What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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november 21-27, 2021 What's up! 43 Hosts who suspect they will be busy hosting or preparing side dishes on Thanksgiving may want to cook their turkeys in more traditional ways, such as baking the bird in the oven. Those who can devote the time to controlling the temperature on their smokers also should know that the turkey will take much longer to cook in a smoker than in an oven. According to the online grilling resource Heygrillhey.com, cooks should plan to smoke their turkeys at 225 F for approximately 30 minutes per pound. That means smoking a 15-pound turkey will require at least 7.5 hours cooking time. That's a significant factor to consider, so Thanksgiving hosts who decide to smoke their turkey may need to wake up early and fire up their smokers. Start prep work a few days before Thanksgiving Take some stress out of Thanksgiving by cutting all vegetables and/or preparing some dishes a few days early. Label and organize prepared ingredients by recipe and store in the refrigerator. Make extra room in the fridge by removing nonessential items and placing them in a cooler with ice and cleaning out any old food or condiments. Plan your table settings and label which bowls and other serving dishes will be used for which items. This will make it much easier to set the table on Thanksgiving. Serve batched cocktails It can be challenging and expensive to have a full bar for guests. Mulled wine, hot cider and punches are ideal ways to service a crowd looking for delicious spirited drinks. Create simple centerpieces Use seasonal sights for your centerpieces or place settings. These can include small squashes, gourds, citrus fruits, nuts, or acorns. A hollowed-out pumpkin filled with fresh flowers also can be eye-catching. Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate bounty. Treat guests (and yourself) to a great experience by learning some hosting tips to make the holiday easier to manage. Questions about this or other dining features? Contact Karen Rice at 479-571-6474 or krice@NWADG.com