VDW Holiday Hours
We're a week out from Thanksgiving, but we wanted to let our clients (and potential clients) know that we will be closed next Thursday and Friday, 11/28-29 for the Thanksgiving holiday (and Black Friday, if that's your thing). We'll return bright and early on Mon., 12/2. If you need assistance over the holiday weekend, please call our emergency line - 800-959-0051.
Vermont Turkey Donations Needed
Before we go over some of the Thanksgiving events and celebrations happening around Vermont this year, I'd like to first highlight one way you can help those less fortunate this holiday season - donating a Turkey to Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Monday, CEFS sent out this urgent appeal on Facebook: Fox 44 and WVNY 22 pointed out that while CEFS plans to feed 2,700 families, they've only had 218 turkeys donated so far. We can do better than that, can't we #btv? Let's help them out! Turkeys can be dropped off today until 6 p.m., tomorrow 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.University Mall Thanksgiving Food Drive
In addition to turkey donation, the U-mall is holding a food drive to benefit CEFS. Now through Monday, November 25, Thanksgiving food donations are being accepted in front of Express:University Mall is conducting a Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Customers and employees are asked to join together to donate Thanksgiving food items such as stuffing, canned fruit and veggies, salad dressing, potatoes, dinner rolls, and canned pie and pie dough mix. Donations can be dropped off in front of Express. Thank you!
Other VT Thanksgiving Charities
Thanksgiving Basket Drive
If your children attend Weathersfield School, the Service Group is asking that they bring in food items to donate to local families as part of their annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive and tomorrow is the last day for donations. Boxes to collect items are in each classroom. Baskets containing all donated Thanksgiving dinner items will be delivered in baskets to families on 11/25 and 11/26.NEVER GIVE UP, EVER - THANKSGIVING 5K/10K TURKEY TROT!
By the time you read this the event will already be underway, but I thought you should know about another great cause to be thankful for this year - Never Give Up Ever, who's mission it is to raise money for terminal and chronic childhood disease research, as well as provide financial support for the families of those affected. Acording to Fleet Feet, runners in the annual 5k/10k Turkey Trot were set to break out of the blocks at Richmond's Old Round Church at 8:30 this morning. Even if you miss today's event, you can still support this great cause by donating at the Never Give Up Ever website any time. This year we're thankful for being surrounded by all of these great causes and we're sure there are many more. Please feel free to add any other charities or programs you're aware of in the comments below and we'll add them to our list.Vermont Thanksgiving Dinner & Getaway Round-Up
- West Mountain Inn, Arlington, VT - Thanksgiving Dinner
- Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, Stowe, VT - Thanksgiving Feast
- The Four Chimneys Inn, Bennington, VT - Thanksgiving Dinner
- Hartness House, Springfield, VT - New England Thanksgiving in Vermont, Bed & Breakfast Getaway Package
- Three Mountain Inn, Jamaica, VT - Thanksgiving Weekend Getaway
- Mount Snow, West Dover, VT - Thanksgiving Getaway
More Late November Events
Thanksgiving Tips
The Burlington Free Press has put together a great list of helpful Thanksgiving cooking tips that should make your meal preparation an organized and manageable affair, rather than the chaotic mess it can often devolve into. BFP has laid out everything from how to select the right size turkey to selecting desserts and the best ways to make use of leftovers. Below are a few turkey tips:Click through to the article to read the rest. WCAX recently invited Chef Michael Kloeti to show you a simple recipe for old fashioned, traditional green bean and mushroom casserole from scratch - as opposed to the canned, prepared stuff so many of us tend to make. And for those who count calories even through the holidays, WPTZ offers up this helpful "Holiday Food Calculator".HOW BIG?
For turkeys less than 16 pounds, estimate 1 pound per serving (this accounts for bone weight). For larger birds, a bit less is fine; they have a higher meat-to-bone ratio. But if your goal is to have very ample leftovers, aim for 1 ½ pounds per person no matter how big the turkey is. • For 8 people, buy a 12-pound turkey • For 10 people, buy a 15-pound turkey • For 12 people, buy an 18-pound turkey • For 14 people, buy a 20-pound turkeyTHE BIG THAW
The safest way to thaw a frozen turkey is in the refrigerator. You’ll need about 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. For speedier thawing, put the turkey in a sink of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes, and plan for about 30 minutes per pound.
2013 Thanksgiving Web Fun
If you're like me and and you plan to kick back like a king while everyone else scrambles to get Thanksgiving dinner ready, you're going to need to find some way to occupy your time and I've got just the thing, thanks to Nicole, our Director of Business Services - the Unpardonable Turkey. Dress your turkey up in some obnoxious hipster attire, make him repeat some cliched nonsense and then no one will feel bad about killing and eating him! The Unpardonable Turkey is an interactive web app so I can't embed, but I can share the one I created. Share yours by posting links in the comments below!