Roasting Turkeys

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http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle-2.1067/lifestyle-2.1067roasting-a-community-s-turkeys-1.569155

Roasting a community's turkeys

At Astoria bakery, the whole family pitched in to help

November 21, 2007 by JOE HEPPT. Special to Newsday /

Growing up, my family didn't have a Thanksgiving turkey,

we had dozens of them.

That's because we "took in" turkeys for neighbors. A European custom dating

back to when families cooked in pots over an open hearth and relied on the
local baker to roast their Christmas goose, my grandpa Joe adopted the

tradition on Thanksgiving in 1924 when he founded Heppt's bakery in Astoria, as

a courtesy to patrons short on oven space. As vividly as if it were yesterday,

my memory flashes back 45 years to a 6-year-old boy watching a bleary-eyed,

sleepy swarm of turkey-toting customers lining up outside the bakery on

Thanksgiving morning.

The frenzy started Thanksgiving eve, when my grandpa and my dad commenced

baking five hours earlier than usual, to prepare breads and cakes and pies in

time to free up the massive ovens for the turkey brigade. By 6 a.m., my mother

nudged me, my two brothers and my sister awake and shooed us downstairs to the

bakeshop. We appreciated that on Thanksgiving eve mom put us to bed in clothes

instead of pajamas to expedite events of the morning.

Growing into the business

Early on we merely helped out behind the counter, bagging rolls and boxing

cookies. Once my brothers and I grew strong enough to budge the heavy steel

oven doors and tall enough to reach them, we graduated to roasters, while my

sister mastered the cash register. We started by logging in and labeling the

turkeys. Next, we prepped the birds for cooking - a process that depended on

the way the turkeys arrived. Some came still sealed in supermarket shrink-wrap,

while others arrived lovingly stuffed and dressed to the nines.

Yet no matter how a turkey arrived, it left smelling delicious. Customers

often remarked how they could never recreate the flavors at home, especially

the pan drippings we gave out on the side to make gravy. It was our little

family secret: Baste the sorriest looking birds with pan juices from the best

dressed.

Over the years we became quite adept at roasting, basting and timing turkey

to perfection, but I don't know why we bothered. We only charged clients a few

dollars, even less if they couldn't afford it, and my family let us kids

pocket the money.

Gradually, we all grew to dread Thanksgiving. Between the baked goods and

the turkeys, it was the busiest day of the year at our shop. We kids were the

extra help. It was no holiday for any of us. After laboring so intensively

throughout the long day, we lacked the energy and enthusiasm to sit down to our

own family celebration, so we never had one.

Although I never received a clear-cut answer, I think my grandpa - a

self-proclaimed narcissist - roasted turkeys for the praise and attention

customers showered on him. Then, once he retired and eventually passed on, my

father didn't want to break a neighborhood tradition that had flourished for

more than 50 years.

Despite rising before the sun and the drudgery of lifting and basting and

timing turkey after turkey, my brothers and I continued the roasting ritual -

even after we wed and started families of our own. We didn't need a reminder or

an invitation - we just walked in the front door of the bakery at the crack of

dawn every Thanksgiving morning. Then, sadly, this family and neighborhood

tradition ended abruptly just before Thanksgiving in 1985 when my brother

Eddie, an NYPD officer, died suddenly of an undetected heart condition at the

age of 29, leaving a wife and babies behind.

Heartbroken, my parents didn't open for business on Thanksgiving that year

and we never roasted turkeys again. My mother passed away, then my father

retired his rolling pins and closed up shop, although he still resides in the

apartment above the store, where he, and then I, grew up.

These days we enjoy a big, festive family Thanksgiving at my house in Port

Washington. The holiday starts off with a neighborhood father-son football

scrimmage, an annual event initiated when our sons played in the peewee league.

My wife, Wendy, orchestrates the family feast with my daughter Julie assisting

- but only if she feels like it - and I get an opportunity to joke around and

watch football on TV with my son Eddie, my father, my brother Bill and extended

family.

