Three cooking goofs that can ruin a turkey dinner

Turkey isn't just a Thanksgiving Day tradition. It's popular at Christmas too, with 22 million consumed, according to the National Turkey Federation. Ask friends for their best turkey tips and you'll get an earful of advice on brining, basting, glazing and grilling, even deep-frying. But does anybody tell you where it can all go wrong with the turkey changing from being much anticipated to maligned? Here are three common mistakes cooks make and what to do instead.

Not allowing enough time for thawing. Sure, it's safe to roast a frozen turkey, but you have to increase cooking time by about 50 percent and you can't grill or smoke it, and don't even think about deep frying or microwaving a frozen bird, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And then there's the matter of taste. "The bird is very lean to start with and I don't care if you put a sweater or coat on this turkey, cooking it that much longer means the exterior of the bird will be very dried out," says Chef Brendan Walsh, dean of culinary education at the Culinary Institute of America.
Tip: Plan ahead. Allow 24 hours of refrigerator thaw time per four pounds of frozen turkey—a 16-pound bird should thaw in four days. Keep the turkey in its original wrapper and place it breast side down in a shallow roasting pan. This lets the juices flow into the breast meat.

Overcooking. Use a meat thermometer and roast a whole turkey until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, checking the thickest part of the breast and innermost part of the thigh and wing.
Tip: Don't rely on the pop-up thermometer. It's calibrated to pop at 170 degrees F to 185 degrees F, depending on the weight, and chefs have told us that's past ideal. Need a reliable meat thermometer? Take a look at the top-rated Polder THM-360, $30, a leave-in model, or the instant-read Taylor Weekend Warrior 806 for $16, two standouts from our tests of meat thermometers.

A rush to carve. Let the turkey rest at least 15 minutes and up to 25 if it's over 25 pounds. You want to allow enough time for the internal juices to be absorbed back into the bird, making it moister, and so the sliced turkey looks more attractive.
Tip: Using the wrong knife or a dull knife can result in a butchered bird. If you need new knives consider two impressive sets from our kitchen knife tests, the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Professional "S", $315, or the more economical Ginsu Chikara, $75.

12 months 12 favorite creations

Dear Chicago House,

Looking back over the last 12 months I have been quite prolific in my creations (I know that many decorating craft type bloggers are driven to create things just to have something to post about- but this is definitely not the case here!)

So inspired by a post I wrote on my professional blog "The Chicago web Designer", where I took a look back at some of my 2012 projects, I thoughts I'd do the same here.

So without further ado here are some of my favorite creative projects of 2012.

January: String Art
February: Converting a mini blind to a much prettier Roman blind
March: Pebble Art
April: A painted pot
May: Free card download inspired by an Arty farty Friday piece
June: Paper Weight
July: Stenciled pillow
August: Abstract watercolor painting
September: Driftwood Orb
October: Painted Fish
November: Seed Bead Art
December: An ornament/Christmas card

Is your favorite in this selection too...or do you have another one?

Love from

Creative in Chicago

XX

Modern Desert Sanctuary in Utah: The Buddhist Retreat by Imbue Design

This modern dwelling in Grover, Utah was especially developed by Imbue Design to be a desert sanctuary for Tibetan Buddhist practice. Moreover, the building serves as a secondary family residence. Due to the presence of large windows throughout, the indoor-outdoor connection is optimum. The inhabitants are thus offered exquisite views of the surrounding natural environment consisting of a giant red plateau with volcanic rocks and twisted juniper trees.

According to the architects, “the entry deck of the house projects horizontally out into space toward the red rock gateway of the park as the topography slopes down toward the verdant valley below. Down through the deck the user descends toward the entry into a space shaded from the desert sun by the deck above. Entering into the house, the main living space again directs the view outward through a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall frame of the lush green valley and red plateau beyond“. How would you comment on the architecture of this slightly-unusual Buddhist Retreat?

