Even after Thanksgiving we’re still giving thanks! We’re thankful for all 4,380+ of you who pledged to Respect the Bird. Thankful for everyone who shared the Respect the Bird blog, liked Respect the Bird’s Facebook page, commented about Respect the Bird in your own blog, changed your Allrecipes or Facebook profile picture to Respect the Bird, and shared what you were thankful to have in your lives with your family on Thanksgiving Day. And you didn’t rush out to grab a holiday deal until after Thanksgiving was complete (and the dishes washed). Your support and participation made the first year of Respect the Bird a huge success!
Not only did Respect the Bird receive news coverage coast-to-coast, the campaign inspired thousands of people to stop and savor Thanksgiving, taking the day to enjoy existing treasures big and small in their lives during this season of gratitude. That’s just what Doug Matthews had in mind a year ago with his original blog post that launched Respect the Bird.
With Thanksgiving 2011 now a delicious memory and Jingle Bells rightfully playing on the radio, may you continue to acknowledge what’s good and true in our lives throughout the coming year!
Happy Holidays,
Respect the Bird Team
P.S. We're hoping to come back and do this again next year and would love to hear your ideas for how we can continue to grow this movement! Please share them in the comments section or email them to us at respectthebird@gmail.com. Thanks!
Last year
Doug Mathews, an Allrecipes blogger, wrote that we should put more thanks back
in Thanksgiving with his post Respect
the Bird! We agree. Nan and I look to this holiday when family and
friends gather—many for the long weekend—as a way to create new bonds and
memories. We jump-start for the busy December ahead with a “Bake Friday” group
activity. Making cookies and breads together on Friday or through the
weekend generates oodles of fun and laughter. We make enough cookies so that
everyone can divvy up some to take home. To ensure that the assembly-fashion
event goes off without a hitch, we gather all the ingredients and equipment
needed ahead of time. What you don’t have, you can ask others to bring with
them. Here are 10 tools we love because they help make baking holiday cookies
just that much easier. (You can find out about lots of other kitchen
gadgets we adore on our blog: KitchenGadgetGals.)
1. Cookie sheets, at least 2 or 3.
Shiny, durable pans without edges are best for even baking. A large
classic (16x14 inch) aluminum pan by Nordic Ware, suggested retail $12.50 (www.buynordicware.com), or a
Regal Ware American Kitchen (12x15 inch) stainless steel cookie sheet,
suggested retail $18 @ biz.regalware.com
will hold a dozen medium-sized cookies.
2. Silicone spatula: The joy of high-heat-resistant
silicone is that it can be used for a variety of kitchen tasks. Available in
variety of sizes and shapes and whimsical designs. Williams Sonoma, $10 to $30
@ williamssonoma.com
3. BeaterBlade: If you have a KitchenAid or Cuisinart
stand mixer, replace your beater with this unique blade that is made for all KitchenAid
and Cuisinart models. The spatula-like edge on the beater helps scrape the bowl
as it mixes. Retails for $25. Available at amazon.com
4. Kuhn-Rikon Cookie and Cupcake
Decorating Set:
Five squeeze bottles, two tall and three small with 5 stainless steel
decorating tips plus frosting spatula are easy to fill and use to decorate
all those holiday cookies. Dishwasher safe- upper level. Retails for $20
available at factorydirect2you.com
or amazon.com
5. Ice Cream Scoops, 2 or 3 sizes. For drop cookies, use a scoop that
measures 1 tablespoon for speedily scooping even-sized balls of dough onto
cookie sheets. OXO ice cream and cookie scoops have ergonomic handles for
easy squeezing. Retail for $20 each. Available at oxo.com or amazon.com
6. Parchment Paper: Great nonstick solution for lining
cookie sheets when baking delicate cookies, such as lace cookies, or lining
baking pans for cakes. Available in supermarkets. Reynolds parchment $3 to $4 a
box.
7. CDN Touch Screen Timer and Clock
(TSM2): Always
good to have a a timer handy for keeping track of all the cookie chilling and
baking. The touch screen timer by CDN for those who embrace the touch
screen technology counts 100 hours up or down. Retails for $15. Available
at www.chefsresource.com
8. Oxo Oven Thermometer: For perfectly browned cookies, be
sure your oven temp is on target. A round glass face on this thermometer lets
light shine through for easy reading even in the back of the oven.
