I am planning a fraternity Thanksgiving dinner for my brothers...how do I cook a turkey?
814299
Cook your Turkey in an Oven Bag! It's Very Easy! It takes less time, comes out moist and juicy; and delicious! I won't cook Turkey any other way. Try it, you won't be disappointed!\n\nHerb Roasted Holiday Turkey \n1 Reynolds Oven Bag, Turkey Size \n1 tablespoon flour\n2 stalks celery, sliced\n1 medium onion, sliced\n12 to 24 pound turkey, thawed\nVegetable oil\n1 tablespoon dried sage\n1 teaspoon dried thyme\n1 teaspoon dried rosemary\n1 teaspoon seasoned salt\n\nPREHEAT oven to 350°F.\n\nSHAKE flour in Reynolds Oven Bag; place in large roasting pan at least 2 inches deep. Spray inside of bag with nonstick spray to reduce sticking, if desired.\n\nADD vegetables to oven bag. Remove neck and giblets from turkey. Rinse turkey; pat dry. Brush turkey with oil. Combine sage, thyme, rosemary and seasoned salt. Sprinkle and rub herb mixture over turkey, turning to coat evenly. \n\nPLACE turkey in oven bag on top of vegetables.\n\nCLOSE oven bag with nylon tie; cut six 1/2-inch slits in top. Insert meat thermometer through slit in bag into thickest part of inner thigh. Tuck ends of bag in pan.\n\nBAKE 2 to 2 1/2 hours for a 12 to 16 lb. turkey, 2 1/2 to 3 hours for a 16 to 20 lb. turkey, and 3 to 3 1/2 hours for a 20 to 24 lb. turkey, or until meat thermometer reads 180°F. For easy slicing, let stand in oven bag 15 minutes before opening.\n\nREYNOLDS KITCHENS TIPS:\n\n- For stuffed turkey: Lightly stuff turkey with your favorite stuffing recipe before brushing with oil. Add 1/2 hour to bake time.\n- If turkey sticks to oven bag, gently loosen bag from turkey before opening bag.\n- Estimate 1 pound per person for generous servings with leftovers.\nNutrition per 3 oz. serving of cooked turkey.\n\nNumber of Servings: 15-30\n\nNutrition Information:\n(Per Serving) calories 138 \ngrams fat 3 \n% calories from fat 21 \nmilligrams cholesterol 83 \nmilligrams sodium 76 \ngrams carbohydrates 1 \ngrams fiber 0 \ngrams protein 25 \nhttp://www.alcoa.com/reynoldskitchens/en/recipes/product_recipe_search.asp?Step=ShowRecipe&RecipeID=906&parent_info_page_id=744&info_page_id=745&prod_id=1790&cat_id=1337\n\nHere's another recipe which includes gravy:\n\nHerb Roasted Turkey & Gravy \nhttp://www.alcoa.com/reynoldskitchens/en/recipes/product_recipe_search.asp?Step=ShowRecipe&RecipeID=1072&parent_info_page_id=744&info_page_id=745&prod_id=1790&cat_id=1337
754297
Here's what I'm serving:  homemade "turkey" roast made from Tofu.  Several recipes are available on the web (or you can buy tofurkery or unturkey (made from gluten), both of which are good).  Glazed brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, stuffing, mushroom gravey and maybe another dish if I have the energy.\n\nI disagree with the answer that you should cook turkey for your non-vegetarian friends.  Just tell them before hand that it's a vegetarian thanksgiving, and if they can't live without turkey, let them get it elsewhere.\n\nEnjoy!
646021
try a cookbook!!!!\notherwise try googling it!!!
799949
You've got it.  Traditional is turkey, stuffing, mashed taters, gravy, Green bean casserole, corn, sweet potatoes, rolls or bread and maybe a few different types of salad, maybe some cranberry and ham depending on how many you'll be having.  We have almost 20 so we do turkey and ham.\nI also make an apple carmel pie and we have pumpkin pie too of course.\nIt's a big day of eating.  We gather a couple of hours before dinner, some are cooking the gravy and taters but while we do this we have chips and dip, deviled eggs, veggie and fruit trays and we just start grazing.\nGood Luck and don't stress.  How about calling some of the people who are coming and asking them to do the casserole and yams and maybe have someone bring the ham.  It will be hard for you to do it all in one oven.
843665
buy a turkey frier and do it yourself....its not that hard.
643927
home cooking, nothing is like home cooking from mom.  invite him over, tell him to bring his girlfriend over, make him something to eat and just spend time.\nHOME COOKING
855745
This is what I do every year. I start by brushing butter all over the turkey and placing the turkey on a roasting rack in a roasting pan upside down(breastside down). Roast for 3/4 of the total cooking time and then carefully turn over with the help of others. Continue roasting until finished and please, please let your turkey rest for at least 20 mins. before carving so that the juices redistribute throuout the meat. If you cut into it right away, all the juices come out and you will have a tasteless dry turkey. Roasting it upside down lets all the juices from the dark meat fall into the white meat. It works every time and you will not roast your turkey any other way. Good Luck!!!   BTW.....you can do this with two smaller turkeys also.
