Prepping for the Holidays (Recipe Included!)

11/7/2023 (Permalink)

During the holidays, there are many things to be excited for: spending time with family and friends, honoring traditions (or starting new ones), and preparing food. Review the following safety tips to help make your holiday a safer one. And be sure to make it all the way to the end to get a not-so-secret holiday recipe from local owner Sandy Hastings that you can try this season!

Safe Cooking Practices

Thaw the turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter, to prevent bacteria growth. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw turkey and its juices away from other foods.

Child and Pet Safety

Keep children and pets away from the cooking area to prevent accidents and burns. Secure cords from appliances to prevent tripping hazards. Make sure anything hot or unsafe for pets and children is out of reach or closely monitored.

Travel Safety

Make sure all unnecessary home and kitchen appliances are unplugged before leaving the house and to turn off your water before leaving. This can help prevent fires and water damages.

And remember that SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties knows that emergencies don't take holidays. Should you need us, we have crews on-call 24/7 even on holidays. 

Sandy's Poppy Seed Bread

Need to take a dessert to a gathering? Not sure what to take? This sweet bread is sure to stand out. Owner Sandy Hastings has made this a staple. You can also bake it while listening to our team's favorite Christmas songs!

Prep Time: 20 minutes Bake Time: 1 hour + cooling   Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients for Bread

3 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 c. milk

3 eggs

1/2 c. softened butter

1/2 c. oil

2 1/4 c. sugar

1 1/2 Tbps. poppy seeds

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring

Ingredients for Glaze

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1/2 tsp butter flavoring

1/4 c. unsweetened orange juice (no pulp)

3/4 c. granulated sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients for the bread in a mixer until well blended. Mix for an additional two minutes. Pour batter into two ungreased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. While the bread is baking, mix all the glaze ingredients together.  When the loaves are finished baking, let them cool for five minutes and poke holes into loaves using skewers or a knife. Pour the glaze over the loaves.