first “turkey for thanksgiving” idea
copyright image by https://123rf.com/
Do you know your turkey cuts?
Summary Outline:
Just in time for Thanksgiving – that is, knowing what cuts and how to cook the perfect turkey. But why is the turkey so very much associated with Thanksgiving?
The turkey is quintessentially an American bird – believed to originate in mesoAmerica before being exported to European markets during the Spanish conquests of the 1500’s.
But when the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, they noted wild turkeys (similar to what they experience back home) running freely in the woods. Thus these turkey became synonymous with the American frontier and the Thanksgiving tradition.
The US turkey production is ~ 6 billion pounds – with big sales during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter holidays. Turkey is also eaten year round as deli breast meat, turkey sausage, and ground turkey.
So for this Thanksgiving, let’s start with the cuts above that makes the turkey the traditional meal for the holiday:
post content (w/ side notes …)
-
-
Understanding Different Turkey Cuts:
The different butcher cuts of a turkey include breasts, thighs, legs and drumsticks, wings, and other cuts that are used in soups and stews (similar to the chicken). A typical whole turkey will produce approximately 6-8 pounds of total meat, with most of the weight in turkey breasts.
-
copyright image by 123rf.com
- Once the turkey meat has been removed and consumed, the carcass of the turkey can be placed in boiling water to make plenty of stock for soups and other meals that call for turkey (or chicken) stock.
- Thus a whole chicken can feed a family of four for 5-6 days:
- Day 1-2: consume sections of the turkey that include the varying butcher parts.
- Day 2-3: pick parts of the turkey from the bones that was not consumed for making a turkey sandwich or to use the meat in salads, enchiladas, and other turkey-related recipes.
- Day 4-6: cook the carcass down into a stock for a turkey gravy with noodles over potatoes and/or broth used to cook pasta.
- View below for turkey sectional cuts and cooking tips:
-
Quik scroll to topic side notes …
-
Turkey Breast:
Viewing Turkey Breasts (google images) Breast Turkey whole turkey breast sliced breast turkey roast turkey breast turkey breast recipes cooking with turkey breast 
copyright image by envato.com
Turkey Tenderness:
Tenderness of Turkey Breast (google images) Young Turkey (most tender) view samples Yearly Turkey view samples Mature view samples 
copyright image by twenty20.com
Turkey Legs and Drumsticks:
Viewing Turkey Drumsticks/Legs (google images) Drumsticks/Legs turkey drumsticks whole turkey legs drumstick recipes cooking with drumsticks 
copyright image by twenty20.com
Turkey Thighs:
Viewing Turkey Thighs (google images) Turkey Thighs turkey thighs turkey thigh location turkey thigh recipes cooking with turkey thighs 
copyright image by envato.com
Turkey Wings and Drumettes:
Viewing Turkey Wings (google images) Turkey Wings turkey wings turkey drumette turkey wing recipes cooking with turkey wings 
copyright image by envato.com
Other Turkey Cuts:
Other Turkey Cuts (google images) Other Cuts wing tip mid-joint wing 3-joint wing breast & wing breast skin on turkey back turkey neck turkey feet turkey tail turkey heart turkey liver turkey gizzard 
copyright image by envato.com
- —— next topic ——
-
Roasting (or Other) a Turkey
You can find a number of whole turkey recipes – the most popular is a roast turkey that we we are familiar with when our moms pull out the Thanksgiving turkey from the oven.
- But growing favorite option for Thanksgiving is a fried turkey – they say the fryer option seals the turkey juice inside making the turkey very moist and delicious. But beware, frying oil over an open flame can cause disaster.
-
copyright image by Pixabay
- Some just enjoy a simple turkey with prepared turkey cuts that can be served on a platter for finger eating and/or making a turkey sandwich. Turkey is similar to chicken … there are many ways to serve the turkey that can make any Thanksgiving Day memorable.
-
Quik scroll to topic side notes …
-
How to Cook/Fry a Whole Turkey:
The challenge of roasting a whole turkey is keeping the turkey moist and tender inside and yet making sure the entire turkey has been properly cooked. A Thanksgiving whole turkey can take considerable time to cook; and if it is not prepared properly, the turkey can get a bit dry when served.
Turkey by itself may come across as tasteless. That is why good chefs use seasonings and some turkey stuffings to flavor the meat while roasting.
copyright image by envato.com
Another cooking option is to deep-fry your turkey. The deep fry option hold the moisture in and the turkey meat is more tender and favorable. However, you should purchase a specialized turkey fryer that is big enough to hold a regular size turkey.