789825
We have both turkey and ham because my mom hates turkey. ALSO we have :\n\nHome made Crescent rolls, Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Creamed Corn, Scalloped Potatoes, Cranberry Dressing, Fruit Salad, Devilled Eggs, Vegetable, Fruit & Relish Trays, etc. I KNOW I'm forgetting something. Sorry. \n\nFor dessert, we have Pumpkin pie, Sweet Potato Pie, French Silk Pie, Triple Berry Pie, and Apple Pie. These are all home baked not store kind. \n\nFor snacking, there are pumpkin bars & Chex Party Mix. \n\nI LOVE baked macaroni & cheese but can't fit it in the oven with all the other stuff in there or I would make that, too!\n\n Happy thanksgiving!!
769756
Invite someone over who is less fortunate for dinner, or someone who will be alone for the holiday! \nLeg of Lamb\nHam\nCandied Yams\nCorn bread dressing\nPecan Pie\nRed Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Icing\nCheese Cake\nBaked Macaroni and Cheese\nCollard greens\nTake your pick, God bless****
882285
I think it's great that your son is home and you'll all be together for Thanksgiving! Talk about something to be thankful for! I am planning to have Thanksgiving at home with my family. My boyfreind is going to cook because he's the best at it. I think he's planning to make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including mashed potatoes from scratch. My mom made a pumpkin and pecan pie for dessert. I guess my contribution will be cleaning up.
903728
I just went through this with my daughter  \nget a Reynolds turkey oven bag to cook your turkey saves allot of trouble\nthaw turkey, take out giblet, rinse it out pick out the yuck left in side & stuff\ngreen bean cassarole-recipe is on the french onion can & campbell mushroom soup can\ndeviled eggs - easy side dish\nfruit salad _ open fruitcocktail drain add some pecans & cool whip (easy)\nmashed potato's-cook-drain, mash, add milk & butter \ncheat & buy brown & serve rolls, or cresant rolls unless you want to make your own
778047
1st thing:  Breathe!  You'll get through this & have some great memories in a few years.\n\nNext, don't be embarressed for your in-laws.  It's not YOUR fault they are the way they are.  Your parents/family KNOW this. \n\nRegarding the kids, plan on doing a children's table.  2 reasons:  keep them seperate from the adults so you can have "grown up conversations" and you can use that same table for activities such as puzzles, games, crafts, etc. \n\nFor the menu:  Tell them that you had planned on traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  If they would like to make & bring barbeque, that would be great!  Then both families can share what they consider traditional.\n\nHave fun!  Remember this won't be the only time the families get together.  Make the best of it!
945768
If you want something along similar lines to traditional Thanksgiving food, you could always add in a ham, roast, or maybe some salmon.  I plan on smoking a ham this year and using a maple/pineapple juice glaze.  For the salmon, you could wrap it in foil with onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and a little butter then stick it in the oven for half an hour.
453374
Invite close friends over and have a small party. Have them over for dinner and make it like it is Thanksgiving, have everyone bring things over and then buy something for the party like at thanksgiving
948114
Turkey Size (lbs.) ,  Refrigerator (Days), Cold Water (Hours)\n \n8-12 ,                                1-2  ,                           4-6\n \n12-16 ,                              2-3  ,                           6-8\n \n16-20   ,                            3-4     ,                        8-10\n \n20-24  ,                             4-5 ,                           10-12\nWhat is the best way to thaw a turkey? There are three ways to safely thaw a turkey, but refrigerator thawing is recommended. Defrost the turkey in its original wrapper on a tray in the refrigerator 24 hours for every 5 pounds. Never thaw a turkey at room temperature. \n\nYou may also place the wrapped turkey in the sink and cover it completely with cold water for about 30 minutes per pound. Change the water every 30 minutes to make sure it stays cold. If the wrapping is torn, place the turkey in another plastic bag, close securely, and then place in water. \n\nmccormicks is a good seasoning...if you cant find poultry seasoning.....just use the following spices....THYME, SAGE, MARJORAM, ROSEMARY, BLACK PEPPER, AND NUTMEG.
827882
This is neither a joke nor a riddle, but hey...\n\nMAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,\nMAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.\nMAY YOUR POTATOES AND GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.\nMAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,\nMAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,\nMAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.
1018217
Try getting a sampler plate of traditional greek and turkish food (both are fairly similar with key differences)  Ask the resteraunt if you can order a little of everything.  They should be able to cut you a deal.  Particularly cool if you want to do it in traditional greek style and rather then have it plated for you you have it all laid in serving dishes on the table and pass it around thanksgiving style.  This encourages communication and socialization in a time that, in American tradition, is normally kinda quiet.