It’s That Time Of Year
October 21, 2009
I can’t believe that it has been a year.
A year since I have posed Vanna White style with turkeys.
Today I was back at the Butterball headquarters with the nicest ladies you could ever want to meet.
I am not sure what we were talking about here. But whatever it was it was funny.
It was NOT AT ALL obvious who the blogger were.
This is my favorite part of the whole Butterball trip, cooking a whole slew of turkeys by different methods and then tasting them all to see which one was the best.
The convection oven won for me this year, hands down. Happily I have a convection oven in my new house and am going to cook my Thanksgiving turkey this way this year.
Youthink it is stressful carving your Thanksgiving turkey at the table in front of your guests. Imagine doing it in front of a room full of women and a tv reporter and an A.P photographer. Not that Marty seems to find it stressful. I was stressed on her behalf.
Then we forced Marty into the obligatory bathroom photo with us. Later in the evening Susan and I decided that we all need to remember to put on lipstick. The chapstick? Not cutting it. Though my lips are decidedly unchapped and smell like delicious cherries.
Let’s put this in the learn something new every day category.
There are apparently little tab things on the sides of your boxes of Reynold’s Wrap that you push in. The little tab thingies hold the roll in place. I NEVER knew about this. And I use Reynold’s Wrap daily. And almost every other day I yank the roll right out of the box. In my defense I do make my children’s lunches at 5am, not my best time of the day.
My mornings just got a little bit easier, I think. 5am with less swearing! FTW!
RSS feed for comments on this post.
I found that out about Reynold’s wrap (and many other wraps, as well) about a year ago. I was positive I was the last person on the face of the earth to discover this.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:28 pmI’m shocked to learn this about Reynold’s wrap! Thaks for the tip. I’d love to hear any guidelines you have for cookign in the convection oven. Our new house has one too and I’d have no idea how to cook a turkey in it.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:38 pmOMG, thanks for the box tab tip, I never knew either and always always pull the whole dang thing out of the box. This will make life sooo much better!! (I am actually serious here)
October 21st, 2009 at 11:38 pmzomg, excellent use of ‘ftw’ chris!
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:03 amI too never knew this. I’ve got to check my Sam’s Club industrial size roll.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 amI have a convection oven, but have always been afraid to use it for a turkey—afraid I might get the timing wrong and screw up the whole meal. So if you (or someone) can offer the technique, that would be so great (one that accommodates brining, to which I am religiously committed).
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:46 amI KNEW about the tabs and still find myself rerolling 10 feet of tinfoil that never even comes CLOSE to rolling back up properly at least every other week.
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:10 amI always wondered what those tabs were for.
You look lovely, as always.
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:24 amLooks like fun! (laughing about the tabs…..I thought everyone knew that, lol, my mom used to get mad when we forgot to push them in growing up)
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:20 amI am running to my kitchen to check out this tab thing i like you never knew
i also can not believe how fast time flies it seems like yesterday that you were collecting pies
have a great day
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:25 amooh, I never knew about those tab thingies either!
So, any such thing as gluten-free stuffing for you? I still remember your video of the HEAVY gluten-free rolls, and have dread images of what the stuffing might be like.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 amthere are TABS on the side? WHAT??
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:01 amWhere can we find the recipe and instructions for cooking a turkey in a convection oven? I have an oven with that ability but I’ve never used it.
I just found the tab on the side of the aluminum foil box….accidently….about 2 months ago. How long has that been there? You just did a public service announcement.
Thanks for the great post…Julia
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:06 amI tried calling the Butterball hotline last year while I was cooking my Butterball Thanksgiving turkey in Lagos, Nigeria. Unbeknownst to me, the hotline was not open 24 hours! In the end, I stuffed the neck of the turkey instead of the cavity, and cooked the bird with the plastic bag of innards still in the turkey. But, the bird was covered in bacon, and therefore it was still tasty.
Still, not open 24 hours. Curses!
