Juicy turkey recipe for Thanksgiving! Nothing fancy, just good old fashioned turkey recipe!
Juicy Turkey
You guys are just the best. All your comments you left on Essy’s post are so beautiful and caring. Reading through and seeing all the love, reliving stories of your own past losts and just being the sweetest really made me feel better. I owe you all a donut. When you’re in Brooklyn, you holla at me, we have a date. Thanks again, it really means alot to our family. <3
In the post I shared Essy’s favorite holiday because it meant her favorite food, Thanksgiving and turkey. Give that girl a whiff of turkey and she was there. From the time the turkey was taken out of the wrapper until it came out of the oven, Essy was pacing like a nervous lady. She would be on the floor staring into the oven, on the kitchen island staring at the oven, on the table staring into the oven. When we opened the oven to get the turkey in and out someone had to hold her because there was no stopping her. She wanted that turkey. The best way to honor Essy we decided was to have Thanksgiving Dinner in January. Essy would want nothing more.
Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
So this week we went to the store to get Thanksgiving supplies and a feast was had. Throughout the making of I would look up just thinking about how just a few months ago she was staring me in the eyes, licking her lips, whispering into my brain “Feed me!”. During dinner, we talked about her and her beloved turkey. We knew that while we ate there was no doubt Essy would be between our plates trying to steal a piece (that’s after she finished her own plateful).
So on to one juicy delicious turkey to celebrate Essy!
This turkey is awesome and is now my official go to turkey recipe. It’s easy, you don’t need to brine overnight, the ingredients it calls for are basic and oh goodness it’s moist. Because you are going to stick butter between the skin and breast meat, it’s so juicy.
You can use seasoning salt but I recommend a seasoning rub. I used a citrus and savory rub that includes sea salt, sugar, garlic, lemon peel, orange peel, lime, chili powder, chili pepper and paprika. Yum.
Into the oven this turkey goes..
And out comes this beauty..
Crinkles the Frog was taught well by Essy.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving in November or January or whenever you’re craving a juicy turkey!
One Juicy Turkey
PrintIngredients
- 1 12 pound whole turkey
- 6 tablespoons butter - cut into tablespoon slices
- 4 cups warm water
- 4 tablespoons chicken bouillon
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons seasoning rub
- 3 carrots - cut up into pieces
- 3 pieces of celery - cut up into pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and rinse your turkey under water. Remove giblets and neck if you don't like them. Put turkey in roasting pan.
- Separate the skin over the breast meat and put 3 tablespoons (3 slices) of butter on both sides.
- In a bowl combine the warm water, chicken bouillon, parsley and onion powder. Pour over the turkey.
- Sprinkle seasoning rub all over the turkey.
- Distribute carrots and celery in the bottom of the pan.
- Put turkey breast side up, cover with foil and cook for 3.5-4 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees. Remove the foil for the last 45 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Bless Essy’s little heart! Thanks for sharing the video. And your turkey looks beautiful. I’m with one of the other commenters … I’ll think of Essy every time I bake a turkey.
michael says
I love roasting turkey, yours looks delicious 🙂 I can eat turkey all the time. The best is roasting the turkey yourself, what you get at the grocery store deli just isn’t the same.
Check out my recent post on making Crème Brûlée
http://michaelswoodcraft.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/making-creme-brulee/
Layla @ Brunch Time Baker says
Oh my, Now you have me craving turkey! I wonder if I will be able to find turkey in the supermarkets these days..
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
Super cute way to honor Essie. 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
🙁 I feel so sad reading this…
The turkey is perfectly roasted, Pam.
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
You are, by far, one of the sweetest and most caring people. I know I’d be thinking the same things, only with chicken and white rice. Either way, this turkey looks fantastic (must have some!) and it’s an amazing tribute to an amazing pet.
Catherine says
What a delicious Thanksgiving in January dinner!! I love turkey. The rub sounds wonderful. Blessings dear. Catherine xo
Sarah & Arkadi says
this turkey looks so moist and juicy! looks succulent!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
That is a GORGEOUS turkey and I love that it’s Essy’s turkey. I’m all about having turkey in January – for Essy! A beautiful bird, for a beautiful girl. What a great way to remember her.
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
I have to admit I have never cooked a turkey in an oven. We eat them fairly often but always smoke them. This might have to change soon after looking at this big bird! Essie would be so happy!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
I love the ingredients you used for the rub!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
What a great way to honor Essy 🙂 And I love that you shoved a whole bunch of butter up in there! Must have been delicious!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says
So sorry to hear about Essy – I know she must be smiling down at you and this gorgeous turkey.
Beth says
Thanksgiving in January – what an awesome idea!
Koko says
What a great tribute to Essy! <3 You cook a meeeaaaan turkey!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
Such a lovely idea to remember Essy! This turkey looks so juicy and delish ;–)
Gill G says
What a lovely way to remember Essy. It looks delicious.
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
What a sweet little celebration. That turkey looks like perfection!
Ashley says
Oh what an awesome way to celebrate Essy’s life! I bet she was definitely smiling down licking her lips at the delicious turkey! Emma is the same way with cheese – as soon as she sees me pull the grater out of the cabinet … forget about it.
Pamela says
I know what you mean. Xanadu and Bofinkles love their Parmesan.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Now I want Thanksgiving in January and February too!
Ash-foodfashionparty says
What a lovely way to honor your kitty. She sure appreciates you for doing this.
The bird definitely looks good.
Lidia says
How beautiful that you celebrated Essy’s life with her fave. Seeing those dabs of butter through that turkey skin, it’s no wonder Essy loved turkey! Beautiful Pamela!
Lindsey @ DishingUpHope says
What a special tribute. This turkey looks AHH.MA.ZING!