| How to Celebrate Thanksgiving Posted: 22 Nov 2018 12:00 AM PST Thanksgiving is celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. For many, Thanksgiving is about spending time with family members and friends, and being thankful for the people and things in their life. It is typically celebrated by having a big meal with a turkey as the centerpiece. Watching the Thanksgiving Day parade, football, volunteering, and playing games are also ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. EditPlanning Thanksgiving Day - Invite family members and friends a month in advance. Make a list of family and friends that you would like to celebrate Thanksgiving with. Call them to let them know that you will be celebrating Thanksgiving at your house and that you would like them to come. Letting them know in advance will allow them to make plans if they need to travel.[1]
- Be aware that some people may decline because they already have plans for Thanksgiving.
- Choose a potluck-style Thanksgiving meal for easier prep. A potluck-style meal will help you shoulder the burden of cooking. If you choose to have this type of meal, ask your guests what they would like to contribute to the meal. Make a list of the dishes they will be bringing. Then provide the rest of the food.[2]
- The host will typically make the turkey for a potluck-style Thanksgiving meal.
- Buy the turkey two to three weeks in advance. This way you can ensure that you will have a turkey for the meal. Buy the turkey from your local grocery store or a turkey farm. Purchase a 12-pound (190-ounce) turkey to feed 10 to 15 people. Choose a 16-pound (260-ounce) turkey for 15 or more people. Place the turkey in the freezer once you get home.[3]
- A typical 12 to 16-pound (190 to 260-ounce) turkey costs $21 to $25.
- Make a grocery list. Make a list of all the ingredients you will need to prepare the meal. To beat the rush, buy dry ingredients one to two weeks in advance. Buy fresh ingredients five to seven days in advance.[4]
- For example, buy bread, canned pumpkin, chicken broth, butter, and the ham two weeks in advance. Buy cranberries, green beans, rolls, corn, sweet potatoes, and milk five to seven days in advance.
EditCooking the Meal - Thaw your turkey in the fridge a few days before Thanksgiving. Thaw 12-pound (190-ounce) turkeys two days in advance. Thaw turkeys larger than 12 pounds three days in advance.[5]
- Make the cranberry sauce. Place of cranberries in pot. Add of sugar and of balsamic vinegar to the pot. Place the pot on the stove. Set the stove to medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, about eight minutes. Stir of nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin, and pepper into the mixture.[6]
- Place the heat on low to simmer the sauce. Stir the sauce until a thick mixture forms. Add salt to taste.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Pour the cranberry sauce in a plastic container and let it cool, about ten minutes.
- Once the sauce has cooled, place it in the fridge. Serve cool.
- Make the mashed potatoes. Wash, peel, and chop 8 to 10 potatoes. In a large pot, bring four quarts of water to a boil, about 10 minutes. Place of salt in the water. Place the chopped potatoes in the water. Boil them until soft. Remove the pot from the heat and drain the water. Let the potatoes cool for three minutes. After three minutes, use a fork or a masher to mash the potatoes. Finish the potatoes by:
- Adding of milk, butter, black pepper, and salt to taste. Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Place the mashed potatoes in a serving dish that you can reheat. Then place it in the fridge.
- Re-heat the mashed potatoes in a oven one hour before the meal.
- Prepare a bread and celery stuffing. Preheat your oven to . Cut a stale loaf of white or wheat bread into cubes. Place a large pot on the stove. Set the heat to medium. Melt of butter in the pot. Add one chopped onion and four stalks of chopped celery to the pot. Cook the onion and celery until soft, about five to eight minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.[7]
- Stir in the cubes of bread until evenly coated.
- Stir of chicken broth into the mixture. Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Place the ingredients in a greased casserole dish. Place the dish in the oven and cook the stuffing for 30 to 40 minutes.
- Re-heat the stuffing in a oven one hour before the meal.
- Roast the turkey on Thanksgiving morning. Preheat your oven to . Place the turkey in a roasting pan. In a separate bowl combine of olive oil, of garlic powder, of dried basil, a of sage and salt, and of black pepper. Baste the outside of the turkey with the mixture. Pour of water into the bottom of the roasting pan.[8]
- Secure the roasting pan with a lid or two sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the roasting pan in the oven.
- Bake the turkey for three and a half hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh is .
- Once the turkey is done, remove it from the oven. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.
