...at least, not officially. However, since our local Stop N Shop were selling turkeys at .47/lb. this week, we couldn't resist purchasing one. A 12 lb. turkey for $6.00. How could we not?
I did have my doubts while still at the store on my ability to get it into the freezer when arriving home. I was right. It would not go in.
So yesterday was our turkey day. I roasted the turkey, made mashed potatoes (always mashed with butter and milk into a lovely creamy consistency), baked a squash, and made gravy. (and did 3 loads of laundry, mopped the floors, and washed numerous dishes - the part of cooking I'm not fond of)
We are going to be alone on Thanksgiving, just my dear hubby and I, so it won't be that big of deal not doing the whole thing on that day. I am going to freeze some turkey in a bit of broth, because when it thaws, it's kind of mealy and dry, especially the white meat. I'm hoping this works better. If any of you have a few good ideas on freezing cooked turkey, let me know.
I roasted the turkey in my old porcelain enamel roaster. I always roast it covered, then uncover it the last 1/2 hr or so to get a nice color and crisp it up. I have read of doing it in an open roaster on a rack, but since I don't have one, and this has served me well for 27 years, I guess I'll just keep doing it unless someone can convince me otherwise. I also always continue cooking it past the pop-up timer. I like a nice tender turkey, and find the timers cook the turkey or chicken to a bare minimum. I added about a cup and a half of water and a medium chopped onion to the turkey while roasting. I sprinkled the turkey with poultry seasoning, salt and pepper, and just a touch of dried sage. I then sprayed it with cooking oil. (I have this nifty spray can that you can refill with cooking oil - it works like a can of Pam)
I baked a buttercup squash to go with turkey. We also love candied sweet potatoes, but I think I will save that for another turkey day. I tried something different with the squash. I followed the method given on the accompanying label, and it worked great.
I usually cut it in half (with a chainsaw. Just kidding. :0) I did have to use a hammer to tap my large knife down through it - it was a tough one!), scoop out the seeds, and proceed to peel it. That is one tough job. No wonder I only cook squash once or twice a year! Then boil it covered in water til done.
This time, I did cut it in half and scoop out the seeds. Then I laid it cut side down on a baking sheet and baked it for 40 minutes on 350F. I did end up adding 5 or 10 minutes. It came out ready to fall apart. I let it cool for a few minutes, then scooped out the soft orange squash into a bowl, mashed in some butter (always real butter!) and that was it. It was the best I've ever made. No peeling hard skin,chasing slippery squash and pounding hammers. No more watery squash. I think I'll be making it much more often now. :0)
I made gravy from the broth created from roasting the turkey. I pour the turkey juice into a pot and heat it to boiling on the stove. I mix flour and cold water together in a separate dish, mixing well with a whisk. It should be a slightly thick mixture, not thin and watery. Don't add too much water, just enough to dissolve the flour and keep it from lumping. Cold water is a must. Then I whisk it into the boiling mixture, using a thin stream and whisking madly. This works for me and I don't usually have any lumps. The other way is to ladle about 2 cups of broth into a container, cool it well, and then mix your thickening into it, a little at a time, until you can safely whisk the cooled broth/thickener into the hot mixture without cooking it into lumps. As for flavoring, salt and pepper of course, but first I add a few teaspoons of chicken bouillon mix, the kind that comes moist in a jar that has to be refrigerated. How much depends on how flavorful the stock already is and many cups of liquid you are dealing with. I taste it as I go. I also add a few drops of Kitchen Bouquet. Not too much, or it will darken the gravy too much. Adds a nice bit of flavor. You can always add a just a bit more onion flavor too.
I like to keep things pretty simple, and do the turkey dinner much the way my mother always did. Sometime, I'm going to try and make my own cranberry relish to go with my turkey dinner. Did I tell you I just got a Cuisinart 7 cup food processor?...
