Holiday Cooking Hotlines

Guidelines for sending Food and Gifts to US Military

Phone: 1-888-674-6854
Toll Free for Hearing Impaired: 1-800-256-7072

Hours of operation: 10a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Mon - Fri.
Closed weekends and Federal Holidays.

e-mail: MPHotline.fsis@usda.gov.
Website: Guidelines for sending Food and Gifts to US Military

Services in Spanish also.

Image by Nina

The turkey is the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal, and no matter what your cooking skills, we all hope that what comes out of the oven will look exactly like the picture in the magazine (or cookbook) where you first round your inspiration. Unfortunately, not everything always goes as easily as the recipe would have us believe. So for those times when things get a little more difficult then we expected, it's good to know there's always an expert who's only a phone call away.



Butterball Turkey Talk Line

Phone: 1-(800) BUTTERBALL (800-288-8373)

Hours of operation: Open seasonally November & December.

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Butterball Turkey Talk Line

Available in Spanish

Shady Brook Farms Turkey Line

Phone: 1-888-723-4468
Pre-recorded messages from famous chefs

Hours of operation: 24 hrs, 7 days a week

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Shady Brook Farms - Whole Turkey A - Z

Reynolds Turkey Tips Line

Phone: 1-800-745-4000 (Select from a menu of pre-recorded instructions)

Hours of operation: Available 24/7

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Tips and Timesavers

Honeysuckle White

Phone: 1-800-810-6325
Pre-recorded information on how to select, prepare and cook whole turkeys

Hours of operation: 24 hrs, 7 days a week

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Honeysuckle White Turkeys

Foster Farms

Phone: 1-800-255-7227

Hours of operation:Monday - Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM PST.

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Foster Farms - Preparing Turkey

Image by Vicki's Nature

Perdue Chicken

Phone: 1-800-473-7383

Hours of operation: Weekdays year-round 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m Eastern Time. Thanksgiving week: Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST, Wed, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, Thanksgiving Day, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m EST
(Closed: Day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Perdue - Cooking for the Seasons

Empire Kosher Poultry

Phone: 1-800-367-4734

Hours of operation: Year-round Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST; Fridays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m EST. Closed on Jewish and secular holidays

e-mail: consumeraffairs@empirekosher.com
Website: Empire Kosher

Fresh Poultry Hotline

Phone: 1-888-822-4004

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m

e-mail: Need to find web site first
Website: is there one?

Image by dystopos

You can learn to cook the secret recipes from your favorite restaurants, right in your own kitchen.

This fantastic cookbook contains not only the recipes, but easy to follow step-by-step instructions to guide you from start finish.

No more waiting on line for a table, or trying to figure out how much of a tip to leave. The biggest decision you'll face is deciding which recipe to make first.

Do you like Applebee's Santa Fe Chicken Salad?

How about the Olive Garden's Sicilian Scampi?

Maybe you prefer the Pig Sandwich from the Hard Rock Cafe?

Is the Mile High Meatloaf Sandwich from the Cheesecake Factory what you crave?

You now have the opportunity to learn how to prepare all of these dishes, and many more, any time you choose.

Want to bring something special to your relatives for the Holiday's? How about Balducci's Tiramisu? You'll leave them speechless.

Don't forget how much money you'll be saving. You can make the same restaurant quality dishes at a fraction of the cost, onec you know your favorite restaurants secret recipes.

Ocean Spray

Phone: 1-800-662-3263

Hours of operation: 9a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, Mon - Fri.

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Ocean Spray - Sauces, Sides & Salads

Green Giant

Phone: 1-800-767-4466

Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. CST

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Green Giant - Seasonal Recipes

Kraft Foods

Phone: 1-800-431-1001

Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. EST

e-mail: Online FAQs
Website: Kraft Foods - Holiday Recipes

Image by Emily Barney

Crisco Pie Hotline

Phone: 1-800-766-7309
Pre-recorded answers to FAQs and option to connect to live pie expert

Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 9am - 7pm EST
Except for: Nov. 13 - 22 (8 - 8 EST) and Dec. 18 - 22 (8 - 8 EST).

e-mail: Register to post questions on Message Board
Website: Crisco - Seasonal Ideas

Land o Lakes Holiday Bakeline

Phone: 1-800-782-9606

Hours of operation: 9am - 9pm CST 7 days a week

e-mail: FAQs online only
Website: Land o Lakes Holiday Help

Betty Crocker

Phone: 1-888-ASK-BETTY (888-275-2388)

