Roast Turkey and the Trimmings
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Make a Traditional Stuffed Roast Turkey
For one thing, it can feed a crowd, and for another it is versatile in how it is served.
But it is not just about the turkey... the entire meal is full of comfort and good memories, it is what we like to call "the trimmings". For some that is cornbread, either as a bread or making the dressing. The stuffing, or dressing is all important. There might be a side of cranberries in some way. I like relish, for some it is a jelly, for others cranberries might be included some other ingenious way. And Pies, plural! Pumpkin, Apple, and others traditionally round out a calorie packed meal.
The best thing in many of American minds might be the many ways we use the leftovers from our Thanksgiving feast. Enjoy! Or as our allies in the American Revolution, the French, may say "bon appetit".
I hope you will love the tips and my family recipes for your own great holiday roast turkey meal.
Allposters picture of the Thanksgiving Dinner with Turkey and Pie,David Burch
Buy This Allposters.com
The Best Turkey Roasting Gear
from pans to thermometer gauges
Turkey Tips
How to Keep it Moist, Keep it Flavorful
- remove the neck and giblets from the inside of the turkey!
- baste the roasting turkey often
- make small slices in the skin and insert butter
- rub the entire carcass with oil or butter
- salt the inner carcass before stuffing
- insert the stuffing loosely,but fill the inside,don't forget the flap under the tail
- tent the turkey with foil or cover
What is Basting?
Using broth or meat juices to bathe the cooking roast. A baster or pastry brush is used to distribute the liquids over the meat.
How do you brine?
Mix brine made of stock, salt, sugar, and desired flavorings. Use turkey size oven roasting bag, place turkey and brine inside, and marinate in the refrigerator. Rinse,pat dry, and roast on cooking day. Full directions,recipe, and illustrations, here.
Allrecipes brine and directions
What is Poultry Seasoning?
A combination of ground spices that enhance poultry dishes, usually sage, rosemary, thyme, pepper, and some other spices.
You can buy it in a jar, or you can make your own. Poultry seasoning from CooksRecipes or buy it from Amazon. Almost every grocery sells it with the other spices.Chef Paul Prudhomme's Magic Seasoning Blends ~ Poultry Magic
Time Required to Thaw a Turkey Inside a Refrigerator
8 to 12 lbs. ....
2 to 3 Days
13 to 16 lbs. ....
3 to 4 Days
17 to 20 lbs. ....
4 to 5 Days
21 to 24 lbs. ....
5 to 6 Days
Weight of Bird | Roasting Time (Unstuffed) | Roasting Time (Stuffed),
10 to 18 pounds | 3 to 3-1/2 hours | 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 hours,
18 to 22 pounds | 3-1/2 to 4 hours | 4-1/2 to 5 hours,
22 to 24 pounds | 4 to 4-1/2 hours | 5 to 5-1/2 hours,
24 to 29 pounds | 4-1/2 to 5 hours | 5-1/2 to 6-1/4 hours,
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Roast Thanksgiving Turkey
basic and traditional roasted turkey
- Serves: 6 to ? Depends on Turkey size
- Prep Time: Start two days before if brining or thawing
Buy a USDA-approved Grade-A turkey. Young turkeys, from 4 to 7 months old, are tender .
My choices are bolded.
Choices are:
- fresh or frozen
- basted or un-basted
- organic, natural, free-range, minimally processed, or kosher
- un-stuffed or pre-stuffed
- tom turkey or hen turkey
When feeding a large group (like when everyone and extra guests came to my house) I purchased a large Tom turkey. Today I usually buy a hen turkey of about 12-14 pounds.
Ingredients
- Hen Turkey -between 12 and 22 pounds
- 1 large can chicken broth - 48 oz.
- 2 T. butter or vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to rub inside and outside the turkey
- 2 tsp.poultry seasoning
Instructions
1. Thaw turkey if necessary.
2. Rinse,inside and out, and then pat dry. salt inside and rub out side with salt.
3. Gently separate the skin from the meat in several places on the breast and towards the back (tailend) of the turkey and along the legs. Insert butter or oil. Try to not tear skin. I cut very small slits in the skin and insert lumps of butter; some people rub melted butter or oil under the loosened skin.
4. Rub outside of bird with poultry spices and salt and pepper.
5. Fill with stuffing.
6. Put turkey uncovered in a hot ,475°F, oven for about 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 300-325°F, add broth to the turkey and pan.Then baste, and cover the turkey for its long roast. Baste often by lifting cover and using baster to squeeze the cooking juices over the roasting turkey.
