How to Cook A Thanksgiving Turkey

How to cook a mouth watering Thanksgiving Roasted Turkey with Giblet Gravy. Mmmmmmm

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 turkey, 10 to 14 pounds
• salt and pepper
• butter
• chunks of carrots and celery, to make rack
• Giblet Gravy
• turkey giblets
• 2 to 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 to 3 cups water and chicken broth
• salt and pepper, to taste

1. Preparation
   
   Wash the turkey inside and out and remove giblets (they will be used later). Lightly salt and pepper all over the turkey inside and out. You may choose to cut a tablespoon or two of cold butter into small pieces and slide under the skin for a little extra flavor.

2. Rub a little oil on the skin. Cut some carrots and celery sticks into large chunks and place in the roasting pan to form a rack. If this does not work for you well use a oiled roasting rack. Place turkey on the vegetable chunks or rack. Fold wings under the turkey and tie drumsticks together with twine if they have not been done so already.

3. Place a buttered piece of foil, buttered-side down, over the breast of the turkey. Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the dish the oven and roast for 1 hour. Remove the foil after 1 hour. Roast until a thermometer inserted deep in thigh hits 180 degress. If turkey gets too brown, return the foil onto the top. Total time will be about 3 to 3 1/2 hours. If your turkey is stuffed add about 45 minutes to an hour onto cooking time. When this amount of time elapses, turn off the oven, cover with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes longer. Finally carve and serve.

4. While turkey is roasting, place the giblets in a saucepan. Cover with broth or water and bring the pan into a boil. Turn heat down to low, cover, and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours.

5. To make gravy:
   
   Take the giblets out of the water and broth combination. Strain and add more chicken broth to make 2 to 3 cups. Place roasting pan with the roasting juices over medium heat. Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons flour Heat and stir until the flour is dissolved into the turkey juices. Gradually add the chicken broth, stirring and cooking until thickened.

Resources

• Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

[thesquirrelymom]

on 9/22/2008 It sounds great!

[cyclegirl98]

on 9/22/2008 Mmmm sounds really yummy. Can't wait til Thanksgiving!

[purrfect1969]

on 9/22/2008 Great recipe. Makes me hungry reading it.

[Susanh]

on 9/22/2008 Fantastic recipe! I'm hungry for turkey now. :)

[Cherst1031]

on 9/22/2008 Yum, that Thanksgiving Turkey sounds so good. I like the idea of putting vegetables in the roasting pan as a rack - I do that in the crockpot but hadn't thought of doing that when roasting a bird :)