Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the holiday season, including finding the perfect Christmas tree. Most area cut-your-own tree farms will be opening, along with many retail lots. While all are evergreens, all Christmas trees are not the same.

Pines, the most commonly planted species of Christmas trees in the North Central United States, are a popular group. Pines have longer needles than the other species and typically appear "full" because of the arrangement of needles and branches. Scotch or Scots pine is popular and very common in tree lots and on cut-your-own farms. As with most trees, a number of cultivars are available, varying in color, needle length and overall appearance.

Other pines include white, red and Austrian pine. White pine has good color and soft needles. Branches are relatively weak and do not support heavy loads of ornaments, but it still is an excellent tree and does not readily dry out indoors. Red and Austrian pines have longer needles, with red usually being a more open tree and Austrian having very stiff needles.

Firs, which have short, flat needles, make up another popular group of Christmas trees. Balsam fir is a traditional favorite, with excellent fragrance and form. Fraser fir, which features excellent color and fragrance, has been increasing in popularity. Douglas fir, not actually a true fir, also has visual appeal and good needle retention.

Finally, spruces have short needles and branches that hold loads of decorations well. White spruce and Norway spruce have been traditional favorites, but needle retention is poor for both once the tree is cut and brought inside. Colorado blue spruce, a common landscape tree, has increased in popularity as a Christmas tree. This species has the best needle retention of the spruces, with the needles being rather stiff and branches rather rigid.

When trying to decide on which tree to get, survey the family and then survey the Christmas tree farm or retail lot. With all of these choices, you can't go wrong! Get out early to take advantage of more favorable weather and better selection than what may be the case later in December.

For an updated listing of Christmas Tree Farms visit our Christmas Trees & More web site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees or call our office, 773-233-0476, for a current list.

Source: Bruce Spangenberg, Extension Educator, Horticulture

Holiday season adornments are attractive to all creatures. The ornaments, foods, gifts, wrappings, ribbons, lights and plants are all curiosities for pets. Pets will investigate new items by sniffing, tossing, chasing and finally by having a taste. A few precautions will help you avoid the holiday crowds at the animal hospital.

The number one problem seen by veterinarians this time of year is stomach or intestinal disturbances caused by pets eating the holiday feast or other novelties. Scraps from the table can cause gastrointestinal upset and even predispose pets to life-threatening pancreatitis. Bones can get stuck in the mouth or perforate the intestinal tract and should be avoided. Chocolate is poisonous to cats, dogs, and birds. Plastic wrap and aluminum foil coated with good-tasting juices are enticing but can cause intestinal obstruction and damage if eaten by the pet.

Be sure leftovers and wrappers are properly disposed of. Keep pets on their usual diet. Treats formulated similarly to the pet's regular diet are healthy and safe. Also keep in mind while cooking that pets may not know about hot stoves or to stay out from underfoot. Keep pets away so they don't get burned or get hot foods spilled on them.

Several decorative plants are poisonous. Mistletoe and holly can cause stomach upset with vomiting and diarrhea. The berries of these plants are attractive, easily swallowed and potentially fatal if consumed. Poinsettias, like the leaves of most any plant, can also cause stomach upset. Use artificial mistletoe and holly; keep other plants out of your pet's reach.

Be sure Christmas trees are secured so that pets cannot pull them over. Omit preservatives from the tree-stand water and cover it so pets don't drink it. Don't spray snow on the tree unless it is labeled for pet consumption. Angel hair is spun glass and is irritating to both the inside and outside of your pet. Even glass ornaments and ornament hooks have been chewed and swallowed. These objects can cause problems from stomach upset to damaged intestines. Low-hanging ornaments are a real temptation, as are tinsel and electric lights. Decorative lights and electrical wiring can cause shock or burns when chewed on, so remember to unplug holiday lights when pets are unattended.

Holidays have lots of activity going on. Be sure doors are not left open as guests come and go. Indoor pets inadvertently left outside could be injured by frostbite, cars or other animals. Ice-melting chemicals and salt on sidewalks and roads can severely burn foot pads and should be washed off right away. Also, watch that guests don't leave interesting objects, such as chocolate, ribbons, stocking stuffers or other illicit treats within your pet's reach. Sometimes it's best to put your pet in a separate area, both to relieve the pet of the stress of new people and to prevent accidents.