7. Roast for number of hours recommended for your size turkey and whether or not it has stuffing.
When skin is crisp and brown, and turkey meat thoroughly cooked (only thermometer can be precisely accurate, but if the leg is loose when wiggled that plus time cooked at the proper temperature can be indications.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stuffing a bird is meant to help keep the meat moist. Cooking without stuffing may mean you can use lower temperatures and shorter cooking times. Many cooks rely on a meat thermometer to insure the turkey is fully cooked.
Stuffing, basting, and covering are all ways to completely cook and keep meat moist at the same time. Brine marinating is also one method for keeping the meat moist.
Not for Turkeys Only
an electric smoker
Masterbuilt 30-Inch Electric Smokehouse Smoker with Window and RF Controller
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Built-in wheels and a rear handle give great mobility, while next generation technology gives great results.
Keep Your Turkey Moist
Baste Your Turkey
Tovolo Angled Dripless Turkey Baster
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Turkey Dressing
Stuff the Turkey
There are a myriad of recipes for the many ways to stuff a roast turkey. This is the basic recipe I like. I use commercially packaged bread cubes, sometimes crumbs. Use crumbs if you want the bread and vegetables to mix in a softer dressing, and cubes if you wish for the bread to be more evident.
Some people make their own bread cubes from stale bread. Use a loaf or two of bread and tear into bitesize pieces or cube to the desired size. I like to mix in whole wheat bread crumbs.
The turkey should not be overstuffed, since dressing expands. Leftover prepared dressing can be baked in an oven proof dish or cooked on the stove top.
Ingredients
- enough bread stuffing for the size bird you are roasting - 1 to 2 packages
- poultry seasoning
- salt and papper
- chicken broth
- 2 hardboiled eggs -chopped
- 2 T. fresh chopped parsley
- optional added chopped pecans
- three carrots chopped fine
- three ribs of celery chopped fine
- one large onion chopped fine
- 1 stick butter melted
Instructions
In a very large mixing bowl, add bread cubes, and all chopped vegetables, plus any added optional ingredients like the nuts or chopped fruits, like apple or apricot, etc.
Add moistening ingredients: broth and melted butter and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate if not immediately cooking.
Right before stuffing turkey or cooking, add chopped eggs, any additions like sausage or oysters, etc.
Cook in oven or stovestop and keep warm or refrigerate any leftover dressing promptly. It should be kept hot or cold, never room temperature.
I Love These Turkey and Trimmings
thumbs up!
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Seared Green Beans
- Serves: 4 - 6 servings
My favorite way to serve green beans is to get fancy whole beans in the frozen section, cook them until just done ( never overcook!), then douse them with a good Italian flavored dressing like Wishbone or House Italian. Sprinkle with blanched almonds if you want a bit of window dressing.
For those who wish something more je ne sais pas, try this recipe from the folks at NPR.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola oil or peanut oil
- 1 pound trimmed whole green beans
- Salt
- 1 tablespoon minced or crushed garlic
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
1. Place a large, deep skillet or wok over medium heat. After about two minutes, add the oil, and swirl to coat the pan.
2. Turn the heat to high, and wait another 30 seconds or so, then add the green beans and a big pinch of salt.
3. Cook over high heat, shaking the pan and/or using tongs to turn and move the beans so they cook quickly and evenly.
4. After about 3 minutes, take a taste test and see if the beans are done to your liking. They should be relatively crunchy, but you get to decide. If you like them cooked a little more, keep going until they're your kind of tender.
5. Sprinkle in the garlic and some red pepper flakes, and cook for just a minute longer. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.
Sweet Potato Casserole
- Serves: 8
One large sweet potato per person, it is easy to increase or decrease this recipe. The rest of the ingredients are approximate to produce a moist mashed potato that is baked in the oven or can be cooked on the stovetop. Can be made ahead and then warmed for the meal.
Ingredients
- 8 large sweet potatoes or yams
- 1 stick butter -half pound
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup concentrated orange juice
- salt to taste
- optional marshmallows for topping
Instructions
First bake your sweet potatoes and then remove their jackets.
Add butter to hot potatoes and it will melt as you mash them slightly.
Add the milk, orange juice concentrate, and salt to taste (try 1%u20442 tsp. sea salt)
Mash together and turn into baking dish (or large dutch oven for stovetop). Cook until flavors meld and heated through. 15 to 20 minutes.