Something lacking in leisure

I have the leisure I'd always dreamed of. Yet something's lacking. Back in

the day, Thanksgiving was a boisterous community event centered around Heppt's

bakery. Previously resentful for the part I was forced to play, now I'd give

anything to have it all back - my two brothers and I running in and out from

tossing a football around in the alleyway behind the store to baste the

turkeys, laughing over how we had secretly helped the less fortunate birds with

the bounty of their neighbors.

Now I regret that my own son never got to share in the Thanksgiving I knew

growing up. I secretly wish I could relive those days - especially the

brotherly camaraderie, father and grandpa watching over our shoulders. At least

I've stored the memories. And they spring to life every year on the third

Thursday in November.

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Get Mega Smooth Hair, No Brazilian Blow-Out Required

You can easily achieve mega-smooth hair using a flat iron. Even a novice can-do, with these pointers from the pros.New flat irons with ceramic or tourmaline plates are gentler on hair. “A flat iron that’s about 1 ½ inches wide is easiest to work with,” says Nick Arrojo, who until recently was the hairstyle guru for TLC’s What Not to Wear. "Never use a flat iron on wet hair; it fries the strands."
1. Prep dry hair with a thermal protective styling product to shield strands from heat, tame frizz and add shine.
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Free/Fun Facebook Giveaways

Conair “Sneak Peek” Sweepstakes
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Dine Out: $25 Gift Certificate to Your Fave Place for $2

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Cashmere Sweaters: Dry Clean or Hand Wash?

Debating whether to wash or dry clean? 

Bergdorf Goodman recently posted on Twitter:  @bergdorfs: Snowy day activities - dryel cashmere sweaters. If they can do it, so can you ... if you're patient and carefully follow directions. Learn how-to and print out dryel coupons at dryel.com

Truth is, many dry clean only items can be laundered. Clothing manufacturers will recommend "dry clean" if it’s the best way to care for the garment, but according to the Federal Trade Commission, many items including cashmere sweaters are mislabeled Dry Clean Only when in fact they may be washable.

Excluding lined wool or silk suits and coats and anything suede or leather labeled "dry clean only," I initially dry clean new garments labeled "dry clean," then I eventually hand wash or toss them in the washing machine and lay them flat to dry, with great results. 

Exception: investment pieces like Gucci, Chanel or Prada originals or stained garments are best left to a professional dry cleaner.

Stressless Schlep-Free Holiday Shopping + Free Shipping

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LAST MINUTE SHOPPING: A SMART MOVE
Bargains get better closer to Christmas, and this year you can cyber-shop last minute with free delivery, and get your goods before Santa makes it down the fireplace. FreeShipping.org has declared December 17 as Free Shipping Day, during which 1,000-plus merchants will offer free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve.

FALL'S BEST BEAUTY BUYS

Fall's beauty buys start with best bets on Cleansers:
Perricone schmerricone. Pricey cleansers are a dumb deal. In my recent story on Bad Beauty Deals for Consumer Report's Shop Smart Magazine, I reported that since cleanser is in contact with your skin literally for seconds, don't spend much money on yours. “Active ingredients such as hydroxy acids, peptides, and vitamins are more useful in facial moisturizers and eye creams because they remain on your skin much longer than a cleanser,” says NY Dermatologist Deborah Sarnoff, M.D., senior vice president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. Dermatologists, cosmetic chemists and users agree, one of the best facial cleansers you can buy is Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser.  A 16. fl. oz. 2-pack is $21.98 at Amazon.com, with free shipping.

BE A BUDGET SAVVY FASHIONISTA: BUY, SELL, BORROW OR LEND

If you never pay full retail, you know the value of  deep discounts and you are  comfortable with borrowing or lending, I-ELLA.com is your dream come true. Browse this new fashionable/charitable online marketplace for vintage finds and one-of-a-kind pieces and designer labels including the Prada cardigan and Jimmy Choo bag, pictured here. Join for free when you're ready to  buy, borrow, swap, sell or lend new and gently used  apparel and accessories.  