- Cook any additional side dishes while the turkey is cooking. Green beans, dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, and corn are typical side dishes served with the turkey. You can also serve ham with the turkey as well.[9]
- Bake a ham. Preheat your oven to . Place the ham cut side down in a baking pan. Cover the ham with a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the ham in the oven. Make the glaze once you put the ham in the oven. Baste the ham with the glaze every 20 minutes. During the last five minutes, remove the foil to caramelize the glaze.[10]
- To make a glaze combine of brown sugar and mango chutney, three cloves of minced garlic, of orange zest, of orange juice, and of dijon mustard to make a glaze. Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Bake a fully-cooked ham for 10 minutes per pound. Bake a partially cooked ham for 20 minutes per pound.
- Order fresh pies for Thanksgiving Day. Pumpkin, apple, pecan, and cherry pies are typical pies served as desserts on Thanksgiving. Pick up your pies one to two days before the big day. On Thanksgiving Day, warm the pies up per the instructions on the box.[11]
- Alternatively, make a pumpkin pie or a pecan pie from scratch.
- Thanksgiving-themed cookies and candies are also common desserts served on Thanksgiving.
- Ask for thanks before the meal. Before the meal is served, friends and family members typically take turns saying what they are thankful for. This is a time to reflect on all the things you are grateful for, including your family, job, coworkers, and other people and things.[12]
- You could also play the A to Z gratitude game. Have everyone sit together so that they can hear and see one another. Going around the group of family and friends, have each person say what they're grateful for, according to the letter of the alphabet. For example, the first person would say, "I am thankful for Aunt Sharon's kindness."
EditDecorating the Tables - Cover the tables with tablecloths. Choose a thanksgiving-themed or fall-themed tablecloth. Set the table with the plates and silverware as well.[13]
- You can purchase thanksgiving-themed napkins from your local grocery store or crafts store as well.
- Decorate the table with a centerpiece. You can purchase thanksgiving-themed centerpieces from your local crafts store. You could also use a bouquet of autumn flowers, candles, or a cornucopia as a centerpiece.[14]
- Use foldout tables for extra seating. If you do not have enough room at your dining room table, then set up a separate table or two in your living room or den. Seat children at this table, or divide your guests up into groups and seat them at the other tables.[15]
- Alternatively, use a coffee table as a table for children. Place pillows around the table for the children to sit on.
EditEntertaining Family and Friends - Watch the Thanksgiving Day parade. The Thanksgiving Day parade starts at 9 a.m. Eastern Time in New York City. It lasts until 11 a.m. Local news stations like CBS, ABC, and NBC typically broadcast the parade. Watch the parade with your friends, children, and family members.[16]
- You can watch the parade on Verizon's YouTube channel as well.
- Put on a football game. Watching football on Thanksgiving is a favorite American pastime. Games are typically played throughout day on local TV channels such as ABC, NBC, and CBS.[17]
- Alternatively, organize a backyard football game with family, friends, and neighbors before the big meal.
- Volunteer at a local shelter. Because Thanksgiving is a day of giving and gratitude, many people choose to volunteer an hour or so of their time at local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, or religious institutions. Contact a local shelter in your area to find out what time the festivities will take place.[18]
- If you don't have time to volunteer, then donate clothes or canned goods to your local shelter.
- Invite your friends and family members to volunteer with you.
- Play games. Games like Monopoly, Life, Pictionary, and Clue are a great way to spend some quality time with friends and family members. Card and dice games like Yahtzee are also popular.[19]
- Take a nap or a walk after the meal. Because the Thanksgiving meal is such a big meal, it may leave you and your guests feeling tired. It is ok and even customary to sit down and doze off on the couch for 30 minutes after the big meal. Others may choose to take a walk around the neighborhood instead.[20]
- Know that the traditional dinner of turkey does not define what Thanksgiving really is. You could have a Thanksgiving dinner with ham instead of turkey, and it wouldn't change the meaning at all!
- It is okay to buy some prepared food items for the meal. Not everyone has the time or inclination to prepare everything from scratch.
- Choose simple Thanksgiving recipes if this is your first time preparing the Thanksgiving holiday meal.
- If you are hosting guests, ensure that all health and dietary needs are met for the meal. Take into consideration guests with certain food allergies or dietary restrictions. For example, provide a tofu turkey for your vegetarian guests.
- If you have little kids, make sure you can see them at all times. Be sure that they didn't wander into the kitchen, as that could be dangerous.
