Two-Timing Turkey

This Thanksgiving was different for both Melissa and I this year. Melissa spent the holiday with her future in-laws (Trash Can Turkey) and I spent the holiday with my mom’s side of the family (Garlic Roasted Turkey).

Garlic Roasted Turkey
I helped my mom prepare the turkey (a daunting task made possible by latex gloves). Of course because I had an input on the seasoning, this year’s turkey featured a garlic and olive oil base. What’s Thanksgiving without an Italian flair?

1 turkey, whole (19 pounds)
1 pair of latex gloves (optional)
1 large onion, quartered
1 celery heart, halved
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons basil
2 tablespoons rosemary
1/2 tablespoon oregano
1/2 tablespoon thyme
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup of olive oil (in a sprayer/mister
1/2 bunch of celery (6 stalks)
1 lb carrots (6-8 medium carrots)

1. Pre-heat oven to 325° F.
2. In a small bowl mix spices.

3. Remove giblets and wash the turkey inside and out. Pat dry.
4. Place quartered onion and halved celery heart inside turkey.
5. Don latex gloves. Gently loosen skin on turkey breast by working fingers between breast and skin. Be careful not to rip the skin. Be sure to loosen skin on entire turkey breast and thigh.
6. Alternate spraying olive oil and spreading spice mixture under skin (using either your hand or a spatula). Be sure to season entire turkey breast, thigh and leg.7. Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
8. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the pan.
9. Roast in the preheated oven 3 hours. While cooking cut carrots and celery stalks into 2 inch slices.
10. Add carrots and celery to roasting pan and cook turkey and vegetables for an 30 minutes.
11. Raise temperature to 350° F and cook an additional 30 minutes of cooking or until the internal temperature of the bird reaches 180° F.

Trash Can Turkey

Like Heather said this has been a holiday of firsts! It was my first time spending Thanksgiving with Wil and his family. It was also the first Morrison Thanksgiving in Washington, D.C. Everyone has their turkey day staples. At our house its broccoli cheese casseroli, bovarian jello, family chip dip, and Mama’s Banana Cream pie. I decided I would bring over the Gladstone family Chip Dip to eat prior to dinner and my Mama’s Bannana Cream Pie (stay tuned for recipies!) for the Morrison family to enjoy.  The Morrisons had a few other firsts for me. First zucchini and squash casserole (LOVE!) and the first time I have tried collard greens (interesting…). And of course…this was the first time I had ever heard, seen, or tasted a TRASH CAN TURKEY! (All props go to Fritz and Wil Morrison for the making the Trash Can Turkey).

Trash Can Turkey
1 16-18 pound Turkey
2 tbsp Creole Seasoning
1 Jar of Creole Butter (15 or 16oz)
1 tsp Crystal Hot Sauce (You can do more if you prefer it to be spicer)

Equipment:

1 meat syringe
1 1 metal trash can (16 – 20 gallon)
1 wooden steak mounted to hold up the tureky off the ground
1 large sheet tray (oil pan for under a car is what was used for this turkey)
Lots of foil
1 bag of charcoal
A long stemed lighter

Process:

1. Set up Sheet pan with foil covering the top and bottom of the pan. Place the pan on a flat non flammable surface (we used a driveway).
2. Place the mounted wooden steak on the sheet pan.
3.  Prep the turkey by removing the giblets and washing the turkey inside and out. Pat dry.
4. Mix together the creole seasoning, crystal hot sauce, and Creole Butter.
5. Use a meat syringe, inject the mixture into the turkey.  NOTE: Inject in the fatter parts of the meat in order for it to stay within the Turkey. We did approximately 12 injections:  6 on top and 6 injections underneath for optimal coverage.
6. Place the turkey on the wooden stake.
7.  Place the trash can over the turkey and pour the charcoal on top of and around the trash can.
8. Light the coals and let cook for 2 hours. CAUTION: you will need to watch over it to make sure the fire does not spread. We made this a nice little bumfire and hung out outside.
9. Clear coals away from trash can and remove turkey from stake and place in pan to bring back into the house. Enjoy!

While we spent our Thanksgivings separately, we met up late on Thanksgiving night to celebrate my favorite part of Thanksgiving Weekend….BLACK FRIDAY! Our shopping entourage this year included mom, Aunt Kay and Nanny. We had high expectations for the length of our shopping adventure. We left the house at 11:00pm on Thanksgiving and returned home at 6:30am after an all-nighter of shopping!

Holidays & Marathon Shopping!

H&M