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Betty Crocker
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Holidays & Entertaining

Talk about traditional family favorites, seasonal foods, party themes and throwing that next fabulous party.

Betty Answers Your Thanksgiving Questions!

Trouble with the turkey?
Stumped by the stuffing?
Whatever your questions are, we’re here to help!
 
Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner we asked the Betty Crocker Kitchen Experts to help out with your holiday needs.

Andi, Karen and Kristen will be in the community Nov. 9th through the 23rd.*
*Please note they will more likely be on Mon-Friday via business hours so please be patient for their response.
 
P.S. If you are looking for Thanksgiving inspiration, please check out Beth’s blog as she prepares for Turkey Day: http://www.bettycrocker.com/Community/Blogs/ViewBlog.aspx?app=b&u=393244

11/6/2009 9:48 AM
124 Replies to Betty Answers Your Thanksgiving Questions!

Could you please give me instructions on how to brine a turkey?

11/11/2009 6:31 PM

leeslady1:

Could you please give me instructions on how to brine a turkey?


1 gallon of water

2 cups  apple cider                                                               2 cups Kosher Salt                                                                 

 2 Cups Sugar  white or  Brown  to taste

1 15 Lb  Turkey

This is the Brine

Pour  Brine in to a  Turkey Bag With  Turkey and Put in Fridgeator

when sealing the bag make sure ya get  all the air out as Possible  and brine for 24  hours

Dump out the brine   and  coat   the turkey with  your  Favorite   Rub

Cook as normal

11/11/2009 8:08 PM

I brine my turkey every year. One more tip, rinse the turkey off so it won't be too salty before you coat with butter or a rub.


Also, pan drippings from the brined turkey are too salty to make gravy. I've tried. So you will have to either make gravy from the unbrined giblets or buy canned gravy or a dry gravy mix. 

Those who forget the pasta are condemned to reheat it.
11/13/2009 5:33 PM

Hllbnt:

leeslady1:

Could you please give me instructions on how to brine a turkey?


1 gallon of water

2 cups  apple cider                                                               2 cups Kosher Salt                                                                 

 2 Cups Sugar  white or  Brown  to taste

1 15 Lb  Turkey

This is the Brine

Pour  Brine in to a  Turkey Bag With  Turkey and Put in Fridgeator

when sealing the bag make sure ya get  all the air out as Possible  and brine for 24  hours

Dump out the brine   and  coat   the turkey with  your  Favorite   Rub

Cook as normal

 

the cider sounds like a good idea.

It is better to eat alone than not at all.
11/21/2009 5:08 PM

leeslady1:

Could you please give me instructions on how to brine a turkey?

 

Hi Leeslady!

We have a great recipe for brined turkey here. The sugar in this recipe will make it just a bit sweeter too if you prefer that.

You can also add more flavor if you replace half of the water with apple juice or apple cider.

Brining is my favorite way to prepare turkey! It's actually very easy but I was really intimidated when I first tried it too.

I think the biggest challenge with brining is that the turkey needs to be refrigerated in the brine for 12 to 24 hours. But, if you think ahead you can scoot things around in your fridge to make it fit. It is so worth it!

Good luck!

 

11/12/2009 1:26 PM

leeslady1:

Could you please give me instructions on how to brine a turkey?

 

1 1/2 cups Kosher salt.  1 cup white wine.  1 onion 1 carrot.  1 gallon of water  2 stalks of celery 1 bay leaf .  Soak overnight around 24 hours.  It will slice like butter and taste like nothing you have ever had. 

11/22/2010 10:04 PM

I'm looking for a turkey recipe that uses a turkey bag and cooked slowly in the oven.  It takes about 6 hours and I don't know the tempature.  The turkey literally falls off the bone and can't even be sliced.  My son has taken over the turkey cooking for about 7 years now.  I want to do it the way my family has use to have it, but he has lost the recipes.  Please help!!!  I don't know how to do this blog stuff yet.  So if I'm not doing this right, please forgive me.

11/11/2009 10:50 PM

Sharles:

I'm looking for a turkey recipe that uses a turkey bag and cooked slowly in the oven.  It takes about 6 hours and I don't know the tempature.  The turkey literally falls off the bone and can't even be sliced.  My son has taken over the turkey cooking for about 7 years now.  I want to do it the way my family has use to have it, but he has lost the recipes.  Please help!!!  I don't know how to do this blog stuff yet.  So if I'm not doing this right, please forgive me.

