6 Reasons Thanksgiving Is Not Your Average American Holiday

WESTLAND, Mich. –– With turkey at the center of Thanksgiving, it's easy to overlook the myriad oddities that make it a unique holiday Americans love. But if we look beyond the hours spent on meal preparation involved and the debates between white and dark meat, what might we find? We did a little fact hunting and came up with six reasons Thanksgiving isn't your average American holiday. From turkey trivia to historical holiday moments, these facts will change how you look at Thanksgiving.

1. The first TV dinners were Thanksgiving leftovers.

In 1953, Swanson had over 260 tons of frozen turkey leftover from Thanksgiving. To use up these leftovers, the company scooped turkey, potatoes, peas, and corn-bread into aluminum trays. The meals could be frozen and heated when ready to be consumed, and the concept of families eating around the dinner table was forever changed.

2. The first Thanksgiving football game.

The history of Thanksgiving football originates with the Detroit Lions, who hosted the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day in 1934. The Lions lost 19–16, which isn't surprising by today's standards, though they were a second-place team in 1934. Today, only two NFL teams––the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys––host Thanksgiving football games each year, while a third game with no fixed opponents shifts between the rest of the NFL teams each year.

3. Tryptophan in turkey doesn't make you sleepy.

It's not the tryptophan in Turkey that is making you sleepy, it's your potatoes––and every other side dish replete with carbohydrates. Eating a huge plate of simple carbs and washing it down with alcohol will make you want to take a post-meal nap, but turkey won't.

4. A turkey can grow to be the size of a large dog.

The heaviest turkey ever served on Thanksgiving was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog. However, this is uncommon, as most turkeys weigh in at 11–24 pounds. We're still trying to figure out how someone fits an 86-pound turkey in their oven.

5. Americans consume 690 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving, the turkey takes center stage in American homes, so it's not surprising the nation consumes 690 million pounds of it in one holiday. To give you an idea of how much turkey that is, imagine the weight of 172,500 new Ford cars.

6. The first Thanksgiving lasted three days.

Americans generally take one day to celebrate Thanksgiving, unless you count the weekend after as a continuation of that celebration. Either way, today's Thanksgiving holiday doesn't hold a candle to the pilgrims' celebration. Over the course of three days, new inhabitants of American partook in plenty of good eating, games, dancing, and shooting to celebrate their arrival.

When you're at the table with family and friends for Turkey Day this November, test their holiday knowledge and see if they're aware of these six reasons Thanksgiving isn't your average American holiday. If you're traveling for Thanksgiving this year, make sure you plan accordingly and use our Thanksgiving travel tips to avoid traffic. Stop by our dealership to take car of any car repair or auto service your vehicle may need.

North Brothers Ford, located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185, is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in Southeast Michigan committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 806-7163, our knowledgeable sales team will be happy to help!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com
Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ 

8 Turkey Tips to Cook the Best Bird on Thanksgiving

WESTLAND, Mich. –– The cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey is considered an art form of which your dinner guests serve as the critics. This makes loading a bird into an oven a more daunting task than it should be, not to mention turkeys are easy to dry out or undercook. To combat the stress of preparing a palatable meal for your family and friends this November, check out these eight turkey tips to cook the best bird on Thanksgiving, and we guarantee you'll please the pickiest of eaters.

1. Decide what the right size turkey is for your party. 

If you're hosting a large gathering, you'll probably need a 20-pound bird to satisfy their Thanksgiving appetites. A good way to estimate the size of the turkey you'll need is to assume every person at your party will eat about 1 1/2 pounds of turkey, including the bones and giblets.

2. Properly defrost your turkey. 

It's recommended you thaw your turkey in the refrigerator to stifle the growth of harmful bacteria. Place the turkey breast-side-up onto a rimmed baking sheet and place it in your fridge. Allow a full day of thawing for every four pounds of turkey.

3. Properly clean your turkey.

Remove the giblets and save them for gravy stock. Rinse the turkey under cool running water and dry it, inside and out, with paper towels. Make sure your turkey is completely dry.

