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Or, what to do with all your wonderful leftover holiday ham!
I know I’m not the only one with a Tupperware taking up half of my fridge’s bottom shelf, stuffed with leftover glazed ham. Use those leftovers as inspiration and get a little protein into your morning with these five breakfasts. (Some of them are make-ahead, but all are simple.)

1. Ham and Fontina Frittata

Easier than an omelet but with all the same ingredients, a frittata is as simple as whisk, pour, bake. Rachael Ray keeps it simple in this recipe, which has just a few ingredients: eggs, milk, ham, cheese, and a little butter and oil for cooking.
It’s simple to add veg, too — which can be adapted to whatever’s in your fridge/pantry: onion, broccoli, asparagus, snap peas, tomatoes, mushrooms and more.

2. Ham and Asparagus Quiche

Quiche is such a grand breakfast food, probably more suited to brunch than a quick run-out-the-door weekday. Started on a premade pie crust, this ham and asparagus quiche from Real Simple uses Gruyère (and four large eggs) to bring all the flavors together.
Quiche is infinitely adaptable, too, though as with the frittata, parboil or sauté the vegetables that won’t cook through in the oven. The recommendation to serve each wedge of quiche with a green salad dressed with bright vinaigrette is a smart one — the tartness of the dressing cuts through the relative heaviness of the quiche.

3. Ham and Cheese Breakfast Strata

Strata is like a ham and cheese sandwich saw a tray of lasagna and decided that a casserole pan held its destiny. The sandwich ingredients (bread, ham, cheese, mustard) get bound together with eggs and a few flourishes, like rosemary and roasted red peppers.
This version, from Eating Well, gives a nod to January as get-back-on-the-treadmill month by using skim milk and fewer egg whites for “plenty of flavor, half the calories and one-third the fat of the original.”

4. Honey-glazed Ham on Sweet Potato Biscuits with Blackberry Balsamic Drizzle

Most breakfast dishes that incorporate ham into the mix use eggs as the glue. But this morning dish, from Food Network “sandwich king” Jeff Mauro, skips them in favor of buttermilk sweet potato biscuits, crunchy arugula and a sweet-spicy drizzle made with fruit preserves, serrano chile, basil and balsamic vinegar.

We wish you the best for a healthy, happy and inspired New Year!
About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

When it’s time to find the best recipe for a holiday ham, most new cooks will turn to the usual suspects: the Food Network, Epicurious.com, or—even faster—Google.
But there are great recipe websites that fly a little bit under the radar. Use these five sites to make the most of your Christmas ham, whether it’s the centerpiece of a feast or the filling for a fantastic breakfast quiche.

1. Fine Cooking

This magazine might fly under the radar a bit, but it’s a treasure trove of excellent recipes.

2. Donna Hay

Donna Hay is a cookbook author and food personality in Australia, so don’t feel like you should have heard of her if you don’t follow the Aussie food scene. Her recipe for a ham glazed with whiskey, marmalade, and mustard, studded liberally with cloves, looks like the holidays on a plate.

3. Serious Eats

Perhaps known better for its taste tests and reviews of burgers and pizza, Serious Eats is a New York-based blog that translates easily to the rest of the country.
Start with the article about how to pick and cook a holiday ham (including, of course, taste-tester feedback). Then browse the site for recipes for everything from maple-glazed city ham to Southern-style biscuits. There’s even a column on what beer to drink with your ham.

4. Syrup and Biscuits

Who better to teach newbies how to make a fantastic, flavorful ham than the cooks in the South? Alabama native Jackie Garvin is the force behind this blog (which has the tagline “Sweet. Simple. Sustaining.”). She offers recipes for fresh ham (or a slow-cooker shoulder roast), baked and glazed ham, and a Swiss and ham pie she serves on Christmas Eve.

5. Tasty Kitchen

Tasty Kitchen, which describes itself as “a cooking community,” is a great place to look when you’re ready to use leftovers (though there is a recipe for ham in a slow cooker, plus a homemade honey-baked ham that’s cheaper than the premade version, and probably better, too).
Check out the recipe for Hoppin’ John (if you eat it on New Year’s, it’s supposed to bring you luck!) and “Pioneer Woman” Ree Drummond’s recipe for scalloped potatoes and ham.
When you are ready to carve and serve your Christmas Ham, check out How to Cook, Glaze and Carve a Holiday Ham for pointers from the pro’s!
Quick tip: Stay away from AllRecipes — the recipes aren’t vetted and can get an amateur into trouble.
Merry Christmas!
About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Zoosk.com works hard and plays hard – and that translates to employees feeling engaged and excited about working for the company.

Thinking beyond — or in addition to — the checkbook when giving employee gifts lets staff members know they’re appreciated, writes Inc. Magazine’s Sara Hottman in “How to Choose a Holiday Gift for Your Staff.”
She quotes Paul Vagadori, senior human resources director for San Francisco-based Zoosk.com, an online dating community: “We work hard, we play hard.”
In his fast-paced company, Vagadori knows how important it is to show employees the company values and appreciates their stellar efforts. “We want to show them we’re willing to invest time and money for what they do,” he tells Hottman.
Parties help build a sense of team and boost morale, and Vagadori hosts several during the holidays:

• A Thanksgiving potluck — the company springs for entrées and each employee brings a favorite dish.

