Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Another Way to Cook the Thanksgiving Turkey




Just so the title isn't too misleading, I'll clarify that I'm speaking of a turkey breast.

I never thought the Thanksgiving turkey could be made without an oven in which to roast it.  But I was wrong.

Almost two weeks ago, our kitchen stove died and a replacement ordered. The sad news is it won’t be delivered until next week, which left me with a dilemma. How on Earth could be turkey be roasted or the pies baked?

I don’t do well cooking in someone else’s kitchen, so making dishes at my mother’s house was out of the question. It was decided that this year we would go out to eat. Not my idea of the way Thanksgiving should be – lining up on a buffet line where others in front of you messed up the food and/or possibly sneezed over it. But it seemed we had no other alternative, dispite the challenge of getting mother and her wheelchair there.

And then a light bulb went off in my head. I wondered if a turkey breast could be made in a crockpot. A quick Internet search yielded wonderful news: not only were there many recipes, but notes indicated the meat comes out moist and delicious.



So I was off! I've had a turkey breast thawing in the refrigerator since Monday, planning to roast it after the new oven arrived as an after-Thanksgiving treat. So it's a matter of getting the meat into the pot and cooking it for eight hours. Later tonight, when it's done, I'll refrigerate it and reheat tomorrow.

There were the usual preparations:

-- Spray the pot with oil and line it with three stalks celery, one chopped onion and 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic.

--Wash and dry the meat; rub with a package of Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix, thyme, sage and oregano.

--Drizzle with one tablespoon butter.

--Add ½ cup chicken broth.

--Cover and cook one hour on high and seven hours on low.

(The meat can be placed under the broiler (at my mother's house, of course) before serving to get that brown crispy skin.)


Oh my goodness! That distorted blob on the top is my reflection!


As for the pie, I measured the glass Pyrex pie plate in the toaster oven and it just fits, so I’ll be able to bake a pecan pie later today. (This toaster oven has been a lifesaver these past days for heating things during the absence of a large oven.)

Now with the cornbread dressing my sister is making (and who knows what other delectable dishes she'll come up with!), the cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy and a green salad we'll have our traditional meal.

We won't have the turkey legs extending into the air (as in a Norman Rockwell painting) but at least we'll be in a warm and cozy home environment instead of a crowded restaurant with all that pushing and shoving and noise.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the U.S. who are celebrating this holiday tomorrow!

12 comments:

  1. Hello Sanda

    Fabulous and I so agree with you that it is infinitely more enjoyable to be in the comfort of home, not a restaurant on Thanksgiving.
    I will be curious to know how it taste but from the recipe it will be delicious. I agree also that toaster overs are worth their weight in pie!!

    Happy Thanksgiving

    Helen xx

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    1. I will give a full report on the turkey results. The house is smelling so good right now with the turkey slowly cooking in the crock pot. And the pecan pie is in the toaster oven!

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  2. Don't you love that Norman Rockwell image? So American. How interesting to think of cooking a turkey breast in a crock-pot. I bought a small one for my husband to cook after Thanksgiving, much like your plan. (Although we still have a working stove, we are just having turkey with friend tomorrow, so no guarantee of leftovers.) I'm going to suggest he try this.

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    1. I enjoy the turkey leftovers almost more than at the main event. And that was my plan when I bought the breast, to have turkey sandwiches for a couple of days. I doubt there'll be any leftovers, but at least we get to eat at home! Have a great Thanksgiving Day!

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  3. What a brilliant save, Sanda. Although we don't have Thanksgiving here, my image (mainly learned from films) is always family around the table at home, with turkey as the star turn. So glad you don't have to eat out. Wishing you a very special Thanksgiving Day! x

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    1. Thank you, Patricia. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I, too, am very glad we can celebrate it at home (or at my mother's home, which will always to home to me)!

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  4. Great that you found a way to celebrate your Thanksgiving Dinner at home.
    Happy Thanksgiving : )!!

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    1. Thank you. It was a very calm and peaceful day.

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  5. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.Ida

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    1. Thank you. We had a great meal and it was a stress-free day!

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  6. The turkey turned out great as did the pecan pie. Everything was great and after we put all our dishes together, it was just right. I even got a "pass" from Mother on the dressing! Glad we did it at Mother's rather than going out and getting in the crowd hanging over the not-so-good anyway buffet!

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    1. Yum, your cornbread dressing was delicious. I thought everything turned out quite fabulous, and yes, mother did approve of your dressing!

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