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:21 amI always forget about those tabs. Luckily I am NEVER making lunches at 5 a.m.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:44 amChris, I totally learned about the tabs thing last year: http://kgseymour.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/there-was-something-you-were-keeping-from-me/
I’m so sorry I didn’t share the knowledge. It’s kind of changed my life. Well, at least the part during which I use Saran and Reynolds Wrap. Which isn’t that big a part of my life, now that I think about it.
Also, the blades come OUT of the bottom of the blender. Just in case you didn’t know that one. Because I DIDN’T!
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 amI never knew about the tab thing either and have the same issue. Too funny!
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 amI never knew about the Reynolds Wrap tabs either! I am forever dislodging the stupid roll; it has been the bane of my existence. Thanks for sharing!
Chris, you are a stunning woman.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:59 amSo - how do I cook my turkey w/my new convection oven???? I have a beautiful new kitchen and it’s been decided that we’re hosting TG. What’s the secret????
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 amSeriously, I never knew about those tabs either. I am always pulling the roll out of the box!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:04 amI never knew about the tabs on the Reynolds wrap either! I HATE when the whole roll comes whipping out, and half the time it crashes to the floor and I am holding the other end and now have 3 feet of Reynolds wrap to wind back up on the roll. THIS is good information!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:04 amI didn’t know that about the Reynolds Wrap either! I already learned something new today - yeah me!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:06 amWhat? No hairnet?!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:07 amDear Lord! I didn’t know about the tab thing either! I feel like I was sheltered. LOL!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:14 amOh! I never knew that either. Now I can’t wait to get home and check out my plastic wrap. Thanks for the tip!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:18 amOh, i didn’t know about those little tab thingies either.
We overslept this morning although everyone did make it to school in time, but definitely not enough time to figure out the tab thingies. Maybe tomorrow ^^
Karen
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 amUh, I have never heard of tab thingies on the foil box either.
Also–can it really be time already for the Thanksgiving turkey school trip? That seems crazy! Oh my.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 amI just found out about those tabs too - and I am *cough cough* fifty-something!!!
Just had Canadian Thanksgiving up here, and I cooked a Butterball. Best turkey ever, I think!!
You look like you are having a lot of fun!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 amUh, I can’t believe it’s been a year, either. And reading all the blogs that I read, it’s VERY disconcerting to me that in addition to MY OWN LIFE moving so much faster than I am prepared for, I have the added annoyance of watching all of YOUR lives pass by in a flash. I have been reading since 2005, so while we’re on the subject, please ask Miles to stop growing. IT’S FREAKING ME OUT.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:55 amI just learned about those darn tabs on the aluminum foil too! Who knew???
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 amAmazing. Those little tab things are on the cling wrap too! I feel rather sheepish not knowing this. Learning something new today.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:29 amI did NOT know about those tabs! Duh. Thanks for the info!
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:53 amWhat??? I never knew about those tabs! Thanks for that tidbit.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:24 amHuh? Tabs? What?
How did I miss this, all these years!?!?!
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:42 amAmazing! I am off to push in my Reynolds wrap tabs now. Who knew the roll wasn’t supposed to fall out of the box every freaking time you used it.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:45 amDo tell how to cook the turkey with a convection oven! I’m in a new house with a new oven too, and I seem to be hosting the big family dinner. Help!
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 pmI don’t think they have always put those tabs in the boxes. My daughter and I were discussing this a couple of days ago. I looked in my RV camper because I know I have some very old plastic wrap and foil in it. Only the Reynolds wrap had it in the old ones, now everything does, check it out. Whoever had that idea was some smart person.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 pmI bet the convection over cooks almost as well as the Cajun fried turkey.
I did NOT mean to say the convection over OVER cooks, I meant to say oven there. LOL mine does often overcook!
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 pmI never knew about the tabs either, so cool. I am going to have to check that out tonight now. I can’t believe it has been another year. YIKES.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pmI’m hungry for turkey skin after looking at all those turkeys. Turkey skin is one of my favorite foods.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 pmI had no idea about the tab things either! And they’re on the cling wrap boxes too? This could be life changing!
