Turkey

If you Google how to make a turkey for thanksgiving you'll find thousands of recipes and how to guides. Butterball even has a hot line to call. So, I thought I'd get in on the act and share my how to. I make pretty moist, tender turkey. I actually make a turkey dinner about once every two weeks on a normal basis. It is actually a very economical meat. With one turkey breast I have dinner for three the first night and then our sandwich meat for the rest of the week, plus a few lunches just a leftovers. I broke it down and the last time I made it made about 10 different meals for 3 people resulting in about 23 cents per serving of meat. So, I know Thanksgiving is the time of the turkey, but try it out all year long. 


So, here's how I dress my bird. I like to make mine on the sweet and savory side. So, I use a whole carrot, half a white onion, half a granny smith apple, and a tablespoon of garlic to stuff the bird. I don't use any bread because I feel it just dries it out and it's a lot more calories. Then I lift the skin of the turkey I rub down the meat with about 1/4 cup of olive oil and about a tablespoon of minced garlic. I give the bird a good massage while I'm at it. Then I place the skin back down and drizzle a little more EVOO on the outside. I put the turkey backside up in the roaster and surround it with cut up carrot, sweet potatoes, onion, white potatoes and parsnips. Drizzle the vegetables with EVOO. Sprinkle everything with garlic salt and black pepper. If you want thinly slice the other half of the apple and put on top of the back of the turkey like little discs. Then follow the time and temperature that came with the turkey. To tell if the turkey is done use your meat thermometer poke it into the shoulder (don't hit to bone) when it reaches 180 degrees your turkey is fully cooked. About half way through your cooking time baste the turkey with the juices at the bottom of the pan then again right when you take it out of the oven. After taking it out of the oven let it rest for 15 minutes. Carve and eat. 

Happy Turkey Day!