It has large numbers with a non-slip silicone frame or ring for easy
handling. It hangs or stands on the oven rack and is calibrated for both
Fahrenheit and Celsius. Retails for $15; available at oxo.com or amazon.com
9. Microplane Classic Zester/Grater: For zesting citrus peel, grating
fresh ginger or chocolate, this ultrasharp, rasp-looking tool is the way to
go. Retails for $13. Available at amazon.com
10. Cookie cutters: Wilton offers a large variety of
shapes and sizes of cookie cutters. The comfort grip metal cutters are ideal
for young hands to help stamp out cookies in many of the iconic holiday
shapes: snowflake, candy cane, gingerbread boy, star, snowman, tree to name
some shapes. Retail for $3.20 each at wilton.com
We've had some great grassroots appreciation for Thanksgiving and Respect the Bird! Check out the newest amazing quotes, comments, and media stories from Thanksgiving fans about Respect the Bird!
News Coverage
CBS The Early Show - Black Friday starts on Black Thursday now. We've had a lot of folks
who are upset about that. You can like Respect the Bird!
WHEC NBC - Turkey day is just a few days away and 66 percent of hosts say they plan on making the meal from scratch.
Washington Post with video - Stores that once closed their doors in deference to the holiday are now touting Turkey Day deals starting as early as 9 p.m.
SFGate/San Francisco Chronicle - How do you relax when you know you're heading out the door at 10 p.m. or so to go to work, and work all night long?" she said.
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Experts and even some retailers admit that the tactics don't really boost sales and profits the way television footage and newspaper photos of mobs bursting through doors suggest they do. The over-the-top retail frenzy is more defensive in nature.
Chicago Parent - From that came respectthebird.com, where over 3,000 people so far have taken a pledge to not shop or decorate their houses or buy a tree or indulge in any other Christmas tradition until Thanksgiving is over.
TechFlash - Some shoppers told The New York Times that they’re fed up with waking up early to find stores full of people and out-of-stock on the best deals.
Mother Nature Network - It's only when things creep earlier does the whole season whip into a frenzy that somehow can't be contained in one month.
OnlyKent - You might want to begin looking at some Thanksgiving recipes now and we have rounded up some of the very best Thanksgiving recipe selections to help make your day go smoothly.
From Bloggers
MomTrends - After all, from the very beginning Thanksgiving has been an American holiday about being thankful about what we have—the big things in life, family, friendships, memories, good health—not about crazy stuff on sale.
An Open Cookbook - So I am dedicating this posting to the Respect The Bird campaign by making a list of what I am thankful for....and also giving you a nice light soup recipe you can make this week before T-day.
Ecofrugal Living - However, Christmas creep is a particularly egregious example because it means that another perfectly good holiday, Thanksgiving, gets glossed over as if it didn't count.
KirstinPotPie - Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas as much as anybody, but this year I have made a pledge to Respect the Bird.
Behind The Shades - I have never gone shopping on Black Friday and I don’t intend to go shopping on “Black Thursday” this year either (looking at you Toys R Us & Walmart).
The 7up Experience - It's November. A month with 2 special Holidays....Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. Both separate but both meaningful and honorable days for the month of November.
The Hidden Foodie in Me - I can't believe it has already been a year since last Thanksgiving. Being this close to it has made me reflect on what was happening then.
Lost jobs and the art of shopping - Come on folks..... the beauty of the Thanksgiving holiday is that the only expectation is a good family/friends meal with no pressure to buy that special someone a special something with our hard earned money/credit cards.
Never Perfect, Always Good – I've never been one to battle the crowds at midnight on Thanksgiving to get "the best deals" on items that won't be remembered the next year.
The Daily Gourmet – There's no reason to not take the pledge - if you're disgusted with Christmas stuff appearing as early as September, if you're annoyed with the Christmas songs playing just days after Halloween, if you've had the unfortunate experience to work Thanksgiving in the past, if you detest Black Friday etc., take the pledge!
Hunter/Gatherer - Celebrating my grandparent's wedding anniversary (this year is Number 60!) learning more about the people I love, having everyone to my house for one day, sitting back and watching four generations come together with no material things—no gifts, no shopping, no expectations.