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:20 pmLOL - I learned about the tab things years ago, and had a head clunk moment myself. BUT, I then forget all about it again and again…thanks for the reminder. Now, do tell what is so wonderful about convecting the turkey…I have a convection option, but rarely use it.
Thanks!
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:37 pmI didn’t know about the tabs either! Thanks! Also, Miles just kills me! He is such a cutie! I think the first time I happened across your site it was autumn and there was the most beautiful picture of him as a toddler! So sweet!
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:23 pmI also had no idea about those tabs on the sides of the boxes. I can’t wait to get home and see if they really work!!
Those turkeys look delicious and I’m don’t care for them. But stuffing is a whole different ballgame. Love it!!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:53 pmBut, dude - that would take ALL the fun out of 5 a.m. No lie.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:39 pmWhile I am happy to learn about the Reynold Wrap tabs, I am really just commenting to say–wow, you are beautiful and photogenic. No wonder your kids are so gorgeous and photogenic themselves. Too bad “I’ve Got a Secret” is no longer on the air–you would definitely fool the audience because no one would guess that you are the mother of 7, including teenagers (unless audience members read your blog, that is!)
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:54 pmWell hells bells, why is it that so many of us born in the 60’s flower children were NEVER TAUGHT THIS ABOUT THE TAB THINGIE on the side of the foil and cling wrap boxes? Hmmm? I ran right into the kitchen, yanked those boxes out, and PULLLLLED. Oh, it felt so good!
No more cut fingers, with product roll flapping onto the ground. No more wasted product, from pulling out too much product while trying to avoid cutting fingers on razor-like apparatus on box.
Oh, and guess what? PARCHMENT PAPER does NOT have this nifty tab thingamajig on the box. Wonder why that is?
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:26 amTabs to hold the roll in? No way!
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:39 amTabs…who knew…feeling stupid in the kitchen…again…still…as usual…geez
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:09 amI knew about this - isn’t it great?
I’m sure a woman invented it - because they were sick of yanking the roll out of the stupid box.
Ummmm - turkey!!!!!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 amChris, your photo groups always have a cohesive “look”. Do you use Lightroom to edit in batches? Or ?
Jen
Chris says: I Don’t know what Lightroom is… I do use Photoshop though, but I never edit in batches.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:49 pmI also never knew about the tabs on the side of the roll. I’m amazed. Now it will quit falling out of the box. UH-MAZED.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:07 pmI found out about the tab things awhile ago too. I thought why on earth did those Reynold Wrap ladies ever tell us that on the commercials! AND by the way for having as many children as you have you look SOOOOOOOOO YOUNG and THIN.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:20 pmHey Chris, I hope you’ll pardon me for asking a question not related… but I was just remembering your old blog in which you gave a lot of helpful advice to moms of multiple children… and I have a question, maybe you could address this at some point. What can you do when older children need to do homework and younger children keep coming into the room to disturb, interrupt, ask questions, etc? I want my oldest to have some privacy, but every time she goes into a room and closes the door, the 2-yr-old bangs on the door wanting to be let in… if you have any advice I’d be grateful, thanks…
October 24th, 2009 at 2:36 amI just found out about those tabs on the foil boxes a few months ago!
October 24th, 2009 at 8:59 amI am glad I am not the only one who didn’t know about the tabs! I went to my drawer, and sure enough, there are the tabs. Not only that, but the Glad wrap has instructions on both sides that read “Push tab to secure roll.” Duh!
October 24th, 2009 at 10:45 pmTabs, huh? Not everyone’s roll of aluminum foil has been unrolled and re-rolled on a daily basis? I wonder what other secrets those Butterball ladies know!
October 25th, 2009 at 1:44 pmOMGosh that tab tip - awesome I never knew and I have used reynolds wrap almost daily for 15 years
October 28th, 2009 at 1:25 pm