Family & Consumer Sciences
Bath County Homemakers Cookbook Available
Just in time for holiday gift giving, the Bath County Extension Homemakers cookbook, “Family Favorites” is available for purchase. The hard cover cookbooks cost $16.00 each and contain over 500 recipes. The cookbook supplement only is available for $6.00. The books are available at the Bath County Extension Office at 2914 East Highway 60.
Turkey for Thanksgiving
Martha Perkins, Bath Co. Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences
Turkey and all the trimmings are a traditional meal for many families at Thanksgiving. Planning your holiday meals, shopping early and following food safety recommendations assure a happy and safe holiday for your family.
Planning menus and shopping early will ease the countdown tension for your Thanksgiving meal. Decide whether you want a fresh or frozen turkey, whether you have space to store it until cooking time, and what size bird you will need. If you choose to buy a frozen bird, make sure you have adequate storage space in your freezer. If you opt for a fresh bird, purchase it 1-2 days before cooking. Do not buy a prestuffed fresh turkey. To decide the size of turkey you need, use the following guidelines. With a whole bird, allow one pound per person; with a boneless breast, allow ½ pound per person; with a bone-in breast, allow ¾ pound per person; with a prestuffed frozen turkey, allow 1 1/4 pounds per person.
To thaw, place the frozen turkey in the original wrapper in the refrigerator. Allow approximately 24 hours per four to five pounds for thawing. A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for one to two days. If you forget to thaw the turkey or don’t have room in the refrigerator for thawing, submerge the turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes. Allow about 30 minutes defrosting time per pound of turkey. Cook immediately after thawing. Microwave thawing is safe if the turkey is not too large. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the size turkey that will fit in your oven, the minutes per pound, and the power level to use for thawing. Cook immediately after thawing.
If you choose to stuff your turkey, stuff loosely. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, since heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment. Place the stuffed turkey in the oven immediately. (You may also cook the stuffing outside the bird in a casserole dish.) Cook at 325 degrees F. and follow instructions on the turkey wrapper for suggested cooking times.
A whole turkey is safe cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F. throughout the bird. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing, and in the thickest part of the breast. The stuffing should reach 165 degrees F., whether cooked inside the bird or in a separate dish. When the turkey is removed from the oven, let it stand for 20 minutes. Remove stuffing and carve.
To store leftovers, remove the meat from the bones. Refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers (for quicker cooling) within two hours of cooking. Use leftover turkey and stuffing within 3-4 days or freeze. Reheat thoroughly to a temperature of 165 degrees F. or until hot and steaming.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.
Barn Quilt Square Brochure
The Bath County Homemakers are preparing a brochure/map of the barn quilt squares located in Bath County. If you have a barn quilt square on your property, please send the following information: Name of owner, address where quilt square is located, telephone number and name of quilt square pattern to Mary Sue Snedegar, 1442 W. Hwy. 60, Owingsville, KY 40360 or call (606) 674-2561 with information.
The Homemakers will take a picture of the quilt square.
Please pass this information to family and friends so we may include all barn quilt squares.
Extension Service News
Martha Perkins, County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences
November is Family Caregiver Month
Caring for a family member or loved one is a non-stop job. National Caregivers Month is observed each November to bring awareness of the many challenges for caregivers. The National Family Caregivers Association offers some ideas for recognizing family members or friends who fill this role.
-Offer to help for a few hours so a caregiver can spend time with friends or relax.
-Send a card or flowers to a family caregiver to brighten their day.
-Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays. Help them address and mail out holiday letters or cards.
-Offer the gift of humor. Take a caregiver to a funny movie or give them a humorous book to read.
-Take a caregiver out to dinner. Arrange for a fill-in caregiver for that time.
-Offer to help with Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiver in your neighborhood or your church.
-Help a caregiver find needed resources or services.
Source: Kerri Ashurst, UK Extension Specialist, College of Agriculture
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