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PRADA 

Tan Wool & Silk Cardigan

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JIMMY CHOO  

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Real Pink Ribbon Deals That Give Back 100%

In honor of the 25^th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, your pick of goods that divvy up some profits to breast cancer awareness is big. While this charitable gesture is appreciated, putting the pink ribbon on a product also stimulates sales ... so while it might seem nice when 5% of the proceeds from your purchase is donated, the other 95% is company profit. It's way more philanthropic when a company donates most or all of the profits from your purchase to help find a cure. These budget friendly buys, priced from $2 to $20, allocate a whopping 100% of the profits to breast cancer causes.

Saks Fifth Avenue Key To The Cure Tee is designed by Donna Karan. Saks sells it for $35, and 100% of the price goes to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Kohl's Cares® Simply Vera Vera Wang Coin Purse, $10.
Kohl's Cares® Simply Vera Vera Wang Multistrand Necklace, $5.

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PacSun’s B4Bc Another Name Tote, $9.50, displays humorous names for boobs, and 100% of sales go to B4BC (Boarding for Breast Cancer).
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Pick up this Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet at Payless for $2 and they donate 100% of the profits (at least $1 per bracelet) to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, plus you’re rewarded with a $5 off $25 coupon with every bracelet purchase.

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CONVERTIBLE FASHION STRETCHES WARDROBE, SAVES DOLLARS

L.L. Bean was avant-garde when they introduced pants that converted to shorts over 50 years ago. Since then, convertible clothing has seen little growth except for a jacket with a zip off hood or sleeves.

This season, double duty duds get their due justice, and you benefit from the options. Innovative fashions reverse, shift shapes and transform into a multitude of looks. You can pay a fortune for the privilege, or check out budget friendly ways to double your wardrobe.
3-in-1 BOOTS
Shoe Designers had fun this fall, creating boots that unzip, unbuckle or fold down, so a single pair can be worn at the knee, mid-calf or as ankle booties. Options that retail for $450 are nice, but Charlotte Russe 3-in-1 Boot has a lot going for it at $50. Wear it uncuffed, cuffed, or folded down to a bootie. Faux leather. charlotterusse.com

 

COAT/JACKET

It’s easy to find a convertible coat for $1500, which makes the version at BCBG Max Azria, on sale for $340, a steal. Detachable option transforms it from a coat to a jacket. Detachable faux fur hood. At BCBG Max Azria.

3-WAY LEATHER GLOVES
Convertible Zip Leather Gloves … what a functional find from Michael Kors, available at Nordstrom for $150. It’s your choice: Full-length leather gloves zip down to medium and short lengths. At Nordstrom's.

Are Brazilian Keratin Treatments Toxic or Safe?

Breaking New about Brazilian Keratin Treatments, also called Brazilian Blowout:

On Thursday, Health Canada issued a warning stating the hair smoothing solution made by the California company, Brazilian Blowout, contained "unacceptable levels of formaldehyde." The brand is marketed as a formaldehyde-free, but the Brazilian Blowout solution had been found to contain 12 per cent formaldehyde. The tests and warning were sparked by six consumer and two trade complaints in June after those who worked with the product experienced burning eyes, nose, throat and breathing troubles.

Canadians would have been forewarned if they read my report on BKT (Brazilian Keratin Treatment) in the March issue of ShopSmart Magazine:

Ads for Brazilian Keratin Treatment (BKT), a popular salon technique, claim that it leaves hair smooth and healthy-looking for months. A chief ingredient in the product is formaldehyde, says Perry Romanowski, an independent cosmetic chemist, which is not banned in hair straighteners by the FDA, but it’s a probable carcinogen that can also cause eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; skin rash; and other reactions. “Some salons claim to do formaldehyde-free BKT. But if it does work as well, it probably features an aldehyde, which is like formaldehyde and is not safer,” Romanowski says. ShopSmart says Try a straightening iron. We like the Revlon Perfect Heat Ceramic RVST2001C, $30.

