Thanksgiving Survival Guide: Top Three Thanksgiving Day Disasters

As relatives begin to swarm, multiple pots and pans start accumulating on the stove, and the turkey is in the oven, it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong. Since it's almost impossible to have a completely fiasco-free holiday, here are some tips to fix even the most direr situation. 

Disaster 1: Burnt Turkey
While a burn turkey may seem like the end of the world, Top Chef contestant Ryan Scott has a remedy that could just do the trick. If the bird is burnt on the outside, but uncooked on the inside, the easiest way to save it is to peel off the burnt skin and start anew. To make sure the meat doesn't dry out, smear the uncooked turkey with a mix of butter, garlic and shallots, while also reducing the temperature. It may not look pretty, but it will taste the same and you wont have to admit defeat. 

Disaster 2: Undercooked Bird
Getting a perfectly cooked bird, isn't easy. Since it can be tough to make sure the turkey is cooked all the way through, make sure to have a good meat thermometer on hand. If you do notice that the breast meat is cooked while the thigh meat is still pink, don't stress. Simply cut off the cooked portion of the turkey and let it rest while returning the uncooked meat to the oven. Guests can still nibble on some of the bird, while the rest finishes cooking. If the whole turkey is still raw after cooking it—as in, you forgot to turn on the oven—cut the turkey into manageable pieces and roast in two baking pans. It will cut the cooking time in half and save you the trouble of telling your family and friends you forgot to turn on the oven, and the embarrassment.

Disaster 3: Frozen Turkey
Unfortunately it is possible that the Turkey may end up not completely thawed by Thanksgiving morning. Don't stress, the bird just needs a cool bath. Fill the sink with cool water and submerge the turkey, breast side down. Change the water every 30 minutes, and plan on soaking it for 30 minutes per pound of turkey. Once the bird is thawed, if you are short on time, you can always cut the turkey into more manageable pieces before roasting to reduce the time needed for it to cook. Please don’t try to thaw the bird on the counter, unless you want to clean up a mess.

Chevrolet History: The Bowtie Story

The history of the Chevrolet bowtie remains shrouded in mystery as many stories have arisen over the years to the origin of the iconic trademark. While one story suggests that the image came off a French hotels wallpaper while Chevrolet founder, William C. Durant, was visiting others suggest it came about by other means. Durant's daughter is one of the proprietors of a suggested alternate theory. She suggests that her father came up with the idea for the Chevrolet bowtie over dinner.

Margery Durant, in her book "My Father," writes that the name-plate didn't arise off a piece of torn wallpaper from a French hotel, but rather was drawn out by Durant himself. Stating that,

“As in the case of the Buick, my father drew name-plates on pieces of 
paper at the dinner table. I think it was between the soup and the fried 
chicken one night that he sketched out the design that is used on the 
Chevrolet car to this day.” 

If this story is true, only Durant knows himself, and the secret of his iconic emblem's origin remains a mystery...

Safe Winter Driving Tips: What to do if you get Stuck.

 
Getting stuck during winter is a fact of life. If there's rain, snow, sleet, slush and mud in any one given area, chances are your vehicle's tires are going to find a way to get trapped. But don't freight,  follow the steps below and you'll be unstuck in no time.

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Winter Car Maintenance Tip: Antifreeze

While everyone tends to panic about flushing and filling their engine coolant before winter, chances are you coolant will be fine for the winter ahead. Since most newer cars are fitted with coolants that can last up to five years, if you follow your vehicles regular maintenance schedule you'll be a-okay.

If, for some reason you missed any required maintenance or have any doubt regarding your vehicles maintenance, it is probably best to flush it and refill it. Also, if you have recently relocated to a colder climate you should most likely switch to a coolant able to handle a deep freeze.