If you have holiday air travel plans, check this map for the latest airport closures and flight delay information.

By Maribel Alonso, Technical Information Specialist, USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline

These days, it seems everyone knows (or is) a foodie, a self-proclaimed guru of all things edible. To add to the myriad of “foodie gift guides” shopping sites have created this month, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline has put together a list of inexpensive kitchen essentials, most of which are small enough to fit inside a stocking or gourmet gift basket. The best part: these gadgets ensure the giftee will return the gesture with perfectly and safely roasted (or braised, smoked, flambéed…) treats this holiday season and year-round.

Here is our “top 5” foodie gift list:

1. Food Thermometer(s). There is a food thermometer to fit every budget, preferred cooking method, and technological aptitude, and every foodie should have at least one. A food thermometer is the only implement that can tell if food is cooked to a safe temperature to destroy illness-causing bacteria, which is a guest your holiday gathering can certainly do without. Thermometers can be purchased at the grocery, the hardware store or specialty cooking stores; this Kitchen Thermometers fact sheet can help you choose the right one.
2. A Timer. Time and temperature are a dynamic duo when it comes to controlling bacteria for safe and successful meals. Besides letting the chef know when to check for doneness with their new food thermometer, a kitchen timer or a watch also can keep track of how long perishables have been left at room temperature. Bacteria grow fast between 40˚F and 140˚F (known as the “Danger Zone”), and perishable items should be refrigerated, reheated or thrown out within two hours of being held in this temperature range. Do you know How Temperatures Affect Food?
3. Cutting Boards. These might not fit into a stocking unless they’re the flexible kind, but colorful cutting boards can be practical and spice up the kitchen decor. To avoid cross- contamination, we recommend using one cutting board for preparing raw meat, poultry and seafood, and a separate board for chopping salad ingredients or other ready-to-eat food. Using cutting boards in different colors can help chefs remember which board goes with each item. Read more: Cutting Boards and Food Safety.
4. Appliance thermometers. Oven, refrigerator and freezer settings may vary, and age can take its toll on their heating and cooling components. Appliance thermometers will indicate whether the oven is heating at the proper temperature, and if the refrigerator and freezer are maintaining safe temperatures at or below 40˚F and 0˚F, respectively. This is crucial for getting the most out of holiday leftovers!
5. Freebies! The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline and USA.gov have partnered to offer a “Safe Cooking Tips for the Holidays” collection of publications that you can order online through Jan. 2, 2013. If your gift swap is too soon for the publications to arrive by mail, they’re also available as PDF’s to download and print.

The English and Spanish-speaking experts at the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline (1-888- MPHotline or 1-888-674-6854) are available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET to help with holiday food safety questions. USDA’s virtual food safety expert, Ask Karen, is available 24/ 7 at AskKaren.gov or m.AskKaren.gov on your smartphone. The app is also available from the iTunes and Android app stores.

By Una Song, program manager for the ENERGY STAR program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Electronics are a popular gift for the holidays, and now you can give a great gift that also gives back in many ways. ENERGY STAR certified electronics – home entertainment and office products – not only make great gifts; they also save energy, money and help protect the climate.

ENERGY STAR Home Entertainment

You can find the ENERGY STAR label on nearly all entertainment products from TVs and Blu-ray disc players to soundbars and MP3 docking stations. ENERGY STAR certified products provide the same functionality but use less energy because they are more efficient in all usage modes: sleep, idle, and on. And if someone on your list is looking for a TV that is really cutting edge when it comes to technology or protecting the environment, look for models that have been awarded this year’s prestigious ENERGY STAR Most Efficient recognition, representing the best of the best in terms of energy efficiency.

ENERGY STAR Office Products

Shoppers can also find the ENERGY STAR label on office products such as computers, monitors, notebooks, multifunction printers and more. By choosing ENERGY STAR certified products for your home office and enabling power management, you can save up to $390 over the life of the products. ENERGY STAR computers and monitors have a power management sleep mode to ensure you are saving energy (and money on utility bills) when the products are not in use.

If you receive a new electronic gift this year, you can recycle the old one. Check out where to recycle or donate your electronics, including cell phones, computers, and TVs, through EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge participants.

The holidays aren’t joyous for everyone. This time of year can bring stress and feelings of loneliness. Exercise, focusing on positive relationships, and doing things that you find rewarding can help with depression. Get tips on what to do if you feel depressed.

Keep in mind that winter depression could be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which may be caused by the lack of sunlight. Treatment for SAD is much like other forms of depression, but also involves light therapy.

Get more holiday tips.