Thanksgiving around the corner!

Poochie21
Fri, 29 Nov 2024 18:52:17 +0000

I did two things differently this year - I bought a 16Lb frozen butterball turkey (7 of us) and I started defrosting 10 days in advance. Probably the first turkey I’ve cooked that wasn’t still a little frosty deep inside, and I’m sure made a difference!

And then I cooked the day before. I think because I was not rushing it came out perfectly cooked and gorgeous. I let it cool and then carved into big pieces - the two breasts and two leg thigh quarters. I put it in a tin baking dish with a little broth on the bottom, sprinkled some of the drippings on top and covered with foil. Warmed up the next day while the sides were cooking and it was great! All we had to do was slice the breasts & put on a pretty platter.

You don’t get to do the Norman Rockwell table presentation of the whole bird, but my husband is vegetarian and doesn’t like to carve at the table. You don’t get crispy turkey skin day 2, but the turkey was moist and flavorful. Also, I ate the crispy skin on my own the night before - all for me!

It was nice to not have to deal with the carcass Thanksgiving day. I was able to make gravy the night before.

Made this the nicest, most relaxed Thanksgiving I’ve ever had - even better than when I ordered from Whole Foods.