Top with marshmallows, if desired. In very hot oven or under broiler, melt and toast marshmallow topping. Serve.
Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook: All You Need to Cook a Foolproof Dinner
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Fresh Cranberry Relish Side Dish
Traditional Turkey Trimming
My preference is for a tart relish, with only enough additional sugar to make it palatable. Sweet apples and orange will help offset the cranberry tartness. Adjust additional sugar to taste, but keep the relish tart for best taste with the turkey.
Ingredients
- 16 oz. fresh cranberries
- 3-4 'Honey Crisp' or dessert apples
- 3-4 Seedless Navel oranges or oranges with seeds removed
- optional coarsely chopped walnuts
- granulated sugar to taste -approximately 1/2 to 3/4 cup
Instructions
Pick over cranberries discarding bruised or old berries.
Cut up washed apples to size for sending through meat grinder. Peel and section oranges.
Using meat grinder ( my preference) or food processor with coarse attachment, mince the cranberries, apples and oranges and combine in large bowl.
Add sugar to taste, add optional walnuts.
Cover with Saran wrap and refrigerate until serving.
Serve in a glass bowl to show off the beautiful color. Served with the turkey and dressing entree.
Beautiful Cut Glass Bowl
Marquis by Waterford Sheridan 10-Inch Bowl
Amazon Price: $66.00 (as of 06/01/2012)
This beautiful glass bowl will be used over and over to serve trifles, layered salads, relish dishes...any food will look beautiful displayed in this sparkling container.
Homemade Pumpkin Dessert
Bourbon Pumpkin Tart with Walnut Streusel Recipe
- Serves: 14
I admit to cheating on the pie. I get frozen pies and bake those for our Thanksgiving. I save my totally homemade from scratch efforts for Christmas. But if you wish to make your own pumpkin pie from scratch this is a good recipe to use.
Delicious! A Taste of Home recipe that won't go wrong.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup cold butter- cubed
- 1 egg-lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- FILLING:
- 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- TOPPING:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup cold butter-cubed
- 3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts-toasted
- 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, orange peel and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add egg. Gradually add cream, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry into a 13-in. circle. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 11-in. fluted tart pan with removable bottom.
In a large bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Pour into crust. For topping, combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in walnuts and ginger. Sprinkle over filling.
Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.
Additional Trimming for the Menu
- 1I enjoy a simple (ok,slightly dressed up) green salad
- 2Corn bread muffins
- 3Corn Pudding
- 4White potatoes. Some people can't imagine their meal without them.
- 5Wild rice and mushrooms, goes great with the roast turkey. Can be substituted for bread dressing.
Fabulous Feasting
- HOW TO COOK A THANKSGIVING TURKEY
- How to cook a turkey perfectly every time. Find out how professional chefs cook a turkey!
- Mom's Roast Turkey
- My mother's tried and true roast turkey recipe. How to roast the most succulent Thanksgiving turkey. Step-by-step instructions with photos and reader comments.
- Turkey Dinner and Most of the Trimmings with Recipes
- How to make a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving or Christmas, the complete meal, step by step.
- Sweet Potato Casserole - Martha Stewart Recipes
- Get Martha Stewart's Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.
- Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe - Saveur.com
- Our take on the iconic marshmallow-topped holiday concoction.
- Buttery Carrots and Rutabagas Recipe
- Buttery Carrots and Rutabagas recipe from Grandma's Cookbook of kitchen-tested recipes.
- Traditional Pumpkin Pie Recipes Make Delicious Pies
- Grandma's pumpkin pie recipes make delicious pies. Learn how to make pumpkin pie the old-fashioned way, from scratch. Compared to canned pumpkin, the taste of these pies is worth the extra effort.
- Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes - Southern Living
- Find Thanksgiving dinner recipes and ideas including Thanksgiving side dishes, Thanksgiving menus, and Thanksgiving desserts.
- Green Bean Casserole
- GREAT Green Bean Casserole
Comments are Welcome
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JaguarJulie Dec 30, 2011 @ 3:16 pm | delete
- I just love a Butterball roasted turkey with all the trimmings ... dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy!
-
Set the Thanksgiving Table
by Ilona1
I like to cook holiday dinners and love to have my family and guest enjoy themselves at my table. Help yourself to tried and true recipes and Bon Appetit! more »
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