What a Little Paint Can Do

In my last post about my new back garden I thanked Rant readers for their design tips, all of which I incorporated. Well, most of which until now. The super-honest Christopher C wrote to tell me that he CRINGED whenever I posted a photo of my neighbors privacy screen, shown below, because it looked like a beat-up old pallet.

Veteran bloggers like myself are known for their thick skin but Ive gotta say, that kinda stung. But in a good way, an inspiring way. So I anxiously researched my co-op rules and learning that paint is allowed, determined to make this one purple the primary color Ive chosen for the plants. (Following Thomas Rainers directive to choose a color scheme and stick to it religiously in a space this small).

But then another super-honest gardenblogging friend came to visit and immediately nixed the purple idea and while she was at it, expressed HORROR, I say, HORROR at the sight of my bright green garden hose. (Not the one above, which doesnt look bad but was damaged.)

Being a faithful follower of suggestions at least when my gut says theyre right on I set out to find a better looking hose (done! Post to follow when it arrives) and chose this deep green for the screen, a color destined to be less controversial with the neighbors than purple. It also A, matches the Adirondack chairs perfectly and B, is an actual color that colored stain comes in; purple isnt even on offer.

So Christopher, its not the light green you suggested but has it at least put an end to the dreaded cringing effect? I sure hope so. Itll soon be festooned with the evergreen vine Bignonia (crossvine) that you see here in its first season.

In the corner is a Blue Maid holly thats supposed to grow to 6-10. The groundcovers in this little court are the vigorous Sedum takesimense for sun and Creeping Jenny for shade.

Me, I love the big dose of color, which also looks good from the living room, where its a prominent feature out the window. I just hope it stays this way, despite my failure to follow directions for applying it. I declined to use the wood cleaner I was supposed to use first; the chemicals in it are SO NASTY I couldnt stand the idea of washing them down into my garden soil. So, time will tell.

Paint Rules!

Id painted garden walls before and recommended paint many times for the unsightly sheds and garages of my clients and agree totally with the sentiments of Maureen Gilmer:

I believe in paint. Its cheap. It makes huge changes in a matter of hours. Paint is the poor garden makers Yellow Brick Road to bold, beautiful spaces.

Click that link to see her excellent examples. Googling painted garden walls also led me to an example by designer Shirley Bovshow, who uses a slightly lighter green to cover a cinder block wall.

I did manage to find an example in purple by an English designer whos far bolder than I am.

Searching for painted garden walls on Houzz yields a few good examples, like the fabulous one below.

Eclectic Landscape design by San Luis Obispo Landscape Architect Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Anybody else using paint in their garden? And why do you think we see so little of it used?

4 Things to Keep in Mind When Designing your Yard

Putting together a yard doesnt sound like too huge of a production. Sure, its a lot of work, but its not like you cant just change it later if you dont like it. What we really want to do is just skip to the part where we get to set up the garden decor, but you cant afford to be too hasty when building the canvas for your art.

What many people dont realize is that any real change in your yard requires you to dig up at least part of it and to move very large amounts of stuff, resulting in a lot more effort expended than if you think it through the first time.

Here are a few important things to remember when designing and building your backyard landscaping.

Avoid Steep Berms

People love steep berms because they look way more interesting than just a flat patch of grass, but before you get all excited about that you need to remember that grass has to be mowed occasionally. Most mowers are not meant for steep gradients and can flip over and cause massive damage to your lawn or more importantly you and anyone nearby. Many professional maintenance landscapers will refuse to mow gradients that steep because of safety concerns and liability issues.

Use Locally Viable Fauna

Obviously trying to grow an Arizona style desert cactus in London would require a ridiculous amount of work, but this rule applies to less obvious things as well. Be careful about the type of grass that you sow into your yard and choose something that thrives in your specific climate to save water and prevent a variety of disease, fungal, and pest related problems that your grass might otherwise be prone to. When choosing trees and flowers you should similarly keep an eye out for what grows naturally in the surrounding area.