Don't leave wrapped gifts under the tree with an unsupervised pet; the wrapping, ribbon and enclosed gift are probably not compatible with your pet's digestive system. Ask Santa to put gifts out of your pet's reach so your pet won't beat you to them on Christmas morning.

When choosing a gift for your pet, consider the pet as an individual. Cats enjoy lightweight toys they can bat around, catnip toys, scratching posts and kitty perches. Dogs like balls, chew toys and things they can carry around. However, beware of toys with parts, such as bells, buttons, string, yarn or squeaky parts, that can be detached and swallowed.

Watch how your pet handles a new toy until you are sure it is safe. Some dogs treat a stuffed toy like a friend and carry it around and sleep with it. Others will tear them up and eat the stuffing and get into trouble. Also, if there is more than one pet in the household, consider all the pets before buying for any one of them. A one-inch diameter toy for a cat is fine, but a puppy in the household may swallow it and possibly require surgery to remove it.

If your pet does get sick, consult your veterinarian before giving any medications. Many of the over-the-counter drugs, such as Tylenol, are toxic for animals even though they are safe for us. Don't wait to see if your pet gets better. If your pet is acting sick, consult your veterinarian.

With winter creeping closer, final preparations are needed for yard and garden plantings. Weather extremes and wildlife damage are two main concerns facing landscape plantings.

Winter mulches should be applied to protect perennial plantings from winter weather. These are suggested to help protect perennial flower plantings and strawberry beds from alternating freezing and thawing cycles over the winter, not from freezing. It's best to wait awhile before mulching perennials and strawberries until about Thanksgiving or later so the plants are dormant and the soil is frozen. Straw or evergreen boughs make good winter mulches.

For most perennial flowers, allowing the dead plant material to remain until spring may help protect the crown of the plant, although if the bed is mulched later this fall, it doesn't really matter. Most ornamental grasses provide interesting winter foliage effects when left standing.

Rabbits and mice are the primary animals that may gnaw on tender bark of trees and shrubs in winter. Putting up a barrier, such as poultry wire or hardware cloth, is the best defense. Put a fence around shrubs and secure with a few stakes. Put a loose cylinder of hardware cloth around the trunk base of younger trees susceptible to mouse or rabbit gnawing.

Another problem facing evergreens during winter is desiccation or drying out from the wind and some cases sun. Monitor evergreen plantings for the need to water right up until the ground freezes.

Yard and garden cleanup should continue as needed until snow cover. Continue to mow lawns as needed until top growth ceases. Besides just cleaning up leaves and plant parts, making notes of plant performance, location and problems can help prepare for next season. This is especially helpful with vegetable plants, annuals and perennial flower plantings.

Finally, don't forget about power equipment. It's not too early to check on the condition of winter equipment. Don't wait until the first significant snowfall to realize all the shovels are broken or the snow blower won't start! Also, make sure summer equipment, such as lawn mowers, are properly prepared for winter storage.

Soruce: Bruce Spangenberg, Extension Educator, Horticulture

Sweet Corn F1 'Honey Select' has proven its delicious sweet honey flavor and tender eating quality in trials across North America. The only reason to grow your own sweet corn is flavor and 'Honey Select' has flavor and ease of growing. A TripleSweet™ variety, 'Honey Select' ears are 75% sugary enhanced (se) and 25% super-sweet (sh2) kernels. Unlike other super-sweet types, 'Honey Select' does not require isolation from other corn pollen. Maturing in about 79 days, gardeners will find yellow 'Honey Select' ears about 8 inches long. Mature ears can be harvested over a longer time without loss of eating quality.

Tomato F1 'Jolly' is a delicious, new pink tomato. The vigorous indeterminate vines produce abundant clusters of 1 1/2 ounce peach shaped fruit. Gardeners can expect 9 to 14 tomatoes per cluster. 'Jolly' plants yield ripe fruit in about 70 to 75 days from transplanting, 'Jolly' will produce the highest quality tomatoes if vines are pruned and tied to vertical support. 'Jolly' plants are easy-to-grow offering meaty, sweet pink tomatoes fresh from your garden.