• A fun pub event in mid-December—everyone enjoys beer and snacks.

• A formal gala at year-end — a professional photographer takes pictures as  employees and their dates play games and hit the gambling tables, and everyone gets a framed photo at the end.

The company gives other holiday gifts, too.

• Extra paid time off — so employees can be with family and friends.

• Bonuses — merit-based gifts for going above and beyond.

• Small, useful gifts — nice travel mugs with the company logo, or gift certificates of gratitude.

• Opportunities to give back to the community — a giving tree, where employees take tags and buy gifts for a family in need, and a food bank.

“We have a healthy competition over who can bring in the most weight in food,” Vagadori says to Hottman. “This way, individuals who work in a nice environment, and who are happy to have jobs can give back. It’s nice to be on the giving end.”
Be creative and make it personal when you give workplace gifts during the holidays and year-round. You’ll more than reap the benefits in employee retention and goodwill.
What’s your plan for holiday giving this year? SHRM’s annual survey says 72% of employers plan to host holiday parties this year – do you?

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

You don’t have to spend a lot on employee gifts, but to get full value for what you do spend, add a personal touch.

Wouldn’t it be great if all employers had the wherewithal to buy each employee a cashmere sweater, as The Huffington Post reports that president and editor in chief Arianna Huffington does every year?
The article, “Arianna Huffington Gifts AOL/HuffPost Employees Annual Holiday Sweaters,” notes that this year she had quite a few to give, as she now has several thousand employees across multiple offices and cities.

“But sure enough, members of the New York office arrived on Wednesday morning to find their cozy holiday gear wrapped up in beribboned boxes on their desks.  For the women it was soft, shawl-neck styles; for the men, fine gauge V-necks, all in a variety of jewel tones.”

Some people traded colors; some men and women even exchanged. As the article says, “the ladies in the men’s V-necks achieved that perfectly slouchy ‘boyfriend’ look.’”
Then everyone donned their sweaters and got together for a giant group photo.

What’s the point?

It’s not just that Arianna Huffington can afford to give cashmere sweaters. It’s that she:

• Spent the same amount on each worker
• Didn’t spend so much that recipients felt uncomfortable (Medzilla.com suggests $100 or less)
• Gave the gifts all at the same time, so employees could enjoy them together
• Gave appropriate gifts that weren’t too personal.
  Clothing can actually be a little tricky if you don’t know your workforce well—you might be better off with gift cards or gift certificates for something employees can buy at their convenience at the stores of their choice.

How could Huffington have improved the workplace gifting experience?

By making it more personal.
The gifts themselves are personal and doubtless appreciated. The employees clearly had fun trying the sweaters on, swapping, and gathering for photos.
Maybe Huffington included a personal note thanking each employee for his or her excellent work and the article didn’t say so. If so, the gifts were inestimably more valuable.
It’s the personal connection that makes all the difference.
If you can, give gifts personally, with a handshake, a smile and a thank you.
If that’s not practical, how about a thank you by video conference before employees open their gifts? Or at least a personal note.

Also try:

• A kind word anytime
• A short discussion about employees’ families (if they’re willing to share)
• A brief compliment
• Including employees in things
• Checking in to see if they need anything
• Asking them what they think

Organizations will engage and retain their employees if they can clearly make the link between people, their performance, and business results.
To learn more best practice tips to make your employee holiday gift-giving successful, you’ll want to download our free eBook below.

Download your free eBook “The Ultimate Guide to Employee Gift-Giving” Now!

How do you make workplace gifting personal and meaningful?
About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Download your FREE “Employee Gift-Giving Guide”, the perfect resource for your holiday gift-giving planning.

Everybody wants to feel valued and appreciated-and that includes your employees.  In this handy guide, you learn why recognition is so important to employees and your bottom-line, as well as best practice learning you can put to use in your workplace.
Here’s a peek at our “Ultimate Guide to Employee Gift-Giving” Table of Contents:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Why It’s Important
• What’s In It for You
• How to Do It Right
• Best Employee Gifts
• Potential Pitfalls
• Successful Employee Gift-Giving in Action
• Resources
  

Whether you manage others, own a business or are an HR pro, you will find research and tips that will benefit you in managing your most important asset, your employees.  We hope you enjoy this FREE eBook and share it with coworkers and friends.

Download your free copy now by clicking this link:
“The Ultimate Guide to Employee Gift-Giving”

Happy Holidays,
The gThankYou! Team
About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.
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There are so many holiday party options. What about a perfectly browned turkey or a glazed holiday ham, sliced into layers like the petals of a flower. Either makes for a crowd-pleasing main course, ample enough to feed a crowd, with leftovers to spare.
But when you’re hosting a holiday gathering (that isn’t Thanksgiving — turkey has the clear edge there), which do you choose for your centerpiece? What makes better appetizers for a cocktail party?
If your gathering is less than two weeks after Thanksgiving, everyone might be happier with ham. A spiral-sliced, smoked bone-in or boneless ham comes already cooked, so all you have to do is warm it up, glaze it and serve.
Hosting a cocktail party? For appetizers, ham is a little more decadent than turkey.
For example, I served ham and cheese puff pastry squares (recipe by Ina Garten on the Food Network) for my New Year’s Eve party in 2010. They were finger food, easy to make and fantastic with sparkling wine.
If you have picky eaters or anyone who keeps kosher on the guest list, go with turkey. Turkey offers white meat for the dieters and dark for everyone else, and most flexitarians make an exception for fowl.
If you choose, you can even roast a smaller bird (though the leftovers are so good, that’s a hard argument to make).

