Let’s be honest, the best part of Thanksgiving is the food. It’s what we look forward to for months and dream about for weeks. Once the long-awaited week arrives, the food preparation almost becomes more of an event than the actual feast. The coup-de- grâce of this feast is the turkey, obviously. For years the bird was prepared the same way. A bit of brine on the outside, some spices inside, then stick in the oven for several hours. Then a fascinating idea took hold: what if we switch things up to reflect the taste of those eating? It was a crazy notion that has now given each family their own unique cooking tradition. If you and your brood are still looking for ways to tweak your main course, take some tips from Mestayer Law Firm on four turkey recipes to try this Thanksgiving in Pascagoula.
Mayonnaise
Yes, mayonnaise. While it may seem like an odd “seasoning”, it can help produce one of the juiciest turkeys you’ll taste. The mayo isn’t potent enough to give off an overwhelming taste. Instead, it does its job of adding moistness. And since you’re going to probably put mayo on the sandwich you make with the leftovers anyways, is it really that strange? Start by mixing your choice of herbs with 1 ½ cup of mayo (per 13lbs of turkey). Spread the mix on the skin and inside of the bird with salt and pepper. Toss in some chopped celery and onion with a stick of butter inside then cook per your weight instructions—for this size and ingredients, cook at 450° for 30 minutes then at 350° until internal temperature reaches 165°.
Cajun
Most relate Cajun influences to New Orleans but we know that here along the Gulf Coast the Creole influences are everywhere. Why shouldn’t that extend to our Thanksgiving meal? Bring a bit of a kick to your meal this year with this spicy recipe. Begin the day before by brushing salt, pepper and your choice of Cajun mixes on the skin and inside. For a true Creole taste, make sure your mix includes cayenne, garlic powder and some red pepper. Prepare in the oven the same way as described in the previous section, then enjoy!
Tipsy Turkey
A tipsy bird makes for a tastier meal. Everything about this recipe brings happiness to the table and will leave you wanting to cook it several times a year. Mix 2 cups of maple syrup with 1 cup of preferred bourbon (Jack Daniel’s is a favorite) then add in some salt-water mixture. Brine the turkey in the refrigerator for 24-36 hours. Once it’s time to cook, butter the skin and add veggies inside. Cook to weight specifications. The real key to keeping this one tasty and juicy is to pull it out of the oven every half hour and brush with more of the syrup—bourbon mixture. Your guests will thank you for the meticulous attention.
Fried
This is a huge favorite among pockets of people—especially in the South—but still isn’t widely adopted as a standard. For those wanting to shake up their table though, consider the fryer as opposed to the oven. The key is to inject the turkey first. Homemade concoctions are usually the best because you can tweak it to your liking. Try to include vinaigrette-based dressing for extra juiciness. Fry in the cooking oil 3 minutes per pound then watch your family attack the pan like scavengers.
Once the turkey hits the Thanksgiving table, it’s most likely going to be whole-heartedly consumed no matter the style. Make the meal a little more special with one of these four turkey recipes to try this Thanksgiving in Pascagoula courtesy of Mestayer Law Firm.
Would you like to know more about what you can do to secure your family and household and protect their financial future? The Mestayer Law Firm provide fast, effective, professional and cost-effective expertise in the following legal fields: estate planning: including Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives; Social Security Disability cases, tax law Family Law, Probate of Wills, Administration of Estates, Will contests and abuses of Powers of Attorney; and personal injury cases. For more information, visit www.pascagoulalaw.com or call us at 228-762-1193.
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. This article does not create an attorney-client relationship. I am licensed to practice law in Mississippi and have based the information presented on US laws. This article is legal information and is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be seen as legal advice. You should consult with an attorney before you rely on this information. Any information provided in this blog is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but that there may be omissions, errors, or mistakes.
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