Pepper F1 'Giant Marconi' is an improved Italian grilling pepper. About 6 to 8 inches long, the tapered green pepper will mature to red on the 30 inch plant. 'Giant Marconi' tastes excellent raw but is best when grilled. It has a memorable sweet, smoky flavor. 'Giant Marconi' was judged best in its class for earliness, yield, pepper size and flavor. Plants are resistant to Potato Virus Y and Tobacco Mosaic Virus, which means the plants tend to live longer for an improved yield. Green peppers can be harvested in about 72 days from transplanting.

Onion F1 'Super Star' is an improved white sweet onion recommended for all spring gardens in North America because it is day length neutral. Most onions require long days - (over 12 hours of sunlight) or short days to bulb. 'Super Star' does not have this requirement so it is widely adaptable. If seed is sown and transplanted early,'Super Star' onions can weigh one pound or more, when mature in about 100 days. Resistant to pink root, 'Super Star' onions are exceptional when eaten raw, in salads or sandwiches. 'Super Star' is milder, sweeter and larger than 'White Sweet Spanish' the closest comparison.

November

• Mowing until dormant
• Late season fertilization

December

• Rest

Nothing else to do until April

Learn all about Christmas trees at our Christmas Trees & More site: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees

How do you keep a poinsettia healthy? Find out at our Poinsettia Pages site: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia

Need help with your holiday turkey? Get all the answers, cooking techniques, leftover ideas, turkey facts and much more at our Turkey for the Holidays site: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/turkey

November - Edible

Clean, sharpen and repair garden tools before storing for the winter. Factsheet available.

Sign up for Master Gardener training. Call 773-233-0476 for more information.

Mulch strawberries when temperatures have dropped to 20 degrees.

Still time to have your soil tested. Booklet available.

Clean up plant debris in the garden. This will reduce insect problems next year.

Enjoy the "fruits of your labor" for Thanksgiving dinner.

November - Ornamental

Transplant deciduous trees and shrubs when they are dormant. Factsheet available.

Water evergreens and newly planted trees and shrubs until ground is frozen if necessary.

Winterize roses after the ground freezes. Factsheet available.

Plant spring flowering bulbs before the ground freezes. Factsheet available.

Winterize your mower at the end of the mowing season to insure it will start next spring. Factsheet available.

Apply fall fertilizer to lawn. Factsheet available.

Feed the birds. Factsheet available.

Cut back perennials killed by frost.

Provide a 2-4 inch layer of mulch around newly planted trees and shrubs.

Take a tape measure to the Christmas tree farm to make sure tree will fit in your house.

Buy a fresh green Christmas tree at a local farm. List of local farms available by calling or at our web site, Christmas Trees & More at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees

November - Indoors

Plant amaryllis bulbs for Christmas blooms. Factsheet available.

Insert piece of garlic clove, pointed end up in a pot of sandy soil. Barely cover and water. Garlic will sprout in seven to ten days. Snip tips of leaves for seasoning salads or meats.

Turn houseplants regularly for even growth.

Pot paperwhite narcissus for forcing indoors. Factsheet available.

Watch for fruit flies indoors. Factsheet available.

December - Edible

Watch for new seed catalogs. Free listing available.

Do not allow liquid fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides to freeze in your garage.

Drain garden hoses before storing away.

December - Ornamental

Mulch bulb and perennial beds when the soil begins to freeze.

Avoid walking on the lawn once the ground has frozen.

Try Norfolk Island Pine as a small table top tree. Keep in a sunny window and allow the soil to dry between thorough waterings.

Prune dead and diseased limbs of dormant, mature trees. Factsheet available.

December - Indoors

Reduce or eliminate houseplant fertilizing during short winter days.

Roll curtains, shades or blinds over cold windows to protect houseplant injury.

Inspect the undersides of houseplant leaves for fine webbing and pinprick yellow discoloration that signals spider mite infestation. Spider mites thrive in dry indoor conditions.

Remember as a general rule: Plants with thick leaves can take lower light levels than those with thin leaves.

Explore bonsai - the ancient art of dwarfing and shaping container grown trees. Factsheet available.

January - Edible

Order vegetable seeds - listing of seed companies available.

Try 2001 new All-America Selection vegetables. Factsheet available.

Save mesh bags apples and oranges come in. Bags are great for drying herbs and gourds.

Start an indoor terrarium - Factsheet available.

