Revised USDA Turkey Roasting Time
(for turkey cooked at 325 F)

Weight (lbs.) Unstuffed 4 - 6 6 - 8 8 - 12 12 - 14 14 - 18 18 - 20 20 -24	Hours 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 2 1/4 - 3 1/4 2 3/4 - 3 3 - 3 3/4 3 3/4 - 4 1/4 4 1/4- 4 1/2 4 1/2 - 5
Weight (lbs.) Stuffed 8 - 12 12 - 14 14 - 18 18 - 20 20 - 24	Hours 3 - 3 1/2 3 1/2 - 4 4 - 4 1/4 4 1/4 - 5 5 - 5 1/4

Eating Healthy Away From Home
According to the American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR), Americans are eating out more than ever before. One of the most important changes in restaurant fare is the increased focus on healthier food. Under the Nutrition Education and Labeling Act of 1990, restaurants claiming "heart healthy" meals must provide proof.

To assist you in making wise food choices during holiday dining, the AICR has published an eight-page folder on how to make eating for lower cancer risk easy. To get your free copy send a SASE to: Healthy Eating, CES, 5106 South Western Avenue, Chicago, IL., 60609.

Dem Bones - Turkey Broth
Broth can turn a simple recipe into something special. The concentration of flavors livens up soup, when cooked down to a "reduction" it can actually replace fatty sauces and gravies. The best broth is made from bones. So don't throw away the turkey carcass.

Homemade Turkey Broth
Carcass from a 16-20 lb. cooked turkey (Save the breast bone, back bones and leg bones, if available, and roasting pan turkey was cooked in)
4 large carrots
6 stalks of celery, outer stalks with leaves
4 large yellow onions
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup chopped parsley with stems

• If roasting pan is available, pour off fat and set aside. Break bones into pieces so they are lying flat in the roasting pan or use a clean roasting pan. Brown the bones in a 400 F oven for about 30 minutes.

• Meanwhile, in a large (6-8 quart) pot with lid, bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Remove 2 cups and set aside.

• Remove bones from oven and add to pot, deglaze pan with the 2 cups boiling water. With a wooden spoon, scrape up all the brown bits from the pan and add to the bones.

• Add all remaining ingredients and enough water to cover the bones by 2 inches, use about 5 quarts total. Skim any foam that forms as water comes to a boil.

• Over high heat, bring to boil, reduce to a simmer and continue simmering for 4-6 hours.

• Using a strainer or colander, strain the broth into a large bowl. Refrigerate. Remove fat from the broth after it has cooled. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

Cooking Suggestions
To make a "reduction" to use instead of gravy, start with 1 quart of broth, boil until it is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Season with salt, pepper and herbs such as thyme or rosemary. Use over mashed potatoes, or other vegetables.

To make soup:
To 2 quarts broth add, 2 cups cooked noodles, 1 cup sauteed mushrooms, 1 cup frozen green peas and four thinly sliced green onions, simmer for 10 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon thyme and oregano. Simmer 5 minutes longer. Serve. Or use your favorite frozen vegetable combination.

Time to Check the Battery
Cold weather really gives a battery a tough workout. The lower the outside temperature, the less power a battery can develop. In the wintertime it is not uncommon for as much as 60% of battery power to be lost.

The problem is compound. During low temperatures the engine oil is thicker and the starting motor must spin the crankshaft through a pan full of thick oil. This takes a lot of extra cranking effort.

To give your battery the best chance to do its job, you (or someone) should perform some simple maintenance tasks. When you take your car in for a tuneup or oil change, make sure you tell the mechanic to "service the battery." This should include checking the cable terminal connections and cleaning away all corrosion. Battery corrosion is that greenish white crust around the battery posts. Do not get it on your hands, it is battery acid.

To clean the corrosion, use baking soda and water and a wire brush. Make a paste and rinse away with plain water. You can buy a wire brush at the automotive shop or hardware store. If the surface of the batter is dirty it will not hold a charge very well. Clean the entire surface.

Be careful not to splash any of the solution in your face. Wear glasses to protect your eyes. Sunglasses are O.K., or even goggles and use gloves to protect your hands.

Cleaning your battery is no more difficult than cleaning your oven.

Did you know ...
you can get free advice on turkey cooking and storage? Call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Did you know ...
you are more susceptible to frostbitten feet and toes if your shoes are too tight? Poor blood circulation is the reason. If you wear two pairs of socks, make sure your shoes are a half size larger than normal.

Research Notes: Sodium
Lowering salt intake does not lower hypertension for most people, according to a review of the literature by University of Toronto researchers. The study involved 56 trials and 3505 people. The results revealed that reduction in blood pressure by lowering sodium intake was significant only for hypertensive people aged 45 and over, but not for younger people. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 275, #20; May 229, 1996, pp. 1590-98.

Research Notes: Breast Cancer
Researchers in the British Journal of Cancer report that dietary fiber may slow the growth of existing breast cancer tumors. Another study in the same issue examining dairy product consumption and breast cancer concludes that drinking milk may help to prevent breast cancer. British Journal of Cancer, Vol. 73, #5; March 1996; pp. 557-559.

Winter 1996
Winter Preparation for Ornamental Plants | Deicing Salt Can Injure Plants | Bug Bites: Woolly Worms | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Food Safety: A Procrastinator's Guide to a Safe Holiday Dinner | Food for Thought: Help! Refrigerator Overload! | Healthy Cooking: A Quick Start Breakfast | Health and Household Tips

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