Feast your eyes on wild turkey facts

 

Feast Your Eyes on Wild Turkey Facts

The National Wild Turkey Federation reports the  domestic, farm-raised turkey most Americans eat on Thanksgiving Day is nothing like the wild turkey feasted on by the Pilgrims and Native Americans. They’re talking turkey with these fun facts:

Wild turkeys, now almost 7 million strong, were almost extinct in the early 1900s.

Wild turkeys can run up to 25 mph. Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest-known human, averaged 23.35 mph during his world-record, 100 meters.

Wild turkeys were argued by Benjamin Franklin to be a more appropriate choice than bald eagles as our national bird.

Wild turkeys rarely weigh more than 24 pounds while domestic turkeys regularly grow to more than 40 pounds.

Wild turkeys, which have as many as 6,000 feathers, can fly as fast as 55 mph. Most domestic turkeys are too heavy to fly.

Wild turkeys have much sharper vision than humans and can view their entire surroundings simply by turning their head.

Wild turkeys can make at least 28 different vocalizations, with gobbles heard up to one mile away.

Wild turkeys roost (sleep) in trees, often as high as 50 feet off the ground.

Libatiaons

Grand Marnier Cherry is like the adult version of  the chocolate-covered cherries my grandmother and I loved at Christmas. Grandma would have loved the Grand Marnier, too. It just came out in September and it’s so warming for the winter. I sampled a little with nothing more than lemon juice and a packet of sugar in a tall glass over ice and it was great. Here’s a how makers suggest you try it:

Grand Marnier Cherry & Sprite

2 ounces Grand Marnier Cherry

Sprite

In a tall glass filled with ice first add in Grand Marnier Cherry and then top with Sprite.  Stir gently and garnish with a cherry and lime wedge.

Grand Cherry-Hattan

Created by Jonathan Pogash, The Cocktail Guru

2 ounces Grand Marnier Cherry

3/4 ounces sweet vermouth

3 dashes angostura bitters

In a shaker filled with ice, stir Grand Marnier Cherry, sweet vermouth an angostura bitters.  Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish a brandied cherry.

Cranberries for the holidays

Here’s one of Jonnie Downing’s quickies from her book “Holiday Slow Cooker.”

Sweet and Easy Cranberry Sauce

Make this sauce a day ahead, leaving one less task for Thanksgiving Day.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

½ cup water

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix the cranberries, sugar, water and lemon juice in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for three hours, or until the cranberries burst. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for at least two hours, or up to 18 hours.

Popcorn History

G.H.Cretors has been in the popcorn business since 1885 and Great Grandpa Cretor invented the popcorn machine which drew lines at the 1893  Chicago Columbian Exposition. I’d never known of him, but I’m thanking him. Today you can order up bags with titles like Chicago Mix, Just the Caramel Corn, Caramel Nut Crunch and kettle corn. That’s real cheddar on Just the Cheese Corn. You can arrange for tastings from tiny little paper cups. Okay, they’re adorable, now pass me the big bag. This brand is popped to perfection. The fluffy, salty ones pair so well with the crispy and sweet ones. I’d say this family is still making Grandpa proud.

ddoiron@panews.com