Q: Why should I use a food thermometer? I usually can tell when something is done by just looking. A: Everyone is at risk for foodborne illness. One effective way to prevent illness is to use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of meat, poultry, and egg dishes.

Jennifer and daughter Ingrid brought the lamb, I did the cooking, and Amy’s mom flew in from Vegas. Another Thursday night in Manhattan (Kansas).

Sorenne did not sleep last night. There was seemingly nothing to console her, and I was up much of the night. But I’m getting some payback now as she enters the third hour of her nap, and decided a homemade hamburger with grilled corn and salad would make a decent lunch for myself. Coupled with the season premier of Californication on the recorderer, I was set.

Grungy communal living spaces. Mold in the fridge. Lukewarm leftovers. The absence of mom . . . Those are just a few of the food-safety challenges facing college students. Food-related illnesses, such as E. coli and salmonella infection, can creep into a dorm — or any setting where people gather. But students aren't always alert to the risks.