Problem....

[conuly]

Lizziey got my mom a turkey before Thanksgiving, which has been in the freezer until today. I'm planning on cooking it after it defrosts in a day or so, but... I don't know how to cook turkey. Does anybody have any general turkey cooking advice? Any stuffing recipes? Any favorite side dishes that aren't holiday specific (well, yeah, christmas is a holiday I guess)?

HELP!

Comments

[velasco.livejournal.com]

omg deep fry the turkey in peanut oil. :9 That method makes the skin crispy and good and leaves the inside juicy and still well-cooked. I love it SO MUCH but nobody down here deep-fries anything. :( However, since this is the only turkey you're going to be doing, a deep-fryer might be a bit of a waste. I hear tell that pouring a cup of water or turkey broth inside the cavity helps keep the inside from drying out if you're just going to be baking it normally. And you can apparently slather the outside with butter, and also work some in between the skin and the meat itself to make the skin crispier and brown.

Another tip - a lot of people nowadays don't advise cooking the stuffing in the cavity, as it doesn't tend to get cooked thoroughly and can hold harmful bacteria. Not sure how many people actually DO stuff the turkey as opposed to just serving it as a side, but I thought I'd mention it.

Non-holiday-specific side dish:
1 package Jello Instant Pudding, pistachio flavor
1 small can crushed pineapple
1/4 bag mini marshmallows
1 8oz tub whipped cream
crushed walnuts, however many you feel like adding
Mix everything together, stick it in the fridge and bring it out as a side dish or a dessert, whichever you prefer. If you like orange, you can substitute Orange Jello, mandarin orange slices and crushed pecans for their equivalents to make an orange-themed casserole.

[conuly]

Yes, I know about harmful salmonella. Those same people also don't eat raw cookie dough.

[toastedtuna.livejournal.com]

*eats raw cookie dough to the point of bursting*

You know, I cannot eat stuffing if it's been cooked inside the turkey. It's a mental thing. It's the same thing that keeps me from storing leftovers more than 2 days or they get tossed out.