George Washington Carver invented 300 uses for peanuts. Peanut butter was not one of them. He also found uses for sweet potatoes, pecans and soy beans. But, he only applied for 3 patents as he wanted his discoveries to be free to use for others.

This is not a Book in Review:

Today I was planing on writing up a Book in Review for "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters", but even with Sea Monsters it is taking forever to read this book. It is in no way as fast a read as the Jane Austen novel with the zombies and ninjas. So instead to have something to write today I will talk about the turkey I cooked yesterday. Yes, I know that there is 2 weeks until Thanksgiving, but it was on sale for only 40 cents a pounds. And why not have turkey more then once or twice a year. Anyway, first I apparently have the worlds coldest fridge. I put it in to thaw on Saturday afternoon. On Wednesday morning when I opened it up there was still chunks of ice on it. I had to thaw it in a low oven. Then, when it was thawed out and I went to remove the giblets and neck it had two necks in it. It was a mutant bird! Anyway even with all that it turned out well. And we can eat turkey for the next week. (Or freeze some for later.)

Halloween Facts

In Ireland a traditional food for Halloween is barnbrack, a fruitcake with small items in it used for fortune telling.

Saving tip:

If you like ham, now is the time to get some. Most, ever grocery store has it on sale for Easter. If you have freezer space it will freeze well.

Shopping High!

Today I did my grocery shopping for this week. On Sunday I bought a paper to see if the coupons in the Sunday paper make it worth the cost of the paper. ($2). Anyway the store was doing double coupons $.50 and under (which I learned in the paper) and was doing a mix and match 10 for $10 plus the 11th free. So I bought the sale items in groups of 11 (to max. sale) and bought a tube of toothpaste that was part of the sale and that I had a $.50 coupon for. So it was $1 and I got $1 off its price. Free toothpaste!!!!!!! And it wasn't even the 11th item. Over all I saved $7 in the paper's coupons as well as $9 from the store it self's coupons. With a total savings on the receipt of over $60, although, it would really be more as it doesn't count if meat's on sale for $.99 a pound when it's normally $1.99 a pound or if a bakery or deli item is repriced at 40% off because it's a day old or expires soon. Yahhhh!!!!! Shopping High!!!!!!! I love saving money on things!!!

Reminder:

It is about 3.14 days untill Pi day. Start baking.

Shameless Begging

It is once again that time of year when we at Weird News B.N.I. put together a list of ideas to give the Computer Cultured American (i.e. nerds and geeks) in your life. While you all full well know 1) what a CCA wants and 2) we are only shamelessly trying to get you to give us these things. Anyway here are some gift ideas, that keeping with the: you really don’t need help with this theme, can all be found on-line. This year in addition to my favorite geek on-line store of Think Geek (http://www.thinkgeek.com/) I will also use a new favorite on-line store of oddities to list from, Archie McPhee (http://www.mcphee.com/)

* Candy and Mints: Sure we geeks all love strange Japanese candies, but we have found even stranger mints to try, including: anise flavored Absinthe mints, Decaf, Double Short, Low-Fat Mochaccino Mints and grog flavored Pirate Mints, just don’t get us flavorless Nihilist Mints, or Chum Bucket Mints. And how about some Wasabi or Shakespearean insult gum?

* What’s more fun than a Glow-in-the-Dark Flesh Eating Zombies Play Set? The Horrified B-Movie Victims to go with it.

* The Ultimate Geek Pen, it’s the ultimate!!!

* Geek temporary tattoos, w00t!

* A Desktop Carnivorous Plant set, good for really, really small annoying bosses.

* 20 questions pocket mind reader, its minutes of fun!

* Dread Pirate Roberts Action Figure, add your favorite “The Princess Bride” quote here.

Turkey Day Tips-

Remember any recipe that uses cooked chicken can use turkey.

Turkey Day Tip:

Rember to thaw your turkey!

Thanksgiving Factoid: Pilgrims

Five deer were part of the first Thanksgiving.

Turkey Day Tips-

Use warm milk or cream in mashed potatoes to keep them warm until you eat them.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Turkeys

The Mayflower most likely contained domesticated turkeys on it.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Turkeys

The Aztecs considered the turkey a god and had two festivals a year in honor of it.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Replaced the mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole with sweet potatoes mashed with a little butter, skim milk and cinnamon.

Turkey Day Tips-

Gravy made with a roux will thicken as it cools.

Turkey Day Tips-

Gravy made with a corn starch slurry needs to hit boiling before it will thicken.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Science

The tryptophan in turkey is not what makes you sleepy as when it’s mixed with other foods the tryptophan doesn’t react as much with the body. It’s the amount one eats and drinks that effects you most.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Make sure to include a salad or soup starter to help you eat less.