Monday, November 23, 2009

A Pert Turkey Recipe

Before I share my turkey recipe, I must first admit to (1) never having cooked a Thanksgiving turkey and (2) co-opting this recipe from my husband's Aunt Diane, who is not an American, does not live in America, and will not be cooking a turkey this week. Decide for yourself whether you want to risk this turkey. It will wake up your guests and bring the men-folks in from the television, but I'm not sure if you can serve it to relatives with heart conditions.

To delay the denouement, why have I never cooked a turkey? Because I am lucky to be a potluck goer and side-dish bringer, not a potluck hostess and turkey maker. Our families live far to the east so for many years the Dear Canadian and I have turned off our lights and gone to neighbors' homes or the community center. A college friend moved up near the Canadian border, and now they host Thanksgiving and we gladly drive. This year I will be making potatoes two ways, pumpkin pie, a test run of Christmas cookies, green beans amandine, homemade chunky apple sauce, and probably some sort of roasted squash, barley, hearty greens salad. While my sweet spouse loves to cook, this week he's painting our living room so I'm on the hook for the food. I'll be stirring with one hand and polishing TWO Golden Heart entries to be mailed Sunday night with the other. Yes, I work best when I'm crazy.

What's your Thanksgiving style? Are you a pot luck goer or a hostess? A side dish bringer, a beverage bringer, or a turkey roaster? What's your favorite dish and what can you skip?

Without further delay: one whole turkey, the largest lemon you can find, and a stick (or two) of butter. Cut lemon in half. Carefully, carefully, with a knife and your fingers, lift the skin of the turkey breast gently away from the meat and slip each lemon half under, peel facing away from the meat so the juice seeps into the turkey. Put about half a stick of butter in little pats under the skin. Rub the rest all over the outside of the skin, generously salt and pepper. Put in preheated oven and roast according to weight of turkey, etc. Baste every 15 - 20 minutes until done. It should look as perky as this bird:


9 comments:

Christine said...

I've spatchcocked a turkey, but this is a first for me! Must try it (might start with chickens and move my way up LOL).

I have been hostess and potluck participant.

I have a very naughty sweet potato casserole involving OJ, butter, brown sugar, burbon and a wonderful cornflake/pecan topping drenched in the above. I am not allowed to skip it whether I am cooking a bird or toting to someone else's house.

Happy TG!

Anna Richland said...

Wouldn't that give the poor chicken Barbie proportions?

shotgunn said...

As the person who donated the rude and lascivious turkey recipe, I just want people to know that this is NOT the usual Canadian thanksgiving turkey recipe - but if you want the gluten free version for the dressing - write here and I'll make sure that I make it available to all the bloggers :)

Vivi Andrews said...

I've been both the hostess & a guest at Turkey Day celebrations. This year, I'm going to my sister's where I have been instructed to leave the cooking up to her. Since she's a far better cook than I, that seems like a good plan. :)

BC real estate said...

Me and my wife are usually side-dish and beverage bringers. But when we host some party there is no problem to prepare some delicious food for my wife. The Canadian Thanksgiving was few weeks ago and I remember that her turkey was quite successful among our guests. I try to help her as much as possible but I'm not so skilled to prepare main dish yet.

Good luck,
Jay

Mary Kirkland said...

lol that turkey was perky in the picture. How cute is that.

I usually make the whole turkey dinner every year and everyone comes over to my place. But this year we decided, ya know what? I want something other than turkey. So I'm making tacos. lol

EilisFlynn said...

Interesting recipe, and if I didn't always let the Hub do the turkey, I'd check it out! But I'll suggest it to him.

Now, I have a question. If Aunt Diane is the Dear Canadian's aunt, and she too is Canadian, does she live in Canada? Because if she does, she DOES live in America ... not the US of A, but North America. Right?

Anna Richland said...

As much as I would not plagiarize Nora Roberts for fear of her bringing the axe in the night, which truly shone in her eyes when she talked about going after plagiarists, neither would I call Aunt Diane a "North American." Nope. That would be the hockey stick in the night. The sharpened one.

I've been listening to Stephen King's "On Writing" audiobook tonight while baking amazing chocolate drop cookies (Sunset Mag, this Dec. issue). Ergo the sharp scary things in the night. Now I understand why everyone recommends it - and he is an amazing reader.

Kate Diamond said...

Wow. The turkey even has nipples. I am impressed!

My mom is hosting Thanksgiving, as always. I am bringing a killer salad and arriving early to help with anything last-minute she needs.