Have you ever wondered who actually did the first blog?

Just a thought!

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN!!!!!

By the time the Lord made woman,

He was into his sixth day of working overtime.

An angel appeared and said,

"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"

And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?

She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,

have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable

and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,

have a lap that can hold four children at one time,

have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart

-and she will do everything

with only two hands."

The angel was astounded at the requirements.

"Only two hands!? No way!

And that's just on the standard model?

That's too much work for one day.

Wait until tomorrow to finish."

But I won't," the Lord protested.

"I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.

She already heals herself when she is sick

AND can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.

"But you have made her so soft, Lord."

"She is soft," the Lord agreed,

"but I have also made her tough.

You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.

The Lord replied,

"Not only will she be able to think,

she will be able to reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something,

and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.

"Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.

I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak,"

the Lord corrected,

"that's a tear!"

"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,

her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,

her loneliness, her grief and her pride."

The angel was impressed.

"You are a genius, Lord.

You thought of everything!

Woman is truly amazing."

And she is!

Women have strengths that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness,

love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideals.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

PLEASE pass this along to all your women friends and relatives

to remind them just how amazing they are.

Thank you Beth Meiller for reminding me to be a being a better Son!

Thanks also go to Raven for she is the one Beth got it from. To anyone else I say the word has been spread as I saw fit.

HOME & GARDEN INFORMATION CENTER

1-888-656-9988
HGIC 3560 http://hgic.clemson.edu


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How to Cook Turkey
THAWING A TURKEY
What is the best way to thaw a turkey? There are three ways to safely thaw a turkey, but refrigerator thawing is recommended. Defrost the turkey in its original wrapper on a tray in the refrigerator 24 hours for every 5 pounds. Never thaw a turkey at room temperature.

You may also place the wrapped turkey in the sink and cover it completely with cold water for about 30 minutes per pound. Change the water every 30 minutes to make sure it stays cold. If the wrapping is torn, place the turkey in another plastic bag, close securely, and then place in water.

For thawing in the microwave, check the manufacturer’s instructions for the size of turkey that will fit into your oven, the minutes per pound and the power level to use for thawing. Cook immediately after thawing.

TABLE 1. THAWING TIMES FOR A TURKEY

Turkey Size (lbs.)
Refrigerator (Days)
Cold Water (Hours)

8-12
1-2
4-6

12-16
2-3
6-8

16-20
3-4
8-10

20-24
4-5
10-12


PREPARATION
After thawing, get the turkey ready for cooking by following these steps:

Remove original plastic wrapper from thawed or fresh turkey.
Remove the neck and giblets from the body and neck cavities.
Rinsing the turkey is no longer recommended because of the risk of cross-contamination from rinse water being splashed around the sink, on the counter and on foods. (The recommended roasting temperature easily destroys any bacteria on the surface of the turkey.)
If stuffing the turkey, do so just before roasting.
Return legs to tucked position, if untucked.
If using an oven-safe meat thermometer, insert into the deepest part of the thigh. (If using an instant-read thermometer, it will be inserted when it is time to check for doneness.)
Brush with oil to prevent drying of the skin.
WASH HANDS, UTENSILS, SINK AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH RAW TURKEY. Sanitize the counter, sinks and any containers or trays that have been used. Use a solution of 1 teaspoon of unscented chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water, and let dry completely.

STUFFING A TURKEY
To stuff or not to stuff? This is an important question to ask because cooking a home-stuffed turkey can be somewhat riskier than cooking one not stuffed. If the stuffing is not cooked and handled properly, foodborne illness could occur. However, with careful preparation and the use of a meat thermometer to ensure that safe temperatures are reached, consumers can safely enjoy the traditional stuffing, inside or outside the bird. Follow these safe stuffing tips:

Prepare Stuffing Safely: Mix the stuffing just before it goes into the turkey. Use only cooked ingredients in stuffing such as sautéed vegetables, cooked meats and seafood (oysters), and pasteurized egg products instead of raw eggs. If more convenient, the wet and dry ingredients can be prepared separately ahead of time and chilled. Mix the ingredients just before placing the stuffing inside the turkey or in a casserole.

