I was thinking about posting this morning. How we are all fighting to be able to do nice, positive, and/or future-minded things for ourselves in amongst the chaos of looking after our aging family members.
Did you get to take a walk all by yourself today? Did you find a half an hour to enjoy a cup of coffee without interruption? Did you lock the bathroom door and have a bubble bath and a face mask? Did you finally finish a good book? Did you sign up for a night class that gets you out of the house? Did you go for a swim at the local indoor pool? Are you dreaming up a new home-based business at the kitchen table?
These moments seem so hard won, I think we deserve to celebrate them! I'd love to hear from you!
The high temps might be to kill all the bacteria, not only initially but any that lurk on or in the turkey. I thought that would be common knowledge, but I guess it's not.
Perhaps there are liability concerns with the producers of some of the cooking shows.
Welcome, all.
(Dorianne, I'm not intending to hijack your thread; just wanted to make sure everyone felt welcome.)
I think some of the most ridiculous of these shows is when some host stands next to some wannabe celebrity and sighs and swoons over something that most of us couldn't afford to buy, or is just something basic that the celebrity has enhanced (especially with high priced gadgets).
I often feel embarrassed for Julia Child, who had an interesting WWII "job" before becoming a tv celebrity. Do folks know that she worked for the forerunner of the CIA?
As to the consistent temp issue, I remember my mother putting the turkey in the oven early in the morning, like 6 or 7 or 8, while Dad took us to the Hudson's Thanksgiving Parade. When we returned about noon or so, we could smell the fragrance of the almost done turkey before we even got inside. I don't believe that Mom changed the temp unless the bird wasn't getting done quickly enough.
I believe that Mom, as did I, always used a consistent temp throughout, unless it was toward the end of the cooking and I was getting hungry and tired of waiting.
I would think that using a consistently higher temp would dry out the turkey quicker, requiring more basting (and leaning close to a hot oven while doing so).
I'm wondering if the "microwave" effect has some influence on cooking at a higher temp - i.e., get it done quicker. I think there's merit to settling back on turkey day and living at a pace before life became so much more accelerated (and neurosis inducing).
And if the TV shows are any guide (which they're not, but may be trend setters), people don't have guests, or visit with relatives or friends - they need massive open kitchens so they can "interact" with and "entertain" people while cooking. Perhaps they need audiences; I'm beginning to think with the massive spread of the "selfie" phenomenon that so many people want to be stars in their own right. The 15 minutes of fame has been replaced by selfies on FB and other social media.
Anyway, I also think that a consistent lower temperature would be more likely to ensure that the deeper portions of the turkey were also cooked thoroughly. Cooking should be a pleasure, not a race.
But then, I'm not a cooking maven and don't have the experience of spending time in ClubMed to spread a "good thing" gospel. I'm just an ordinary person.
RainMom, I'd do what you've been doing all these years, and settle back and relax and enjoy the day.
Anyhoo. Now that - that is over, I have a question for you cooks out there.
I’ve been searching for a stuffing recipe as I’ve recently posted - but something came up along the way... I’m noticing all these recipes instructing to cook the turkey at heats in the 400-500 degree range. Some say for the first 30-60 minutes then lower the temp. I get that - as that is a common method with roasts. But many recipes say to use that high temp the whole way.
So - I googled around and discovered that this is a current “thing”... like Crème fraîche, I guess. But back in my day - you cooked a turkey nice and slow - in a 325 degree oven.
Has anyone done this - cooked a turkey all the way through at such a high heat? Results? Opinions? Enquiring minds want to know...
I took my kitten over to my friend's house this afternoon, while mom was sleeping, and hung out with her and her granddaughter. There, I learned about the delightful "Masha and the Bear" on Netflix. Mom is currently parked in front of it while I check the forum. She thinks it's great! :-P
I've been caring for my parents for 6 years. My father passed in August. My mother has Alzheimer's. She is in an assisted living facility now. (And she's not happy about it). I feel guilty about that sometimes, but I do know that she gets much better care there than I could give her at my home. I'm disabled myself. I have 4 siblings that just leave it all up to me. Just doing the best that I can. I usually see her 3 or 4 times a week. She gets agitated a lot. That was happening before my Dad passed, much worse since then. Poor thing, is grieving her life long love. 61 years they we're married. She is medicated and in a small and loving care home. She tells me she hates it, but I know from reading at this site and others that that is typical. When she's agitated, she really takes it out on me. Very hard sometimes. But at other times she raves about how well they care for her.
