TheCleaners.net

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when I can not only get away with over-eating... it's expected of me! For most of us, our earliest memories of some of our relatives come from family get-togethers over turkey and stuffing, gravy, cranberries and pie. When we were kids, we took the entire process for granted. We went to Grandma's house, waited for what seemed like FOREVER, and finally got to eat until it hurt.

Now that we're adults, we know it takes a lot of work to pull off that kind of gastronomic extravaganza -- so we've got some tips to help you out, plus links to just about anything you need to make this the Thanksgiving when you finally get it right.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us to you and your family!

Jim

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY HOURS
Like you, we will all be home spending time with our families on Thanksgiving. WE WILL CLOSE at our regular time Wednesday and re-open Friday morning to do business as usual.

Let's Talk Turkey COUPON!

This year, be honest with yourself and acknowledge that there is not even a 1% chance that your table linens will escape Thanksgiving dinner unscathed.  Now that we've got that out of the way, it's time to plan how to handle them!  As our contribution to your glorious meal, take $5 off the cleaning and finishing of a table cloth and napkins. (Include first page of this e-mail with your order. Offer expires Dec. 5, 2004.  Cannot be combined with other offers.)

Ten Tips for Taming
Turkey-day!

There is no meal on the American plate more venerated than the annual Thanksgiving Dinner. The desire for it is nearly universal. It spreads across tables with abandon and plenty - in homes, at homeless shelters, firehouses, hospitals and nursing homes, military bases and ships at sea. Wherever Americans gather, Thanksgiving is noted and emulated with nostalgic pleasure.

That emotional luggage that comes with Thanksgiving is what makes it a minefield for those who host the annual gathering of clan or friends. It doesn't have to be a time of stress. Here are tips to keep it under control.

Plan Ahead

• Of course you're going to get your turkey and ingredients in advance. But take that extra 15 minutes or so to run through it all at least a day before Thanksgiving to be sure you haven't missed anything -- or accidentally used up something vital. Sending someone to the store (if you can find one open) will send stress through the roof.

• Make a schedule of all the things that have to happen to get the food to the table on time. Thanksgiving dinner is item-intensive! If you figure out how long each item must cook or will take to prepare, you can keep a more casual eye on the clock throughout the day and not suddenly remember the rolls as the guests are sitting down. Start that list with the turkey itself! Build in time to defrost it safely.

• Set the table the day before. It will give you a psychological lift to see it all ready for guests, and you can see if you've forgotten anything -- like extra serving spoons, or glassware that's gone astray -- while you've still got time to deal with it.

• Clean as you go. (Your mother probably told you that.) Start Thanksgiving day with an empty dishwasher. As items are used, rinse and put into the washer. Plan to run it at least twice (and empty it again) before guests arrive. Have a sink of warm, soapy water standing by so that as you clear the table in preparation for dessert the silverware and smaller plates can begin soaking. Loading the dishwasher after dessert should be a snap.

Whether Guest or Host

• If guests offer to bring something, LET THEM. It may be an item that makes Thanksgiving "official" for them. In any case, you don't have time to do more than you already must. People genuinely like to make things easier for the person producing the feast. Unless you're from Krypton, you need it.

• BYOS -- Bring your own stuff! If you are bringing something to the feast, bring the appropriate serving dish(es) and utensils, as well. It will make the host/hostess more than grateful that you've come.

• Watch the clock. Most people who make a full Thanksgiving dinner have a particular time when they anticipate everything will be hot and on the table. It's an art to achieve this! Don't cause chaos by either showing up too early (and having to be entertained) or late.

• Don't let the turkey intimidate you. Worried it will come out dry? Here's an easy tip. Purchase some cheesecloth (available in supermarkets in the cleaning supplies, in craft stores or fabric stores). Cut a length of it as long as your turkey -- it will be double-thick, because it comes folded up. Leave it doubled. Melt about half a stick of butter in a pan over low heat, let it cool slightly, then put the cheesecloth into it and shake the pan to help it absorb the butter. Drape the butter-saturated cheesecloth over the turkey -- especially tucking in the wings and legs under this blanket. Baste right through the cloth until the last half hour, then gently remove the cloth and let the turkey finish browning. The cloth will hold the basting on the turkey and allow it to penetrate, rather than just running off the instant you ladle it on. Perfect turkey every time!

• Play with ingredients and side dishes to keep them interesting. Tired of the same old stuffing? How about adding some cut up Granny Smith apples to it, or wild rice for a nutty flavor. Substitute apple juice for the water or broth you usually include in the stuffing. Remember that people's memories are triggered by taste, so don't get too wild -- or, if you do, prepare a "new" version along with the traditional one so no one will be disappointed. Yours may become the newest tradition.

• Include children in your planning and the event. Don't banish them to another room to eat -- bring them into the festivities. Some of the best, most enduring family memories are based around silly things one child or another in the family did at a holiday meal.

Most of all, relax! Enjoy the cooking, and especially the left-overs. Here are some great links to everything you need to make Thanksgiving a success.

• Thanksgiving Central -- WOW! More links than you can shake a stick at, from recipes to timetables, from including your pets in the fun to good food safety tips.
• Getting ready for children -- A list of easy tips to help child-proof different areas of your home before the young diners arrive.
• Tips for Guests and Hosts -- Etiquette to make the day flow smoothly, from Reader's Digest.
• Fabulous Foods and everything Thanksgiving -- a plethora of articles on different turkey preparation methods, history of the holiday, wine advisor, food safety, and lots more.