Note that plopping a good-size turkey into a vat of heating oil may disperse the oil so that is overflows the cooking vat. That can cause an explosive fire that can wreck any Thanksgiving day. So make sure you view the process completely to have a safe, fried-turkey meal that everyone will enjoy.
- —— next topic ——
-
Let’s Go Hunting:
Perhaps for this Thanksgiving, you may want to hunt your own wild Turkey just like they did in the old days. In fact, wild turkey was very common in the New England time of the Pilgrims. Whether wild turkey was on the menu, we don’t know. But nonetheless, it become the foul of choice for Thanksgiving meals.
- Wild turkey tastes a bit different than farmed turkeys – wild turkey is almost all dark meat and has a more intense flavor.
-
copyright image by Pixabay
- Wild turkeys are a bit smaller than domesticated turkeys. So they don’t need to be cooked as long. Make sure you check the meat frequently during the cooking; you want to avoid the meat from drying out.
- The breast of wild turkeys are most tender. Legs and drumsticks can be used, but may be bit tougher. They are however great for making gravies and soup.
-
Quik scroll to topic side notes …
-
Hunting Wild Turkey:
Wild turkey is native to the Americas and can be found roaming the forests, woods, and country sides of most states east of the Mississippi, mountain regions out west, and into Canada.
However, the populations are decreasing do to the decline of good habitat and seasonal changes. Conservation programs are underway, but understanding the cause of decline is something that will take time to rectify.
Baking Wares
viewing amazon kitchen
- —— next topic ——
-
Preparing a Thanksgiving Meal:
Thanksgiving is coming up – and after that comes Christmas – and then New Years and Easter will quickly follow. All fun holidays where a turkey may be served. But the question is what is Thanksgiving and where did it originate?
-
copyright image by Pixabay
- And the second question is what can you serve for Thanksgiving besides turkey – stuffed dressing – potatoes and gravy – corn – rolls – and the list goes on.
-
Quik scroll to topic side notes …
-
More About Thanksgiving:
Tradition holds that there was a first Thanksgiving initiated by the Pilgrims and neighboring Indians after a bountiful harvest. It’s told that the two groups came together to enjoy a feast that included deer, (foul) turkey, fish, corn, and other harvested goods.
But it that right story?
copyright image by pixabay.com
It all depends who you read and exactly what transpired. But no matter what actually happened, the tradition grew into a national holiday where American families come together to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal using a variation of dishes that resemble the meal that was celebrated back in the early 1620’s.
view post: (new win) The First Thanksgiving – And Getting Ready for Yours - —— next topic ——
-
Start Growing Your Own:
Perhaps not for this Thanksgiving, but maybe for next Thanksgiving in 2023 and beyond. How about raising your own turkey(s) for your holiday meals? The turkey supplies a lot of good meat for consumption and are easy to raise.
-
copyright image by Pixabay
- Becoming an expert is a good life skill to have by learning how to raise a bird that has a long tradition of providing a great meal to celebrate with family and friends.
-
Quik scroll to topic side notes …
-
About Raising Turkeys:
If you are considering raising turkeys in your backyard area, you might want to review the facts and needs for these majestic birds. Grown turkeys provide a lot of meat compared to chickens.
You just need to develop varying recipes where turkey meat can be uses instead of other meats such as beef and pork in meal preparation.
copyright image by pixabay.com
The single big advantage of turkey meat is that it less in fat and better for you than other meat products. It is a great source of protein, rich in many vitamins and minerals, and is low-fat.
You can use turkey in chilies, soups, and as a meat substitute for beef and pork.
-
-
Quik scroll to more “kitchen-relate” ideas …
-
ideas to view and compare from the photo above
thanksgiving decor outdoorsthanksgiving decor indoorsthanksgiving linens
- What comments can you share about
having turkey for thanksgiving?
… with these favorites
… with turkey
… thanksgiving
Find Kitchen Remodeling Services Kitchen Remodeling and Design Cabinets & Countertops Flooring Lighting Design Painting & Staining top-rated, pre-screened local contractors FREE: download contractor selection enter zip code – powered by HomeAdvisor ™
Quick Contractor Guides selecting negotiating working with inspecting
Cover image credit: turkey for thanksgiving by Pixabay
end of post … please share it!
links open new winor simply search by entering bakeware type or other remodeling need
Nice pic idea? Leave us a quick comment below.
And please share this pic idea within your social networks.