For appetizer portions, Jennie-O provides great entertaining ideas based around turkey.
These turkey pockets are made super easy by the addition of pre-made dough.

For something different in the weeks following Thanksgiving, try something more exotic on your turkey. Asian flavors are awesome with the neutral flavors of turkey breast meat — check out the cinnamon-orange scented turkey from Rick Rodgers at Bon Appétit (the “dry brine” salt includes star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, clove, coriander and fennel).
Joanne Chang’s recipe for a turkey glazed with soy, sesame, honey and ginger, found in Food & Wine, will banish memories of Thanksgiving from your holiday gathering. Also intriguing is a recipe for a teriyaki glaze on the turkey and shallot gravy to finish.

Whatever you do, be sure to save some leftovers for yourself! Enjoy.

Recognition is one of the top three creators of “workplace superheroes,” along with opportunities for growth and trust.

Kevin Kruse, serial entrepreneur behind award-winning companies and best-selling author of Employee Engagement 2.0, makes that observation in his book and in a Forbes article, “Employee Recognition: 5 Keys from Taj Hotels Resorts.”
He notes: Many best practices for recognition can be gleaned from a company many Westerners are unfamiliar with, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces.
An interesting article in Harvard Business Review, “The Ordinary Heroes of the Taj,” links the Taj’s employee service training to their heroic performance during more than one terrorist incident.
While most businesses luckily won’t have to deal with terrorist incidents, any service business can use these tips to successfully thank and recognize employees.
From the article, Kruse pinpoints the following 5 keys :

1. Expressions of gratitude must come from immediate supervisors, who are central to determining how employees feel about the company. This bears out the old saying suggesting that people join companies, but leave managers.

2. The timing of the recognition is usually more important than the reward itself. A verbal “thank you” at the time of exceptional work is better than a financial thank you six months later.

3. The Taj Group created a Special Thanks and Recognition System (STARS) that links customer delight to employee rewards. The important point here is that they have a system for thanking employees ongoing.

4. Employees accumulate points throughout the year for compliments from guests, compliments from colleagues, and their own suggestions. Appreciation from one’s peers can be more powerful than praise from management.

5. At the end of each day, a STARS committee reviews all nominations and suggestions. At the end of each day. Wow! That keeps the momentum going.

How do you provide recognition in your service business?  What makes a difference for you?

About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

The turkey has been cooked and carved. The mashed potatoes are packed away, the pie decimated, the football games concluded. The relatives have either decamped for home or are napping, sedated by carbohydrates.
Now comes the best part: Leftovers!
Leftover roast turkey is a marvelous thing. This year, go beyond even the perfect turkey sandwich with these five simple recipes.
1. Jambalaya from Food52

Jambalaya is the ultimate one-pot rice meal, accommodating everything from spicy sausage to shrimp, crab meat and scallops. This version on Food52 incorporates “the trinity” (onion, green pepper and celery) with andouille and cooked turkey; you can substitute any beer, long-grain rice and Cajun seasoning you like.

2. Turkey and Ham Pie on The Splendid Table
This, according to “Plenty” author Diana Henry, is the perfect dish for the day after Thanksgiving when you have leftover turkey and ham. Seasoned with nutmeg and made using premade puff pastry, it’s as comforting as it is filling.
3. Cheesy turkey quesadillas with spinach and mushrooms from “Bay Area Bites”
With creamy Monterey Jack cheese pulling together cooked mushrooms, spinach and leftover turkey in small corn tortillas, these quesadillas from Kim Laidlaw are simple, delicious and weeknight-dinner-fast.

For David Tanis, author of “A Platter of Figs” and author of the New York Times’ City Kitchen column, leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving. “With broth made from the turkey carcass and a pile of meaty leg meat (use the white meat for sandwiches), all that is necessary is a handful of spices and some good basmati rice,” he writes.

If this doesn’t leave you thoroughly inspired, The New York Times’ Mark Bittman has a whole range of ideas for clearing out the turkey (and stuffing, and your fridge. The best-looking among them: Turkey Salad with Scallions and Spicy Mayonnaise, Pan-Fried Stuffing Cakes and Garlic-Rosemary Potato Fritters.
Enjoy your leftovers!
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

At the first Thanksgiving, they probably didn’t have a turkey.
According to a story by NPR’s Robert Krulwich, the main course was probably deer (brought by the Wampanoags), goose and duck (brought by the English).
But in these United States, in 2012, Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without a fat, browned bird popping and sizzling in the oven, rendering fat for a rich gravy, leaving behind a wishbone for kids to fight over.
“I believe from a good turkey all Thanksgiving flows,” wrote Kim Severson in The New York Times, in a story headlined “After the Turkey, Everything Else is Secondary.”
“Norman Rockwell didn’t spend all that time painting pans of sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, did he? No. He painted turkeys.”