Stuff The Bird Properly: Stuff both neck and body cavities. The turkey should be stuffed loosely, about three-quarters cup of stuffing per pound of turkey. This will help allow the stuffing to reach the proper 165 °F internal temperature whether the stuffing is in the bird or in a casserole. Use a meat thermometer to be sure of the temperature. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, since heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment.

Cook At The Proper Temperature: The stuffed turkey should be placed immediately in a preheated oven set no lower than 325 °F. Cooking overnight in a "slow" oven is not recommended for stuffed or unstuffed turkey, since foodborne bacteria can form under these conditions.

Use A Meat Thermometer: Checking the stuffing temperature with a thermometer is essential. That is because even if the turkey itself has reached the proper internal temperature of 165 °F in the inner-most part of the thigh, the stuffing may not have reached the correct temperature of 165 °F in its center. It is important to reach this temperature in all parts of the stuffing to be sure that foodborne bacteria are destroyed.

Pre-stuffed Poultry: Pre-stuffed whole poultry is highly perishable and should be purchased only if it displays the USDA or State mark of inspection on the package, which indicates they have been processed under controlled conditions. DO NOT THAW before cooking. Cook from the frozen state. Follow package directions for proper handling and cooking to ensure a safely cooked product.

COOKING A TURKEY

Safety and Preparation Notes for All Methods:

Never brown or partially cook turkey to refrigerate and finish cooking later. It is safe to partially cook or microwave turkey if it is immediately transferred to a hot grill or oven to finish cooking.
It is not necessary to baste a turkey. Pouring juices over a turkey’s surface while it roasts will not make the meat juicier. The liquid penetrates only about 1/8 to ¼ of an inch beneath the skin and most of the juice will run off into the pan. Opening the oven door to baste a turkey can cool the oven and possibly lengthen the roasting time.
Roasting Method: The open pan roasting method will consistently create a juicy, tender, golden brown, picture-perfect turkey.

Place thawed or fresh turkey, breast up, on a flat rack in a shallow pan, 2 to 2½ inches deep.
Insert oven-safe meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. Brush or rub skin with oil to prevent drying of the skin and to enhance the golden color.
Place in a preheated 325 °F oven.
When the skin is a light golden color and the turkey is about two-thirds done, shield the breast loosely with a tent of lightweight foil to prevent overcooking of the breast.
Use the roasting schedule in Table 2 as a guideline; start checking for doneness a half-hour before recommended end times.
Turkey is safe when cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook turkey to higher temperatures
Let turkey stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to set.
TABLE 2. Approximate ROASTING TIMES FOR TURKEY (325 °F oven temperature)

Always use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of both turkey and stuffing.

Size of Turkey
Unstuffed Timing
Stuffed Timing

8-12 lbs.
2¾ - 3 Hours
3 - 3½ Hours

12-14 lbs.
3 - 3¾ Hours
3½ - 4 Hours

14-18 lbs.
3¾ - 4¼ Hours
4 - 4¼ Hours

18-20 lbs.
4¼ - 4½ Hours
4¼ - 4¾ Hours

20-24 lbs.
4½ - 5 Hours
4¾ - 5¼ Hours


Smoke-Cooking Method:

Soak hardwood chips in water for 1-2 hours.
Start with completely thawed turkey for even, safe cooking.
Remove giblets and neck; drain juices.
DO NOT STUFF.
DO NOT USE STRING LIFTER.
Insert oven-safe meat thermometer into deepest part of the thigh, not touching bone.
Brush skin lightly with vegetable oil.
Plug in electric smoker or ignite charcoal about 30 minutes before cooking.
Position foil-lined water pan in smoker according to manufacturer’s directions; fill pan with water.
Check temperature of grill at grate. Be sure temperature is between 200 to 250 °F.
Place turkey on grill. Cover and adjust vents according to manufacturer’s directions.
Maintain 200 to 250 °F temperature throughout cooking. If using charcoal smoker, add additional briquettes every 1 to 1½ hours.
Replenish water and soaked hardwood chips as needed.
Cook turkey to internal temperature of 165 °F in breast and innermost part of thigh. Turkey may take up to 12 hours.
Safety Notes For Smoking Turkey:

