food safety

ASHEBORO — It’s hard to think of the holidays without thinking about food — roast ham, standing rib roast, brisket with gravy, perhaps even a spicy, deep-fried turkey. And don’t forget the creamy mashed potatoes and the pies, cookies and other special treats for the holiday season. With these fond thoughts of holiday foods comes the pressure to prepare everything just right and to serve safe food to all those guests. The cookies and mashed potatoes are relatively straightforward, but how do you know if a turkey or a beef roast is thoroughly cooked? Is “done” the same as “safe”?…