January - Ornamental

Check out areas of early melting snow in your yard as spots where tender plants have the best chance of survival.

Check to see that winter mulch is still in place.

Looking for a good source of plant information? Try Steve Still's Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants.

Brush snow off of shrubs as it falls and before it freezes. Heavy snow can bend or break branches.

Planning to purchase new shrubs? Be sure to consider the mature size. Factsheet available.

Large, established trees can be pruned. Tree structure is easy to see now. Hire an arborist. Factsheet available.

Sweep snow off frozen areas or home pond to allow sunlight to get in.

Check out an annual or perennial vine for your yard. Factsheet available.

Try Lilac (low input lawn care) a lawn care program designed to reduce the use of lawn care products, watering, time and labor. Factsheet available.

January - Interior

Try mini-roses as a houseplant. Factsheet available.

Ferns will do best in the kitchen or the bathroom with their higher humidities.

Cut the dying, flower stalk off of Christmas amaryllis. Put plant in bright spot to allow leaves to develop. Factsheet available.

February - Edible

Save orange juice cans for placing around new transplants to control grubworms and plastic milk jugs for hot caps.

Plant seeds or tops of fruits and vegetables. Fun project for kids. Factsheet available.

Make a seed tape. Factsheet available.

Start seeds indoors for cool season vegetables. Factsheet available.

Sow onion seeds indoors in late February for large, firm, keeper onions. After sprouting, place seedlings in sunny, south facing window. Transplant outdoors when garden soil can be worked.

Bag your apples to prevent apple maggot and disease infestations? Check out experiment by Minnesota Extension. Factsheet available.

February - Ornamental

Apply dormant oil sprays for control of scales. Apply when temperatures will stay above freezing for twenty-four hours.

Force branches of forsythia, pussy willow, viburnums and redbud indoors. Factsheet available.

Spread grass seed over bare areas of lawn. Freezing and thawing will work the seed into the ground. Factsheet available.

Plan a perennial garden. Factsheet available.

Make sure rose cones have holes near top to vent heat on warm, sunny days.

Rejuvenate overgrown spirea and privet hedges by cutting back to the ground. They will grow back with leaves from top to bottom. Factsheet available.

Pruning of most shade trees and all fruit trees except peaches can be done around Valentine's Day. Factsheet available.

Prune birches, maples and dogwoods in early summer to avoid heavy sap flow now, although bleeding will not harm trees.

February - Interior

As houseplants show signs of new growth apply a soluble fertilizer at 1/4 to 1/2 the normal rate.

Clean the leaves of the rubber plant, philodendron and schefflera with a moist, soapy cloth. Rinse with a wet cloth to get rid of the soap.

Water houseplants with warm water.

Learn how to grow plants for your aquarium. Factsheet available.

Grow houseplants without pesticides. Factsheet available

Velcro® One-Wrap® Bundle Ties for Training Fruit Trees

This patented material comes on rolls (from Velcro USA Inc., 406 Brown Ave., Manchester, NH 03103, phone 800-225-0180 ext. 1737, web site www.velcro.com). "Easy to use - simply press one side of the strap to the other to secure the closure! No sharp tools are required for application or removal. Bundle Ties expand with new growth, reducing plant and vine damage. Available in perforated lengths with convenient dispensing options." Contact Velcro USA for a product brochure and free samples.

2001 ARS Handbook for Selecting Roses

The new edition of this authoritative guide rates more than 2,000 commercially available cultivars. $4 postpaid in the U. S. from the American Rose Society, P. O. Box 30,000, Shreveport, LA 71130.

University of Illinois Extension Garden Calendars

The new 2001 University of Illinois Extension Garden Calendars are now available. This new item has a full color seasonal picture for each month of the year printed on heavy, cover stock quality paper. There are seasonal gardening tips for each month, plenty of space to write important events and appointments, maps of Illinois hardiness zones and spring frost dates. Cost is $10 each + postage. Call our office if you wish to purchase one.

The Other Christmas Tree

Norfolk Island pine, a popular houseplant, can work well as a small, table-top Christmas tree. Keep it in a sunny window and allow the soil to dry a little between thorough waterings. Use tiny, lightweight decorations, including lights that don't give off much heat.