Always follow equipment manufacturer’s guidelines.
Cooking times will vary depending on wind, weather, altitude and type of equipment.
For safety, turkey must reach 140 °F in four hours or less. Check after 3½ hours, if temperature is low, finish in oven.
Always use thermometers to monitor turkey smoker and temperatures.
Total cooking time will be increased 10 minutes or more each time lid is lifted.
Smoking has no preservative effect. Smoked turkey must be refrigerated.
Microwaving Method: Always check the user’s manual for cooking recommendations.

A 12 to 14 pound turkey is the maximum size most microwaves can accommodate.
Allow 3 inches oven clearance on top and 2 to 3 inches of space around bird.
DO NOT STUFF!
Use an oven-cooking bag for more even cooking.
Microwave on medium-high (50 percent) for a whole turkey, 9 to 10 minutes per pound.
Always use a meat thermometer to deter-mine doneness. Temperature should reach 165 °F before removing from oven.
Let bird stand 20 minutes after removing from microwave before carving.
Deep Fat Fried Whole Turkey: Some people enjoy fried whole turkey. This method of preparation requires special equipment and extra expense.

The equipment needed includes a 40- or 60-quart pot with basket, burner and propane gas tank; a candy thermometer to measure oil temperature; and a meat thermometer to determine if the turkey is done. For added safety, have a fire extinguisher and pot holders nearby. Never leave the hot oil unattended, nor allow children or pets near it. Never fry a turkey indoors or in a garage or other structure. Avoid frying on wood decks, which could catch fire, and concrete, which can be stained by the oil.

To Safely Fry a Whole Turkey, Follow These Steps:

Start with a completely thawed turkey. Do not stuff the turkey to deep fry.
Use a pot large enough to hold the turkey and enough oil to cover it. This could be as much as five gallons of oil. Set up your turkey fryer on level dirt or a grassy area.
Determine the correct amount of oil by covering the turkey in the pot with water to a level 1 to 2 inches above the turkey. Remove the turkey and measure the distance from the top of the pot to the surface of the water. Pour out the water and dry the pot thoroughly. Be sure to measure for oil before breading or marinating the turkey.
Heat the oil to 350 ° F. Depending on the amount of oil used, this takes between 45 minutes to an hour. Most people prefer peanut oil. Carefully put turkey in the oil.
Cook for 3 minutes per pound. Skin will be black and wings will be burned.
Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Turkey is done when the thermometer registers an internal temperature of 165 ° F.
Carefully remove the turkey from the oil and serve.
Allow the oil to cool before disposing or storing it. To store oil, strain through cheese cloth or a coffee filter and refrigerate. Do not store oil that has been heated to the smoking point, has turned dark or has an off-odor. Reuse the oil within a month and discard if it foams when reheated.
LEFTOVERS
Within two hours after roasting, remove stuffing from turkey and carve the meat off the bones; then store in refrigerator or freezer. Gravy, stuffing and meat need to be stored SEPARATELY from each other. Turkey may be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. For longer storage, wrap in heavy foil or freezer wrap, or place in freezer container; use stuffing within one month and turkey within two months.

GIBLETS
Safe Handling: In whole, ready-to-cook poultry, giblets are located in a bag in the abdominal cavity. They will not be from the original bird. Giblets may also be purchased separately as livers, hearts, or a combination thereof, and labeled accordingly. At home, immediately place giblets in a refrigerator that maintains 40 °F or below, and use within one or two days; or freeze at 0 °F or below. If kept frozen continuously, they will be safe indefinitely. However, for best quality, use giblets within three to four months of freezing.

Defrosting: There are three safe ways to defrost giblets and poultry containing them: in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave oven. Never defrost giblets on the kitchen counter.