Place Trees Away From Your House

Putting trees too close to your house is dangerous. Many people like to stick them within 10 feet or so because theyll benefit from the shade of the tree earlier in its life. What they dont realize is that the trees roots will undermine their houses foundation and cause the walls to crack. If you plant your trees further away from your house (20-30 feet) you can avoid being forced to tear your tree out of the ground after 10 years, and as the tree gets larger it will shade a larger and larger portion of your house, thus helping you to keep your energy costs lower.

Avoid Grading Dips into the Yard

Dont do anything too drastic with your grading unless youre trying to grow rice. Any depressions in your yard can become drainage areas for your lawn irrigation and result in a reeking swampy area. The general grading of your house should be a gentle slope away from your house.

While you usually wont need to worry about this you should also be aware that any major landscaping alterations can change the grading in your yard and you might be forced to make adjustments to avoid draining water toward your house, which can result in a flooded crawl space. If you want to build any surface features into the ground you should build them so that any water draining from them runs all the way out into a designated sink or flat area.

Build Separate Sprinkler Zones For Lawn and Flower beds

If youre reading from outside the UK in America or Australia youll very likely be using some form of irrigation. Its incredibly rare that your lawn and your flowers will require the same amount of moisture.

If you water at the wrong level for either one you can kill your flowers, stunt the growth of your vegetable garden, cause your lawn to turn into a fungus riddled swamp, or conversely dry it out and turn it into a weed bed. Putting in extra zones for your flower beds is more expensive but allows for more controlled water application to keep your yard looking healthy.

Author: Mackenzie Kupfer has been a lover of all things green since the age of six when she began gardening with her Nana. She is currently an online publisher for the outdoor garden decor site avantgardendecor.com. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys attending garden shows, hiking, and gardening with her son.

Posts related to 4 Things to Keep in Mind When Designing your Yard

Eco-Friendly Ways to Increase the Value of Your Property

Tips for Recycling your Garden Waste

9 Tips For Implementing A Natural Pest Control Program

Seven Ways Pests Get Into Your Home

Enhance your Gardening Experience with Chippers and Shredders

Effective Old Home Repair - Some Tips and Causes of Damage

Unique and Creative Ideas for Wrapping Holiday Gifts

I hope you had an enjoyable weekend. Even though it was a difficult one after Fridays horrible event, I consciously took the much-needed time to slow down to truly enjoy the simple and small moments with my family I hope you got to do the same. I, like many of you probably did, watched the news and the memorial services and felt so sad. It is heart wrenching to see innocent children and heroic teachers taken from this earth way too early. As a parent to a child that is the same age as those no longer here, its unfathomable to comprehend the pain that is felt by all the families, friends, and community. My prayers, thoughts, and condolences go out to all that were affected.

Its hard to believe Christmas is only a week away. Whether youre still in the midst of the shopping frenzy or are completely finished, its almost time to wrap.

I love pretty, colorful designs on wrapping paper, but often cant bring myself to buy uber pricey paper since it usually ends up torn and in the trash. Its kind of a waste of money dont you think? Yet, I think the wrapping can be just as special as the present. So what do you do? Well, be creative and wrap up a pretty package that is unique and personal, but doesnt cost a bundle.

Ive compiled 15 creative ideas on how to wrap your Holiday gifts. Enjoy and Be Inspired

Wrapping Idea 1

Brown craft paper wrapping with a leaf accent by Project Wedding

Wrapping Idea 2

Handmade woodland wrapping by Odessa May Society

Wrapping Idea 3

Brown paper bags dressed up with paper, ribbons, bows, and natural foilage via My Home Ideas

Wrapping Idea 4

Holiday fabric wrapped around a present and tied by Le Papier Studio

Wrapping Idea 5

Game gift tag using scrabble tiles by Decor Demon

Wrapping Idea 6

Brown craft paper wrapped with twine and paper twine branches via HGTV.com

Wrapping Idea 7

(more) Brown craft paper accented with black and white photographs of the recipients via Our Suburban Farm

