Your Perfect Roast Turkey the EASY Way

Gather up a few kitchen essentials for the BEST roast turkey...EVAR.  Easy recipe tips right here!

Growing up in Northern New Jersey, Nanny would cook the day to day meals. Mrs. Humble (yes, that was really her name), prepared all our meals including dinner which was always pretty simple fare. However for holiday parties, my mother took the lead and prepared all the dishes, with a little help from me of course! Holiday meals were served in our dining room on our best china. So in my opinion, there is no better way to entertain than by cooking the meal yourself. Nowadays, things are a bit more relaxed so it is perfectly proper for you, the host, to provide the turkey while assigning provision of the sides and desserts to your guests. This allows you the luxury of giving your total attention to the main event...the turkey. 

Here's how to host your holiday dinner party and enjoy yourself at the same time PLUS of course my no fail Perfect Roast Turkey Recipe that is easy to make, even for first time cooks. First let's greet the guests with a few appetizers:

 

Woodridge savory snacks inspired by Asian cuisine! Try their vacuum Fried Brussels Sprouts, Mochi Rice Nuggets and Mediterranean Veggie Snack Mix. info@woodridgesnacks.com. Also Setton Farms salted, roasted pistachios

 

Whole grain crackers and natural fruit & cheese are always welcome

Keep the appetizers wholesome and simple. I like the cheese and whole grain cracker buffet. You can serve various cheeses on a chalk board with the names written in for each selection. Learn how to do this at GaveThat.com's Putting Together A Perfect Cheese Plate

Putting Together A Perfect Cheese Plate. PHOTO courtesy of GaveThat.com

Have Refreshments on Self-Serve at the Bar
I've found it easier to simply set out soft drinks, wines and liquor on the bar or buffet with an ice bucket and garnishes like Marichiano cherries, lemon wedges and olives. You can also try some of the more festive drinks of the season, namely fig flavored Vodkas. Very tasty! Guests can most certainly bring their own and pour it too.

One of the top liquors of the season, fig flavored Vodka.

Your Perfect Roast Turkey the EASY Way
Here are my tried and true tips to make the best roast turkey imaginable this year:

My Mauviel Copper Roaster

You will need a quality roasting pan with a rack, butter and poultry seasoning. So here we go!

Take a screen shot of this recipe card for future reference.

 

1.) Skip the brine.  Most large turkeys are infused with a broth solution to make it extra juicy.

2.) Lightly salt your turkey inside and out with Kosher salt. If stuffing the bird, add it loosely and secure skin with skewers. Rub your turkey with a flavored butter, (chive is good), and put some between the skin and the breast meat.  Roast breast side down at 425 degrees for the first hour.  Turn and continue cooking at 325 degrees breast side up.  Leave the turkey uncovered and baste every hour with butter to finish cooking. 

Place turkey breast side down for 1 hour at 425 degrees

3.) Use Bell's Seasoning or ground sage in your stuffing mix which can also be made outside of the bird.  

I used a bamboo skewer to keep the stuffing in the neck

4.) Try whole berry cranberry sauce instead of the jellied type.  Whole berries add extra texture & crunch.

Deglazing the roaster to make gravy.

5.) Make turkey gravy right in the roaster pan by adding a little white wine, water and flour. Strain afterward to remove lumps.  The Mauviel Copper Roaster is perfect for this purpose as it caramelizes the pan drippings and releases them for a delicious gravy.

Viola! I guarantee this will be the juiciest turkey ever.

Coffee & Dessert Time
I like to put the coffee, tea and dessert pies and cakes on a coffee cart and serve my guests where they are. Sometimes it may be in the living room or the dining room. Where ever the majority of them are gathered that's where you serve dessert after dinner. 

Chef Carla Hall of The Chew's Gourmet  Baked Goods

Tea and tea cakes.

My homemade pumpkin pie. Get the easy recipe HERE

Fashionable Celebrations: Hosting Your First Holiday Party

Pick out an outfit, put on an apron and pour yourself a glass of wine!

Your House, USA If you are hosting a holiday dinner at your house this year, don't despair. Even if it is your first time, don't worry, these tips and a killer Easy Roast Turkey recipe will make the event a breeze!

Pick Out an Outfit
If it's a daytime event, wear a pretty dress or skirt with a blouse and ballet flats topped with a full apron while you are cooking. Your clothes will be fully covered but once dinner is served, take it off and make your entrance sans smock and in a pair of high heels. Wear a statement necklace or some pearls. BOOM!

Make your entrance without the apron but with some heels! Dress by designer Nora Gardner, NYC.

