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Make-ahead Turkey For The
Holidays
by Deborah Taylor-Hough
Can you imagine a relaxed Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner without
needing to actually cook a turkey on the big day? You'd be able to enjoy
the festivities as much as your friends and family!
Believe it or not, it's possible to roast your turkey ahead of time and
store the cooked meat in the freezer to reheat and serve on the big day.
If this sounds a bit too much like eating leftovers, let me assure you
that by following these simple freezing and reheating instructions,
you'll have moist, delicious turkey -- and not one of your guests will
suspect you didn't spend the entire holiday slaving away in the kitchen
keeping watch over a hot oven.
Feel free to use your own favorite turkey recipe if you prefer, and then
follow the freezing/reheating instructions at the end of this article
(but I personally don't think you'll find a tastier turkey recipe!).
TO PREPARE TURKEY:
3 onions, quartered
6 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 cups white wine (or water)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons sage
1 teaspoon thyme
3 cups chicken broth, canned (reserve for freezing process)
In bottom of a deep roasting pan, place two quartered onions, four
celery stalks, the carrots, bay leaves and white wine (or water). Remove
turkey giblets, rinse bird inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels.
Stuff turkey loosely with remaining quartered onion and celery
stalks. Brush turkey with olive oil mixed with salt, pepper, sage, and
thyme. Cover turkey loosely with a large sheet of foil coated lightly
with olive oil, crimping foil on to edges of roasting pan. Cook
according to chart below. During last 45 minutes, cut band of skin or
string between legs and tail. Uncover and continue roasting until done.
Baste, if desired.
Turkey Roasting Chart (loosely wrapped with foil):
12-16 pounds / 325 degrees F / 4 - 5 hours
16-20 pounds / 325 degrees F / 5 - 6 hours
20-24 pounds / 325 degrees F / 6 - 7 hours
Testing for doneness:
About 20 minutes before roasting time is completed, test
bird. Flesh on thickest part of drumstick should feel soft
when squeezed between fingers, drumstick should move
up an down easily, and meat thermometer inserted into
thickest part of leg should read 185 degrees F. (Or follow
manufacturer's instructions.)
FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS
DRIPPINGS: Pour liquid and drippings from roasting pan
into a bowl. Remove vegetables. Allow bowl of liquid to
cool in refrigerator until fat congeals on top. Scoop off fat
with a spoon and pour drippings into a labeled freezer bag.
Thaw to use for making gravy on serving day.
TURKEY: Allow turkey to cool in pan for 1/2 hour; then
place turkey and its roasting pan into refrigerator. Allow
to cool completely (several hours). When fully chilled,
slice turkey as usual. Remove all meat from bones.
Place breast and dark meat slices into labeled freezer
bags. Pour canned chicken broth into bags over meat.
Freeze.
TO SERVE: Thaw bag of meat and broth, and place into
a covered baking dish for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Or place turkey and broth into a microwave-safe dish,
cover with plastic wrap, and heat until hot (the time will
vary with different microwaves, so check manufacturer's
instructions). Drain off broth (reserve to make more gravy,
if needed). Arrange the heated turkey slices attractively
on a serving platter. Serve hot.
Excerpted and adapted from the 10-Day Holiday Meal
Plan in the bestselling book, 'Frozen Assets: How to
Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month' (Champion Press).
About the author:
Deborah Taylor-Hough (free-lance writer, wife, and mother of three) is
the author of 'Frozen Assets: How to cook for a day and eat for a month'
and the soon-to-be-released 'Frugal Living for Dummies' For further
ideas on simplifying life, subscribe to her free e-newsletter.
subscribe-simple-times@ds.xc.org Cooking ahead info:
http://hometown.aol.com/oamcloop/
http://simplemom.com/
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