Hi, ho, Chowgirls, away! With one week to go, if the prospect of cooking Thanksgiving dinner appears more daunting than it did when you offered to host, Chowgirls Killer Catering can help. But you need to place your order by 5 p.m. Friday, so don't dawdle. For the first time, Chowgirls, at 1222 NE. 2nd St. in Minneapolis, will offer an 18-pound free-range turkey from Kadejan Inc. in Glenwood, Minn., butter-basted or with maple syrup brine. Side dish choices include their popular vegetable platter with roasted beets, parsnips, butternut squash and more. Partners Amy Lynn Brown and Heidi Andermack specialize in local organic ingredients. Food will be available for pickup on Wednesday or Thanksgiving morning. See www.chowgirls.net/cateringnews.html.
Grind responsibly The folks at InSinkErator food waste disposers say they field 43 percent more service calls on Thanksgiving than any other day. Their suggestions: Don't put grease or fat down the disposer, but in a container for the trash. Run cold water for 30 seconds to thoroughly flush the food waste through the pipes. Hot water can melt fatty/greasy waste and allow it to resolidify, which may lead to clogs. Do grind hard materials such as small bones, fruit pits and ice; they help remove any buildup. But don't use your disposer like a garbage can; avoid letting trash such as tea bags, bread ties and bottle caps fall into the sink because they can easily run down the drain and cause jams. And every so often, throw a lemon in there and grind away.
KIM ODE
