All turkey'd out again Okay, we're turkey'd out. After two turkey dinners-- Christmas Day, and December 27-- we've had our fill. The Christmas Day turkey was a tiny `10 pounder', which only takes a few hours to cook. The Sidekick put it in the oven just before we started opening gifts Christmas morning. It was a small one as we only had five adults and two small kids feeding on that meager little carcass. December 27, we hosted the Brown Christmas, giving us a day to prepare for dinner, and a 24-hour respite from turkey. The Christmas Day leftovers went home with The Sidekick's kids, so there wasn't any left to pig out on, until the December 27 turkey. With 24 people coming, we needed a big turkey. I mean BIG. Tipping the scales at 26 lbs., it looked to be the size of a small ostrich. I know we've had bigger turkeys, but when you get into your 50s, a 26-pounder can be intimidating sitting in the kitchen sink. I suggested to The Sidekick we use my mother's old trick of putting the turkey in the oven the night before, at a reduced temperature, rather than rising at the crack of dawn. I backed up my suggestion using the 20-minute per pound cooking formula, to show that he needed eight hours-plus in the oven. Doing a math/time equation, for a 2 p.m. dinner, that bird had to be in the oven at 5:30 a.m. Early in our relationship I learned the moment I could justify a reason to NOT 7 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, December 30, 2010 Ted Brown get outta bed early, The Sidekick gets completely online. We stuffed and shoved him in the oven at 11 p.m. and the next morning the house was filled with the smell of turkey. When the Brown family sat down to feast, it only took half the turkey to create a mountain of meat on my mom's old turkey platter. Even after my hungriest nephews gave it their best shot, we still had loads left. Geez, I even treated Hamish the collie to a feast of leftover turkey skin and scraps, but I didn't overdo feeding him too much turkey- the resulting flatulence can be a killer, `specially if it strikes when he happens to be in the house. We're now dealing with half a turkey to feed on for the next little while. But it seems we've had a reprieve, as two good things have resulted by having this big bird. One, The Sidekick's vacuum food packer she received for Christmas is getting a workout. And two, she's already bought a huge prime rib roast for New Year's Eve. Campus e l l i v e g n a r Humber O in the fall 2011 Come experience the at fac or e. Gre ment to find m n r a le to l environ ss sizes at the r collegia e p Small cla u s for you A e . r n o fu m too! re e is truly nd FREE parking have mo r e h T . s nd ...a mor e frie ngeville Campus Ora Humber Full-time programs include: · Business Management · ECE - Early Childhood Education · Home Renovation Technician · Interior Decorating · Police Foundations ilities to NEW for Fall 2011 Social Service Worker follow us on Facebook @ Humber College Orangeville Campus orangeville.humber.ca 1-877-675-3111 Business · Community Services · Health · Technology The Regional Municipality of Halton www.halton.ca PUBLIC NOTICE Halton Region 2011 Budget and Business Plan The proposed 2011 Budget and Business Plan for Halton Region including the Regional property tax levy, water and wastewater rates and user fees and charges will be considered at the following meetings: Tuesday, January 11 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 12 9:30 a.m. Thursday, January 13 9:30 a.m. Monday, January 24 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 26 9:30 a.m. Health & Social Services Committee Planning & Public Works Committee Administration & Finance Committee Budget Review Committee Regional Council All of the above meetings will be held at the Halton Regional Centre located at 1151 Bronte Road in Oakville. Copies of the 2011 Budget and Business Plan binders will be available for viewing on Halton's website at www.halton.ca and can be obtained free of charge from or viewed at the OfÍce of the Regional Clerk at the Halton Regional Centre between the hours of :30 a.m. and :30 p.m. Halton residents are invited to provide input on the proposed 2011 Budget and Business Plan. If you wish to register as a delegate for the purpose of addressing one of the Committees, please contact the OfÍce of the Regional Clerk and Council 1ervices at 905Ì25Ì6000 ext. 25. 7ou may also provide input or comments on Halton's website at www.halton.ca/budget. Please let us know as soon as possible if you will have an accessibility or accommodation need at a Halton Region hosted event or meeting. 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 "ial 311 or 5Ì5Ì6 k Toll $ree 1Ì66ÌÌ566 k TT7 5ÌÌ33 k www.halton.ca 311210