Holiday Plant Safety

Poinsettias have been scientifically proven nontoxic, but not all holiday plants are safe if eaten by a youngster or pet. Watch out particularly for mistletoe and holly berries that may break off and fall within easy reach of toddlers. As soon as they're old enough to understand, teach children never to put non-food plants in their mouths.

Fresh Flower Preservation

Fresh flowers make every holiday occasion more festive. To help them last longer, remove any foliage that will sit below the water. Recut their stems under water, then transfer them immediately to a clean vase filled with lukewarm water that has floral preservative dissolved in it. Once they're arranged, put them in a cool place, out of direct sunlight.

Greenline Holiday Gift Subscription

A great holiday gift for your gardening friends or family members would be a subscription to the Greenline. Simply send in their name, address, city & zip code along with a check for $8.00 payable to University of Illinois, and we will be happy to send them their first copy with a Christmas card from you.

What many people think of primarily as a flavoring agent may actually be one of the most powerful functional foods, full of properties that promote good health. Garlic - admired for its taste and disdained for its odor - contains 40 organic compounds, including a number that helps protect the human body from other compounds that attack it.

"Most of these compounds in garlic are organic sulfur compounds and several have been shown to be powerful antioxidants," explained Dr. Larry Brace, Head of Coagulation Services at the University of Illinois at Chicago's medical school and Associate Professor of Pathology.

"Put simply, oxidants are compounds that damage the body. Antioxidants, as the name implies, interact with oxidants and prevent them from doing damage."

Dr. Brace offers an example of how antioxidants work. A typical candy bar is full of milk mixed with chocolate. A candy bar can remain unopened for weeks and even months, yet still be consumed safely. The same amount of milk as in the candy bar would deteriorate rapidly if allowed to sit for hours, let alone weeks.

"The cocoa within the chocolate is full of antioxidants. These compounds are what prevents the milk in the candy bar from oxidizing and turning rancid," he said. Antioxidants may be just one of the potential health aids in garlic.

"We have a number of studies that show that garlic intake can lower blood pressure," he said. "We also have a lot of anecdotal evidence - not backed up by studies - that garlic might be an anticarcinogenic agent and that it promotes better immune system response."

"The challenge is this: How do you measure these things?" Complicating the search for answers are the dramatic changes the chemical compounds in garlic undergo during preparation.

"Garlic's composition changes dramatically when you cook it in oil or water, from its composition in the raw," said Dr. Brace.

"Basically, if you put garlic in olive oil and then put it on a piece of bread, the compounds are different from those in garlic used in the pasta salad. Getting a handle on just what is going on in garlic is difficult."

Even in its raw state garlic can change. "By itself, a clove of garlic is quite odorless, but the minute you peel it or scratch the surface you get a whiff of that distinctive odor," Dr. Brace explained "The organic sulfur compounds in garlic are breaking down and that creates the odor."

Researchers are tracking the individual compounds in garlic and monitoring what each does or doesn't do. "Simply put, scientists are trying to find out just what in garlic makes it so darn good healthwise," Dr. Brace said. "I expect we will see some answers within the next few years."

Whatever the answers are, Brace is already convinced garlic is good for you. "I eat it on a regular basis and try to consume several cloves of garlic a week," he said.

Source: Food and Your Health, A publication of University of Ilinois Extension College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Cranberries are truly native to America. They grow wild from Newfoundland south to the Carolinas and westward to Saskatchewan. The heart of cranberry country is Massachusetts, with Cape Cod producing 70 percent of the nation's total. Cranberry season is from September to December, peaking in November, of course.

Cranberries are closely related to blueberries and huckleberries as well as rhododendrons - that huge crimson-flowering tree of the Himalayan gorges (which is highly toxic). Cranberries thrive in acid soil of bogs, moorlands and mountains. There are over 100 varieties of cranberries but only 4 are grown commercially.

Centuries - old advice - old wives tales, have recommended drinking cranberry juice to ward off recurring urinary tract infections. It is very old advice with new credibility. Recently researchers have found that substances, yet-to-be identified in cranberries (and blueberries) help to block infectious bacteria from clinging to cell walls lining the urinary tract and bladder thus allowing them to be washed away.

Recent research also indicates that cranberries are rich in antioxidants - natural plant products that may protect against some forms of cancer, heart disease and other diseases. Cranberries are available dried, fresh, canned or juiced. Fresh cranberries keep well in the refrigerator in the original bag for 2 to 3 weeks.

