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Let’s Talk Turkey Etiquette

(A Tad long, but worth the read)

Alright, ladies and gents, the big day is around the corner, it’s go time. Follow these rules to keep your turkey table from squawking.

1. Respect The Thaw

If your turkey is still frozen on Wednesday, you’re in trouble. Frozen birds and tight timelines are how Thanksgiving turns into “let’s just order pizza.”

• Plan for about 24 hours of fridge time for every 4–5 pounds of turkey.

• Do not try to speed thaw on the counter. That’s how you get a side of salmonella with your stuffing.

• If you’re really in a pinch, use the cold water method and change the water every 30 minutes. Yes, it’s annoying. Yes, it’s better than food poisoning.

2. Season Like You Mean It

This is not the day to be shy with the seasoning.

• Salt your bird the night before if you can.

• Butter is your friend. So is garlic. So is citrus.

• If your family is still talking about how “dry” it was last year, you know what to do. Extra broth, extra butter, less bragging until you taste it. (Or don’t invite those ungrateful turkey tasters. Just kidding.)

3. Deep-Fried Turkey: Make It Delicious, Not Dangerous

If you are deep frying your turkey this year, congratulations, you are officially “That House.” The one that smells amazing and makes the rest of the block rethink their life choices. But if you do it wrong, you are also the one that makes the evening news. Let’s avoid that part.

Where to fry:

• Always fry outside, on a flat, stable surface, away from the house, garage, cars, or anything that can catch fire.

• Not on the wooden deck. Not in the garage. Not under the lanai.

Prepare the turkey:

• The turkey must be fully thawed and patted completely dry, inside and out. Any ice crystals or excess water hitting hot oil can cause it to bubble over like a volcano.

• Remove the giblets, plastic bits, and anything else that does not belong in hot oil.

Mind the oil:

• Do a test fill with water first. Place the turkey in the pot, fill with water until it just covers the bird, then remove the turkey and mark the water line. That is your oil line. Dump the water, dry the pot, then add oil to that line.

• Never overfill. Too much oil plus a big turkey equals overflow and fire.

When you fry:

• Turn off the burner when you lower the turkey in. Slowly lower the turkey, then turn the burner back on once it is fully submerged.

• Keep kids, pets, and overenthusiastic relatives at least three feet away from the fryer. (By three feet, we mean thirty feet.)

• Have a fire extinguisher rated for grease fires nearby. Water on a grease fire will make things worse fast.

If at any point you think, “This doesn’t look safe,” trust that instinct and stop. Oven turkey is still delicious and does not involve the fire department.

4. Kitchen Traffic Control

Thanksgiving kitchens get crowded quicker than the line at Publix the Wednesday before. (Trust me, I’m militant about my kitchen every day of the week.)

• Pick one person to be the kitchen captain. If you are not the captain, you are a passenger. Stay out of the way unless you’re asked to help.

• Keep pot handles turned in, not sticking out where someone can bump them.

• Wipe up spills right away so nobody ends up doing the mashed potato two-step on your floor.

5. Don’t Play Fast And Loose With Food Safety

We love leftovers, but we don’t love regret.

• Get the food put away within two hours of serving.

• Use shallow containers so things cool evenly in the fridge.

• Reheat leftovers to steaming hot, not just “kinda warm.”

• If you’re not sure how long it has been sitting out, err on the side of “we had a good run” and throw it away.

6. Guest Etiquette (For Both Sides)

For hosts:

• Have a spot for shoes, purses, and all the things that somehow end up in the kitchen.

• Label drinks or set out markers so everyone can write their name on cups. That alone might save you a pack of Solo cups. (Inflation)

For guests:

• If you are bringing a dish, bring it ready to serve. The host’s oven is not a community warming center.

• Don’t show up an hour late with the mashed potatoes. Some of us have schedules and gravy to worry about.

• If the host says, “Don’t bring anything,” ignore them politely and bring ice, rolls, or dessert. Nobody is ever mad about extra pie.

7. The Post-Meal Truce

After the turkey coma hits, things get quiet. That’s your moment.

• Help clean up at least a little before you disappear into the couch. Even just rounding up plates or packing leftovers makes a difference.

• If you hosted, don’t be afraid to accept help. You survived pre-dawn turkey prep. Let someone else handle the plastic wrap.

Thanksgiving in Southshore is about more than perfect turkey skin or viral-worthy table spreads. It is about a house full of people you care about, too many carbs, and stories that will get told for years.

Follow the basics, keep the deep fryer safe, and whether you are team oven, team fryer, or team “I’ll just bring dessert,” you will make it through the day in one piece. With any luck, so will the turkey.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Let’s Try and Get This Right

Turkey time is around the corner, which means one thing: our trash and recycling bins are about to see some things they can’t unsee. So here’s the deal, not everything from your holiday chaos gets VIP access to the recycling bin. The good stuff: clean, dry, loose cans, bottles, jars, and flattened cardboard. The bad stuff: greasy pans, food-covered containers, plastic bags full of recyclables, glittery wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and those cursed tangled lights.

If it’s shiny, sparkly, gooey, or stuffed in a bag, it’s probably trash. When the wrong stuff hits the bin, it can jam machines and send the whole load to the landfill. So this year, give your trash crew and the planet a tiny holiday gift: recycle the right way, toss the rest, and let the only holiday mess be in your living room, not the recycling line.

Southshore Shopping

The Ultimate Shopping Guide For Locals

Where to Shop. What to Buy. The Best Deals

That’s right, Southshore, from now until the New Year we’re turning this space into your Local Gift Hunt HQ.

From trendy boutiques and cozy little shops to hi-tech gadgets and “I didn’t know we had that here” hidden gems, we’ll be spotlighting all the places in and around Southshore where you can find the perfect gift.

You’ll get:

• Who’s got what

• Ongoing and upcoming sales

• Gift ideas you won’t find in a big-box aisle

• Insider tips just for locals

Keep an eye on this section starting next issue… and don’t forget to SHOP LOCAL this holiday season. Your neighbors will thank you (and so will their cash registers).

Southshore Spotlight

Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary

Elmira's Wildlife Sanctuary in Wimauma is a volunteer-run nonprofit devoted to giving exotic and wild animals a forever home, complete with enrichment, care, and educational tours.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb orbiting 30 feet above your living room? We’ve got you. And the best part, they’re all right here in our community.

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Eggs Up Grill

Looking for a breakfast win in Southshore? Eggs Up Grill – Riverview (3920 US 301) is now officially in the rotation. Friendly neighborhood spot serving up everything from loaded omelets and fluffy pancakes to brunch burgers and croissant‐style donuts that might just ruin your regular donut shop for good. Whether you're solo, with the crew, or chasing the kids with a stack of waffles, this place has you covered.

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Show Us Your Southshore

We know Southshore is full of great views, great people, and the occasional photo-worthy moment (yes, even the rogue peacock sightings).

Send us your best shots from around the community—whether it’s a stunning sunset, a favorite local hangout, or just something that screams “Southshore life.”

We’ll feature our favorites in upcoming editions of the Circle!
Email your pics to [email protected] and show off your slice of Southshore.

Today’s pictures come to us from Derrick Alexander, aka Dad Realtor, with LPT.

News or Events you’d like to share? Email us at: [email protected] 

Until next time,

Keep It Local.