Illiana Lifestyle Winter 2022 | Page 25

ILLIANA MAGAZINE — WINTER 2022 25
helps prevent cross-contamination . This step prevents juices from the bird from dripping on other food . Don ’ t forget to remove the extra packages tucked away in your turkey ’ s cavities . Gizzards , the liver , and the neck are all things that need to be removed before cooking . Stuffing your bird is no longer considered a good idea . The internal temperature must reach 165 degrees , which is hard to accomplish when it is stuffed full of dressing . You can always pull your turkey out halfway through and fill the pan surrounding your bird with dressing . Also , it will soak up all the juices and flavors released from your bird . I like to make a mixture of butter and herbs to push up the breast between the skin and the meat . I believe this helps in basting and distributing all those wonderful seasonings as it cooks .
Dessert for the holidays is one of those things that my family goes crazy over every year .
And we have to serve our no-sugar-added apple pie . You can go to any local grocery and buy pies of your choice , but they are not the same as freshly baked apple pie . This is my favorite recipe , and it works for those with diabetes so they can enjoy a slice of dessert with their holiday meal .

No-Sugar-Added Apple Pie

5-6 peeled apples and thinly sliced . I like to use a Granny Smith and Honey Crisp
2 tsp . lemon juice Drizzle lemon juice over apples while preparing the sauce for filling
Bring to a simmer and occasionally stir 2 cups unsweetened apple
A DACC student prepares food in the college ’ s culinary kitchen . Provided photo .
juice , 1 / 3 cup cornstarch , ½ tsp . cinnamon , 1 / 8 tsp . nutmeg and 1 Tbsp . butter . ½ cup unsweetened applesauce and 1 / 3 cup Truvia . Add apples and cook on low for five minutes .
Put the apple filling in premade pie shell and add the top crust , then use an egg wash and bake at 375 for 15 minutes . Reduce to 350 for an
additional 20-30 minutes until the sauce starts seeping from vent holes pierced in the crust . Let cool
I hope everyone takes the time to enjoy this holiday season with family and friends and doesn ’ t sweat the small stuff . God Bless .
Dana Wheeler is the instructor for the culinary Ccass at DACC .

ILLIANA MAGAZINE — WINTER 2022 25