How do you cook your turkey?

[commomom]

With Thanksgiving come and gone for some folks and on it's way for those of us in the US, how do you cook old Tom. We usually stuff it with Bells stuffing (the cranberry one is really good) and rub it with butter salt and pepper and roast it in the oven.

[Caroline79]

We don't stuff ours, just season it and throw it in the oven! I am so happy Thanksgiving is almost here, I can't wait to eat. :t50:

[scooterbugs25]

I soak my turkey in a 5 gallon bucket the day before I bake it. It has brown sugar salt onion powder and garlic.

I just take it out of the water brine rub it with butter put it in a roaster and throw it in the oven un-stuffed. Its very moist and tastes so good!

The soak method does two things for me, 1- Thanksgiving is always busy and there is never enough room in the fridge. so with my turkey in that bucket of brine, it opens up my fridge space. 2- It makes the turkey flavored all the way through, not just the top or bottom piece. And it really don't take much effort at all.

[DoubleA]

Scooter I love to brine the birds great idea and tip!
I get lazy and never get to it for the turkey though lol. I stuff it with a traditional dressing then baste it with butter and stock.

[jollyheather]

In the days i did turkey i first soaked it in a brine and then stuffed it with grannies traditional stuffing. Then loads off cranberry sauce freshly made.

[angelpugs]

as i rub it down with butter and chop onion add some water then put it in to roast as i do our stuffing separate.:t53::t50::T1::t4:

[scooterbugs25]

The one thing that I cant seem to make is homemade dressing! It always turns out like mush!!

[commomom]

I can never seem to get enough drippings for gravy. Though the turkey is never dry. I'm beginning to think it all goes into the stuffing. The funny thing about the cranberry stuffing is it tends to turn the bird pink.:t5::t53::t54::t52:

[Nativity]

Well, I've just about given up! Everytime I mention measuring his waistline, he sneaks off.

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy27/DiademRose/Smiley%20Images/Smiley%20Eats/thanksgivinganimated.gif

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy27/DiademRose/Thanksgiving/TomSlipsAway.gif

Then he's back on Friday, to see if there's any leftover pie. He's a tough old bird!

[Nativity]

I bought this to convince him that I still love him after forty-plus years:

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy27/DiademRose/Autumn/Tuesday5Oct2010015-1-1.jpg

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy27/DiademRose/Autumn/CandyCorn.gif

[ElfSpirit]

Wow, so many great ideas here!

Normally, after washing the bird and patting dry, I rub it all over with butter, then season it inside and out with a medley of seasonings. I stuff it with onion, garlic, lemon pieces, and fresh herbs and then put it in an oven bag. I do the dressing separate.

[Snowflake]

Sometimes I buy turkey parts and roast them to get dripping. Mayba a pkg of turkey wings etc. Rub them down with seasoned butter or whatever you do with a turkey. I have done this a few days early or when ever I have time, it give me extra drippings.

Also during the year when I have chicken or turkey, I make stock from simmering the bones with left over veggies, onions, carrots, celery tops etc. and then I freeze it in 2 or 4 cup containers or what ever size you want. I always have my own stock, instead of that salty tasteless broth you buy in cans.