For Americans, the bird is central to (arguably) the biggest feast of the year. Expatriates, like David Leite in France, students abroad in Spain and Peace Corps workers in Morocco go to great lengths to procure, prepare and serve a bird, which, thousands of miles away, tastes a little bit like home.
One small food pantry gives out 2,000 Thanksgiving meals on the weekend before the holiday, anchoring each one with a Jenny-O or a Butterball between 13 and 20 lbs.
Even Sam Sifton, the former New York Times restaurant critic and author of “Thanksgiving: How To Cook It Well” (Random House, October 2012), will never forget the memory of the first turkey he cooked as a college kid.
“The aroma that wafted through the house for the duration of that first college Thanksgiving was and remains incredible to me,” Sifton writes. “I have forgotten the conversations. But never the meal. I have been cooking that Thanksgiving turkey ever since.”

Your family Thanksgiving table might include sweet potatoes with Gorgonzola, creamy corn casserole, roasted cauliflower or stuffing with spicy peppers. It might include Jell-O salad, cranberry sauce from a can and Stove Top stuffing.
But your Thanksgiving table, like mine — like 88 percent of Americans’ — needs a beautiful, browned turkey to make it complete. And that is a very delicious tradition.
Here at gThankYou!, we wish you and your family a joyous Thanksgiving.  We are grateful for all of your support, inspiration and business.

Gratefully yours,
The gThankYou! Team
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Carving a turkey for the first time can be a truly imposing task. In the same way that little Cornish hens or poussins are like miniature versions of familiar roast chicken, a turkey looks like that chicken on steroids. All other considerations aside, most turkey is huge.
But the encouraging fact is, even though your Thanksgiving turkey is significantly bigger than a chicken, the process of taking it apart is largely the same.
Tools
To carve a turkey, you need a few basic tools:

• A large cutting board, preferably one with drainage grooves or a “well” around the outside to catch drippings
• A sharp knife — some like a long carving knife, others prefer a chef’s knife
• A carving fork
• A warm patter, to put the carved meat on
• A warm pot of turkey stock nearby, to moisten the meat before it goes out (optional)

Tips
First, don’t carve your bird at the table. It’s messy. Present the bird to the dining room table if you must (although before dinner, doesn’t everyone hang around in the kitchen anyway?) and then return to the kitchen to carve.
Second, let the bird rest for around 30 minutes before carving. (Longer is usually fine; just stick the platter in a warm oven when you’re done carving.) Resting time is important because it allows all those good juices to re-infuse the meat. Carve too soon and you’ll have a dry bird (and also a very hot one, which makes it harder to carve).
Step-by-Step
These are just the basics, based on how we carve. Refer to the pros (see video below) for other methods, all of which work. For a photo step-by-step, check out this post on The Huffington Post.
1. Remove the drumsticks. My husband sometimes removes the thigh and leg pieces together, separating them after they’re off the bird. Holding the drumstick vertically, cut the meat off in bite-size pieces.
2. Remove the wings.
3. Separate the breast halves. Cut the breast meat horizontally, creating slices at whatever thickness you like.
4. With the large pieces you have, cut as much good meat off as you can. If you like, save the bones for stock and the drippings for gravy.

Watch and Learn
With the right tools and your new knowledge, carving your Thanksgiving turkey should be both straightforward and easy to manage.  All the best for a very happy Thanksgiving!
The gThankYou! Team
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

The holidays can be a thoroughly overwhelming time — even when they technically haven’t started.
Getting a sense of your Thanksgiving Day feast menu in advance can ease the stress of the day, and ensure you’re not quick-thawing a 20-lb. turkey the day you plan to serve it.
A home cook might compile recipes in a Word document (as I have done for years, with a fair amount of success). Even simpler, some of the sites below will make up a menu for you.
One Epicurious app for Android allows you to choose the recipes you want to make, and then puts the ingredients from each one into a shopping list. So easy.
1. Epicurious is a great place to start for Thanksgiving recipes. I like the handy timeline; a list of budget-conscious, American wine recommendations; suggested tools; and tons of recipes from Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Sunset Living and more.
I love the suggestions from fellow cooks — you can click on helpful reviews and have them print along with the recipe, a great tool — and I love this Thanksgiving menu planner.
It asks six simple questions — like: How many people are you serving? Do you want something traditional, modern, exotic? Do you want the dishes to be healthy? — and then spits out a menu you can reject or accept.

2. If this is your first Thanksgiving at the stove, check out Cooking Light’s Thanksgiving for the Novice. Their suggested lineup is basic: creamy salsa dip, sausage and mushroom stuffing, honey-roasted sweet potatoes, classic pumpkin pie. But there are also dozens of fun, approachable and often health-conscious feast day recipes to be found here, including ideas for cocktails, “perfect” pies and what to do with leftovers.
3. A new site for me, and the one I’m using to plan my own meal this year, is Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs’ Food52. There are ideas for how to dress up your Thanksgiving table, an approachable how-to for the Russ Parsons dry-brined “Judy bird,” and contests among home cooks to find the best recipes for Thanksgiving staples like mashed potatoes.
Recipes that are currently catching my eye: cider-glazed sweet potatoes with bacon, pecans and blue cheese (below); beer-and-bacon glazed collard greens; crispy delicata squash rings with currant, fennel and apple relish.
If you like a recipe, you can click the button with the little turkey on it that says “Add to My Menu” and it pops the recipe into a Thanksgiving file. I love this.