- You can bake the traditional pumpkin pie, or you can use cherry pie, french silk... Any kind will do!
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| How to Repair Minor Rust on a Car Posted: 21 Nov 2018 04:00 PM PST When bare metal comes into contact with the oxygen in everyday air, the resulting chemical reaction (called oxidation) creates rust, which eats away the metal in your car. If you've got a little elbow grease to spare, you can do away with minor rust before it has a chance to become a real problem. EditPrepping the Car - Identify areas of surface and scale rust on the vehicle. Rust is usually placed into one of three categories based on how serious it is, but penetrating rust is the worst. Check the rust spot for signs that it has created holes through the metal or that the metal has rusted all the way through. If it has, that metal can't be fixed; it must be replaced.[1]
- Surface rust is light, and is the first sign of rusting. It is surface deep and usually forms in scratches or nicks in your paint. It will just look like a bit of rust on the metal.
- Scale rust is more serious, and it develops after surface rust is allowed to spread. It's the most serious rust you can address easily at home. It may include some paint bubbling or flaking of rusty metal.
- Penetrating rust develops after rust goes untreated for a long time. If there are holes in the metal or the rust goes all the way through, the only way to fix it is to cut the affected metal out and weld a new piece in its place.
- Find the paint code for your vehicle. You will need to repaint the part of your car you remove the rust from, and that means needing to find an exact match for your vehicle's paint color. Most cars have labels on the body inside the driver's side door frame and occasionally under the hood that will list that "paint code" used by the manufacturer. Give that code to the clerk at the auto parts store to get a can of paint that matches it exactly.[2]
- If you can't find the paint code on the body of the vehicle, you can often find it on the manufacturer's website or occasionally in the owner's manual.
- Purchase primer, base paint, and clear coat from the auto parts store. You'll need an automotive primer and paint matched to the vehicle's color by using the paint code. You will also need a can of automotive clear coat. You can get these paints in spray cans, though you can also get it for use in paint guns with air compressors if you have one.[3]
- For most minor rust spots, spray cans of paint are sufficient, but if you need to repaint an entire door, hood, or trunk lid, you may want to use an air compressor or secure the help of a bodywork technician.
- Wash the area around the rust spot. Use car wash soap, water, and a sponge to scrub any dirt or debris away from the area the rust is to make sure you are able to clearly define what needs to be repaired. When you're done, rinse the area with clean water.[4]
- You may want to wash the entire vehicle to look for any other rust spots while you're at it.
- Be careful scrubbing the rusty area, as metal flakes may poke into you as the rust comes up.
- Tape off the body panel with the rust on it. You're going to be sanding and painting the area with the rust, so you'll need to cover anything you don't want covered in sand and then sprayed with paint. Use painter's tape to cover headlights, tail lights, windows, or anything else near the rust spot that you don't want to repaint.[5]
- Painter's tape will come back off of the car without leaving any adhesive residue.
- To tape off large things like a windshield, you can use plastic (like garbage bags) that you secure in place with painter's tape.
EditSanding Away the Rust - Scrape away blistered paint and rust chunks. Use a metal or plastic scraper and wear gloves to ensure none of the sharper chunks can stab or cut you. Removing as much of the loose rust and paint as you can will make sanding much easier. Just press the scraper into the rust repeatedly to free up any loose bits.[6]
- You can purchase metal or plastic paint scrapers from most hardware stores.
- Keep scraping until all the loose material is off of the rust spot.
- Use 40-grit sandpaper to remove most of the rust. Because 40-grit sandpaper is so rough, it should make short work of most surface and even scale rust. Press the sandpaper flat against the rust spot and move it quickly from side to side, then shift the part of the sandpaper you're using as that area gets worn out.[7]
- It may take a few sheets of sandpaper to get all the serious rust off.
- Keep sanding until you see bare metal.
- Use 120-grit sandpaper to "feather" the edges of the spot. With the rust sanded away, switch to a finer sandpaper to expand the area you've sanded and remove any edge that has developed in the paint. Make sure the metal feels flat, and that there's no distinct transition between the painted portion of the metal and the bare metal you just removed rust from.[8]
- Try sanding in small circles along the edge that developed while sanding with the 40-grit sandpaper to create a flat, even surface.
- You may want to use 220-grit sandpaper after the 120-grit to achieve an even better finish.