Linda’s boring ramblings - I usually spend time with some church people or volunteering this time of year. Good for the soul.
Another Day in the Life of Lisa - Thanksgiving is a terrific holiday - one of families and friends and remembering what we are thankful for...before the gluttony of the holiday season makes us all greedy and whiny.
The feast of feasts is finally here! How will you be spending the day? Do you have any special traditions? Share them with others in the comments or on our Facebook page!
Make Thanksgiving dinner even more memorable with these great conversation starters.
-- Ask everyone to describe a Thanksgiving slip-up that had everyone laughing. Maybe one year dad forgot to serve the stuffing in the bird?
-- Ask mom or dad how she/he learned to cook a turkey, and when was the first time. Were the in-laws coming to dinner?
-- Ask grandparents or aunts and uncles to describe a Thanksgiving from their childhood.
-- Ask everyone what was the strangest dish they ever encountered at Thanksgiving dinner.
-- Ask everyone to go around and share their favorite family memory.
What's the star of the show today? The Bird of course...so get it just right with these tips and tricks!
Turkey Tips: How to Cook and Carve the Thanksgiving Bird
It’s time to think about cooking the star of the show: The turkey! Everyone has their favorite cooking method. From brining to grilling, or even frying, this bird is versatile! Oven roasting is the most familiar and most popular way to cook a turkey. Even if you’re doing it for the first time, it works! Here’s how:
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lower the oven rack so the roasting pan holding the turkey will fit. Prepare the turkey for roasting by removing the giblets—usually found in a plastic or paper bag tucked inside the cavity of the bird—and rinsing the bird inside and out with cold water. Pat it dry with paper towels. If you are stuffing the turkey, do this now. Remember to stuff the turkey loosely, allowing about 1/2 to 3/4 cup per pound of turkey. Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a roasting pan and brush the skin with melted butter or oil. Tuck the drumsticks under the folds of the skin or tie them together with cooking twine or a specially designed wire twist. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. Roast the turkey until the skin is a light golden color (figure about 20 minutes per pound), then cover the bird loosely with an aluminum foil “tent” to prevent the skin from burning. During the last 45 minutes of cooking, remove the foil to brown the skin. Basting the bird ensures even browning but is not necessary.
How do I carve a turkey?
Once the bird is out of the oven, let it stand on a cutting board for about 30 minutes depending on its size. This gives the juices a chance to soak back into the flesh, and provides succulent cuts of meat. Before you begin carving, have a warm serving platter nearby.
Start carving by arranging the turkey, breast side up, on the cutting board. Steady the turkey with a carving fork while slicing. Using a sharp knife, slice through the meat between the breast and the leg. Next, using a large knife as an aid, press the thigh outward to find the hip joint. Slice down through the joint and remove the leg. Cut between the thighbone and drumstick bone to divide the leg into one thigh piece and one drumstick. To carve the drumstick, cut a thick slice of meat from one side, along the bone. Next, turn the drumstick over so the cut side faces down. Cut off another thick slice of meat. Repeat, turning the drumstick onto a flat side and cutting off meat, carving a total of four thick slices. To slice the thigh, place it flat side down on the cutting board. Cut parallel to the bone and slice off the meat. Place all the cuts on the warmed serving platter as you work.
Remove the wings before you cut the breast. Slice diagonally down through the edge of the breast toward the wing. Using a knife as an aid, press the wing out to find the shoulder joint; cut through this joint and remove the wing. Place the wing on the serving platter as-is.
To carve the breast meat, hold the back of the carving fork against the breastbone. Starting parallel to the breastbone, slice diagonally through the meat. Lift off each slice, holding it between the knife and the fork, and place it on the serving platter. Continue until you have carved all the meat on one side of the breast. Carve the other side of the breast following the same steps.
Join @RespecttheBird and @Allrecipes to share how you’re celebrating Thanksgiving. We’ll be hosting a TweetChat on Wednesday, 11/23 from 3-4pm PST. What’s on your menu? Do watch football before the big feast? Have a family favorite pie recipe that always makes an appearance?
Giveaway: A randomly selected participant who tweets the #RTB hashtag during the chat will win a turkey turkey baster, the Thanksgiving Tales - True Stories of the Holiday in America book by Brian Jaffe and an Allrecipes.com 6 month Supporting Membership!
