We are getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner around here. I love going into the holidays and getting a chance to make foods that we save for this time of year. In fact, my oldest son asked me the other day if I was going to make Gopher Balls soon. I’ll post that recipe as soon as I make it. You best bet that is one you don’t want to miss.
How to Cook a Turkey
I really enjoy eating turkey. It is not the traditional meat of choice that I grew up on. We always had ham for both major holidays. However, I try to make a Thanksgiving turkey.
Since I didn’t grow up eating them, it took some time for me to figure out the best way to cook it. Here is how I do it each year.
Ingredients:
Turkey- fully thawed, remove giblets
1 onion
2 carrots
2 celery stalks
1/4 cup olive oil
salt
pepper
garlic
4 tablespoons Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning (this is my favorite seasoning)
water
How to Prepare the Turkey
Once you have all of your ingredients, you need to prepare the bird. Put it in a large roasting pan. If you do not have a broiler pan, use a 9×13 glass dish.
Cut the onions into quarters. Cut the celery and carrots in half. Stuff as much of these vegetables inside of the bird as you can. Whatever doesn’t fit, cut into smaller pieces and sprinkle all over the turkey.
Either spray or baste a 1/4 cup of olive oil over the turkey. Sprinkle the top with garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Sprinkle 4 tablespoons of Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning also.
Fill the pan with 2-3 inches of water. Do not fill all the way to the top. Cover the bird loosely with foil. Bake in the oven according to package directions.
Most of the time you will cook it at 350-375 for 20 minutes per pound. Just check your bird to be sure.
Wait on The Bird
No matter how many years I’ve been cooking turkeys, they never get done when I hope. It always takes more time than what I think it will. What I usually do is get the bird ready the day before. Then I stick it in the oven first thing in the morning. That way, we have a better chance of it being done before the end of the day.
The water will help the bird cook faster. Keep a check on the water and add more if it starts to evaporate.
I’ve never gotten a satisfactory answer if it is ok to eat the vegetables that are inside the bird. To be on the safe side, we just throw it out. I know that isn’t frugal, but I’d rather not get sick.
Hope you enjoy your day with your family.