- Treat the area with rust inhibitor. Even with the rust sanded away, it's still best to apply a liquid rust inhibitor to it to make sure no new rust is able to develop. Spray the rust inhibitor on and either let it dry or wipe it away, depending on what the specific brand's instructions tell you.[9]
- Some rust inhibitors may also come as a gel, which you wipe on and then wipe away.
- Make sure the surface is completely dry before moving on to the next step.
EditApplying the Primer - Wash and dry the area again. Thanks to all the sanding, scraping, and spraying you've been doing, chances are good that there's a lot of loose debris on the area you'll need to paint, so wipe it down with soapy water, rinse it off, and let it dry.[10]
- Make sure the entire area is completely clean and dry before moving ahead.
- You can use towels to help speed up the drying process.
- Apply automotive primer evenly to the entire area you're painting. Hold the spray can (or gun if you're using one) about away from the metal and spray in a steady left to right direction. If the spot is big enough to need you to make multiple passes, overlap each swipe by about 50% to ensure even coverage.[11]
- Do not hold the paint can or gun in one place while it's spraying or it will become too thick and begin to drip.
- Shake the can periodically between sprays to keep the paint distribution even.
- Wait at least 20 minutes for the primer to dry. Depending on how large an area you're painting, you may choose to apply a second coat of primer, but for most small jobs it isn't necessary. Read the instructions on the primer to know how long it needs to dry, but 20 minutes is usually sufficient.[12]
- In unusually humid climates it may take longer than 20 minutes for the primer to dry.
- Wet-sand the primer with 2,000 grit sandpaper for best results. If the rust spot is in an easy-to-see place like the hood or trunk lid, you may want to go the extra mile to ensure an even, glossy finish. Pour water on the primer while sanding it with the 2,000 grit sandpaper to help create a very smooth finish.[13]
- The water helps keep the paint cool and lubricated while you sand to prevent burning or glazing it.
- Make sure the entire area is clean and dry before moving on to the next step.
EditPainting the Metal - Spray on the base coat. Just like with the primer, you'll want to hold the can (or gun) about away from the metal as you spray. Spray from left to right in horizontal rows and make the rows overlap by about 50% if you need more than one to cover the area.[14]
- Keep the can moving as you paint, otherwise too much could collect and result in dripping.
- Do not wet-sand a base coat of paint.
- Wait at least 60 minutes for the base coat to dry. The last step will be applying a layer of clear coat to the paint, but before you can do that, the base coat needs to be completely dry. While it may take days for it to "cure" enough to be washed, most automotive paint is dry enough to be worked with in about an hour.[15]
- If it's especially humid where you are, wait 90 minutes to be safe.
- Add a layer of clear coat. Clear coat is another automotive paint that you can get in spray cans. It adds a layer of protection over the colored base coat and gives the paint a glossy shine. Spray it on just as you did the primer and base coat.[16]
- Apply the clear coat in smooth, even rows just like the other paint.
- You can purchase clear coat from any auto parts store.
- Read the instructions on your specific clear coat to know how long it takes to dry.
- Wet-sand the clear coat once it's dry if you want an excellent finish. The paint should already look pretty good, but you can make it look even better by sanding it with 2,000 grit sandpaper and water to remove any small blemishes and achieve a good shine. Keep pouring water over the paint as you sand it back and forth until it looks perfectly flat and even.[17]
- In many areas, you can skip wet-sanding the clear coat and still have an excellent looking paint finish.
- Hoods, door panels, and trunk lids are some places you may want to wet-sand because paint issues will stand out on large, flat surfaces.
- Remove the painter's tape. Pull all tape and any plastic you used to cover parts of the vehicle away and admire your finished product. However, don't try to wash or wax your new paint for at least a week so it can cure thoroughly.[18]
- The new paint may be slightly brighter than the old because of sun fading, but the two colors should be nearly indistinguishable.
- If you notice any issues with the paint, repeat the wet-sanding process to smooth it out.
- Paint indoors if possible (in a well-ventilated space) to avoid letting bugs or dust land in the paint as you work.
- Always wear eye protection and a mask while sanding or painting.
- Make sure the area has adequate ventilation when priming or painting.