4. Cook your turkey in a stainless steel roasting pan. 

Stainless steel roasting pans distribute heat more evenly, and they last a lifetime. It's best to use a rectangular roasting pan with medium height sides and strong handles to contain the size and weight of your turkey.

5. Don't stuff your turkey.  

When you stuff a moist turkey, you run the risk of harmful bacteria growing on your food if your turkey or stuff is undercooked. Instead, consider breaking tradition and cooking your stuffing in a separate dish.

6. If you do stuff your turkey, do it like this.

Make sure to stuff your turkey right before it goes in the oven as opposed to stuff it ahead of time. Stuffing expands as it cooks, so fill the turkey's cavity loosely. A 12–15-pound turkey takes about 10 cups of stuffing, while a 15–20-pound turkey can hold up to 12 cups.

7. Don't overcook or undercook your turkey. 

To avoid overcooking or undercooking your turkey, set it on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. After the first hour, regularly baste the turkey with pan drippings so that the meat stays moist and browns evenly. Roast your turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

8. Let your turkey rest after it cooks.

When your turkey is done, gently tent your turkey with aluminum foil and let it sit for 15-20 minutes to absorb the pan juices and what you basted it in.

Hopefully these eight turkey tips to cook the best bird on Thanksgiving get you through the holiday stress-free. If you have any further questions about cooking a turkey or fending off grumpy relatives who have special bird preferences, we're sad to admit we may not be the best resource. However, we can offer you a few tasty appetizer recipes that may put them at ease here. 

Additionally, if you have any questions about oil changes, auto service, or car repair for the fall and winter seasons, we'd be happy to assist you. North Brothers Ford, located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185, is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in Southeast Michigan committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 806-7163, our knowledgeable sales team will be happy to help!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com
Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+

Your Chance of Hitting a Deer With Your Car in Michigan

WESTLAND, Mich. – In 2014, Michigan experienced 45,690 vehicle-deer crashes, of which 1,072 people were injured and six were killed. The lion’s share of those collisions – 26,312 ­–occurred during dark, unlighted hours, primarily between October and December, according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, a subsidiary of the Michigan Office of Highway Planning.

Michigan is ranked 10th in the nation for vehicle-deer collisions and your chance of hitting a deer with your car in Michigan is 1-in-97, almost double that of drivers in lower-ranked states, according to State Farm. But there are steps you can take to avoid the dangerous scenario that entails your car, a deer, and the road:

• Drive cautiously at night. Deer are nocturnal animals, which explains why the majority of vehicle-deer collisions in Michigan occur at night. Shine your high beams while driving on unlit roads in order to spot deer further ahead. Those few seconds of extra sight could be the difference between you slowing down in time or – gulp. 

• Drive slow if you see a deer crossing sign; it’s there for a reason. Just as humans populate cities, deer congregate in herds in certain areas more often than others. Heed the sign’s warning and drive cautiously.

• If you see one deer crossing a road, assume more are coming. Even if a deer crosses the road ahead of you and reaches the other side before you’re close, the best thing to do is slow down until you’re out of the area. Deer tend to travel in groups, so other deer not visible to you at the moment could be preparing to cross the road. 

• Don’t swerve if a deer jumps in front of your car. If you have to hit a deer, firmly apply your brakes, grasp your steering wheel with both hands, and continue forward. It’s safer for you to hit a deer than it is to swerve, which could take you into oncoming traffic, a tree, or a ditch.

• If you have to hit a deer, do it at the lowest possible speed. Contrary to the myth that you should maintain or increase your speed when hitting a deer, it’s better to reduce your speed as much as possible. People commonly fear that braking will cause your bumper to dip, thus causing more danger for you. But if you hit a deer at a high speed it causes the deer to absorb a greater force of impact, which is dealt back in full force to your vehicle.

While your chance of hitting a deer with your car in Michigan is higher than in other states, you can greatly reduce your likelihood of becoming a statistic by following the tips we’ve laid out. But if you do find yourself with a damaged front end after an encounter with a deer, bring your vehicle into our Plymouth car dealer and we’ll make sure you receive the right car repair to make your vehicle look great again.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by, or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+