3 Thanksgiving Turkey Tips You Need to Know!

Before you start cooking for a big meal for the holidays,take these pro tips from Celebrity Chef Mark Kalix. These tips will help you make sure that you have your turkey ready on time for dinner.



1. Prep your oven before hand by taking out all the extra racks and putting the rack about 3/4 down in the oven. You can also save time by cutting all of your produce and herbs the day before.

2. When deciding when you should start cooking the turkey, work backwards. Think about the time that you want it done and on the table. It takes about 15 minutes per pound to start with. Add an extra hour for resting and an extra 20 minutes for carving.

3. Before you put your turkey in, make sure to over preheat. Set your oven at 500 degrees Fahrenheit and put it on induction bake. Roasting it for a long period of time will burn it.  The reason why you want to have the preheating so high is because when you put in your oven it actually shocks it because it is so big and cold. The temperature of the oven will actually go down to almost 90-120 degrees and will take about an hour to get back up to the temperature that you want to cook it at, usually 350 degrees Fahrenheit. By having the heat higher it will drop down to the correct temperature and can save you about an hour of cooking time.

We hope that with these simple tips, you will save time and make sure you start eating the meal right when everyone arrives.

Recipe- Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Black-eyed peas have long been a traditional New Year’s favorite. This hearty and delicious soup is a great way to warm up this winter!

Ingredients:

• 1/2  pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound pork sausage
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 cups water
• 3 15-oz. cans black-eyed peas, drained
• 1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1 10-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chili peppers (like RO*TEL), undrained
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• ¾ tsp. garlic salt
• ½ tsp. Salt
• 1 4-oz. Can chopped green chilies
• 4 tsp. Molasses
• 4 beef bouillon cubes
• ¼ tsp. Ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin

Directions:

In a large Dutch oven, cook and stir the pork sausage and ground beef with the onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, 10 to 12 minutes; drain off excess fat. Pour in the water, and stir in black-eyed peas, diced tomatoes, tomatoes with green chili, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, salt, canned green chilies, molasses, beef bouillon cubes, black pepper, and cumin until thoroughly mixed.

Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.

Prep time: 15 mins. Cook time: 1 hr. Serves 8.

Benefits to Convection Ovens over Conventional Ovens

Most people are familiar with the conventional oven.  They use radiant heat, usually dispersed through elements in the upper and lower oven. The problem with radiant heat is your cooking will be uneven due to the heat remaining fairly motionless. Because the elements are at the top and bottom of the oven best results are when the food is placed in the middle of the oven to help eliminate burning due to uneven heat within the oven. This limits your ability to utilize the entire oven for baking.

Convention baking uses forced air that is circulated throughout the entire oven through the use of a fan placed at the back of the oven. This eliminated hot and cold spots within the oven and the end result gives the food more visual appeal, texture, and flavor. This has proven to clearly be the choice of the future for baking.

Due to convection baking using forced air throughout the oven, this also cuts down on the overall cooking time and helps roasted foods stay moist and flavorful. It’s been said that forced air convection baking can reduce your time and energy up to 25% due to cutting the backing time down. You’ll also be able to utilize the entire oven space on any rack because of the even & consistent temperature caused by forced air heating.   Check out the Built-in Single Convection Wall Oven from GE.

    

Which Oven to Buy?

For those readers that are interested in converting over to a convection backing product, please start by checking out our website. Call our toll free number to speak to one of our specialists who will find you the right product for your personal needs. 

Recipe- Old Fashioned Gingerbread

Nothing quite like the smell of freshly-baked gingerbread to get you and your guests in the holiday spirit! This recipe is easy and delicious, sure to bring cheer to even this biggest Scrooge!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup butter
• 1 egg, large
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup hot water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.
2.  In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in egg and mix in molasses.
3.  In a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Blend into creamed mixture. Stir in hot water. Pour into the greased, floured pan.
4.  Bake for one hour or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving.

Prep time: 25 minutes   Cook time: 1 hour  Serves 9  375 calories per serving

Recipe- Pumpkin Bread

      Fall is upon us once again, which can mean only one thing- time for pumpkin EVERYTHING!! Here’s a recipe for pumpkin bread that is perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot apple cider on a crisp fall evening.

Prep time: 15 min. Bake time: 65-70 mins. plus 10 mins. for cooling

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

2 large eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin

½ cup canola oil

½ cup water

½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

½ cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

1.     Preheat oven to 350°. Combine first eight ingredients. Whisk together eggs, pumpkin, oil and water; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in walnuts and raisins, if desired.
2.    Pour into greased 9x5” loaf pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Approx. 65-70 mins.) Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Makes one loaf (16 slices).

Why Invest in a Convection Microwave?

When shopping for a new microwave there can be more options available than you may know. A commonly asked question is “why would we need/want convection in our microwave”?  When shopping for a new microwave, please consider the following:

1. How do we want to use our microwave? Do we need a unit that we can use as a primary cooking vessel, or simply a reheat machine?
2. Where are we going to put our microwave? Do we want a counter-top unit or a unit that we can mount over-the-range?
3. Who is going to use the microwave? Will the kids be using it, or do mom & dad do all the cooking?

    If you are cooking for your family on a regular basis, having a convection microwave can be an invaluable addition to your kitchen.  A convection microwave can be used to bake, roast, and broil.  It can truly be used as a secondary oven.  If you would like to have a microwave that you can use for more than just a bag of popcorn, or a baked potato, then you should seriously consider a convection microwave. Nothing heated in a microwave will ever be browned or crispy.  Pizza, egg rolls, pizza pockets, chicken tenders, and French fries are always better in the oven or the deep fryer, and you would never cook pork chops or a pie in your microwave…..right???  Well, now you can!  With the benefits of a convection microwave, you will truly have a second oven at your disposal.  Prepare your main dish in your standard oven, have your casserole or dessert in your microwave….yes, I said your microwave. 

Contact us today so we can help you pick out the right microwave for you and your family. They are available in counter-top, and over-the-range models, ranging from $399 and up.

Omelet Muffin Recipe

These nutritious and protein-packed muffins are a great way to give your kids a healthy start to their day AND get them out the door in time for school!

Ingredients:

8 eggs

8 oz. cooked ham, crumbled

1 cup diced red bell pepper

1 cup diced onion

¼ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin tin or line with paper baking cups.

Beat eggs together in large bowl. Mix ham, bell pepper, onion, salt, black pepper and water into the beaten eggs. Pour egg mixture evenly into prepared muffin cups.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until muffins are set in the middle.

Prep time- 15 minutes/Cook time- 20 minutes/Makes 8 muffins