Wrapping Ideas 8

(even more) Brown craft paper embellished using yarn and pom poms via Bugs and Fishes

Wrapping Ideas 9

Typographic gift wrap via ManMade

Wrapping Ideas 10

DIY Rudolph embellished (with stick ears) wrapping via Pretty Handy Girl

Wrapping Idea 11

A petite box wrapped with raffia and natural greenery via Design Sponge

Wrapping Idea 12

Map wrapping tied with red and white bakers twine via Design Sponge

Wrapping Idea 13

Craft paper embellished with ribbon, felt flowers, and tags via Multiply Delicious

Wrapping Idea 14

Washi tape gift wrap via The Sweetest Occasion

Wrapping Idea 15

Construction paper wrapped presents via Simple Belle Blog

5 Creative Ways to Wrap with Craft Paper

Wrapping gifts makes me happy!

With a yummy glass of wine in hand, I wrapped quite a few last evening. It brings me joy to give to others.

Until this year, I used the typical fun and festive paper that you see in the holiday aisles at most big-box stores. Papers come in a variety of colors, lengths, and themes, but there is something impersonal about it. Just like a front door to a home, the packaging on a present sets the tone for whats the come. Wrapping doesnt have to be expensive, but creative is key. Earlier this week, I shared 15 unique ways to wrap holiday gifts and today Im sharing how the gifts I will be giving this year will be wrapped.

From the graphic and title of this post you can pretty much figure out what I used for wrapping gifts this year, but if not, its Craft Paper.

I love it! Why? Its inexpensive, youll never run out, it can be used and customized for any occasion, its multi-functional, and is super thick/heavy (like high-end pricey papers at $6/$8 a roll).

And let me say it again youll never run out (well eventually you will but not for at least 5 or 10 years)! I purchased a 500 roll of brown craft paper for $8 at Lowes. Pretty awesome, right?!

Lets dig right in to see how my presents will be wrapped for Christmas 2012

After wrapping my presents in the brown craft paper, I got started with the embellishments a.k.a. the fun part!

Craft Paper Idea 1

Materials

As a DIYer and crafter, paint chip samples seemed unique and so appropriate to add to a gift that came from me. I picked a few up that seemed Christmas-like in a range of red and green hues.

You really can do so much with paint chip samples! After I wrapped my present in brown craft paper, I then wrapped two layers of red yarn around and finished it off with a long green paint chip sample. I added the words DAD on it with individual letter stamps that I got at AC Moore for $1. Super cheap and so pretty!

And the result

Craft Paper Idea 2

Materials

Again super easy to make and some of the supplies are a repeat from the last gift idea. Instead of using the yarn this time, I decided on jute, which again is very inexpensive. I got this roll at Walmart for $3 and have used it for many things around the house.

After wrapping and adding the embellishments, heres the result

It was so simple to make! I wrapped a loooong strand of jute towards the end of the box (not centered) with an ornament and paint chip sample, and it was complete. With the individual letter stamps, you can say anything and add as many words as youd like. The options are endless. For this present I wrote Merry Christmas.

Craft Paper Idea 3

Materials

Using any ornament I loved how these chocolate snowflakes sparkled add it to a present for a creative embellishment. I wrapped one layer of jute around the box, added a tag, and the simple snowflake ornament, and my present was complete.

This special one is for my mom

Craft Paper Idea 4

Materials

A minute later, the result

For this present in particular, I simply wrapped a looong strand of red yarn around the box and finished it with two small ornaments. So easy.

Craft Paper Idea 5

Materials

To create this last idea, I used it all Jute, yarn, an ornament, and a paint chip sample.

As you see, each present has similar materials, but is put together differently each time to truly make a one-of-a-kind gift. How special? And what recipient wouldnt appreciate the time you took to think outside of the box?!