Well, I learned to cook a turkey from my husband. First of all he takes the turkey, puts it in the sink and cleans off any pin feathers. Then he rinses it well, inside and out with cold water. Then he gently seperates the skin from the meat, on the chest area being careful not to tear it. He places butter or margarine in between the skin and meat. He works it around so it is evenly dispersed. Then he rubs the outside of the bird with margarine or butter, and then takes salt and rubs it all over the turkey, massaging it well. Then he puts it in a pan, covers it with foil, then puts it in the oven to bake. He follows the package directions and once it starts making juice he bastes it ALOT! He bakes the bird unstuffed. It always comes out very, very juicy. We have actually had juice squirt across the room. Once my mom experienced the turkey my husband makes, he became the official turkey baker in our family.
I make the stuffing which is from a recipe that hubbies mom taught me but over the years I have tweeked it and made it my own. And bless my husband he has recently told me that he likes mine better....I will never tell his mom that though. I would not want to hurt her feelings, but just knowing makes me smile inside.
