How to Cook Turkey

How to roast a great and simple Turkey. Two, very delicious and easy Turkey recipes.

Making a great Turkey can be a daunting task. Especially, when you’re not the best cook. Here is the key; if you have a few great ingredients, the rest is easy. Following I will give you two very delicious recipes. One will be a roast turkey recipe and the other will be a garlic baked turkey recipe.

It is important to try not to get a large turkey. If you are feeding a large crowd, it’s probably best to get two smaller turkeys. The recipes I will include will be for turkeys in the 12-15lbs range, which serves approximately 4-5 people (it can feed more or less depending on the portion sizes). You can most definitely double or triple up for a larger crowd. Just do the math.

Simple Roast Turkey

Things you will need

1 12lbs Turkey

1 baking pan, large enough to fit the turkey

aluminum foil

a bowl

a very large pot.

Brine Ingredients

Salt & Black Pepper to taste (recommended amount would be 2.5 Tbsp)

3 Tbsp dried poultry seasoning

3 Tbsp dried poultry grill seasoning

2 Quarts apple juice

2 Quarts cranberry juice

6 cloves garlic lightly crushed

Rub Ingredients

4 Tbsp softened butter

3 Tbsp minced garlic

½ Tsp dried thyme

½ Tsp dried rosemary

1 Tbsp Lemon zest

Before placing the turkey in the brine and roasting it, you want to ensure that it is fully thawed. This can be done by taking it out of the freezer and placing it in the refrigerator at least 48 hours before the preparation process.

To make the brine, in a large deep pot (something that you would make large amounts of soup or stew in) incorporate all the ingredients. Stir together. Remove the turkey from it’s wrapper, clean it by removing what ever is inside it, and washing it with warm water and cutting off any access skin from the neck area, and removing any plastic attachments (for example: the leg binding or the pop-up cooker alert). Place the unwrapped and cleaned turkey inside the brine in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Remove turkey from brine and place in a baking pan. Pat dry by patting off any access liquid.

When the turkey is done with the brine process, it will be time to make a seasoned rub. In a bowl, mix the softened butter with all of the other ingredients, and fold together until well mixed. If the butter looks like it’s going to melt. Then refrigerate it for about an half hour so that it can harden up just a little bit. You need it smooth, but not melted. Rub, the seasoned butter all over the turkey, and cover with foil and refrigerate over night.

Preheat oven at 325 degrees F, for about 30 minutes, then place foil covered bird in the oven and roast covered for about 3 hours, basting every 20-30 minutes. Then uncover and roast for an additional 1-1.5 hours longer, still basting it every 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven, cover once again with foil and let sit for about 10-20 minutes so that juices can redistribute. Then place a your best dish, garnish with a few cranberries and a small bouquet of thyme and serve.

Garlic baked Turkey

Things you will need

1 12lbs Turkey chopped into small pieces (you can also purchase turkey that has been already pre-chopped)

A baking pan large enough to fit the meat.

A blender or food processor

aluminum foil

Garlic Sauce Marinade Ingredients

1 cup peeled garlic

½ cup olive oil

½ cup white vinegar

2 tbsp salt

2 tbsp black pepper

2 tbsp fresh oregano

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tbsp white granulated sugar

In a blender or food processor, place all of the Marinade Ingredients, then blend until smooth and well incorporated. Place turkey chunks in the baking pan, then pour the marinade over the turkey, mix thoroughly, then cover with foil and let marinade in the fridge for at least 24 hours. Take turkey out of refrigerator at least a half hour before baking. Then pre-heat oven at 300 degrees F, then bake covered for 3 hours covered, stirring every hour. Uncover for the last hour and raise heat to 375 degrees F. Move to your best serving dish, garnish with some chopped parsley and enjoy.

These recipes can be enjoyed with your traditional mashed potatoes and all fix’ins or something different. The Garlic baked turkey recipe would be great over a simple flavored rice.

It’s not rocket science, dear friend. It’s just a matter of doing your personal best.