more... > Family & Consumer Sciences > Food & Nutrition > Cook your turkey properly to avoid illness (Distributed 11/12/09) Turkey is the traditional choice for most Thanksgiving celebrations. There is no quality difference between a fresh or frozen turkey although fresh turkeys have shorter shelf lives, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Certain Pies Dangerous At Room Temperature The holidays are time to enjoy special desserts you may only make once a year. To prevent getting foodborne illness, refrigerate pies containing eggs and milk, such as pumpkin, custard and cream pies. Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Less This Year When Louisiana cooks shop for their Thanksgiving meal, they’ll find the cost of the basic dinner items will average $36.31 for 10 people, according to an LSU AgCenter survey of Baton Rouge-area prices. That’s down by $3.50 from last year’s average of $39.81 – a 9 percent drop. Fried Turkey Gets Nutrition Nod When frying a turkey, it is imperative that the bird be completely thawed, or the oil will "boil" when the bird touches it – possibly causing injury or fire. To thaw a turkey in the refrigerator safely, leave it in the original wrapping, place it on a tray and refrigerate. Allow five hours thawing time per pound.  more articles... Enrich holiday meals with Louisiana yams (Distributed 11/06/09) Thanksgiving is a perfect time to enjoy Louisiana yams. The Louisiana yam is an exceptional type of sweet potato – sweet and flavorful, with a soft, moist flesh, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames . Make Food Safety Part of Summer Meal Planning Families across Louisiana are now making their grocery lists in preparation for those summer outdoor meals. Food safety should be high on the list while those preparations are being made. Great ingredients and recipes are some of the concerns in planning for your BBQ menus, but food safety should be equally important. Some of the biggest concerns are keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, avoiding "cross contamination" of raw and cooked foods and storing food appropriately. Blueberries Are Tasty Disease Fighters Enjoy Louisiana blueberries. They can help protect against diseases, including certain cancers and heart disease. St. Charles Parish Volunteers for Family & Community March Newsletter 2009 This newsletter highlights upcoming events and meetings, St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day. Nutritionist Offers Money-Saving Tips Now that food costs more and fuel prices are higher than ever, cost-cutting strategies are important to households across most income levels. Here are ways to save money when heading to the grocery store. Grilled Cauliflower Grilled cauliflower recipe, history and nutritional value information.