THE APPLEWOOD FARMS HAM & TURKEY BLOG

FUNERAL ETIQUETTE

2009-02-04T12:52:00.000-08:00

THE BEST FUNERAL GIFT IS FOOD. A DEATH IN A FAMILY IS VERY TRAUMATIC,
AND UNFORTUNATELY HOUSE DUTIES FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.MEAL PREPARATION IS SPOTTY AT BEST.AND YOU CAN'T EAT FLOWERS.
AN EASY WAY TO HELP OUT IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES IS BY SENDING ONE OF OUR 8/10 LB 1/2 SPIRAL HAMS.THEY ARE FULLY COOKED,SMOKED AND READY TO EAT.
JUST HEAT AND EAT! LEFT OVERS CAN LAST SEVERAL DAYS REFRIDGERATED.
A TRULY THOUGHTFUL GIFT.

COOKING YOUR HOLIDAY BIRD AUGUST 08

2008-08-28T02:26:00.000-07:00

I WAS TALKING TO MY WEB SITE GAL TODAY ABOUT DIFFERENT TURKEY COOKING METHODS.TURNS OUT SHE(YOUNG DIVORCED SMALL CHILDREN)DOESN'T COOK BIRDS.TOO BIG OF A HASSLE AND WAY TO MUCH FOOD FOR JUST THEM.
HASSLE NO, TOO MUCH YES.
I SELL SPANEK VERTICAL ROASTERS ON MY SITE.IT IS A CHIMNEY LIKE STAINLESS STEEL WIRE THAT IS SHAPED LIKE THE EIFFEL TOWER.
I DEFROST MY BIRD IN A SINK FULL OF COLD WATER THE NIGHT BEFORE(I PUT IT IN WHEN I RETIRE.IT'S READY TO GO,WHEN I WAKE UP NO MATTER WHAT THE SIZE..
I TAKE MY BIRD OUT OF THE BAG REMOVE THE GIBLET BAG,NECK COULD BE UNDER THE SKIN AT THE TOP OF THE BIRD,RINSE SALT AND PEPPER THE INSIDE,SPRAY THE SPANEK ROASTER WITH COOKING SPRAY AND MOUNT THE BIRD ON THE WIRE.WINGS AND LEGS OUT.I TAKE THE FLAP OF BREAST SKIN PULL IT OVER THE NECK HOLE FASTEN IT WITH A SKEWER AND MAKE A HOLE IN THE SKIN SO THE STEAM WITH VENT DURING THE COOKING PROCESS.I SEASON THE OUTSIDE OILING THE BIRD FIRST IF IT NON BASTED .I PLACE THE WIRE MOUNTED BIRD AND ALL IN A DISPOSABLE STEAM TABLE PAN PLACE IT ON MY GRILL(THE GRATE MIGHT HAVE TO BE REMOVED IF IT'S A BIG BOY. INDIRECT HEAT APPROX 325-350 AND ADD A LITTLE WATER TO THE BOTTOM ON THE PAN TO JUST COVER THE BASE OF THE WIRE.
I DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S COALS OR GAS U CAN MAKE SMOKE YADA YADA.
THE BEAUTY PART IS THE BIRD COOKS IN HALF THE TIME IN A VERY HEALTHY WAY.(WIRE HEATS UP INSIDE THE CAVITY COOKING FROM WITHIN)AS WELL AS FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. ALL FAT AND JUICES FALL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN.THE SKIN IS TO DIE FOR.THERE IS NO CONSTANT TENDING TO THIS BIRD.LEAVE IT ALONE CHECK THE H2O LEVEL EVERY 30 MINUTES FOR AN HOUR.IF U MUST FIDDLE,BASTE IT EVERY 30 MINUTES.BASTING AND POKING THE BIRD IS A GREAT WAY TO GET THE KIDS INVOLVED TOO. MY SON WAS 9 YEARS WE WERE SOMEWHERE AND THEY WERE SERVING A WHOLE TURKEY.HE WAS FASCINATED BY THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ROASTING IT IN THE OVEN,ON IT'S BACK.HE'D NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE AT OUR HOUSE
WOMEN LOVE THIS ,AS THE OVEN(S) R FREE.MACHO MAN GETS TO COOK AND BE CREATIVE TOO.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST U,OR ANYONE CAN CARVE THIS TURKEY RIGHT ON THE WIRE STANDING UP.DENNY SPANEK DOES IT WITH A CARROT.
www.spanek.com.
REMOVE THE WING DETACH THE LEG THIGH,ONE CUT TO SEPARATE THE LEG FROM THE THIGH REPEAT ON OTHER SIDE.THEN POP THE WISHBONE,AND PEEL EACH BREAST LOBE DOWN AND OFF.THE LOBE IS BONELESS LETTING THE CARVER DO THICK OR THIN SLICES.THE BIRD IS JUST CARCASS WITH THE BACK SKIN,OYSTERS AND TAIL ON THE BACK.IF YOU'VE EVER CARVED A TURKEY ,IT'S LIKE U DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN.
THE CARVER REALLY LOOKS LIKE THEY KNOW WHAT THERE DOING.IF YOU'VE EVER CARVED A BIRD BEFORE U KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING I'VE SEEN OTHER ROASTERS NOW ON THE MARKET(BEER CAN CHICKEN TYPES)BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS TURKEY WIRE,CHICKEN AND CORNISH HEN WIRES R AVAILABLE TOO.