Refrigerator Thawing: As a rule of thumb, whole poultry with giblets will take about 24 hours for every 5 pounds of weight to thaw in the refrigerator. A 1-pound carton of frozen turkey livers will take about 24 hours. Once defrosted, the giblets may be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. During this time, if giblets are not used, they can be safely refrozen.

Cold Water Thawing: Leave the giblets or poultry containing them in the original airtight packaging or place in a leak-proof bag. Submerge the product in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes to make sure it stays cold. A 1-pound carton of livers should defrost in one or two hours.

Microwave Thawing: Cook giblets and poultry containing them immediately after microwave defrosting because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria that may have been present may not have been destroyed. Foods defrosted in the microwave or by the cold-water method should be cooked before refreezing.

Cooking: Traditionally, chicken or turkey giblets are cooked by simmering in water for use in flavoring soups, gravies or poultry stuffing. Once cooked, the liver will become crumbly and the heart and gizzard will soften and become easy to chop.

Cooked giblets should have a firm texture and their juices should run clear. Casseroles and stuffing containing giblets should be cooked to 165 °F. Chicken giblets are commonly fried or broiled. Leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours.

Accidental Cooking in Packaging: Some giblets are paper wrapped before being inserted into the poultry body cavity. In this case, there would be no concern if the giblets were accidentally cooked inside the bird to a safe temperature. If giblets were packed in a plastic bag, and the bag has been altered or melted by the cooking process, do not use the giblets or the poultry because harmful chemicals may have leached into the surrounding meat. If the plastic bag was not altered, the giblets and poultry should be safe to use as long as the meat is fully cooked.

Sources:

USDA/FSIS (2006, April). Safety of Giblets http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/giblets_and_food_safety/index.asp
USDA/FSIS (2006, July). Let’s Talk Turkey—A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Lets_Talk_Turkey/index.asp
Butterball® Turkey Home Page, Butterball’s Top Ten. and Smoke-Cooking Butterball® Turkey. http://www.butterball.com
National Turkey Federation. Deep Frying Turkey. http://ww.turkeyfed.org/consumer/cookinfo/fryturk.html

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This information has been reviewed and adapted for use in South Carolina by P.H. Schmutz, HGIC Specialist, and E.H. Hoyle, Extension Food Safety Specialist, Clemson University.

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This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. (New 2/99, Revised 12/99. Revised 11/06.)



The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
Clemson University Cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Carolina Counties, Extension Service, Clemson, South Carolina. Issued in Furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914
Public Service Activities

Yes these three are perhaps the biggest obstacles in my life at this time. Many of you who know me are familiar with my story. I could have chosen to pay the thirty or fourty dollars and located my daughter yet my pride and arrogance prevents me from doing this. This stems from my greed and knowledge that if I had taken my daughter there would be know where to hide. Is there bias when it comes to parental rights. My wife was able to take my daughter and I was helpless against what she did. My anger was great and to show her I took off as well. This childish behavior was all I could do. I had warned her that if she took our daughter away from my influence she would never recieve a dime.
That brings us to the fear part, what if she was told all these bad things and doesn't want any contact from me. That is something I don't think I could handle then on the other hand it has been 18 yrs. and I am not going to win her over in one day. I must give it time to blossom. This is me,
This is my daughter

Yes it's about time she knows me!

