Saturday, November 24, 2012
Need even greater this year due to Sandy
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Saturday, November 24, 2012
The Essex County Sheriff’s Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Needy and Homeless of the community this week launched the final phase of its annual charitable initiative. Sheriff Armando Fontoura and his officers loaded two vans and delivered hundreds of turkeys and holiday meals with all the trimmings throughout Essex County. “In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many of our neighbors are still hurting,” Fontoura noted. “The loss of electrical power for many days caused an awful lot of food to go bad. In some small way, our food drive will assist families and community soup kitchens.” In addition to providing relief to needy families, the sheriff’s officers stocked the shelves of the food pantries at St. Rocco’s and St. Ann’s Church, The …
Thursday, November 22, 2012
One resident reflects on the positives that Sandy provided.
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thank you, Sandy. More than a week without power, heat, phone, Internet, TV -- the comforts, conveniences and amusements we hardly ever contemplate -- gives a person time to think. For one thing, it surely makes me grateful for the life I usually lead, free of worry about meeting my family’s basic human needs. This tiny taste of what life might be like if our family were in less fortunate circumstances has given me greater empathy for families who face the cold regularly without the certainty that in a few days things will be better. These trying days after the storm also made me feel profoundly grateful for living in a community full of such kind, supportive neighbors. This year, I feel that Thanksgiving can’t come soon enough and …
Make sure your pup or cat avoids getting sick with these quick tips!
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
This blog was written by Colleen O'Neill. As Thanksgiving is upon us, those of you that have pets in your busy holiday home know what usually happens, the cat or the dog end up getting overfed by 10 different guests at your holiday gathering, because they show that same cute, fuzzy, begging face to every person, and act as if they haven't been fed all day. Dogs especially have this act perfected, they should win Academy Awards for Best Actor/Actress, since they know all they have to do is walk up and wag a tail and soon enough they get a little bit off of everyone's plate. They just keep moving down the line, greeting each of your guests until they've gotten something from everyone. Soon enough they have a full stomach of foods they …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Stumped about what to drink on turkey day? Local wine expert Hank Zona breaks it all down.
Whether you're the host, a guest or a restaurant diner, choosing wines for Thanksgiving dinner can be a challenge. After all, the menu can encompass a wide variety of tastes and textures, from mild (white meat turkey) to gamey (dark meat turkey, sausage) to savory (Brussels sprouts with bacon) to sweet (cranberry sauce) to creamy (gravy). Furthermore, while articles might suggest specific wines, what happens when you can’t find them on a restaurant list or at your local wine shop? First, take a deep breath. “The focus of the holiday is on getting together with family and friends, it’s not the time to go all ‘wine geek’,” said wine expert Hank Zona, owner of Swirl Wine Events and host of The Grapes Unwrapped. “That doesn’t mean you have …
Thousands are signing an online petitions against Black Friday store opening hours that have been pushed into Thanksgiving Day.
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The trend for stores to open earlier and earlier to take advantage of Black Friday sales -- even to the point of opening in the evening on Thanksgiving Day -- has prompted an online petition drive to give Thanksgiving back to employees and their families. The original petition was reportedly created by a Target employee upset that the retail giant is opening on Thanksgiving and requiring employees to work instead of spending time with their families. Target stores will open their doors at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving. As of Tuesday morning, there are more than 179,000 signatures on the petition. Check out the petition here A press release from Change.org reported that they have seen dozens of new petitions pop up about Black Friday hours. "…
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The holiday getaway begins Wednesday
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
NJ Transit plans to offer "nearly normal Thanksgiving service levels on most of its lines to ensure customers’ travel plans go smoothly over the holiday weekend," according to a press release. However, storm damage could change some schedules and routes. Specifically, Gladstone Branch rail service remains suspended until further notice, and Newark Light Rail will continue to operate on a modified schedule between Newark Penn and Broad Street stations (service every half hour). The release says, "This year, NJ TRANSIT will once again offer “early getaway” rail and bus service on Wednesday, November 21, for the benefit of customers leaving work early, and to provide additional capacity for customers traveling to Newark Liberty …
Brining a turkey takes time and effort, but results in a moist and flavorful bird.
“Brining” has always been the secret method that chefs use to make a moist and flavorful baked turkey. Many years ago I asked a chef why her turkey meat tasted so good, and she led me back to the kitchen’s large, walk-in cooler filled with birds soaking in a fragrant bath. I immediately got her recipe. But what is brining? There are two types: wet and dry. Dry brining is simply rubbing a turkey in a salt and herb mixture and letting it sit (refrigerated of course) for many hours (usually about one hour per pound). It's somewhat easier and more convenient than the alternative wet option, and advocates insist dry brining makes for a bird with a firmer meat texture, and the skin is sensational. Wet brining, which does seem to be the most …
Monday, November 19, 2012
Share your recipes and kitchen secrets with your neighbors by adding to the list in the comment section!
Change up your traditional Thanksgiving recipes with a little help from the Montclair Patch! This is not the Patch's first Thanksgiving. Throughout the years, there have been numerous articles, blogs and tips posted about holiday recipes and cocktails. In order to help get your table ready, here is a short list of some of the best. Click on the links below and it will transport you to the recipes. But this list is far from complete! So if you have a Thanksgiving recipe you hold dear to your heart, share it with your neighbors and friends by: • Looking for a new way to cook your bird? Then check out these recipes (stuffed, unstuffed, braised, grilled, smoked, and deep fried), in addition to cook times, and a few general tips and tricks…
Sunday, November 18, 2012
A cheesy potato casserole and delicious cranberry sauce are sure to light up your Thanksgiving dinner table.
It’s time for Thanksgiving, my favorite time of the year! Not only do you get to see family, but the food is plentiful and delicious. If your family is anything like mine, there are multiple side dishes to choose from to accompany the all important turkey. Everything from green bean casserole to sweet potato pie has been served at our table and now, I would like to share some fantastic side dish recipes that may become a part of your Thanksgiving tradition. Ingredients Cheesy Potato Casserole 3 lbs red potatoes, sliced 1 lb broccoli, chopped 1 10.75 oz can cream of chicken 1 cup sour cream ½ lb ham, sliced 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp kosher salt 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp basil ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated ½ cup Asiago, grated ½…
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Local food pantries struggling to keep up with the demand this holiday season.
For food pantries across Northern New Jersey, Hurricane Sandy dealt a double blow: It increased the number of families in need of assistance and shortened the span between Halloween (which Gov. Chris Christie moved to Nov. 5) and Thankgsiving, which comes early this year. Prior to the storm, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey reported more than 960,000 residents of Northern New Jersey are food insecure, meaning at times they lack access to enough food to maintain an active, healthy life. The Community Food Bank is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive this Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9am to 2pm at the following locations in Essex County:
H.M.I
4:46 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
not to mention its a federal holiday & many will receive time and half pay for the hours they do contribute on 11/22!!! more ›