 

Hi Sharles,

My family also has several of those traditional recipes that we enjoy year after year!

There are a few recipes for turkey that is roasted in an oven bag. The basic recipe can be found at...

http://www.reynoldsovenbags.com/RDetails.aspx?id=689&cat=4

Hope that helps

 

 

11/12/2009 2:18 PM

I have a great bird-in-the-bag oven recipe! The recipe was from my sister-in-law, but I am sure she would not mind me sharing it. I must tell you though, it takes a little work and trouble, and you must try real hard not to burn yourself. Oh, by the way, this is NOT a low-cal recipe, but it is scrumptous!


                                                                                                                                                                       Temp: 350F


Ingredients:  


1 - thawed, cleaned Turkey                                                My Modifications:


     Butter - bathe in (melted)                                              * Before placing bird in bag, use 1 T. flour, shake in bag. Place


     Thyme (optional)                                                                cut up - 1/2 onion, 1 celery stalk into bag.


     Lawry's Seasoning salt                                                *After seasoning bird, close bag tight!


     Garlic powder


     1/4c. Taragon Wine


     3/4c. Apple Cider or Juice (around in pan)


     2 c. Water


     Garlic powder & Seasoning salt into water (not too much [salty], or too sour)


Method:


1.  Put water, juice & garlic powder, seasoning salt into pan. Next, make punctures with a knife or fork into the turkey, especially the breast. (This helps the meat get more of the basted juice).


2.  Bathe the turkey in melted butter. You can use a pastry brush to paint on, or your hands.


3.  Sprinkle garlic powder and seasoning salt on bird.


4a. Breast up.


4b. Turn turkey upside down, breast down.


5.  Coat the turkey again with a little bit of butter to help brown the bird.


6. Time: After cooking for 30-45 minutes, check to see if the bag is ok, then puncture the bag at the top & sides, with a knife. With a long baster, siphon juice up from pan and pour juice onto turkey to coat the bird.


7. Do this process again in 2 hours. (Then turn turkey upside down, Breast down). Be careful with this step!


8. Puncture small holes at bottom and sides of bag to release juice.


9. Use the water & juice in pan to keep basting the bird in all of the slitted holes in the bag.


10. Baste every 2 hours up to 6 hours, (if need be for a larger turkey)  after last punctures. If bag is slightly burnt, it is OK.


NOTE: While the turkey is cooking it's OK if the bird is left breast down, as this helps to make the breast meat very juicy. You can flip the bird again, breast side up if you prefer. When the turkey is done, let the bird stay in the bag for 15 minutes. If the bag sticks to turkey, gently loosen the bag from turkey before opening bag.


Be careful, very hot! Enjoy!!!


 

Luvs it! (as Paris Hilton says)
11/4/2010 8:09 PM

Check out www.babunyas.com  Step by step video recipe to make a turkey and stuffing

11/21/2009 9:45 AM

I need a good recipe for baked mac-n-cheese. Please helpSurprise

11/12/2009 2:18 PM

trojanmomof2:

I need a good recipe for baked mac-n-cheese. Please helpSurprise

We have a few great ones:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/family-favorite-macaroni-and-cheese/4533ea52-0194-4fce-b30f-9516a74c0628

http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/baked-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe/1/

http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/homemade-baked-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe/1/

Also, I just found this post the other day!

http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2009/07/everyday-macaroni-and-cheese.html

Hope this helps and inspires!

Sincerely, Cate

11/12/2009 3:05 PM

[quote user="trojanmomof2"]


I need a good recipe for baked mac-n-cheese. Please helpSurprise


you can look in the cookbook for mac and cheese and make it from scratch. it is good too. uticanyus

diana sotomayor
7/5/2010 1:51 PM

Would I need two boxes of Betty Crocker gluten free yellow cake mix to make the Praline Pumpkin dessert? It seems to me that 1 box of the gluten free mix makes an 8/8 pan. Is that correct?

11/12/2009 10:00 PM

linwik:

Would I need two boxes of Betty Crocker gluten free yellow cake mix to make the Praline Pumpkin dessert? It seems to me that 1 box of the gluten free mix makes an 8/8 pan. Is that correct?

 

You're right on target knowing you'll need two gluten free mixes if you're comparing with using a regular cake mix. Let us know what you think.

Karen
11/13/2009 8:34 AM

linwik:

Would I need two boxes of Betty Crocker gluten free yellow cake mix to make the Praline Pumpkin dessert? It seems to me that 1 box of the gluten free mix makes an 8/8 pan. Is that correct?