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If you're your own brow "handler," you need a Tweezerman Slant (the must-have for professional brow mavens). The Slant® tweezer has perfectly aligned hand-finished tips, capable of grabbing even the tiniest superfluous hair. You won't find Tweezerman on sale or discounted, but it’s a bargain in the long run. Tweezerman implements are guaranteed; the company will sharpen any of their tools that get dull through normal use for free, they replace damaged/dropped tools for half the purchase price and they repair bent tips for $5.00 per tool. No S&H charges. At drugstore.com, Bed Bath & Beyond and drug stores, $20. www.tweezerman.com.

BIG DEAL ON HAIRCUTS

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STYLISH WAYS TO GO GREEN WHEN YOU CLEAN

Eco Clean cleaning products made from pure Danish ingredients are the perfect way to clean green. Non-toxic cleaners for spiffing up the kitchen, the bathroom, and hand soap have a foaming option nozzle which minimizes the exposure of vapors. Unlike many bland looking green cleaners, Eco Clean packaging is stylish enough to display in your home, and each product retails for an affordable $4.49 at Alice.com and Duane Reade.

Get Double the Mileage From Your Beauty Favorites

Use much less mascara: Curl your lashes first and you'll need to apply just a smidge of mascara to make them stand out. To do, using a traditional lash curler (Revlon and Maybelline sell under $5 versions at drugstore.com) firmly clamp curler pad on lashes mid way between tips and roots; squeeze curler for at least 30 seconds then release.

Stretch your foundation: Apply foundation with your fingers instead of sponge. Makeup tends to absorb into a cosmetic sponge so some goes to waste. Foundation also spreads easier and more evenly when applied with your fingers, which is why makeup artists recommend it.

Save on scent: Spot application ... spritzing fragrance on your neck, wrists, cleavage, etc ... can be overpowering. For subtler, all over scent, spritz fragrance once directly over your head, then close your eyes as the scent floats down and envelops you.

Everlasting nail file: Some experts claim that using a metal nail file can damage nails, but that's not true if you file gently and in one direction, not back and forth. A high tech metal file such as Diamancel Diamond Nail File ($28 at sephora.com) or the classic Diamond Deb Nail File ($3.99 at amazon.com) can last you a lifetime.

Cheapest/best makeup remover: Many experts, including NY dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, recommend Vaseline. You can't find a less expensive product, it's extremely gentle and it easily removes mascara.

Luxury Hair Products Debut at Duane Reade

Drugstores Are Going Glam! Peter Lamas Products, once only available at Fred Segal and Macy’s, are now going mass market, debuting in Duane Reade on April 29th.

While this is NY-specific news, the company is also offering a NATIONAL giveaway. To celebrate the launch, Peter Lamas himself will be making appearances at the Herald Square and Rock Center Duane Reade locations to provide free hair consultations and to announce his FREE YEAR OF HAIR CARE giveaway! From now through June, Lamas fans all over the country can enter online for a chance to win. 256 winners will be selected. For more details visit lamasbeauty.com

Do-able at home hair color: Save up to $2,000 a year

Coloring your hair at home is a big money saver, and it's a cinch once you get skilled at it. Benefits include no travel time or waiting time, and you can multi-task doing chores around the house while waiting for the color to set.

The experts at Consumer Report's Shop Smart Magazine ran tests of at home hair color kits and results showed that it's possible to get salon results at home. For more information, see the current issue of Shop Smart or follow this link
http://www.shopsmartmag.org/files/Mane_event.pdf
for my no-risk tips for how-to ... without ruining your hair or staining the bathroom.