Isn't this a beautiful turkey? There is nothing better than sharing a good meal with your friends and family. I was disappointed to read the directions for this bird, it's rather complicated. I do not like complicated. However in the past I have forgotten this rule at Holiday meal times.
I asked my son what kind of stuffing to make this year. He replied: "I just want PLAIN stuffing with nothing weird in it."
What??? Plain??? You must be kidding! I didn't even know if I know how to do plain!
So I said: "Well, how about the Apple Raisin Stuffing I made last year?"
"Nope. I want plain."
"Well, how about the Sausage Cornbread Stuffing?"
"Nope."
"Not even the Wheat Berry Stuffing?"
"No way. I want a PLAIN THANKSGIVING."
Wow, what a revelation. I began mulling this over and decided he was right. A PLAIN THANKSGIVING it would be.
We happened to have a turkey, some oven bags, olive oil, and salt and pepper. That sounds pretty basic in my book. Plain it will be.
For the PLAIN stuffing, we will use bread, onion, butter, celery, celery seed, paprika, and salt and pepper.
Wash and clean your bird, removing all inner parts, gravy packet and gizzards. What you do with these is up to you, but your cat or dog would be eternally grateful if you boiled them up and fed these to them for Thanksgiving. Furry friends need food too!
Dry the bird with a paper towel. Rub the inside cavity with sea salt.
Then drizzle the outside of the turkey with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
I prefer to cook my stuffing separately. I am probably the only person in America who does this, but I think it tastes better when it's not all soggy from the turkey juices. I like to chop an onion and two pieces of celery, and add them to the turkey cavity in place of the stuffing.
Prepare the bag by adding 1 tablespoon of flour and shaking it to cover the inside (it keeps the bag from bursting).
Tie him up and he's ready for the oven. Or her. Whatever!
Cut a few little slits in the top of the bag to allow steam to escape.
Bake at 350 degrees, 15 minutes per pound. The bag works wonders holding in all the juices, no basting is required.
While the turkey is cooking, you can prepare the PLAIN stuffing. In a large bowl combine 2 cups celery....
One cup onion..........
and 8 cups cubed bread.
Just throw them in and mix them up. Then add a dash of paprika, a dash of celery seed, a stick of melted butter and salt and pepper. Mix to your hearts content.
This is what you get. Pretty plain stuffing. Cover it with foil and add it to the oven 30 minutes before the turkey is ready.
How easy is that?
It's just PLAIN easy!
My family was thrilled with our plain turkey dinner. In fact, I forgot to take a picture of it. It didn't last long that's for sure! Tomorrow we will talk about a couple of side dishes to go along with your Plain Turkey Dinner.
Designer Mom
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