4. A few other sites to try include Martha Stewart Living’s Everything Thanksgiving (it does literally look like EVERYTHING, from appetizers and side dishes to fall centerpieces)

I like the practical thrust and the nice visuals at the Food Network, which is a great place to find themed recipes for a Paula Deen-style Southern menu or a failsafe batch of ideas from science guru Alton Brown. If you want how-to videos, this is also the best place to start.
What are your favorite Thanksgiving Recipe sources?  Happy Cooking!
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

So you bought your employees gift certificates for a holiday turkey or ham, or maybe a pie or some ice cream. Don’t just stuff them in workplace mailboxes. The way you give employee gifts is even more important than what you give.

Make your gifts as meaningful as possible by distributing them personally, with a handshake, big smile and “thank you!”.   An employee who feels valued has better morale, productivity and loyalty.  Make sure your personal delivery conveys your sincere gratitude for employees’ hard work for you.
Recognition only has meaning when it comes from someone who benefits from employees’ performance: their managers.

• If you have human resources staff distribute your gift certificates, it’s impersonal and a poor use of resources.

• Human resources can order your gThankYou! gift certificates, but managers should deliver them personally, with a smile and a handshake.

• If that’s not possible, managers should write a personal note to include with each employee’s gift certificate.

Public recognition
Most employees appreciate public recognition, too. You could host a gathering with simple refreshments and call employees up to the front of the room, one by one, to receive their gift certificates along with your personal thanks — and maybe deliver a positive anecdote about the employee’s performance.
Writer Brock Boser’s article at online self-improvement community SelfGrowth.com, “Are Corporate Awards and Corporate Gifts Beneficial in the Workplace,” notes that a company’s success depends on its employees and their abilities. Gifts help you attract and retain talented employees. They also reassure employees that you appreciate their hard work and dedication. Boser writes:

 “These kind gestures will not only build your relationships but will help you build the company by utilizing its maximum potential.”

But the Seattle Post Intelligencer’s Workplace Wrangler blog, in an entry titled “Motivating Employees in the 21st Century,” cites author Daniel Pink’s  TED conference talk. Pink wrote the acclaimed “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.”

In his speech, Pink notes that “when it comes to motivation, there is a huge gap between what science knows and what companies do.”

So it’s not surprising that, as reported in Toronto’s Globe and Mail, a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers and OfficeTeam shows that 33 percent of workers in North America believe their manager fails to recognize them.
Remember—the interaction between a manager and an employee is more important than the gift itself.  It’s an opportunity to show your sincere gratitude and build long-term trust and loyalty.

How does your workplace distribute employee gifts?

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

gThankYou! announces our new Catalog of Winter Holiday Enclosure Card Designs – Perfect for your employee gift giving this holiday season!

Our new Design Catalog makes it easier to see all our free Winter Holiday Enclosure Card Designs at once, and easily share them with managers and co-workers.  Our Enclosure Cards come free with any purchase of gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude.  You choose your design, customize your message and even add a Company logo!
Inside this Free Catalog you’ll find many new fun seasonal designs and popular favorites to choose from, making your gThankYou! Certificate of Gratitude gift truly special this holiday season.

Click Image to Download Now

At gThankYou!, we are committed to helping companies find easy, meaningful and affordable ways to celebrate employees and clients holiday time and anytime!
What’s easier for you and your recipients than a gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificate or a Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificate to show your gratitude for employees’ hard work for you?  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude are redeemable for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at nearly any Store in the U.S.  And, our popular Enclosure Cards are free with any purchase!
And, virtually all orders ship the day they come in.

At gThankYou!, we work hard to make it easy for you.

Download Your Free gThankYou! Catalog of Winter Holiday Designs Now

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificatesand Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.
###

It used to be that every Thanksgiving table proudly bore a Butterball, fat, browned and juicy. But with a growing interest in sustainable food culture and heritage breeds making a comeback, the choice of a Thanksgiving centerpiece has become a bit more complex.

How to Choose the Perfect Turkey

Here are the basics:
Turkey, plain and simple: Commercial turkeys have been bred for a white-meat market, which means they’re big on size but skimp on flavor. Most common in the grocery store is the Broad-Breasted White, bred to grow fast — they’re ready for sale in just 14 weeks, according to Cook’s Illustrated. (Heritage breeds can take up to eight months to be ready for market.)
While they’re the cheapest option, “commercial birds grow so fast, they don’t have time to accumulate much flavor,” Cook’s Illustrated writes. That makes them prime candidates for brines, spice rubs and smoking.
Natural: This weak label doesn’t mean much, except “no artificial ingredients” including flavor, coloring and preservatives. There are no regulations about how the turkey is raised or what it’s fed. Not generally worth any extra cost.
Free-range: According to the USDA, “free-range” indicates a bird that was not raised in a cage and had access to the outdoors (even if that’s a little door across a crowded henhouse). Raising a turkey free-range is generally considered more humane and healthy. Available at specialty markets, farmers’ markets and bigger grocery stories, free-range is a good option if you don’t want to spring for organic.
Certified Organic: Certified organic turkeys are free-range, free of antibiotics and fed an all-vegetarian diet of organic grain and pesticide-free grasses. They’re expensive, but many cooks say they’re worth it, both for the benefits to the environment and for superior taste.