Hi Linwik,

 

I just got on this blog as i was going to try the Praline Pumkin Dessert with the gluten free yellow cake mix and needed to know if i had to adapt anything from the regular cake mis.  I'm glad i read your question, now i know to buy two boxes.  If you make this prior to Thanksgiving, let me know how it turns out - i love pumpkin and wanted to make something that i hoped everyone would like, also.

Failure in the kitchen is perfectly acceptable. That's the beauty of cooking, we get to try again.
11/16/2009 2:32 PM

mstoiber:

linwik:

Would I need two boxes of Betty Crocker gluten free yellow cake mix to make the Praline Pumpkin dessert? It seems to me that 1 box of the gluten free mix makes an 8/8 pan. Is that correct?

Hi Linwik,

I just got on this blog as i was going to try the Praline Pumkin Dessert with the gluten free yellow cake mix and needed to know if i had to adapt anything from the regular cake mis.  I'm glad i read your question, now i know to buy two boxes.  If you make this prior to Thanksgiving, let me know how it turns out - i love pumpkin and wanted to make something that i hoped everyone would like, also.

 

Hi Mstoiber,

We haven't tested the Praline Pumpkin Dessert with gluten free cake mix in the kitchens. But, we are very interested in how it works out for you. Be sure to let us know if you give it a try!

-Kristen  

11/17/2009 7:37 AM

Several Questions:


1.) How do I go about cooking a 29lbs Turkey? Yes that's right I said a 29 lbs turkey. Long story short my spouse's company gives them out and I am going to attempt to cook it. YIKES!!  It's is in the process of thawing.


2.)How do I keep from drying out the breasts? Do I need to flip this monster turkey?


2.) Can or should I stuff the turkey? I love cornbread stuffing, but I'm afraid it won't be cooked all the way if I stuff it inside the Turkey.


First off it's the first time I've cooked a Thanksgiving meal for my spouse and our friends. I have never cooked more that a small 8 lbs turkey before. I am at a loss with this monster. I have a roasting rack that is big enough to hold it surprisingly. Any tips or suggestions would be most appreciated.

11/13/2009 4:57 PM

Lmccaul1:

Several Questions:

1.) How do I go about cooking a 29lbs Turkey? Yes that's right I said a 29 lbs turkey. Long story short my spouse's company gives them out and I am going to attempt to cook it. YIKES!!  It's is in the process of thawing.

2.)How do I keep from drying out the breasts? Do I need to flip this monster turkey?

2.) Can or should I stuff the turkey? I love cornbread stuffing, but I'm afraid it won't be cooked all the way if I stuff it inside the Turkey.

First off it's the first time I've cooked a Thanksgiving meal for my spouse and our friends. I have never cooked more that a small 8 lbs turkey before. I am at a loss with this monster. I have a roasting rack that is big enough to hold it surprisingly. Any tips or suggestions would be most appreciated.

Hi Lmccaul1,

Let me start by saying... WOW. That is an enormous turkey and a very brave undertaking for your first Thanksgiving. I would do a few things...

Because your turkey is enormous it will take about 5 1/2 to 6 hours to cook. Baking that long it has a pretty high risk of drying out and not being a very tasty turkey but there are a few things you can do to prevent that. I would start by brining it. You can put it in a garbage bag (clean of course) in a large pot or bucket then pour the brine over it until you have it fully covered. You may need to double or even triple the brine recipe. (Remember you can add all sorts of things to your brine to add flavor. Whole black pepper, and sprigs of herbs are always fun. You can also replace half the water with apple cider, and use brown sugar instead of white.)

Normally I would suggest you start with the turkey breast down so that the juices end up in the white meat but i think you would have an extremely difficult time turning that beast. So, I would bake it breast up for about 3 hours at 325F then loosely cover it with foil for the remaining bake time. You can use this recipe as a guide but change the bake time to fit your big bird.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/brined-whole-turkey/db56ea6f-f484-439c-9e6d-90bd11d30042

Because the turkey is so big and will have to bake for such a long time, it would be a little risky to stuff the turkey. The internal temperature would take so long to get to a safe level that you would be at a food safety risk. Here is a great cornbread stuffing recipe that you could try...

http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=45886

Hope that helps! I'd love to see a photo of your larger than life turkey!

Kristen

 

11/16/2009 4:06 PM

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