To freeze cranberries, place the original bag inside of a zip-closure freezer bag and freeze up to 9 months. Wash the berries just before using to prevent tough skins. To prepare cranberries for cooking, sort them and rinse in cold water. Use while still frozen.

Cranberry Orange Muffins

1/2 cup chopped cranberries
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup orange juice
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Paper line eight 2 1/2 inch muffin cups or coat with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Coarsely chop cranberries in a food processor. Scrape into a small bowl and add sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes.
3. In the meantime, combine whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl.
4. Add orange juice to cranberry and sugar mixture. Stir. Add egg and oil. Mix to combine.
5. Add cranberry mixture to flour mixture; stir just until combined. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 3/4 full. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until, wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Makes 8 muffins

If you would like a cranberry relish recipe, check out our Turkey for the Holidays web site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/turkey

Prepared by: Drusilla Banks, Extension Educator, Nutrition & Wellness

Okay, last year during the holiday season you really overspent. Well, it was not entirely your fault. Department stores use a number of tricks (especially during the holidays) to get you to spend more money. Marketing experts are hired to study consumer habits and buying patterns. And they use this information against us to increase sales. In order to avoid a recurrence, planning and education are essential. The following information should increase your awareness of some common traps laid for you.

• Escalators are a focal point of many stores, which makes the ideal locations for signs and promotional items. Look as you ride, but resist the urge to stop and shop.

• All department stores are designed to stimulate impulse buying. Think about the layout of your favorite department store. Cosmetics, the most profitable department, are often located near the ground floor entrance. The space is often leased to makeup companies who hire their own salespeople. Smiling beauties are ready to spray a new perfume or introduce a new product - samples are always free.

• Hosiery, scarves, handbags and jewelry are also high impulse items. They are usually nearby. The things we really need are most often on the upper floors.

• Display class in glass - an item in a glass case implies luxury. An item in a glass case with a lot of space around it implies real luxury. The price tag is usually turned down. You will have to wait for a salesperson's assistance to even consider the price.

• Some stores promote bizarre behavior during the holiday season. They use "dump bins" to display leather gloves, scarves and other small items, which suggest a good buy. Check the price and compare with other items on display. Are they truly a good buy?

• Resist the urge to splurge. Once the wallet's out, what's another $100? Apparel retailers place impulse items around the cashier the same way supermarkets display gum and candy. Stick to your plan.

• Give 'em the rack - The "sale rack" in the Discount Store is meant to stop you in your tracks. They are bold and "in your face." Not so in a more pricey store. You may have to search for the "sale rack." By no accident, it has been placed in the back of the store. You will pass by display after display of attractively arranged full-priced items. Careful!

The bottom - line - stay alert! Decide how much you can afford to spend and stick to your budget. Do not take money or credit cards you should not be using. Start shopping early so you are not rushed into buying something because you did not have time to shop around. Happy Holidays!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Mel Torme and Robert Wells wrote the words and Nat "King" Cole's voice did the rest. What a combination! What a song! The classic "Christmas Song" is as much an American tradition as eggnog and chestnuts. But what is a chestnut?

Chestnut trees once flourished from Maine to Michigan and as far south as the Appalachians. The snowy white blossomed trees were prized for their nuts and their strong, sturdy wood which was used to make everything from sofas to railroad ties. Unfortunately, a fungal blight at the Bronx Zoo attacked the trees in 1904 and spread rapidly. By the mid-1920s, the American chestnut tree had all but disappeared.

Today, most chestnuts found in supermarkets are imported from Italy. They are a different species from the true American chestnut. Not-to-be confused with horse chestnuts, buckeyes and water chestnuts - all pretenders. If you are in Europe during the winter, check out their chestnuts. If you find some in the grocery store and want to bring the song to reality, here is what you need to do.

Roasted Chestnuts

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
   
   
2. Select fresh chestnuts that are heavy, glossy and firm, with smooth shells.
   
   
3. Using a paring knife cut a small cross on one side of each shell to allow steam to escape and to make nuts easier to peel.
   