Heritage turkeys: At top dollar ($100 for a big bird) heritage turkeys are older breeds making a comeback. According to the food-centric radio show The Splendid Table, flavors are more distinctive than a supermarket turkey, but expect more bone to meat and less fat.
A heritage bird won a Cook’s Illustrated turkey tasting for “excellent flavor,” but tasters were unsure whether it was worth more than four times the price of a supermarket turkey.
Lynn Rosetto Kasper says don’t brine a heritage bird — just slow-roast it and make a pan gravy to moisten the meat.
Self-basted (or pre-brined): Turkeys that are “self-basting” can be a time-saving choice for a busy cook, since the brine/marinade — a solution of salt, butter or oil, as well as herbs, spices and other preservatives — has already been injected into the meat.
This saves the trouble of shoving a big turkey into a bag of brine, but you run the risk of a mushy texture and odd flavor.
If you definitely don’t want a self-baster, check the label and make sure the only ingredient is “turkey.”

Kosher: A kosher turkey has been prepared under rabbinical supervision under Jewish dietary law. For practical purposes, kosher turkeys are covered in kosher salt, then rinsed several times in cold water. According to Epicurious, this results in “juicy, flavorful meat,” though you may have to pull out a few extra feathers; the “koshering process makes them harder to pluck.”
Note: Don’t brine a kosher or pre-brined turkey; it will be too salty.
Let us know what type of Turkey you choose for this Thanksgiving feast!  
About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

It’s simple, really. What all employees really want is your thanks, recognition and support — and, if they’re dealing with Hurricane Sandy, for instance — a thoughtful, meaningful, practical gift.
Say thank you.
A study by the Corporate Executive Board shows compensation is not in the top 10 factors that make employees stay at your company — rather, they want to know their jobs matter. So say thank you. Show your appreciation for their hard work and contributions.
As an employee, it’s always nice to be recognized with a gift or award from the boss.
Small surprises and tokens of your appreciation during the holidays — and spread throughout the year — help the people in your work life feel valued.
Managers don’t always get it.
A recent study by the International Association of Administrative Professionals and OfficeTeam, a staffing company in Menlo Park, Calif., shows managers don’t always get it:

•  Managers ranked promotions and cash bonuses as the two most effective ways of recognizing employee accomplishments.
•  Workers preferred an in-person thank you or having a job well done reported to senior management.

Everybody wants to feel valued and appreciated — and that includes your employees. Recognition is among the top 10 things employees want from you, according to the CEB study.
Support employees during tough times.
Helping employees during a crisis shows them you respect them, their loyalty and their hard work on your company’s behalf, and they’ll repay you with their best work going forward.
In his article at  Business News Daily, “Employers Divided on Dealing With Sandy-Stricken Workers,” contributor Chad Brooks quotes Laura Kerekes, chief knowledge officer at ThinkHR Corporation:

“Deciding how to handle employees in times of a disaster usually comes down to both finances and the company’s culture.”

Those companies that pride themselves on a family-type atmosphere are the ones that generally go above and beyond for their employees in times of crisis, Brooks notes. But Kerekes says those companies tend to be the exception rather than the rule.
One of those exceptions is TechMediaNetwork, which had all 70 of its Manhattan-based employees affected by Hurricane Sandy.
As soon as the storm hit, company CEO Jerry Ropelato asked management to help employees in any way they could.

“It’s just basic human concern for our workers,” DeLonie Call, chief people officer, told Business News Daily. “We have the resources and don’t want our employees to struggle if they don’t have to.”

The company offered employees reimbursements for everything from meals and cellphone charges to gym pass memberships (so they could take a hot shower) and hotel stays.
Brooks also quotes human resources consultant Paul Hilton, who says the steps companies take during a disaster like Hurricane Sandy can have long-lasting ramifications:

 “If you take a hard line, the employees are going to come back [and] do what they need to do to keep their jobs, but they’re also going to be looking for a new job. It’s a shortsighted approach.”

Human resources consultant and Strategic HR, Inc. president Robin Throckmorton observes that showing compassion in difficult times can help businesses’ bottom lines in the long run.
Gifts motivate employees to work harder.
Robert Bradford, president and CEO of CSSP, Inc., writes on his website:

 “Rewards — whether monetary or not — for performance that’s consistent with your strategies are extremely powerful tools for creating alignment between your employees’ motivations and the strategic direction of the company.

Give creative, meaningful, convenient gifts for the holidays
And what better time to reward your employees than during the holidays?
A blog post at TargetMarketing.com advises: Almost everyone appreciates gifts of food. Holiday turkeys consistently fall in the top of the best employee gifts list in the “food as family perk” category.
Inc. Magazine contributor Sara Hottman writes:

 “While every employee enjoys a cash gift, business owners say creative gifts earn more bang for the buck. Gift cards to local businesses can make good employee gifts at the holidays, as long as you choose the right business.”

Gift cards or certificates are meaningful and convenient.
Gift cards or certificates that allow employees to choose where they shop and what they buy may even be a better idea. A gThankYou.com gift certificate of gratitude for a holiday turkey or ham is the ideal way to thank and recognize employees.

