Tuesday Things.
1. I am SO in the Christmas spirit already that I’m actually dying to put up our tree. I haven’t felt like this in a few years and I hope the excitement carries on for two more months. I went to Target just to walk through the Christmas decor on Sunday. Living the wild dream life over here.
2. WHAT on earth is social media going to be filled with after today? I’m just going to miss SNL.
3. I love seeing this process of how Adrianna’s Cozy Coloring Book came together. The food in this book looks so delicious that I want to color and devour every single page!
4. Last week I asked whyyyy about the sock booties but do you want to know something horrifying? I kind of want a pair of platform oxfords. I mean, NO, I’m not going to do it. I don’t think so. No no no. Get out of my head.
5. TV TV! Masters of Sex made me so freaking happy even though it was sort of weird. Still kind of meh on the Walking Dead but I understand why the last two weeks were sort of mild. Kind of reminds me of when they sliced someone’s head off. I cannot get over how freaking funny Divorce is. I mean, it’s also horrible but the husband is hilarious. And finally, the icing on the cake: did you watch Snoop Dog and Martha Stewart’s new show on VH1 last night? Eeeeep.
6. My favorite video of every year: Jimmy Kimmel’s I Told My Kid I Ate Their Halloween Candy. When Max went trick or treating this year, he gave every house candy from HIS own bag. Hehehehe.
7. Guys, where do you brine a huge turkey? No way it will fit in my fridge. We have the (horrific!) side by side fridge and freezer that fits absolutely nothing and 35 things fall out of it any given day when the door is opened. But I don’t know if a cooler with ice is safe enough. HALP.
8. P.S. did you see that I’m giving away four pieces of the stunning Mackenzie Childs cookware over on instagram?!
24 Comments on “Tuesday Things.”
For the last few years my parents have brined the turkey in a bucket of ice in the garage, where it’s super cold, because it’s November in Michigan.
That’s how I’ve done it. It takes a little getting used to (“what?! i’m storing poultry OUTSIDE of the fridge/freezer?!”), but it works and no one has gotten sick, haha. You can get a food-grade bucket on amazon, btw.
Like Haley stated above, I get a 5 gallon bucket with a lid that is Food Safe from Tractor Supply in Iowa and that is where my turkey gets brined. Normally, it is very cold here by then and it sits in the garage. If not, then I take out hte shelves in my extra side by side fridge and put it in there. Just found your blog a few days ago, love the writing.
We always brine our turkey in a cooler with ice (refilling the ice as needed) and haven’t died yet from it!!! :)
I love your weekly Tuesday Things. FB is going to be crazy today. . . wait it’s been crazy for WEEKS!!! The Jimmy Kimmel Halloween videos make me laugh so hard every year.
-Heather
http://www.newyorkrootstosouthernboots.com
I brine my turkey in a cooler with ice and I leave it out on the back patio, weighted down with bricks (in case of critters!), and it works out well every time. :)
I am 100% behind the platform oxfords… trying to justify buying these guys – http://www.loefflerrandall.com/callie-wheat-oxford-1.html – it’s an internal struggle right now. DO IT. And let me know what kind you buy!
#1. TOTALLY! Me too! Celebrated early Thanksgiving up north with my family on Saturday though, so I’m all like: Thanksgiving is over, onto Christmas! You guys have the most gorgeous fall up in PA this year – very jealous, but glad I got to see it!
I don’t care… I’m putting up some decorations this week!
I’m feeling a bit meh about The Walking Dead too. I still haven’t recovered from the first episode of the series, and so haven’t watched the second two yet. I hope they’re not too slow paced (or as traumatic as the first one!)
Steph – http://www.nourishmeblog.co.uk
I’m happy to see social media go back to normal after today, lol, this stuff is tiring. X)
And omg, I keep looking at all the winter/xmas decor and have to stop myself from buying too much because I already have most of what I need anyway… And you know what else is tough? Walking past aisles of festive candy!
Alton Brown has a brining method using a cooler and ice packs. Love love love your blog
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/alton-brown-s-classic-brined-and-roasted-turkey
Food52 has a genius recipe for a dry brined turkey that has changed my turkey world forever. :) Also, Ina recommends not using super big turkeys because they are generally older and therefore tougher. If I have a big crowd I generally roast two smaller birds. And I totally have the Christmas bug too!
I do an injection brine with my turkey so you don’t have to worry about getting a massive bucket to store the turkey in. Works great!
My mom has a side by side fridge and it is the worst thing EVER. I literally (like, actually not kidding) had to use a bungee cord to keep in food in the freezer over the summer. It was traumatic.
I loved Divorce! The show just gets better and better. Can’t wait to see where the show goes next with the lawyers involved!
Dry brine two smaller birds! We just bought a new house with a side by side fridge and it is definitely the worst!
I managed a Whole Foods butcher department for about 2 years ( imagine the sexism I got from customers, small blonde girl is the boss). ANYWAY we brined birds in house, and I don’t think a lot os customers knew that. I’d call a butcher and see if they are able to brine a turkey you pick out yourself. You might get lucky. Just thank them a lot, everyone that works at grocery stores hates every single customer during the holidays. SO sad.
Otherwise, You can totally “dry brine” in your fridge, or set brine in a large cooler with ice in your garage. By Thanksgiving time I bet it’ll be cold enough outside to brine the turkey in a large double wrapped trash bag (not even in anything else, just two or three bags) and leave outdoors. So many options!!! maybe…
I went to Target Friday night for the exact same reason! Glad to know I’m not the only one!
nope – can’t do the platform oxford shows. but I am loving my cute flats from Target that you told us about. Got the plaid ones too. super comfy and don’t really care if they get trashed. thanks for telling us about them. You can brine a turkey in a cooler filled with ice. Get one of those HUGE Ziploc bags (used to store clothing – they come in different sizes) brine it in there then place it in a cooler filled with ice and a wee bit of water. You’ll probably have to keep adding ice but super easy. tada! it’s how I corn my beef to make homemade corned beef. yumola!
I watched Snoop & Martha! That’s how I got through the election chaos. What a crazy, funny show. Who knew Snoop was a Calculus whiz!?! I plan to DVR it regularly. Also just binge watched Divorce. I LOVE SJP.
Instagram?
We buy the brining bags and line one of the deli drawers from the fridge with it and brine the turkey right in there. We have done it with a 14 pounder.
My dad does his in a cooler (just puts a big bag in there so no weird cooler stuff gets on it) and because he lives in Wisconsin, he keeps it out in the garage and it DEFINITELY stays cold enough. He also does something so it doesn’t freeze…salt? But don’t quote me on that. If you need to know, I can find out!
I need to know! I’m in Alaska, and I’m afraid it will be a meat popsicle if I put it outside (and our garage is heated).
If you’re going to brine in a cooler I would recommend a good old fashioned thermometer. That way you can check periodically and know you’re bird has stayed below 40 degrees (the Danger Zone)