RECIPES
Savory Turkey Soup
Savory Harvest Stuffing
Savory Turkey Gravy

TECHNIQUES
Savory Turkey Injection
Savory Brining


HELPFUL TIMELINE

4 Days Before Event
If purchasing a frozen turkey, buy it 4 days before your event, otherwise purchase it 2 days before. If frozen, thaw safely in refrigerator, which will usually take 36 to 48 hours.

3 Days Before Event
Purchase all vegetables, groceries and beverages.

2 Days Before Event
If brining, prepare turkey for brine, remove neck and giblets. See recipe for brining.
Brine over night.

1 Day Before Event
*Remove the turkey from the brine. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry in refrigerator over night.
*Prepare the stuffing and cranberry sauce.
*Peel your potatoes, store in water.
*Cut your vegetables into cooking size.

Holiday Celebration
See turkey cooking chart below and work backwards of what time you want to eat. For example, if you are planning on sitting down to eat at 4:00 and you are cooking a 8 to 12 pound turkey, you need to place the turkey in the oven at 11:30 a.m. This allows 4 hours cooking time and 20 to 30 minutes before carving.

Turkey Preparation:
1. Pre-heat oven to 325

2. Dry turkey throughout and place in a roasting pan lined with 2 chopped carrots, 3 chopped stalks of celery, _ onion chopped, 5 garlic cloves, 5 sage leaves and 1 cup of white wine.

3. Melt 2 sticks of butter and dip a four layer piece of cheese cloth in the butter. Place cheese cloth on the breast of the turkey. This will ensure the breast cooks evenly with the legs and thighs. Brush remaining butter evenly over remaining parts of the turkey.

4. Place turkey in prepared oven. Every 1/2 hour, baste turkey with the natural juices that flow to the bottom. Making sure the cheese cloth remains moist at all times. 1-1/2 hours before you are to remove your turkey, remove the foil and the cheese cloth.

5. Remove your turkey from the oven once your meat thermometer reads an internal temperature of 180 to 185 degrees F.

6. Remove from the oven and allow the turkey to rest at least 20 to 30 minutes before carving.


Turkey Cooking Time

WEIGHT	APPROXIMATE COOKING TIME IN 325° OVEN	INTERNAL TEMPERATURE (ºF)
6 to 8 pounds	3 to 3-1/2 hours	185º
8 to 12 pounds	3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours	185º
12 to 16 pounds	4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours	185º
16 to 20 pounds	5-1/2 to 6-1/2 hours	185º
20 to 24 pounds	6-1/2 to 7 hours	185º

While the turkey is cooking, prepare your vegetables, mashed potatoes, and gravy.