A Tale of Two Turkeys

[astartesyriaca]

Being an ex-pat in the UK, I find that hosting Thanksgiving across the pond has its advantages. The shopping hassle is much less this time of year, and I get to cook yummy "American" food (well, you know...) for a bunch of excited British friends who tend to be much more thankful to celebrate it than many Americans I know (they love the idea of a

Comments

[illsmileforyou]

Looks great! We're deep-frying a turkey this year but I can just imagine having to do the bacon thing next year if my husband gets wind of the idea. :) We usually do a lemon/rosemary/butter turkey like your second one. Yum!

[astartesyriaca]

Mmm.. deep fried! Let us know how it turns out!

[zenith_the_high]

so which one was better????

[englishmann]

This. I wondered as well.

[astartesyriaca]

Sorry to say it, but they were both great. I guess I'd vote for the garlic-herb because it was more moist and flavourful... but I think if I hadn't been rushed on the first one, it would have been just as good.

[englishmann]

Where did you get your 12lb turkey? I'm an American (sort of - I'm a dual citizen) in Cardiff and am doing Thanksgiving for about 10 people. I've only seen smallish ones in M&S, Lidl, etc. We're going to Tesco Extra tomorrow. I don't know whether to get two 5-7 pound turkeys or get one big one; I'm used to it just being my mum and dad. Help?

[astartesyriaca]

Hey there! I know you from Brits_Americans

[englishmann]

Ay up. :)

So, by "bigger one," you mean 15-20 pounds? I still want leftovers, yank-style, obviously?

The pumpkin pie is the responsibility of the "other American," but I shall let him know. haha

[astartesyriaca]

Might be hard pressed to find one that big. You could do a 12-15 lb. turkey, plus a crown?

[blueyz72]

Wow, can I come to your place next year? The bacon turkey is my favorite :) My family does nothing as exciting as that, if I didn't know better I'd say my brother and I were adopted since we seem the only adventerous eaters/cooks.

The stuffing sounds good, what recipe did you use?

[astartesyriaca]

Sure, come over! :-)

Stuffing recipe is ridiculously easy, and my own concoction. Sautée a ton of mushrooms - plain ol' and wild - in butter, garlic, shallots, and olive oil. Oh, and you know the trick for mushrooms - don't crowd the pan, only salt at the end... and I also add a splash of alcohol at the end, but was out of wine, so I used Southern Comfort :-) Set aside. Tear up a bunch of bread, whatever kind you like. I used a bunch of cheap white bread, mixed with crumbs I made from stale home-baked sourdough. Fill the pan with this, toss in lots of chopped sage (other herbs are great, too). Pour mushrooms over the bread and toss. Then drench the whole thing in vegetable stock (to make it vegetarian friendly). Bake until it's browned on top. Simple!

[a_boleyn]

We Canadians have our Thanksgiving on the 2nd Monday in October to celebrate the end of the harvest season so I'm just now pulling the 2nd breast and thighs out of my freezer for turkey pot pie. Turkey leftovers ... a 'good' thing. :)