Thanksgiving Turkey Tips: Easy as 1-2-3

5:46 PM

Carving a turkey can be simple.  
If you spend your time watching Rachael Ray, then you probably already know the proper way to carve a turkey.  It's actually very simple.

  1. Let it cool.  Turkeys take hours too cook so we're all excited about carving into it as soon as the thermometer indicates it's time.  However, your turkey will retain juice for flavoring if you let it cool down for a few minutes before you carve in.
  2. Find a sharp knife and remove the leg/thigh section entirely
  3. Cut straight down into the middle of the turkey along the breast bone to remove the whole breasts one at a time.  Place the breast on a plate and cut into slices for a great presentation.  
Here's a great video example of how to carve your turkey.  Click here to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GCdkuQoLrY

Make a wishbone.
The wishbone custom dates back to the late 1600s.  One person stands on each of the two sides of the wishbone, holding it by the tip with only two fingers.  They pull the wishbone until it breaks and the person left with the larger side will have a wish come true.

The wishbone of a turkey lies between the neck and breast.  Get in there, and you'll find it. You must let it dry out before attempting to break it.  It will take a few hours.

Don't forget about leftovers.
One of the best things about Thanksgiving feast is a weeks worth of leftovers afterward.  Here's a list of some of our favorite things to do with leftover turkey:
  1. Turkey Sandwiches (obviously, right?) - Get creative.  Add some mashed potatoes or cranberry sauce to kick this up a notch.
  2. Turkey and Fruit Salad
  3. Turkey Chili
  4. Turkey Stroganoff
  5. Turkey Breakfast Pizza
Freeze it.  Worried about having too much turkey?  It's true. By the third day of Thanksgiving, there's a good chance your turkied out.  Not to mention, leftover turkey in the refrigerator only lasts for 3-4 days at most.  Why not take half of your leftover turkey and freeze it?

Here's the proper procedure:  Two hours after the turkey comes out of the oven, put it in shallow containers in your freezer.  Turkey will stay good in your freezer for about three months, and it's a great option to have on hand during the cold months for soup.

1 comments:

Paul C said...

I AM CRAVING SOME TURKEY!