The 300th Post!

Wow! Can you believe it? 300 posts in over 12 years! I missed celebrating the 100th and 200th posts, but the 300th is the charm!

Approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts and feelings turn to gratitude. You may recall that back in January I made the New Year's intention (I hate the term, "resolution") to keep a gratitude journal and every day list three things for which I'm grateful, no matter how big or small. Well, I've actually kept it up. Maybe I've combined a couple of days here and there, maybe I've listed more than three things on some days, but I've made a point of keeping it going.

Experts claim that reflecting and being grateful help rewire your brain to think more positively and, in turn, make you feel happier. I didn't think I would say this, but the experts are right--I do generally feel more content overall. Even my husband says I complain less these days! And flipping back through my gratitude journal, I'm amazed by how many things I have to be grateful about.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, let me say that I am grateful that I've been able to write 300 posts for you to read and (hopefully) enjoy. I'm grateful to have been your perch librarian for over 14 years now (and counting). I'm grateful to have helped so many of you with your questions, a number of which have been interesting and some of which have kept me on my toes! And I'm grateful to have gotten to know so many of you along with your families--it's one of the highlights working at the perch.

Although we're living in uncertain and somewhat concerning times, there are still things for which to be grateful. And keep in mind that those things are often ordinary, everyday things that can be easily overlooked and taken for granted. Take a moment to stop, notice those things, and be grateful for them.

Wishing you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving from the perch.

Let's Talk Turkey!

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year like your perch librarian? Are you also intimidated by the turkey? With the holiday just around the corner, I thought it might be good to talk turkey. Specifically, let's talk about different websites that can help us conquer that big bird.

It's amazing how many ways a turkey can be cooked--in the oven, on the barbecue, in a deep fryer, in a smoker, etc. As for recipes, the number is endless; I kid you not. Bearing all this in mind, I'm going to list a few key places to get started:

• AllRecipes  Here are 13 turkey recipes to peruse. Choose from a classic or an herb roasted turkey to something a little off the beaten path, like a spicy Cajun deep-fried or a roast Peruvian turkey. The recipes include accompanying videos as well.
• Butterball  The name is synonymous with both turkey and Thanksgiving. It covers everything from types of turkey to buy, thawing directions, various cooking instructions, and leftover recipes, among other things. And don't forget about the hotline for turkey questions and emergencies.
• Food Network  The well-known TV channel lists 92 turkey recipes from the classic to the truly out-there turkey (I'm talking about tandoori, Memphis-fried, General Tso's-fried, buffalo-fried, North Carolina-style barbecue, maple-whiskey...you name it).
• Food & Wine  For a rather classy turkey, check out the 26 recipes offered here. There are recipes for turkey that's cider-glazed, citrus marinated, spice-rubbed, beer-brined, and more. There's even Anthony Bourdain's recipe for "business turkey," which has the bare basics.
• YouTube  For visual learners, watch a video and let a cook go through the cooking process step-by-step. Search for "how to cook a turkey" (the cooking method can be specified in the search) and choose from videos made by famous chefs and vloggers. Additionally, it's a good place to look up video recipes for side dishes and desserts.

Do you have a particular turkey recipe you enjoy? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads and delicious eats from the perch.