Hello, all my Foodie Friends! Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It is time to start the preparations of items needed to create your fabulous feast. At Compliments to the Chef, we have some gadgets that can make your Thanksgiving prep and serve a little easier. Good tools are essential to good cooking just like good tools are helpful to a carpenter building a house. One tool I think a lot of foodies don’t have or know how to use is the thermometer. It is one of my must haves in a kitchen. Undercooked turkey is a recipe for Salmonellosis! Your turkey should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees for 15 seconds. You should check the temperature in at least two places and in the thickest part of the turkey. Do not discount how much this tool means to not just you but your whole family. Pre-school age school children’s immune systems are not yet developed and elderly people’s immune systems are failing.
Our first recommendation is a simple Bi-Metallic stemmed thermometer. There are others, such as digital but this is the simplest, easiest, and most cost-effective choice. It’s easy to calibrate and if you stop in to our new place I’ll personally teach you how.
The second recommendation for a must have is a Flavor Injector and there are many types. Adding some flavor can really set your turkey apart from Mom’s recipe.
Our third recommendation is an Open Roaster. The one we recommend is the All-Clad 13”x16” Roaster with Rack. It is one of the jewels of our store. Roast meat, poultry, and vegetables to perfection with this versatile large roaster. Holding up to a 20-lb. turkey, the heavy-duty stainless-steel roasting pan features tall, straight sides, which help prevent splatters and spills, while its upright handles ensure a secure hold when transporting the pan to and from the oven, even when wearing thick oven mitts. The roaster comes with a V-shaped nonstick roasting rack that elevates large cuts of meat to promote even cooking.
Compatibility with all stovetops (except induction)
Another cool tool is a Gravy/Fat separator. There are various sizes and styles of gravy separators. Among the types is a 1 ¾ cup gravy separator that is made of FDA-approved, BPA-free polycarbonate and plastic. This gravy separator strains out fat, seasonings, and lumps for flavorful gravy, broth, soup stock, au jus, and sauce with lower fat and calories
The BPA-free polycarbonate and plastic structure resists breakage and is heat-safe to 248-degrees Fahrenheit. It has a large handle that allows for a safe grip; the pierced lid strains out lumps and larger food bits with a low-set spout that pours flavorful liquids without the fat; drip-free spout for easy, mess-free pouring. The fat separator also has a wide-mouth opening and markings in milliliters and cups (from ½-cup) makes straining and measuring easy; microwave safe for easy reheats. The fat separator is easy to use and is great for everyday or holiday meals and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
At the Reardon household everyone has a job to do including doing the dishes, even the family dog who is great for cleaning anything dropped on the floor. Well, there is one person who seems to get out of working every year and her name is Gretta Garbo. She is a cat who oversees the whole operation from her plush tower of rugs. My son John has taken over the job of head carver and my daughter Aubrey is our great pastry chef. Paula and I look forward to this day every year now that our children are older. Cherish your moments together. Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen!” Stop by and fulfill your holiday culinary needs at Compliments to the Chef’s new location of 33 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs. Take care, John and Paula.
