Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Barbecued Smoked Wild Turkey

INGEDIENTS
Bird (wild, domestic or peafowl):
About 10 - 12 pounds, whole
(If it's a wild turkey, it might weigh 15-20 lbs. Just double the ingredients)

Liquid to be injected into the bird:
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 cup garlic-flavored oil
4 ounces of beer

Paste to be massaged into the bird:
3-4 garlic cloves
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon coarse pepper
Pinch of cayenne
1 Tablespoon garlic-flavored oil

Ingredients for basting:
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup water
8 ounces beer
1/4 cup oil; olive oil, canola or corn oil

Instructions:The night before, combine the injection ingredients in a bowl, and suck up into a kitchen syringe. Inject the ingredients deeply into the turkey in numerous places, but mostly into the breast meat. This works especially well for wild birds because it adds internal moisture. It will not make the meat greasy.

To make your own garlic-flavored oil, mince one bulb of garlic, place it in a jar, add enough oil to cover it by a couple of inches. Put a lid on the jar, and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before using.

Combine the paste ingredients until it becomes of a paste consistency. Add the oil after grinding the other ingredients with a mortar and pestle or by some other means. Mix well.

Rub the paste under the skin of the turkey carefully. Rub the paste also inside the cavity. Cover the bird in plastic and place in refrigerator.

The next morning, take the turkey out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for an hour to an hour and a half before barbecuing. Get the smoker ready. Bring the temperature up to 200 - 230 degrees F.

Wrap the bird in wet cheesecloth and secure the ends.

Place your turkey breast-side down in the smoker and cook for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours per pound. The internal temperature should reach 180 degrees F. Re-wet the cheesecloth periodically. It must stay wet.

After the bird cooks from six to ten hours, depending on its size and internal temperature, cut off the cheesecloth and discard.

After the cheesecloth is removed, you can baste the turkey while it finishes its cooking, if your smoking method allows you to baste while the bird remains in the smoker. Combine the basting ingredients and warm up the mixture on low heat, or in a microwave briefly. Baste every half hour if you can.

When your turkey, or other-type bird is done, remove it from the smoker, and let it sit for 15 minutes to a half hour before slicing.

Serve with your favorite store-bought or home-made barbecue sauce!


Thursday, December 13, 2012

Tropical Turkey Salad

5 cups (1175 ml) torn fresh spinach
3 cups (700 ml) torn lettuce
2 cups (475 ml) cooked turkey, cubed
2 slices red onion, separated into rings
1/2 cup (125 ml) green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup (125 ml) mandarin oranges, sliced
1/2 cup (125 ml) pineapple chunks
1/3 cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
1/4 cup (60 ml) raspberry syrup
2 tbsp (30 ml) red wine vinegar
1-1/2 tsp (7 ml) honey
1/2 tsp (2 ml) celery seed
1/2 cup (125 ml) sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup (60 ml) flaked coconut, toasted

Instructions:Line a large salad bowl with spinach and lettuce.
Combine the next six ingredients; spoon into bowl.
In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine oil, syrup, vinegar, honey and celery seed; shake well.
Pour over the salad.
Top with almonds and coconut.
Serve immediately.


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Smoked Turkey

1 15 lb (6.8 kg) (or so) thawed whole turkey
2 cups (475 ml) non-iodized salt
6 cups (1425 ml) brown sugar
6 bay leaves
1 tbsp (15 ml) whole pepper corns
4 cups (950 ml) hardwood or fruitwood chips for smoking
Instructions:Make Brine:
Mix salt, brown sugar and spices with 6 quarts (5675 ml) water. (Double, if necessary, to cover)
Rinse whole turkey after removing giblets and cutting away excess fat.
Place turkey in clean plastic or glass continer with sufficient size to fill with brine that covers entire turkey.
Pour brine over turkey to cover.
Turkey should remain in brine for 12-20 hours (keep refigerated).
In preparation for cooking, remove turkey from brine and rinse thoroughly to remove surface saltiness.
Pat dry with paper towels then air dry for about 30 min to form shinny surface that's dry to the touch.
Place on heavy duty aluminum foil or cooking pan suitable for outdoor grill.
Create loose tent of aluminum foil to cover.
Soak 4 cups (950 ml) wood chips (hickory, mesquite or fruit wood) in water.
Place about a cup of chips in small pan or on aluminum foil on top of charcoal or gas grill grate over low flame.
Cook for approximately 30 minutes per pound at 180 200 degrees (90 C.) F.
Use meat thermometer placed in thigh until 170 degrees (80 C.) F. is reached, test to ensure doneness.
Add additional wood chips as needed to smoke thoroughly.

Comments
I use my two burner gas grill to do this recipe. Usually one burner on low will maintain temperature. Place chips over that burner. Charcoal grills can also be used successfully. The aluminum foil tent helps retain mositure. It's a family tradition to prepare Thanksgiving turkey with this technique and they've always been teriffic. I have begun using a meat thermometer to avoid undercooking. Enjoy!


Quick Turkey Breast

1 can of clear chicken broth
1 boneless turkey breast uncooked
salt & pepper

Instructions:Turn oven on full blast.
Place turkey in roasting pan, add broth, salt & pepper.
Cover and place in oven and cook for 1/2 hour.
Turn oven off, but do not open the oven door.
Go to work.
When you come home your main dish is fully cooked, tender and delicious.

Comments
A easy and quick recipe that cooks in your oven all day, while you are at work.


30 Minute Turkey with Dressing

Serves/Makes:10

Ingredients
10 lbs (4.5 kg). whole turkey, cleaned (giblets use for something else)
Kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil
For the Dressing/Stuffing:
4 cups (950 ml) fresh ground Challa bread crumbs
1/2 cup (125 ml) diced fresh mushroom (button or cremini)
1/2 cup (125 ml) grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup (125 ml) mixed chopped nuts (English walnuts, pecans, hazlents, pinion nuts)
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped garlic
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped celery
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped green onion
1/4 cup (60 ml) parsley
1/4 cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
3 tbs (45 ml). dried basil
1 tsp (5 ml). chicken base/bouillon granuales or some salt
1 tsp (5 ml). fresh ground black pepper

Preparation
Clean and thaw turkey completely and trim away excess fat from neck area.
Sprinkle with salt and fresh ground pepper rub into skin and inside.
Cut leg quarters (drumstick and thigh in one piece)away from carcass.
Pry the back away from the carcass by pulling bottom end towards the neck.
Discard the back and the giblets or save for later use.
Place whole turkey breast breast up in roasting pan and arrange leg quarters around.
Brush or rub with some olive oil and let stand until ready to cook.
Add some water to bottom of pan.
Heat oven 500 degrees (250 C.) (Bake setting).
Bake turkey 30-35 minutes (check after 20 minutes).
For the Dressing:
Saute/fry the nuts and garlic in the olive oil until nice and brown.
Toss to combine with remaining ingredients.
Spoon into baking dish.
Bake with turkey uncovered last 5 min. of cooking.

Comments
The dressing which tastes like Pesto sauce is good with all types of meat. Size and variety of turkey may cause cooking time to vary.