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6 Must-Have Utensils If You're Making the Turkey This Year

Susannah Chen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:26:24 PST

There's a first time for everything, and for a few brave souls out there, 2011 will be the first Thanksgiving in which you claim responsibility for the turkey. If it's your turn to cook the big bird this year, and you're worried about how it's going to turn out, fear not: we've got answers to every question you may have, whether it's about thawing, pan size, cooking temperature, or brining.

Now that you're fully equipped with turkey cooking knowledge, it's time to ensure you're completely equipped with the right cooking utensils. When we spoke with the experts at Butterball, they emphasized that, if you're going to be presenting the star of the show and you want to do it right, there are six essential kitchen tools you'll need.

A shallow open pan as a roasting vehicle for the turkey.
A roasting rack to place the turkey on, inside the pan. This will lift your turkey away from the direct heat of the pan, and also hold the bird away from the drippings.
Aluminum foil for tenting the turkey. If you're cooking the turkey uncovered, you'll want to place a piece of foil over the top of the breast and drumsticks when the turkey is two-thirds done to prevent the meat from overcooking and drying out.

Find out what the three other must-have tools are when you keep reading.

Goat Cheese Takes the Biscuit

Lauren Hendrickson — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:15:03 PST

For a different take on the traditional dinner roll this Thanksgiving, try chef Art Smith's goat cheese biscuits; the recipe is a basic buttermilk drop biscuit that incorporates tangy and creamy goat cheese.

The recipe's incredibly easy, though I did make one change: The recipe called for coating the preheated cast iron pan in butter, but due to the heat, the butter nearly instantly turned a very dark brown, and smoked throughout my first batch. Since I didn't want my smoke alarm to go off for my second batch, I opted to use a peanut oil to ensure they didn't stick, but also didn't smoke. Ready to try a new take on a biscuit? Just keep reading for the recipe.

Help! Should I Brine My Turkey?

YumSugar — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:14:35 PST

Generally, I stick to basting or butter rubs to ensure a moist bird, but many Thanksgiving cooks swear by brining.

The Culinary Institute of America certainly does: they recommend brining as the very best method to ensure bold flavor and moistness. Essentially a brine is a seasoned aromatic liquid in which the turkey bathes before roasting. This technique is often used in preparing all kinds of poultry to maximize juiciness in the finished product. The salt in the brine breaks down the turkey's proteins, making it more tender and keeping in moisture that would normally be squeezed out. Here are a few important brining tips:

Plan ahead: turkeys generally should brine anywhere from 12-15 hours.
Choose a container large enough to hold the brining liquid and the turkey. You don't want any spillage situations!

For more tips, keep reading.

Family Ties: Thankful at Thanksgiving

babysugar — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:00:03 PST

This Thanksgiving we are celebrating alone. Well of course, I have my husband and our little one but no parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, nieces or nephews. It's sort of sad, but it will be nice to have some down time with my core crew.

The upside is that it makes me realize how much I appreciate my extended family when they are around. What's that saying? Don't know what you've got until it's gone? Thanks Cinderella. So here's why I am thankful for my family even though they won't be around today to hear it.

Mom - For having me and being patient and selfless.
Dad - For teaching me to ride a bike and telling me I could do anything if I set my mind to it.
Grandparents - For having my parents! And, for always having the best treats and food at your house.
Sister - For your incomparable back rubs and hand-me down clothes.
Brother - For roughing me up and making me a tough girl who can take just about anything.
Cousins - For all those backyard soccer games and Christmas carols.
Aunts and Uncles - For slipping me those cookies when Mom wasn't looking and for always spoiling me on my birthday.
Nieces and Nephews - For brightening my day every time I hear your voices or see your smiles. And I can't leave out all of that amazing art work you provide.
In-Laws - For my husband and your amazing family. And, for treating me like I'm one of your own.
Husband - For taking me, as I am - flaws and all. And, for our beautiful daughter.
Daughter - For letting me be your mother.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, too. We're thankful for such fun and loyal readers! Now go eat some turkey slathered in gravy and cranberry sauce and tell your loved ones why you're thankful they're in your lives.

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Find a Turkey Trot Near You

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:30:00 PST

There is no reason to just eat and eat and eat on Thanksgiving. You can start your day off with a Turkey Trot, and I am not talking about the ragtime dance from centuries past, but if you want to do that I am sure you would be burning some calories.

Nope, I talking about Turkey Trots, aka Gobble Runs, as in fun runs. Many towns sponsor fun runs on Thanksgiving Day so you can get out into your community, run with your neighbors, and start your day of indulgence off with some exercise.

The races vary in length, but most are 5k (3.2 miles) and are considered fun runs. So the focus is on having fun rather than the competition. Meaning nobody is going to think your are ruining the race if you walk the entire course.

To find a run in your area check out the Turkey Trot race locator at active.com. You can sign up for your race on active.com, too! I will be running in early in the morn on T-day, on the outskirts of Philly. Wish me luck!

Are you participating in a run on Thanksgiving? Let me know in the comments section below.

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