Subject: How to send and forward an e-mail



IMPORTANT!! HOW TO FORWARD EMAIL APPROPRIATELY
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> A friend who is a computer expert received the
>>>>> following directly from a system administrator for a
>>>>> corporate system. It is an excellent message that
>>>>> ABSOLUTELY applies to ALL of us who send e-mails.
>>>>> Please read the short letter below, even if you're
>>>>> sure you already follow proper procedures.
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you really know how to forward e-mails? 50%
>>>>> of us do; 50% DO NOT.
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk
>>>>> mail? Do you hate it?
>>>>> Every time you forward an e-mail there is
>>>>> information left over from the people who got the
>>>>> message before you, namely their e-mail addresses &
>>>>> names. As the messages get forwarded along, the
>>>>> list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds,
>>>>> and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a
>>>>> virus, and his or her computer can send that virus
>>>>> to every e-mail address that has come across his
>>>>> computer. Or, someone can take all of those
>>>>> addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in
>>>>> the hopes that you will go to the site and he will
>>>>> make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of
>>>>> that inconvenience over a nickel! How do you stop
>>>>> it? Well, there are several easy steps:
>>>>>
>>>>> (1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of
>>>>> the other addresses that appear in the body of the
>>>>> message (at the top). That's right, DELETE them.
>>>>> Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut
>>>>> them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only
>>>>> takes a second. You MUST click the "Forward" button
>>>>> first and then you will have full editing
>>>>> capabilities against the body and headers of the
>>>>> message. If you don't click on "Forward" first, you
>>>>> won't be able to edit the message at all.
>>>>>
>>>>> (2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than
>>>>> one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: fields for
>>>>> adding e-mail addresses. Always use the BCC: (blind
>>>>> carbon copy) field for listing the e-mail addresses.
>>>>> This is the way the people you send to will only
>>>>> see their own e-mail address. If you don't see your
>>>>> BCC: option click on where it says To: and your
>>>>> address list will appear. Highlight the address and
>>>>> choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you
>>>>> send to BCC: your message will automatically say
>>>>> "Undisclosed Recipients" in the "TO:" field of the
>>>>> people who receive it.
>>>>>
>>>>> (3) Remove any "FW :" in the subject line.
>>>>> You can re-name the subject if you wish or even fix
>>>>> spelling.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> (4) ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the
>>>>> actual e-mail you are reading. Ever get those
>>>>> e-mails that you have to open 10 pages to read the
>>>>> one page with the information on it? By Forwarding
>>>>> from the actual page you wish someone to view, you
>>>>> stop them from having to open many e-mails just to
>>>>> see what you sent.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> (5) Have you ever gotten an email that is a
>>>>> petition? It states a position and asks you to add
>>>>> your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15
>>>>> people or your entire address book. The email can
>>>>> be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of
>>>>> names and email addresses. A FACT: The completed
>>>>> petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a
>>>>> professional spammer because of the wealth of valid
>>>>> names and email addresses contained therein. If you
>>>>> want to support the petition, send it as your own
>>>>> personal letter to the intended recipient. Your
>>>>> position may carry more weight as a personal letter
>>>>> than a laundry list of names and email address on a
>>>>> petition. (Actually, if you think about it, who's
>>>>> supposed to send the petition in to whatever cause
>>>>> it supports? And don't believe the ones that say
>>>>> that the email is being traced, it just aint so!)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> (6) One of the main ones I hate is the ones
>>>>> that say that something like, "Send this email to 10
>>>>> people and you'll see something great run across
>>>>> your screen." Or, sometimes they'll just tease you
>>>>> by saying something really cute will happen. IT AINT
>>>>> GONNA HAPPEN!!!!! (Trust me, I'm still seeing some
>>>>> of the same ones that I waited on 10 years ago!) I
>>>>> don't let the bad luck ones scare me either, they
>>>>> get trashed. (Could be why I haven't won the
>>>>> lottery??)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 7) Before you forward an Amber Alert, or a
>>>>> Virus Alert, or some of the other ones floating
>>>>> around nowadays, check them out before you forward
>>>>> them. Most of them are junk mail that's been
>>>>> circling the net for YEARS! Just about everything
>>>>> you receive in an email that is in question can be
>>>>> checked out at Snopes. Just go to www.snopes.com .
>>>>>
>>>>> Its really easy to find out if it's real or
>>>>> not. If it's not, please don't pass it on.
>>>>>
>>>>> So please, in the future, let's stop the junk
>>>>> mail and the viruses.
>>>>>
>>>>> Finally, here's an idea!!! Let's send this to
>>>>> everyone we know (but strip my address off first,
>>>>> please). This is something that SHOULD be
>>>>> forwarded.
GOT IT? GOOD TS