Just thought I'd tell you a few things about myself and thank you very much for this site. Reading your experiences and realizing that I'm not the bad child I thought I was is one of the best things I have done for myself!! Thanks and hugs!!
This wasn't just for me, but we had some nice weather here, yesterday, so i took my dad out for a drive. We had a pretty good time, got to see some scenery and I think it did him some good. He's 95 and has some mobility issues. It's not always easy, and while I know he doesn't mean to be, sometimes he comes across as being a little critical.
I am enjoying reading the posts about "heartthrobs". I've always had a thing for Sean Connery and since I like the bald guys, think he hasn't aged half bad. I too was a fan of Bogart! I can always watch "Casablanca!" Does anyone else think that Paul Heinreid was a bit sexy in "Now, Voyager" when he lit the two cigarettes? I know that isn't so correct now, but he was so suave. And hey, for the younger guys, I've always had a soft spot for Leonardo diCaprio! He is so cute and a good actor. I was so sad at Titanic! And let's not forget Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Rainmom-love the image of Jason Momoa. I had to look him up, also, but WOW!
Dreaming of a trip of some sort, but suppose that will be all it is for now. It's fun to dream and look at the hotels in Hawaii? Right now, I would settle for a nice "suite" here in town. Ah, well, it costs nothing to dream.
Guess I have to put my dreams on the shelf for now and go a get to work on supper! Posting here will be my good thing I have done for myself today!
I had a good cry. I mean a really good one. it was that or have a nervous breakdown.
I was the caregiver for my mom, dad, and husband. dad died about four weeks ago and mom passed away two days ago. I got into the car and drove to the cemetery and
talked to my dad for over an hour. I was crying like a baby. losing mom and dad so close tore me apart. after about an hour of balling my eyes out I went back home to my husband whom I take care of also. I felt relief. I felt as if my dad was by my side helping me thru everything. I felt my dads love coming thru and I knew I would be able to continue to care for my husband.
it has a been a long journey for me with both parents with dementia, incontinence, and many other health issues, but you know what I wouldn't think twice about doing it again. the love, the closeness, and the bond that we built in those years is something that I will never forget. yes I took care of my parents but they also took care of me by
giving me the strength to stand strong and go on no matter what life dishes to me.
Hey, cwillie, I cleaned the leaves from my gutters also about a week ago. My ladder is really not tall enough, but I have this pole contraption I use to get rid of spider webs in my tall-ceilinged house, and I did an okay job with that. I do have gutter screens but swept up quite a pile of leaves - all from the neighbor's trees.
Which is actually something also nice for me not to cook. I didn't get home till 6.45 because my friend with terrible rheumatoid needed some TLC after I finished work.
I was soooo tired this morning - still sick. But I met up with BFF anyway and we planned our future as Home-Based Business Barons. It was work and I only just finished making a final list of supplies needed a half hour ago....but it DOES feel like I'm doing it for myself. Or we're doing it for ourselves. We were talking about how nice it is to do something creative AND think about the possibilities of what we could do in the future....something to look forward to.
Future Plans. It seems like something you don't get think about much when you're a caregiver.
If you haven’t seen Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday- you must! It stars - along with Peck - a very young Audrey Hepburn. It’s about a princess looking to escape the demands, duties and responsibilities of her position- perhaps forfeiting it all for personal happiness. Sound familiar - anyone?
As for Rhett carting Scarlet up those stairs - sexy!
Cwillie- I took your advice and emailed my SIL about the recipe. Yep - texting and email can be a curse and a blessing- especially when you want to avoid a long conversation- a definite blessing.
I'm not much of a follower of actors but Alexander Dreymon was pretty yum on The Last Kingdom.