I will be addding some wild rice to my stuffing. I found a source for dried cranberries without any sweetener added. The rice will be cooked in turkey broth. My 10+ pound turkey beast is now thawed in the fridge. I was expcting at least 5 days, but it was a bit faster. By next Tuesday, I will be brining it in a gallon of water with 1 cup salt and 1 cup sugar added. I will place it upside down (breast down) in a big bowl, and poke a few holes into the rib cage from the inside, so the brine can enter in there too. A local supermarket Atlantic, will be going out of business starting next week Friday. I was so upset as they have stuff there that no one else has. Rarely, around here, do you see Japanese people making Sushi in a supermarket, or a butcher shop that will custom cut for free. When I was leaving the store other day, I noticed they had regular Ball lids for 99 cents a box. I will be in their parking lot next Friday morning at 6:30 am to get as many items as I can get for at least 20% off. They employ about 200 people, and all will be jobless. The store is found in Reading Ma, hidden away on a small side street. The owner called me yesterday to remark on my nice letter sent to him. I guess he just wants to retire, as it was his family business for many years.

Joann, bulls can be very unpredictable, I know. I've had some who were so even tempered they became pets, and the one I borrowed from a neighbor last year was named Ethan and developed a distinct taste for powdered sugar donuts. When it was time to take him home, we just bought a box of donuts and walked him into the stock trailer, LOL. HOWEVER, and it's a darned big however, an animal that weighs over 2,000 pounds and can lift three times it's own weight with its neck muscles must be treated with respect and never taken for granted. You won't get a chance to be careless twice, that much is for certain. And that's why I was in the pasture with donuts but the kids were always required to stay on the other side of the fence. Always. Carol, my mother jumped a fence once and it was a bossy old dairy cow that chased her over. Wasn't so funny then as it is now, somehow, but Mother was not happy until that cow became burger so I guess she got her revenge. Annie

We're a bread/sausage stuffing family. This is Marilyn's recipe which I make every year now and we love it. I would guess that you could use the bag (I suppose its 1 pound?) and use this recipe as a guideline for liquid and seasoning and baking. Maybe you wouldn't need any additional seasoning at all, but I always like more thyme. Bread and Sausage Stuffing (Marilyn) 1 pound white bread 1 pound pork sausage 3 stalks celery; chopped 1 onion; chopped 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon dried sage 1 teaspoon dried thyme salt and pepper to taste 2 cloves garlic; minced 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 eggs 3 cups chicken stock (or maybe a little less, see how moist it gets) Cut bread into cubes and lay out to dry. In a large skillet, cook sausage until well browned; place in a large mixing bowl along with drippings. Cook onions and celery in butter until tender but not brown. Add all ingredients to the large bowl along with the sausage. Stir together well and pour into a greased baking dish and bake at 350° for 30 to 45 minutes until puffed and golden but not too dry.

Well, I'm about 1 hour 45 from heading out. Nancy better be up and have the vacuuming done before I get there (she threatened me with vacuuming at 1:15 am this morning, if I got there early). I think if she hasn't we leave Tiny to do the vacuuming while we walk around identifying things. Just tie the vacuum to his tail and he'll cover the whole house in no time! :) I'm assembling an orange cake-pudding (think poor man's souffle) on site for the luncheon meal. I have creme fraische (hopefully) I'm bringing, or maybe I have runny sour cream (not sure yet)..it has been cool and I kinda didn't get it started when I had planned (Thursday afternoon). Jasper and I will be ready to go meet you folks that are coming. It will be his longest car ride, and while I think he'll ride fine, I just wonder if he will get bored...I think I'll pack his rope toy and maybe that will quell him. We'll stop just a bit west of the West Siloam Springs area where there's a last road side stop before we get on the Turnpike for doggie necessary reasons. I kinda miss the services area where there was a gas station, grassy area, cafe, etc not long after you got on the Turnpike, I wonder why they decided it was best to shut it down totally ? Ok, everyone, reconsider and come meet and eat with us. (lol)