I Can't Cook - Help Me w/Thanksgiving Plz! :)

I was going to suggest Alton's Brown recipe from Food Network but that uses a Brine. You coul 86 the brine and still cook it the same way though. Use aromatics inside the turkey for more flavor-1/2 onion, 1/2 apple, sage, cinnimon stick, thyme and rosemary.
We keep the mashed potatoes in the crock pot (or two). We like to add sour cream and and garlic in them. Dry ranch dressing is also yummy in mashed potatoes

Honestly, I would worry about the other dishes and buy a turkey .... a lot of grocery stores and restaurants sell them for a reasonable price - all you do is re-heat and they come with specific instructions. If you don't normally cook, why start with something that even seasoned cooks struggle with. Mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, salads, vegetables are much easier and much less stressful as a start. Thanksgiving should be a fun family day, not just a stressful cooking day!

**Oh, I found a link on how to cook the turkey in a brown paper bag. Just used the search term "how to cook turkey in a brown paper bag:!
http://www.greatpartyrecipes.com/how-to-cook-a-turkey.html
http://www.recipezaar.com/Cooking-a-Turkey-in-a-Bag-4807
http://www.ehow.com/how_6594_roast-turkey-paper.html

BUT...some say it's not "safe" to cook in a brown paper bag.
Here is the link:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Food-Safety-Issues-767/Cooking...

As I said, this is the way my Parents cooked turkey...YEARS ago when I was a kid...it turned out fine, albeit our lack of info. on cooking in brown paper bags at the time.

Well as for the Turkey... my Parents used to do this.
Putting butter slices under the skin of the turkey (lots and everywhere), then putting it in a greased paper "grocery" bag, put it in the oven and then bake according to the directions on the turkey wrapper. My Dad said this keeps it moist. Then during the last hour or so, cut open the bag and let it brown... and end the cooking with it uncovered.

Oh, and make sure you prep the turkey first, taking out the gizzards/neck stuff first, rinsing the cavity, stuffing it.... then once the whole bird is prepped, doing the butter under the skin thing. (this may seem common sense....but my sister once cooked a turkey and did NOT do this... and well, it was a corny and super funny "unsuccessful" Turkey cooking attempt!) LOL

Sorry, I don't have exquisite detailed instructions, my Parents just did it ad lib. But the turkey always came out nicely & moist and with crispy skin using this method.

Then, they used to make the turkey "gravy" using the turkey drippings from the pan... just sticking the roasting pan on the stove top, and under low heat, stirred constantly, adding flavoring like salt, flour little by little to thicken it, and stirring constantly until it is done and seasoned to your liking.

Thawing a turkey can take over night, it takes time. We'd do it in our kitchen sink, filled with water, over night. YOu best thaw it ahead of time, not the same day. It can then stay in the fridge at least 1-2 days. That's what my M. does.

For the mashed potatoes, just prep them... then warm it up in the oven... on low at about 200 degrees. Yes, and you can keep them on a warm burner. Garlic is great in mashed potatoes too... just mince them up, or mash a few cloves, and add it in as you are making the mashed potatoes. But add it in AFTER you have mashed the potatoes not during the mashing. For "stirring" the mashed potatoes... don't over stir or add too much liquid (either milk or cream) because then it will turn into a gloppy/gluey mess. Add liquids a little at a time, until you get the consistency you want. I usually "fluff" it up using a fork.

I have on a couple of occasions, done my Thanksgiving meal this way, as my Parents have done it. And it came out fine. My Dad always like the turkey prepared this way. For the stuffing, we just went according to the "instructions" on the package.. .and you can add pine nuts, dried cranberries, what ever seems good.

Hope this helps.. .don't worry, you are not the only Turkey cooker/Thanksgiving "chef" that is at a loss. Me too. Luckily, my cousin has been doing the feast the past few years. To my relief! LOL

I would enlist some help as you are cooking...ie: your Hubby perhaps... he can be your "sous chef" and prep/cut up all the ingredients or something. This would help and maybe be a fun "couple" project! LOL

Good luck,
Susan

BUY the turkey from Honeybaked or local butcher shop . Victor meats in Palms area for $50.00 and make the side dishes . macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, salads, rice a roni , veigis, breads, cheese platters, vegis platters, & fruits platter. But the stuff at TRader Joes. It's all organic & good quality

don't stress out too much . Holidays should be FUN !

I stopped cooking a whole turkey a few years ago. I now buy the Jenny O pre-seasoned turkey in a bag. It comes with a pop-up thermometer so you know when it is done. You can't mess it up. Or you could buy cut up turkey pieces and cook them like you would a chicken, just longer. As for mashed potatoes, you could just keep them on the stove, covered, after they're mashed and mixed with whatever you want to put in them and serve them when you're ready (just not all day or overnight.)
Good luck.

My tips for great turkey: Buy a fresh one, not frozen. They're more expensive but if you get the Butterball at the grocery store it's cheaper than Honey Baked. (Watch the store ads for sales...turkey always goes on sale before the holidays.) Rub the whole thing with olive oil, and put some quartered onion along the outside, and some rosemary sprigs if you like (don't forget salt and pepper). For the first couple hours of cooking, put a foil "tent" over the turkey to keep in moisture. Take it off near the end (I think the last hour and a half or so) to get that nice brown color. And my final secret, which I haven't told anyone in my family (good thing they're not on this site!) is to baste the turkey with chicken broth. This is what I did the very first time I made Thanksgiving dinner. My husband's uncle said it was the best turkey he'd ever had -- he even said that to my mother-in-law, who wasn't there, which really made her mad. :) The turkey was super moist. Oh, and if you can, make your stuffing and even your potatoes a day or two ahead of time so you can focus on the turkey on that day, and also getting the table set, etc. Good luck, and enjoy.

Order from Marie Calenders.

Go to the grocery store or wherever you buy magazines. there is a new one for sale called Everyday with Rachael Ray Holiday. There is a whole section of different recipes for turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and what to do with leftovers also. Best of luck.

If you aren't a cook I would suggest a pre-cooked turkey. I've bought them a few times for convienence and they came out pretty darn yummy and juicy..it's so easy and unless you put the stove on 500 and leave it in there for 5 hours..you really cant screw it up..lol. We've also taken to deep frying turkey also. It's so easy and quick... just besure to follow directions an do it outside away from walls, trees etc. As for Potatoes I make mine about 20-30 minutes before we eat. I boil red potatoes (5lbs) whole, drain, peel off some of the skin, then mash. I use a can of chicken broth, a 8oz. container of sour cream, Stick of margarine, and a minced clove of garlic, with salt and pepper to taste. If you like your potatoes a big wetter just add some milk. Then I cover it tightly with a wet towel nd foil and leave it on the stove. The warmth of the oven and burner will keep it warm for a good 20-30 minutes. So, good luck and if all else fails order a pre done turkey from a local restaurant or grocery store..just run out and pick it up in the morning nad re heat for dinner. Happy Thanksgiving!