As we all know, the weeks leading up to the holidays are hectic – packed with things to get done and people to see. The decorating, the baking, the wrapping of gifts can make dinner impromptu and we just grab something out of the refrigerator or order takeout. During the holiday rush, we must not lose sight of the basic food safety guidelines, so that we and our loved ones can enjoy our holidays, and not spend it with food poisoning.
As a quick reminder, make sure cold items stay cold and hot items stay hot.
Make sure to use a food thermometer when cooking meat and egg products.
After eating, make sure to refrigerate leftovers within two hours.
While doing your holiday baking, do not leave eggs out of the refrigerator too long. Salmonella likes to multiply at room temperatures.
The frozen main courses of your holiday meals should be taken out of the freezer 2-3 days ahead of the day they will be prepared. Make sure that you thaw items in the refrigerator, not overnight on the counter. If you are serving ham or items with pepperoni, please check to make sure that it is not one of the items that is being recalled. The USDA has expanded the Alexander & Hornung recall to over 2 million pounds of product. It has been sold under several brand names, so make sure to check our Recall Page, which can be found here: https://food-safety-basics.com/recent-recall-list/ or the USDA website for details.
Remember, eggnog contains raw eggs. Do not leave it unrefrigerated for extended periods of time. Dispose of the leftovers after your gathering.
Cheesecakes and cream pies should not sit out on the counter or table for extended periods of time. If you lack refrigerator space, perhaps serve cookies instead. There are many holiday cookie recipes that can be found on the internet.
Here are a few: https://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/photos/top-holiday-cookies
https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/christmas/g2177/easy-christmas-cookies/
https://www.southernliving.com/holidays-occasions/christmas/recipes/easy-christmas-cookies
Our holiday favorites always include frosted sugar cookies and spritz cookies. The children always enjoy helping out with the decorating and eating!
Hopefully, these reminders will serve you well for the upcoming holiday season. As always, wash your hands, stay safe and may your holidays be filled with peace and joy!