Grill Sausages

2008-07-14T16:45:00.001-07:00

OUR NEW FIRE TORCHED HAM EASTER 2008

2008-02-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE:THE OFFICAL DEBUT OF OUR NEW RED BOXED,FIRE TORCHED SPIRAL SLICED HAM. THIS HAM COMES WITH GLAZE.(OUR BLACK BOX SPIRAL IS A DRY HAM WITH A GLAZE PACKET AND INSTRUCTIONS, IT GIVES THE PERSON WARMING IT UP SOMETHING ELSE TO DO SO THEY CAN HONESTLY SAY THEY HAVE BEEN SLAVING OVER A HOT STOVE) AFTER WE HAND GLAZE THIS HAM, WE TAKE A BLOW TORCH TO IT.GREAT FUN AND A FABULOUS RESULT.CHRISTMAS SALES EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
I THANK MY WIFE FOR GIFTING ME WITH A HAND BLOW TORCH (XMAS 2006) AND TAKING MANY HAMS TO THE OFFICE FOR TASTE TESTS.IT'S NOT LIKE I GOT IT DOWN THE FIRST FEW TIMES I TRIED IT.
I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MUCH FUN IN THE KITCHEN.I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE KITCHEN.
WE MUST SHARE THAT WE HAVE SHORTENED TH SHELF LIFE BY TWO WEEKS BY TORCHING THE HAM(THE BLACK BOX HAS A 21-30 SHELF LIFE REFRIDGERATED BEFORE FREEZING). IN SHORT EAT IT OR FREEZE IT WITHIN 2 WEEKS AFTER RECEIVING IT.
I LOVE MY JOB.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE .

TWAS THE DAY BEFORE XMAS

2007-12-24T11:21:00.000-08:00

MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

BLACK MONDAY

2007-12-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

TODAY, MONDAY THE 17TH IS CONSIDERED BLACK MONDAY BY THOSE OF US IN THE SHIPPING BUSINESS THROUGH DHL, FED-EX AND UPS.TOMORROW WILL BE VERY INTERESTING.AS IT IS THE BUSIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR.FEW SHIP EARLY. IT'S ALWAYS LAST MINUTE.ERGO GRID LOCK.LOW THE WHINING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.TOUGH ON US WHOM ARE IN THE PERISHABLES BUSINESS.
NONE OF THE ABOVE SHIPPERS GURANTEE GROUND SHIPMENTS THIS WEEK ANYWAY, ONLY AIRS.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE BAD WEATHER AREAS, THEY DON'T HELP.
WE OUR SELVES ONLY LET NEXT DAY AIR AND SECOND DAY AIRS GO TODAY.AS WE ARE EXPERINCING EXCEPTIONS FROM OVER THE WEEKEND.
THANK GOD HAMS ARE MORE RESILIENT AND CAN TAKE TO GROUND SHIPMENTS MUCH BETTER THAN TURKEYS.
OUR GLAZED FIRE TORCHED 1/2 SPIRAL SLICED HAMS ARE SELLING LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
WE ARE ALSO VIRTUALLY SOLD OUT OF TURKEYS. HAVING ONLY A FEW HENS 10/12'S A FEW 24/26 LB TOMS AND SOME 10/12 TURKEY BREASTS.EVERYTHING I BOUGHT (LIKE FREE RANGE BIRDS) SOLD OUT.
GO FIGURE.

HAMS: DEATH BY ROASTING

2007-12-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

THE THING IS THAT MOST PEOPLE "KILL" THEIR HAM BY OVERHEATING IN THE OVEN.A SMOKED HAM WHETHER BONELESS OR BONE IN [WHOLE OR 1/2 SPIRAL CUT] IS FULLY COOKED AND READY TO EAT.ONE NEED ONLY TO WARM IT AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE 225 DEGREES 10-15 MINUTES PER POUND.
REMOVE HAM FROM CRYO-VAC BAG,PLACE ON A ROASTING RACK IF WHOLE, FLAT SIDE DOWN IF 1/2 SPIRAL SLICED SIDE DOWN [KEEPS THE SLICES FROM DRYING OUT AND SEPARATING] ,ADD A LITTLE WATER, FOIL IF YOU LIKE[A MORE STEAMED RESULT].
I HAVE A NEW 1/2 SPIRAL HAM.
THE FIRE TORCHED ONE.
WE FIRST GLAZE IT, USING A PASTRY BAG WE THEN TOP WITH BROWN SUGAR STARS AND TAKE A BLOW TORCH TO IT.IT IS TO DIE FOR.
NATURALLY THE SHELF LIFE GOES DOWN AFTER WE TORCH IT, WHICH MEANS YOU EAT IT OR FREEZE IN TWO WEEKS.

THE BEST WAY TO DEFROST A TURKEY

2007-12-08T14:46:00.000-08:00

NOTE: THIS TECHNIQUE ALSO APPLIES TO TURKEY BREASTS AND FROZEN CHICKEN ITEMS.
BEFORE YOU RETIRE FOR THE EVENING TAKE THE FROZEN BIRD AND SUBMERGE IT IN COLD WATER.USE THE KITCHEN SINK, LAUNDRY OR BATH TUB, OR A LARGE CONTAINER[ ICE CHESTS, BIG COOLERS WORK GREAT.WHEN YOU WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING, HE [TOM]OR SHE[HEN] IS COMPLETELY DEFROSTED.
THIS IS SIMPLE,EASY, AS WELL AS FULL PROOF.

INTRODUCTION

2007-11-30T00:24:00.000-08:00

AS A LEADING PURVEYOR OF APPLEWOOD FARMS BRAND HAMS AND TURKEYS FOR OVER FORTY YEARS I FIND THAT MOST OF THE GENERAL POPULANCE HAS MANY MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING THESE TWO VERY EDIBLE ANIMALS.
I WILL TRY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BASED ON THE QUESTIONS I AM MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED.
TO NAME A FEW:
BEST SIZE
FREE RANGE/ORGANIC OR BASTED
FRESH OR FROZEN
COOKING TIPS
THE PROPER WAY TO DEFROST YOUR BIRD OR HAM IF FROZEN.