Simple Buffet Menu
The holiday super-stars are the turkey, stuffing, ham and candied yams. Don't go crazy trying to make too many dishes and don't be afraid to ask guests to bring one of their favorites if they'd like. Put everything out buffet style so they can help themselves. Do the same for desserts & wine. Need more inspiration? Google holiday entertaining menus online.

A simple salad and sandwich buffet can be put out for your guests while the main course is still cooking.

Make Dishes Ahead of Time
Another way to coast through your holiday party is to make your side dishes ahead of time and then refrigerate or freeze them. You can make your mashed potatoes, green beans, candied yams and pies days before. I use my Temp-Tations Oven to Table serving set because each piece has its own plastic lid. Bake, store and serve in the same dish! 

My apple pie with crisp, crumb topping. Temp-Tations in Old World Style Spice.

Easy Perfect Roast Turkey
Speaking of cooking, don't be afraid of roasting a turkey. Here are some very easy tips that will make you look like a gourmet chef the first time out:

Perfect Roast Turkey the EASY Way
Try these simple tricks to roast your best, juiciest holiday turkey ever!


1.) Skip the brine.  Most large turkeys are infused with a broth solution to make it extra juicy.

2.) Rub your turkey with a flavored butter, (chive is good), and roast breast side down at 425 degrees for the first hour.  Turn and continue cooking at 325 degrees breast side up.  Leave the turkey uncovered and baste every hour with butter to finish cooking.

3.) Use Bell's Seasoning in your stuffing which can also be made outside of the bird.  


4.) Try whole berry cranberry sauce instead of the jellied type.  Whole berries add extra texture & crunch.

5.) Make turkey gravy right in the roaster pan by adding a little white wine, water and flour. The Mauviel Copper Roaster is perfect for this purpose as it caramelizes the pan drippings and releases them for a delicious gravy.

Presentation is part of the allure of your Holiday Party. My Mauviel Copper Roasting Pan with wire rack.

Turkey Tetrazzini with Portabello Mushrooms & Sherry

Enjoy Yourself!
Be the star of your own party and with a little planning like this, you'll have time to mingle with your guests. I play the guitar and someone else plays the piano so we sing Christmas Carols and Auld Lang Syne for New Year's Eve!  Accept help for the clean up and offer "doggie bags" to your party go-ers to take home. Another sweet thing to do is to make up little goody bags of whatever you like and give them out at the end of the evening. GaveThat.com has some super tips on how to put them together HERE. Even if you don't get around to getting everyone there a Christmas present or sending a card, the dinner and the gift bags will be very much appreciated.

Don't forget to be the "star" of your own party! Make sure to welcome and entertain everyone.

Cookware c/o QVC and Mauviel, France respectively

Perfect Gourmet Pumpkin Pie: Easy Recipe

This is the ultimate Perfect Gourmet Pumpkin Pie. Easy to make and SO delicious with the addition of a secret, healthy ingredient.

You may have a few little sugar pumpkins left over from Halloween so now's the time to practice making that Perfect Gourmet Pumpkin Pie that's going to WOW everyone for Thanksgiving. In fact, I never grow or purchase ornamental pumpkins for decorating. I use decorations that I can EAT! Save time and money by getting a fat, squat sugar pumpkin or even a cheese pumpkin will do. Whatever you do, please don't use canned pumpkin!  Fresh pumpkin is superior in flavor and if you play your cards right, available in great supply around holiday time.

My little sugar pumpkin came right from this patch!

Perfect Gourmet Pumpkin Pie

2-3 cups of steamed fresh pumpkin meat
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3-4 whole cloves, crushed or 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Long Life Coconut Oil
2 eggs
1 14oz can of sweetened, condensed milk (I like Eagle Brand)
1 rolled pie shell

Steam 1 small sugar pumpkin and use an ice cream scoop to separate the meat from the outer shell when done. Next puree the pumpkin meat with the 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a power blender, (I use a VitaMix) or food processor until smooth. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Next pour your pumpkin puree, (2-3 cups for a 9" deep dish pie), into a mixing bowl with your salt, spices, eggs and sweetened condensed milk and mix. I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and whip it up!
Pour into your pie crust and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Then lower the oven temperature to 350 for 30-40 minutes more or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

When done, the filling should set up like firm custard. Let cool before slicing. Add a dollop of whipped cream & enjoy.

The gourmet secret is out. Add some coconut oil to your pumpkin pie filling! PHOTO: Long Life Coconut Oil with added Beta Carotene from Nature's Approved.

1 gallon container of Nature's Approved Longlife Coconut Oil will keep for 2-3 years.