Hours of operation: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST 7 days a week

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Betty Crocker - Baking

Nestle Toll House Baking Information Line

Phone: 1-800-637-8537
Pre-recorded answers to FAQs and option to connect to live pie expert

Hours of operation: 8am - 8pm EST (Mon - Fri only)

e-mail: Contact Form
Online Chat also: 8am - 8pm EST (Mon - Fri only)
Website: Nestle - Very Best Baking

Pillsbury

Phone: 1-800-775-4777

Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. CST

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Pillsbury

Duncan Hines

Phone: 1-800-362-9834

Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Duncan Hines Baking Tips

King Arthur Flour

Phone: 1-802.649.3717

Hours of operation: Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time
Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time

e-mail: bakers@kingarthurflour.com
Online Chat also available
Website: King Arthur Flour Recipes

Image by saikofish

A few healthy holiday eating tips are all that is needed to keep from packing on those traditional holiday pounds.

In order to help you avoid this annual weight gain, here are a few eating healthy tips for this holiday season (this should also give you the chance to come up with a different resolution for the New Year besides lose weight).

Have a plan - This means being aware of what type of event you're going to. Office parties (typically buffets) present a different set of edible temptations than a relative's lavishly prepared Holiday feast. By knowing where you will be, who you will be with, and what foods you are likely to encounter can help you to prepare in advance for the social eating that follows. Having a plan makes it easier to deal with situations when they arise.

Have a snack first - At first may seem counter productive to overeating, but it will actually help you to eat less. Typically when we go to a Holiday event, we refrain from eating beforehand since we know there will be plenty of food there. All this does is make you more hungry when you arrive, which leads to over indulgence. Eating a light healthy snack (such as a piece of fruit or yogurt) immediately before you leave for the party will prevent your stomach from growling when you see/smell the first appetizer, preventing you from over eating.

No Recreational Eating - This is what happens when we continuously eat because everyone else around us is eating and we lose track of exactly how much we've had, until we try to move and realize the tray of appetizers or bowl of dip is now empty. To prevent this make yourself a single plate of the foods you want to try, and then savor them slowly. Savoring means thoroughly chewing, tasting and enjoying every bite. When finished, get yourself a tall glass of water, or sip your drink slowly. Another useful tip if you are at a buffet is to not congregate right next to the food. Remove the temptation by taking your conversations across the room.

Watch what you're eating - Watching is all about portion control. No one expects you to pass up a slice of your favorite Chocolate Cheesecake, but you don't need to have a wedge that covers the whole plate. The key to healthy eating is all things in moderation, especially during the Holidays.

Bonus tip For those of you who will be hosting a Holiday gathering this year, prepare your menu with lighter, low fat ingredients. There is a wealth of information available on how to make lighter, healthier versions of your favorite Holiday recipes. A few simple substitutions, such as light sour cream or low fat mayonnaise for dips, low fat (Neufchatel) cream cheese for cheesecakes, etc, will keep the flavor and no one will probably ever know they just had a healthy Holiday meal.

Following these few simple tips should make it easier for you to enjoy the Holidays and eat healthy, without overindulging.

Turning Leaf Vineyard - Wine Pairings

Phone: 1-866-99-TLEAF (1-866-998-5323)

Hours of operation: Need to verify times

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Turning Leaf Vineyard

Services available in Spanish

Image by LydiaL

Campbell's Soup Holiday Leftover Hotline

Phone: 1-888-453-3868

Hours of operation: Day after Thanksgiving through December 31
All other days - Recorded recipes which can be faxed.

e-mail: Contact Form
Website: Campbell's Soup Holiday Leftovers

Image by jslander

The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotlline

Phone: 1-888-674-6854

Hours of operation: 10a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Mon - Fri.
Closed weekends and Federal Holidays, except Thanksgiving.
Special Thanksgiving Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., ET.

e-mail: mphotline.fsis@usda.gov
Website: The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotlline

Services in Spanish also.

The FDA Hotline (non-Turkey Questions)

Phone: 1-(888)-723-3366

Hours of operation: 10a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Mon - Fri.
Closed weekends and Federal Holidays, except Thanksgiving.
Special Thanksgiving Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., ET.

e-mail: consumer@fda.gov
Website: The FDA Hotline

Services in Spanish also.

Image by kimberlyfaye