•  It’s convenient: Employees can use them at any store, for any brand of turkey or ham in the size that fits their families, and can shop anytime.
•  It’s meaningful: What says “Happy holidays!” better than providing the foundation of employees’ holiday meals?
•  It keeps your company front and center: You’re top of mind at the holiday table as employees and their families enjoy the meal your gift made possible.

Give back to your employees at the holidays.
As Society of Human Resource Management member and human resources expert Susan Heathfield notes:

“Frequently saying thank you goes a long way. Monetary rewards, bonuses and gifts make the thank you even more appreciated.”

We agree. Make your employees’ holidays happy and they’ll reward you with engagement and productivity.
What creative holiday gifts will you give your employees?
About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Every November, people wrestle bulky birds into bags of brine, slopping all over the kitchen and making a mess in the name of a more tender turkey.
No more.
Wet brining — making a solution of water, salt, herbs and spices in which the turkey would sit for 12 to 24 hours — is undoubtedly a fine way to infuse flavor into a conventional store-bought turkey (most of which have been bred for size, not taste). But dry brining is so much simpler, and the results are so consistently good, that there’s no shame in taking the easy way out.

One of the first chefs to introduce the idea of a poultry dry brine into home cooks’ regular rotation was Judy Rodgers, owner of Zuni Cafe in San Francisco. In “The Zuni Café Cookbook” (W.W. Norton & Co., 2002), Rodgers wrote that the brine on a small roasting chicken “improves flavor, keeps it moist, and makes it tender.”
Applying salt in advance at first draws moisture out of the bird, but over time it draws it back in again, resulting in much juicier meat. When talking to home cooks who attempted her method, Rodgers reported that “the results are startling and delicious when they prepare a chicken this way in their gas or electric ovens.”
To dry brine your turkey, begin the Sunday night before Thanksgiving. Just before roasting, give it a few hours uncovered in the fridge so it dries out (that will help the skin get golden brown).
Measure one tablespoon of kosher salt for every five pounds of turkey (for a 15-pound turkey, that means 3 tablespoons). Sprinkle the salt all over the outside of the turkey and lightly on the inner cavity. It should look well-seasoned but not over-salted. (With chicken, I sometimes add pepper or other seasonings here — thyme and rosemary are lovely, as are blends like za’atar and an ancho chile combination.)
To store the turkey, you can put it in a sealable plastic bag, or simply cover it with a towel. It should be breast-side up; turn it occasionally.
When you’re ready to cook, give the turkey about an hour to come to room temperature. Then roast as usual — Rodgers recommends a higher heat, about 425°F, rotating midway through to make sure the skin gets evenly browned.
Find other converts to the dry-brine method at the LA Times, Food52 and Martha Stewart Living.
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Sure, Butterball turkeys are tasty. But why limit your Employees’ choice?

gThankYou! Offers Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates that give your recipients the flexibility to choose what they want (whether it’s a Butterball or another Brand and variety), at the store they choose, when they want.
With gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates, recipients can choose Any Brand of Turkey – not just one variety, at virtually Any Grocer in the U.S.  That means your recipient can still choose a Butterball if they desire, or any other Turkey brand, variety (organic, kosher, heritage, etc.) or preparation, even fully cooked!
With a gThankYou! Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificate, recipients have the flexibility to choose any whole Turkey or any half or whole Ham – so they can choose what works best for their family during the holiday season.  No more guessing as to what’s the right size or time to give your thoughtful holiday gift.
Furthermore, recipients are not limited to where they shop.  With a gThankYou! Gift Certificate, recipients can shop nearly any grocery store they want nationally, whether that’s Whole Foods or Walmart.

So why wouldn’t you give your employees more choice?

Choose gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude

• Good for Any Brand, Variety, Size or Preparation 
• Redeem at Virtually Any Grocery Store Nationally
  
• Recipients Shop When They Want
  
• Available in a Variety of Certificate Choices –
  Turkey, Turkey Or Ham, Groceries and More!

Make your thoughtful gift this Thanksgiving Season, one that allows your recipients the choice they desire and the convenience you both deserve.
Your employees will say “gThankYou!”
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou 
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

It’s time. The Thanksgiving-themed glossy food magazines have arrived!
I love these covers. The birds themselves are always quite beautiful, burnished golden and ornamented with grapes and figs and sprigs of thyme. (I’ve decided not to worry about what advanced techniques may have made them so attractive. Food photography is a magician’s craft, and it works like magic — good enough for me.)
This is also where being a minor magazine collector comes in handy. Every year I return to my growing stash of Thanksgiving-themed mags, finding new inspiration and ideas. My personal favorite: Bon Appetit, November 2009 (top row, center):

I know, they all kind of blur together, don’t they? Here are a few of my favorite recipes (with more to come!) to help you get started planning your Thanksgiving feast:

Roasted brussels sprouts with pomegranate seeds and vanilla pecan butter, from “Throwdown with Bobby Flay (episode: Thanksgiving Feast, November 2010): I know the combination of cabbage-y brussel sprouts and sweet pecan butter seems weird, but trust me. This will change your life. (And as a bonus you end up with pomegranate molasses, which is truly amazing on ice cream.)

