Mmmm…Thanksgiving is almost here! I am so very excited to cook and eat all of the yummy food! The star of the Thanksgiving dinner: The Turkey! For your holiday bird to be the amazing masterpiece it should be…there are a few things that every cook should know.

First thing first …SAFETY!! Please don’t set your turkey out on the counter the night before to thaw…your guests really don’t want to die on Thanksgiving! Set your turkey in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf in a pan (to prevent any possible juices from spilling) 2 days before Thankgsgiving to slowly thaw. This will ensure the turkey thaws and is kept at a safe temp the entire time.

Next, Preparation; Remove all the innards (heart, liver, etc.) from the inner cavity and rinse the turkey inside and out with water. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels to remove all the water. Rub real unsalted butter on the outside, sprinkle kosher salt and black pepper on the outside and rub inside the cavity as well. Next, stuff the turkey with 1 lemon cut in half, 1 whole bulb of garlic cut in half so that it exposes all the cloves, 3-4 twigs of Rosemary, and 3-4 twigs of Thyme. Take 1 twig of rosemary and 1 twig of fresh thyme, pull the leaves off of the twigs, chop the herb leaves and sprinkle on the outside of the turkey. Note: It’s Thanksgiving, use fresh herbs! Fresh Rosemary and Thyme can be found in the refrigerated section of your produce area in the grocery store.

Tie the turkey legs together with cooking twine and tuck the turkey wings behind the bird to ensure that the turkey cooks evenly. Place the turkey in a roasting pan on a roasting rack and cook in the oven at 375 degrees for approx 2-3 hrs (depending on turkey size) and when a meat thermometer registers 180 degrees in the thigh and 170 degrees in the breast.  Let your turkey rest for about 15 minutes after coming out of the oven to allow all of the juices to settle and disperse throughout the meat. Lastly, let someone else cut up the turkey because dang it that really sucks and your tired! Have a Happy Turkey Day!!!

I will never forget the great influence that my Grandmother had on my love for whole natural foods and cooking.  As a child I remember spending summer days out in her gigantic garden harvesting potatoes, onions, green beans, peas, tomatoes, and many other wonderful vegetables.  We would go inside to the kitchen and start peeling potatoes, slicing tomatoes, and snapping green beans to get ready for dinner that night.  She was a spectacular cook and might I say she knew it too! She never liked sharing recipes because she wanted her food to be the BEST! She would even give people recipes with 1 – 2 ingredients missing because she didn’t want theirs to turn out as good as hers! I laugh knowing that I would never be that callous, but do understand that  feeling of excitement when seeing your friends and families face light up as they enjoy your food! I feel so blessed to have such an amazing mother, father, and grandmother who ALL greatly influenced my career as a Registered Dietitian and even more my love for amazing food and cooking!  

In turn, it is now my time to influence you!  I am starting this blog in hope that I will surely influence and excite each and every one of you to venture out and try something new! If you love to cook…I am so glad and hope that I can give you some new recipe ideas and tips! If you know absolutely nothing about cooking…don’t worry you will very soon! Above all, I hope that this blog initiates you to spend more time with family and friends in the kitchen just enjoying life! And don’t worry I won’t leave any ingredients out…I Promise!!