DAY 1 - RECIPE - THANKSGIVING CHALLENGE

[Ranaesheart]

SIMPLY ROASTED TURKEY

This recipe serves 8 plus leftovers

INGREDIENTS

1 whole fresh turkey, 10 to 14 pounds
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
3 sprigs fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried
4 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
2 bay leaves, crushed
2 medium onions, roughly chopped into 1-inch pieces
3 carrots, roughly chopped into 1-inch pieces
3 stalks celery, roughly chopped into 1-inch pieces
2 shallots, peeled and halved


COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

2. Remove the giblets from the turkey and save them for another use or discard. Rinse the turkey, inside and out, with cold water and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper inside and out.

3. If you are using fresh herbs, chop them. Combine the herbs, bay leaves, onions, carrots, celery and shallots together and stuff the mixture into the cavity of the bird.

4. Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Rub the olive oil under the skin of the turkey. Tuck the wings back, under the bird and truss it.

5. Place the turkey in the oven and roast until the skin is golden brown and crisp, the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a sharp knife, and a meat thermometer reads 170°F, about 3 hours. While it cooks, occasionally baste the turkey with the juices that collect in the roasting pan.

Note: Allow the turkey to rest for 20 minutes and check that the temperature has come up to 180°F. (The bird will continue to cook after removing it from the oven).

6. Transfer the turkey to a serving platter. Remove the vegetables from the cavity and discard. Let the turkey rest for about 20 minutes before carving, and then serve.


Serving Size: about 6 ounces
Number of Servings: 8
Per Serving
Calories 290  
Carbohydrate 0 g
Fat 8 g
Fiber 0 g
Protein 49 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Sodium 119 mg


Here's an additional recipe from our sister community for Stuffed Roast Turkey ... check it out ... http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/670174

If you haven't already joined this community, you may want to do so because the recipes posted there will greatly enhance and enlarge your healthy cooking choices ... http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/280

Bon Appetito!!!  

[Ranaesheart]

Well, if you were anywhere close to me, would have you over for turkey!  I'm actually going to have Thanksgiving with my newly found brother and his family and am so looking forward to it.  Hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful ..

[gokuangel]

Ranae- i do call my mom when i can but we really arent that close. she doesnt have a pc its my grandma so i dont think she would know how to work it even if she did have one as far as my mom she lives with her but shes sick so same situation. lol funny acutally my dh does not like turkey i know crazy but its true! i just moved so i actually do not have an oven right at the moment but maybe next year i will get to make stuff!!

[Ranaesheart]

Peek ~ Now if you want to send that turkey flying .. I'll give you my address .. lolll  Sounds like you'll have a lovely Thanksgiving and perhaps you should just cook the turkey and then package it for use later.

C ~ Yes, it's awesome to have HC and WL&D assisting each other in transitioning to healthy cooking and lifestyle!  ;)

gokuangel ~ Perhaps you may want to cook a turkey on Saturday and have two Thanksgivings .. one for your hubby and one for you.  As for the chocolate pie .. here's a suggestion.  You can buy individual graham cracker pie shells and scoop into it some SF pudding and top with no fat or low fat whipped cream.  It's a dessert much like chocolate pie yet soooo much easier on the calories .. and it can be worked into your calorie allotment.

Do you call you mom on the holidays?  If she has a computer, Skype lets you call computer to computer for free.

[gokuangel]

I so miss turkey and all the good trimmings at thanksgiving! My mom lives 4hrs away so i am never there during holidays and since my DH is hispanic its usually a mexican food to eat! My great grandma used to make the best home made chocolate pies ever i miss those too!!

[ChitChatNine]

Thanks for the great links.

C~

[peekawho]

I've invited myself to a co-workers house for Thanksgiving this year, as Mr. Peek will be gone for the whole week!  I'm bringing a side dish.  

The only problem is that our work gives us free turkeys every year, and I don't want a giant turkey hanging around in my freezer until I feel like turkey again.

I'm investigating the possibilities of donating it, but the logistics of that may be unworkable, seeing as its frozen.   I may just roast it and freeze the meat for other recipes, later.   I'm still mulling over the possibilities.  

[Ranaesheart]

Welcome to the recipe component of the Thanksgiving Challenge! Here you will find a recipe daily that has been modified with special consideration towards healthy eating and living especially geared towards Thanksgiving. Feel free to comment on the recipes and perhaps even share a recipe of your own with the group!

Today's recipe is for the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table in many families....the turkey itself! Enjoy!