Brussels sprouts with crisp prosciutto; Cooking Light, December 2003: An easier take on the sprouts. Sub bacon if necessary.
Butternut squash and cheddar bread pudding, by Molly Wizenberg; Bon Appetit, November 2oo9: A perfect main dish for the vegetarians at your Thanksgiving table, this wonderful recipe combines sharp cheddar cheese, Tuscan kale and lots of eggs for a divinely rich entrée.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing ideas for green salads and sweet potato side dishes and exploring the many aspects of your holiday turkey, from brining to carving, plus the best recipe sites and who to ask for help.
What are some of your magazine recipe favorites for Thanksgiving?  Be sure to check back as we will have more to share!
About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC

Thanksgiving Turkey is the centerpiece of the holiday meal – it represents family, thankfulness and American tradition.

The Gift of a Thanksgiving Turkey is a truly Meaningful Gift.

Holiday Turkey packs emotional impact –
it’s the symbol of Thanksgiving

It’s About Family
Thanksgiving holds a special place in people’s hearts and lives.  It’s the time  we stop our everyday lives and surround ourselves with family and friends to give thanks.  Everyone has fond memories of this family centered holiday – the smells of  turkey cooking and a wonderful array of favorite family dishes, the joy of family and friends, the sense of belonging, the giving of thanks for those who came before us and the sharing of blessings.

It Embodies the American Thanksgiving Tradition of Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday dating to the origins of our nation and the celebration of shared community and bounty.   Our modern-day Thanksgiving dinner celebrates that original Thanksgiving — and the centerpiece is the turkey.

Why Companies Give Turkeys at Thanksgiving

It Shows You Care.
If you give employees holiday turkey, your business is an important part of their holidays. Thoughts of you are front-and-center as employees and their loved ones enjoy Thanksgiving. That’s priceless.

It has Universal Appeal.
Everyone appreciates the gift of a holiday turkey.  It’s a valuable contribution to a family’s Thanksgiving dinner.  These days, that’s an especially appreciated gift.

It’s Affordable.
A Thanksgiving Turkey has more emotional impact for the price than anything else. A Thanksgiving turkey costs just a few dollars, but its meaningfulness makes the return on investment incalculably high.

Why gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates are a Better Choice

As an employer, is it really practical for you to buy and distribute fresh or frozen turkeys to employees?  And how do you know what size turkey fits each family? How would you know what will fit each family’s holiday plans and available refrigerator space?

Consider this cautionary tale—a true story about Hughes Aircraft—related by author Brooks Mitchell, Phd., professor emeritus of management at the University of Wyoming and the founder of Snowfly Incentives. Writing at Human Resources IQ, he relates how Howard Hughes and his right-hand man had delighted employees with holiday turkeys in the company’s first two years.

By year three, the process was getting unwieldy and expensive.

By the fourth year, Mitchell writes:
“[World War II] was on and Hughes Aircraft had grown to several thousand people. Getting turkeys to everyone was a logistical nightmare. Things got even worse when the union got involved and accused management of giving bigger turkeys to some favored people and arrogantly ignoring the fact that some employees would rather have a ham. Howard and Scott were dumbfounded! How could such a well-intended holiday gesture become so twisted and acrimonious?”

Do you want to share the gift of a Holiday Turkey, but don’t want the logistical hassles of distributing turkeys to your workforce?

 gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude can help!

At gThankYou! we are committed to meaningful, affordable and convenient ways for Companies to celebrate employee holidays.  A gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificate allows recipients to choose Any Brand and size Turkey, at virtually Any Grocery Store in the U.S., when they want.

Our Gift Certificates are easy to insert with payroll or hand-delivered with a smile and a big “thank you”.  A better choice for you and your recipients!

If Choice is Important: Choose gThankYou! Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates

Many companies want to provide recipients the choice of a holiday turkey or ham.  It’s a thoughtful choice if you want your gift to be for the holiday season – that way recipients can choose to buy what they want, for the occasion they wish to celebrate.

We Make it Easy For You!

gThankYou! Gift Certificates can be personalized with recipient and giver names (and your logo).  Our popular Enclosure Cards come free with any purchase.  You choose your design, personalize your message and add a Company logo.  All free with your purchase!

Download our free Catalog of Thanksgiving Enclosure Card designs to see all the designs at once and share with management and co-workers.

What’s more, virtually all orders ship the day they arrive.

Share your Thanksgiving gratitude with employees with the thoughtful gift of a Thanksgiving turkey.  gThankYou! looks forward to helping you with your gift-giving plans this holiday season!

gThankYou! is pleased to announce its first ever – Enclosure Card Catalog!
Now it’s easy to see all our Thanksgiving designs at once and share with management and co-workers.
At gThankYou!, we are committed to helping companies find easy, meaningful and affordable ways to celebrate employees and clients holiday time and anytime!
What’s easier for you and your recipients than a gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificate or a Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificate to show your gratitude for employees’ hard work for you?  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude are redeemable for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at nearly any Store in the U.S.  And, our popular Enclosure Cards are free with any purchase!
Our new Enclosure Card Catalog now makes it easier for companies to see and share our entire line of Autumn and Thanksgiving Designs.  What’s more, all of our free Enclosure Cards (as well as our Certificates of Gratitude) can be personalized with your message and even your company logo.
And, virtually all orders ship the day they come in.
At gThankYou!, we work hard to make it easy for you!
Check out our new Catalog of Autumn and Thanksgiving Designs today!
About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.
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