It was only the third turkey I had cooked - but only the second time I had not had 100% help from 1-800-Butterball. This time I only made one call - and that was about those pop-up thermometers. They told me that an instant meat thermometer was preferable - 180 degrees in the thigh to tell when the bird's done. Lots of cooks get a little anxious about the turkey - and for good reason - who wants only side dishes if the turkey turns out to be trouble?? Still, I knew my folks were patient, and Tom Crabtree probably relayed the best advice I'd gotten from his wife. He said, "Gayle says just to follow the directions on the package". So I did - and it turned out great! I DID end up cooking one of the pouches - not sure what it had in it, but I threw it away anyway!! I didn't focus on basting, didn't try to concoct some secret recipe to rival the Colonel's blend of herbs and spices. I greased up the 8 1/2 pound turkey, stuffed some parsley in the cavity (that was my creative touch), threw it in the oven for the length of time stated on the package and took it out. Done? Perfect! It was great. That combined with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and a green salad made for a great meal. The best part, though, was getting to visit with my folks. They live in Texas, so visiting with the Henderson clan comes only a few times each year.
And Thanksgiving was the day to get out and enjoy - rain amounts of between 0.75" and 2 inches fell across the area over the weekend, and you probably reached for the jacket to go anywhere at any time of day on Saturday and Sunday as well. How WAS your holiday? I hope it was great - tell me what you did, where you traveled, and what you ate - maybe that'll give me some ideas for next year!
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