Today's Feature

Thanksgiving Family Dinner.

The Carthage Crisis Center will be holding its annual Thanksgiving Day Family Dinner tomorrow, Thursday, November 27 from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 7th and Main. Attendees are asked to use the West entrance.

The dinner is held for those who would like to be with others but have no place to go. The meal will consist of turkey and all the trimmings. Musical entertainment and fellowship will also be featured during the annual event.

Those wishing to volunteer to help are encouraged to call Crisis Center directors Brian or Marilyn Bisbee at 417-358-3533. Transportation to the event can be arranged, as well as meal delivery by calling the same number by today, November 26.

Fly-Fishing Workshop.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will hold an introduction to Fly-fishing and Fly-Tying Workshop on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Walter Woods Conservation Area, 5 minutes south of Joplin. Call 417-629-3423 for more information.

Mornin'
For those who are plannin’ on travelin’ over the holidays, the price of gasoline may become a point of interest. ‘Course there are a variety of conditions that dictate the importance of a few pennies per gallon.

One such factor is the distance traveled since the last bathroom break. The weather and amount of traffic also can play a part in the calculation.

Ya might, for instance, be tempted ta pass by a busy station shortly after leavin’, and then end up payin’ 3 cents more per gallon a little while down the road, when you’re ready for a cup of coffee.

‘Course, if the fresh-baked bread in the car is callin’ out to you all through the trip, those quick gas station stops for junk food will be a letdown regardless of the price at the pump.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• "Mineral oil will take off a fake tattoo nicely. Use it liberally on a cotton ball just before bath time. My kids love fake tattoos, and this way, they don’t stay on too long." -- T.L. in Montana

• "An easy way to store plastic grocery bags so that they are handy when you need them is to stuff them into a tissue box. They come out one at a time and are easily stored in a cabinet or even in your car." -- P.W. in Missouri

• "I have one of those wax-melt burners that uses tea lights to heat a block of scented wax. I ran out of tea lights, but had one votive candle that I could use. I cut the bottom of the votive off to make it the right height, then I used a square of aluminum foil under it to catch the drippings. It worked just fine in a pinch." -- D.S. in Florida

• "JoAnn, here’s a tip for your indoor and patio gardeners out there: When filling a pot with soil, first make sure there is a drain hole at the bottom. Then instead of putting stones or broken pottery on the inside bottom hole of the pot to allow for drainage, place a coffee filter over the hole and then fill the pot with your potting soil. I discovered this filter will not only provide more room for root development but will effectively allow for proper drainage. Also, the filter will not let any muddy soil or dirt to run out the bottom of your pots and mess up your windowsill or patio decking. It really works!" -- T.G. in New Jersey

• Fix tomato sauce that’s too tart by adding a pinch of baking soda. It neutralizes the acidity and gives the sauce a milder taste.

Turkey Roasting Times

Roast the turkey until temperature reaches 170 degrees F in the breast and 180 degrees F in the thigh. Cooking times are for planning purposes only -- always use a meat thermometer to determine doneness.

Approximate Timetable for Roasting a Turkey

(325 degrees F):

Unstuffed Turkey
• 8 to 12 pounds 2 3/4 to 3 hours
• 12 to 14 pounds 3 to 3 3/4 hours
• 14 to 18 pounds 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
• 18 to 20 pounds 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
• 20 to 24 pounds 4 1/2 to 5 hours
• 24 to 30 pounds 5 to 5 1/4 hours

Stuffed Turkey
• 8 to 12 pounds 3 to 3 1/2 hours
• 12 to 14 pounds 3 1/2 to 4 hours
• 14 to 18 pounds 4 to 4 1/4 hours
• 18 to 20 pounds 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours
• 20 to 24 pounds 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours
• 24 to 30 pounds 5 1/4 to 6 1/4 hours

Source: National Turkey Federation