In charge of the Big Bird for the first time? Not enough space in the oven for everything on your holiday menu?
Don't panic: Help is just a mouse click, a phone call, a tweet away.
The Foster Farms Turkey Helpline will be staffed 24/7 through Nov. 30, including Thanksgiving Day. After Nov. 30, staff will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. You can reach them at 800-255-7227 or www.fosterfarms.com.
Butterball's website is www.Butterball.com. There you'll find expert advice, recipes and videos.
And there's something new this year. Five popular lifestyle bloggers, including Susan Wagner of www.FridayPlaydate.com and Chris Jordan of www.NotesfromtheTrenches.com, will be posting their own ideas and personal anecdotes.
The new Butterball.com blog will include special tips for first-time Thanksgiving cooks throughout November.
The Butterball Hot Line is 800-288-8372. It's staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through December.
New this year: Connect with other Thanksgiving cooks on the Butterball Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Butterball, or follow Butterball at www.Twitter.com/Butterball to get real-time advice.
Or text the word "TURKEY" to 36888 from your mobile phone to receive information through Nov. 30 on topics such as how much turkey to buy, thawing reminders, and cooking temperatures.
Happy holidays.
Free recipes
The Comté Cheese Association has just released three new recipe cards featuring easy-to-make recipes for holiday side dishes, including green bean and mushroom gratin, a sweet potato soufflé and cranberry and apple stuffing.
The free cards fit in any recipe box and are printed on sturdy cardstock. To order, e-mail your name and address to trade@comte-usa.com or go to www.comte-usa.com.
New read
The book: Slow Cooker Comfort Food by Judith Finlayson.
Cost: $25
Best for: Creating delicious, home-style recipes that are hot, comforting, and satisfying. The author has also included several make-ahead ideas, tips and techniques that will truly maximize the use of a slow cooker and ensure outstanding results every time.
Get more: Read more book reviews and literature news in Sunday's Desert Living.
*Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com. To receive a recipe via e-mail each Tuesday, register at tricityherald.com and click on newsletters. If you already are registered, click on edit account and newsletters to select Recipe of the Week. This exclusive recipe does not appear in the newspaper.