EditThings You'll Need - Car wash soap
- Painter's tape
- 2,000- grit, 120-grit, and 40-grit sandpaper
- Automotive primer, paint, and clear coat
- A scraper
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| How to Pack a Waste‐Free Lunch Posted: 21 Nov 2018 08:00 AM PST Many people pack their food in plastic bags before putting it in a brown paper sack. Unfortunately, many components in a sack lunch are just thrown away. Packing a waste-free lunch helps reduce food waste and protect the environment. By picking low-waste foods and putting them in reusable containers, you can eat lunch without any trash! EditHelp Reducing Waste EditBringing Reusable Dinnerware - Buy a reusable lunch box instead of using paper bags. Find a lunch box or bag that's large enough to hold the food you usually pack. Keep the lunch box in a fridge to keep your food cold until lunchtime. When you're finished eating, make sure to bring your box back home to use the next day.[1]
- Look for an insulated lunch box if you need to keep food hot or cold. If you don't have an insulated lunch box or access to a fridge, put a reusable ice pack in your lunch box to keep it cold.
- Steel lunch boxes are great alternatives if you want to avoid using plastic or other packing containers.
- Lunch boxes are sold in many stores throughout the year, but more designs will be available during the late summer when back to school shopping occurs.
- If you need to use a brown paper bag, be sure to recycle it when you're finished.
- Put food in resealable plastic containers. Avoid using plastic bags to store your food. Use portion-sized containers to reduce the amount of space you use inside your lunch box. When you're finished with your lunch, put the containers back in your lunch box so you can wash them at home.[2]
- Reusable containers also help you save money since you don't have to keep buying plastic storage bags.
- Bento boxes are reusable containers with multiple compartments so you can store many kinds of food in one easy to carry package.
- Pour drinks into a reusable bottle. Fill a hard plastic bottle with your preferred drink rather than buying single-serve bottles. Add a few ice cubes to keep your drink cold. When you're finished with your drink, you can rinse it out and fill it with water throughout the day. Wash your bottle each night to use again the next day.[3]
- Keep hot drinks, or even soup, in a Thermos to keep them piping hot.
- Wide-mouthed bottles make it easier to wash the insides and add ice cubes.
- Pack your own metal silverware. Bring a fork, knife, and spoon with you from home so you don't have to use disposable plastic silverware. When you've finished your lunch, rinse off any food scraps before putting the silverware back in your box. Wash the silverware at home so you can easily use it again.
- You only have to bring the silverware you are going to use for your meal.
- Bring a cloth napkin instead of paper. Paper waste accounts for 15% of food waste.[4] Keep a tea towel or cloth in your lunch box until it gets dirty. When the cloth gets dirty, take it home and wash it with the rest of your laundry.[5]
- Keep multiple cloth napkins in your home so you have an easy replacement if one gets dirty before you need to do laundry.
EditPacking Food Efficiently - Purchase snack foods in bulk rather than single-serve portions. Single-serve packages produce a lot of waste from their wrappers. Instead, buy a larger container of the snack food to keep at home. For lunch, fill a small reusable container with the snack food with the portion you'd normally eat.[6]
- For example, instead of buying small bags of chips each day for your lunch, purchase a family-sized bag to keep in your pantry. Pack a small serving in a container for your lunch.
- Bulk packages of food tend to be cheaper than single-serve portions.
- Eat whole pieces of fruit instead of processed fruit cups. Put fruits like apples, pears, and bananas in your lunch box without a container. This way, you still easily get a serving of fruit in your meal without any of the plastic waste.[7]
- If you're packing a lunch for a child, consider cutting the fruit into pieces and putting it in plastic containers. Many children only take a few bites of whole fruit before throwing them away.[8]
- Pack leftover food if you have access to a microwave. Take leftovers that you have left from a previous meal and store them in a microwave-safe container. Heat your food when it's time for lunch. This way, you can eat the extra food you have rather than making a new meal.
- Leftovers are great and easy choices if you've run out of time in the morning to prepare a lunch.
- Compost any food scraps if you can. Compost is great to add nutrients to planting soil. If you don't have leftover food that you can save for another meal, bring the food scraps home. Throw your scraps into a compost bin or pile outside to use in a garden.[9]
- If you're a child, talk to your parents before you start a compost bin or pile.
- Continue your waste-free practices at home with your other meals. Going waste-free is more cost-effective and will help the environment.[10]
EditThings You'll Need - Reusable lunch box
- Plastic or glass containers
- Reusable water bottle
- Silverware
- Cloth napkin
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