Publix has voluntarily recalled nearly four dozen different types of bakery products from their shelves due to concerns about possible bacterial contamination. All of them have been pulled from store shelves and no one has reported any illnesses caused by the products, mostly chocolate. But if you did buy some they can be returned to Publix for a full refund. In a press release from the company, they say Publix customers with additional questions may call their Customer Care Center at 1-800-242-1227 or visit the website at www.publix.com. Customers can also contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366).

   So the holidays are here and so is the Butterball Turkey Hotline. After 32 years, you would have thought that they would have heard it all. Nope. Especially someone like Mary Clingman who’s been faithfully listening to all of our comments and concerns for 28 years. And some of them are really good. Turkey in snowbank, anyone? Even with 32 years of turkey talk, Butterball has made sure to keep up with what we want, like live chat online at butterball.com, being friends on Facebook and tweeting their little wishbones off on Twitter, and of course, touching base on Pinterest when they have that spare second or two. That advice can save the day if you’re not sure what to do with that bird if you’re a first timer, or a seasoned pro that’s run into a new problem. But why not start at the beginning with just how to choose the perfect turkey? Take a look at the video and shop away!   But it does seem that every year, someone decides to deep-fry a turkey for the first time, and usually with mixed results. But Mary has good friends like a local firefighter that really had a handy tip for making sure the family dinner doesn’t go up in flames, or sends you to the hospital. So no reason to panic. Butterball is still there and ready for the next great “you can’t believe what I heard today” story. It will probably come from Kelly’s Kitchen with my luck. Hear all the great advice from Mary here and have a wonderful Thanksgiving from Kelly's Kitchen!

   But let’s not stop with Thanksgiving. We’re looking for your cookie recipes for the chance to win a family four-pack of excellent seats to enjoy the 20^th Anniversary production of the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker December 28^th or 29^th at the Mahaffey Theater in St Petersburg. All you have to do to qualify to win is send us your favorite Christmas cookie recipe, using Dixie Crystals Sugar by this Friday. Once we have all the entries, we’ll randomly choose three finalists who will come to the Florida Central Credit Union Performance Theater here at our studios on Tuesday, December 4^th at 2:30 pm with their recipe and cookies for a taste test in Kelly’s Kitchen with our panel of cookie testers; Janet Keeler, St Pete Times Lifestyle Editor and author of "Cookielicious," and Jessica Beebe, owner of Sugardarlings Cones ‘n Cupcakes. The cookie that receives the most votes will receive the Great Russian Nutcracker tickets. Each of our three finalists will also receive a special gift basket from Kelly’s Kitchen with Janet Keeler’s book, a special treat from Sugardarlings along with a special selection from Kelly’s Kitchen. Send us those recipes now by clicking here, and pictures are always appreciated. If you find yourself in need of inspiration, please join the Dixie Crystals Community! 

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KELLY’S KITCHEN

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.  ~E.P. Powell