   
4. Place nuts in a single layer in a heavy oven-proof skillet or roasting pan. Roast 15 to 20 minutes.
   
   
5. Wrap hot chestnuts in a towel and squeeze to crush the shells. Keep nuts wrapped for 5 minutes before removing. Shell the chestnuts by removing both the hard outer shell and the thin brown skin inside. Careful not to burn your fingers.
   
   
6. One pound fresh chestnuts equals about 2 cups roasted and shelled.

What Are Chitterlings?

Cultural diversity is most apparent during the holiday season at the family gatherings. A traditional part of the holiday table in many African American homes is chitlins. Chitterlings or chitlins are the intestinal track of hogs. How did they become a tradition?

On southern plantations during the fall hog slaughtering season, slaves were given unwanted cuts of pork to eat. These lesser parts were taken and carefully cleaned, seasoned and cooked. With loving care and attention, intestines were transformed into a delicacy which many African Americans still enjoy today - chitlins.

Holiday Food Drives

Gifts and food are enjoyed during the holidays at every level of society, except where there is no hope of gifts and not enough food. When we forget the ill housed, ill clad and ill nourished, then we forget the true intent of the holidays in every culture - sharing.

As the holiday season draws near, community groups and churches will begin to collect items for needy families. School children are often asked to bring a can or box of food to help stock emergency food pantries where baskets are put together.

This year when you go to the grocery store, buy some items for needy families. The most needed food items are:

• Canned meats such as fish, ham, chicken (non-perishables) - foods that do not need refrigeration
• Bags or boxes of rice and pasta
• Dried beans or canned beans
• Dried soup mixes
• Canned 100% juice
• Canned tomatoes, tomato sauce or juice
• Boxes of oatmeal, grits or cream of wheat
• Flour, sugar, cornmeal, or dried milk

Personal grooming items are also needed:

• Toothpaste and tooth brushes
• Soap and shampoo
• Deodorant
• Disposable razors

Eat More Fish for Omega 3s

The American Heart Association says everyone should eat at least two 3 ounce servings of fish every week. A 3 ounce portion is a piece about the size of your palm. This type of fish fat seems to offer many benefits to the cardiovascular system. Omega 3s seem to lower blood levels of triglycerides (bad fat), reduce blood clotting when it should not be clotting and decreases erratic heartbeats which means a reduction in the risk of sudden death. Fish high in Omega 3 fatty acids include:

Fish, 3-ounce serving	Omega-3s (grams)
Pickled herring	1.2
Farmed coho salmon(cooked, dry heat)	1.1
Mackerel (cooked, dry heat)	1.0
Canned sockeye salmon	1.0
Bluefish (cooked, dry heat)	0.8
Swordfish (cooked, dry heat)	0.7
Canned tuna (white, canned in water)	0.7
Halibut (cooked, dry heat)	0.4
Canned tuna (light, canned in water)	0.2
Yellow fin tuna (cooked, dry heat)	0.2

Source: Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, November 2000, Volume 18, Number 9

...fat diets only work while you are on them? Most people gain the weight back as soon as they return to regular eating. Avoid fad diets, especially those that suggest you eat only one food type; omit certain food groups; or take special supplements not recommended by a doctor. Many fad diets help people lose weight through water loss, not fat. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Your best bet to lose weight is to change what you eat and become more active by exercising daily. Eat at least 5-A-Day of fruits and vegetables and follow the Food Guide Pyramid to plan meals and snacks. From: Healthy Moves 2001 by Robin Orr and V. Rowe, Extension Specialist/EFNEP/FNP

...the term fresh on a turkey (or other poultry) label refers to any raw turkey product that has never been below 26°F? Raw turkey held at 0°F or below must be labeled frozen or previously frozen. No specific labeling is required on raw turkey/poultry stored at temperatures between 0-25°F.

...turkey/chicken can be safely marinated in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking, according to the Food Safety and Inspection of the USDA? Any uncooked leftover marinade should be discarded. Marinade can be brushed on cooked poultry safely only if it is boiled before using. For more information about cooking turkey visit our web site Turkey for the Holidays at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/turkey, bon apppetit.

...there is a new soy based eggnog-product on the market? If you suffer from lactose intolerance or simply avoid the fat laden concoction, you may want to try Silk Nog; a lighter version of eggnog made with soymilk. It has less than half the calories of traditional eggnog and no saturated fat or lactose. Look for it in the dairy case at your supermarket