Paso Robles Real Estate

Sherry Lee’s Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe from Paso Robles

^{First off, if you don’t mind your turkey meat being a little salty, try marinating your fresh turkey in Williams-Sonoma Brining Blend. It gives a very nice flavor to your turkey, and the meat practically falls off of the bone; even the white meat. You can purchase this online at Williams-Sonoma for $16.50. One caveat, though. Do not use all of the drippings for your gravy as it will be too salty. A little goes a long way… Williams-Sonoma also has fresh turkeys available, but they are quite pricey. I’ll leave that decision up to you…}

^{12 – 24 lb turkey}

^{Old-Fashioned Dressing for 24 lb turkey:}

^{1 tsp pepper}

^{2 cups chopped onion}

^{6 cups finely chopped celery}

^{1 1/2 cups chopped parsley}

^{2 tbs salt}

^{2 tbs poultry seasoning}

^{2 tsp paprika}

^{1 tsp pepper}

^{2 eggs slightly beaten}

^{2 boxes Mrs. Cubbison’s or Pepperage Farms Herbed Cube Stuffing and follow directions, except for butter, celery & onion}

^{(If doing 12 lb turkey, use one box of stuffing and 1/2 recipe above)}

^{1 cup butter melted}

1. ^{Preheat oven to 325F. Remove giblets from turkey; set aside for gravy. Wash and dry turkey very well inside and out.}
2. ^{Make old-fashioned dressing: Melt 1 cup butter in skillet over low heat. Add onion and celery; saute until golden. Toss lightly with the rest of ingredients in large bowl until well mixed.}
3. ^{Spoon some dressing into body cavity of turkey if you wish, but be sure to remove it from the turkey after dinner and before storing turkey in the refrigerator. Put remaining dressing or all dressing in a casserole dish.}
4. ^{Insert about 5 poultry pins at regular intervals. Use twine to close cavity & finish with a knot.}
5. ^{Bring skin of neck over back and fasten with a poultry pin.}
6. ^{Bend wing tips under body or fasten to body with poultry pins. With twine, tie ends of legs together. Brush turkey all over with some melted butter. If you like garlic, you can add fresh minced garlic to your melted butter mixture for basting.}
7. ^{Insert meat thermometer in inside of thigh at thickest part. Turn, breast side down, on rack in shallow roasting pan.}
8. ^{Roast uncovered 2 hours. Turn breast side up. Place square cheesecloth over turkey breast and baste with rest of melted butter OR baste turkey breast with butter and cover breast loosely with square of foil. As cheesecloth dries out, moisten with pan drippings OR brush turkey with drippings if not using cheesecloth.}
9. ^{Turkey is done when meat thermometer registers 185F to 190F. Leg joint should move freely when twisted, and fleshy part of drumstick should feel soft.}
10. ^{Place turkey on heated platter. Remove cheesecloth or foil, twine and poultry pins. Let turkey stand 20 to 30 minutes before carving.}
11. ^{Meanwhile, make gravy.}

^{Serve turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce… Enjoy!}

^{If you would like to search the MLS for listings in the Paso Robles area or you have any real estate questions or general questions about Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo North County, please contact me via email, call me at (805) 235-0234 or visit my website for more information.}

^{It starts with a dream…}

Tags: fresh turkeys, old-fashioned dressing, paso robles, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Turkey, Williams-Sonoma