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The Thanksgiving Turkey
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A Thanksgiving turkey is the highlight of Thanksgiving
celebrations, and the bigger the turkey the better! Each family usually has their own special Thanksgiving turkey recipes and it is a special tradition for each family to pass on their Thanksgiving turkey recipe from generation to generation. Carving the turkey is an honor that is usually taken up by the head of the family.
Why eat turkey on Thanksgiving? Why not celebrate Thanksgiving with a duck or a goose instead? No one is really quite sure. It is said that the first Thanksgiving, in 1621, was celebrated by the Puritans and the American Indians over a turkey dinner. But this is just folklore. It was only in the 1860s when Abraham Lincoln officially adopted Thanksgiving as a national holiday. By then turkey was an established tradition for Thanksgiving dinners.
The Thanksgiving feast is as elaborate as you make it. Big family get-togethers usually call for a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Cooking Thanksgiving turkey requires a lot of preparation and planning. Fortunately there is much choice. Depending on how much time you have, you can use easy Thanksgiving turkey recipes or try your hand at some fantastic recipes for a gourmet Thanksgiving turkey! Search the net for some great and unusual Thanksgiving turkey stuffing recipes and dressings! You'll even find creative recipes for Thanksgiving turkey cookies!
Here are some tips which will turn even the simplest Thanksgiving turkey recipes into the perfectly cooked, deliciously juicy Thanksgiving turkey!
Brining turkey is a good idea. A good soaking in brine solution allows the turkey to better absorb flavors and seasonings during the cooking process. It also makes the meat more tender and moist. Use two cups of salt to two gallons of water for the brine. Submerge the turkey in the brine solution and keep refrigerated for 8 to 24 hours. Just before cooking, drain out the brine solution and pat the turkey dry.
Add stuffing-about 1/2 to 3/4 cups to each pound of turkey. Do not overstuff. Baste the skin and tie the drumsticks together. Put a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh.
Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan in an oven which has been preheated at 350° F. Baste the turkey every 30 minutes. Once the skin turns light brown, cover the turkey lightly with tin foil. This will retain the juice. Remove the foil during the last 45 minutes of baking. Basting will give an even browning. The turkey is done when the meat thermometer shows 165° F.
After roasting, allow the turkey to stand about 20 minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute inside the turkey.
Here's a recipe for a traditional chestnut stuffing. (You can look for more recipes on www.parentsociety.com). It is easy and quick. It takes about 25 minutes to prepare and about 50 minutes to cook the stuffing. This recipe serves 16. You will need:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole chestnuts
- 1-1/2 cups butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 2 tsp. poultry seasoning
- 2 (1 lb.) loaves day-old bread, cubed
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
Method:
Cook fresh chestnuts in water for about 25 minutes, peel the skin and chop coarsely. Melt the butter, stir in the chestnuts, onion, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning and fry for about 3 minutes. Mix this with cubed bread. In a separate bowl beat eggs and milk together and pour over the cubed bread mixture. Make sure it is mixed well.
Stuff the turkey lightly with this mixture into the turkey cavities. Follow the tips for roasting explained above for a healthy Thanksgiving turkey!
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