wish me luck!

I volunteered to roast a turkey for a banquet (one of three, plus a ham, big banquet.) Friday. It's been about fifty years since I cooked a whole turkey. I'm borrowing an electric roaster because my tiny oven won't accommodate a 20# bird.

I didn't get a butterball, just a plain turkey because I want to dry-brine it. After dry-brining several chickens I've become a fan of that method. I intend to brine with only salt, pepper, and maybe sage.

It's one thing to cook for myself, I can live with a screw up, but for a banquet.....

Terry

Basic dry brining works well for me. Mine is typically salt only. Never dry brined a turkey but then again when I'm the one doing the turkey, it's usually deep fry time in the turkey deep fryer and peanut oil. But, but, but then again, again, haven't done one in a few years. But if I do, it'll be as described.

The bad news is... The skin doesn't get crispy in an electric roaster. The good news is... Dry brining produced the moistest turkey I've ever had. Even better good news.. nobody got sick, yet.

The bad news is... The skin doesn't get crispy in an electric roaster. The good news is... Dry brining produced the moistest turkey I've ever had. Even better good news.. nobody got sick, yet.

You can always "sear" it with a torch.

Good idea, speedy.  I looked at the store today and they have tiny little turkeys around 10#. I liked the results so well I might see if I can fit one of those small birds in my oven next week. I don't know if it'll fit but I'm anxious to try it again. I suppose I've mentioned it before, but I live in a travel trailer so my stove is small.

One thing that broke my  heart was the two guys doing the carving dumped the carcasses in the trash. I'm an old school waste not, want not guy with parents that went through the depression.  The drippings and giblets were used for gravy. Oh boy, Chris makes an excellent gravy! Imagine 3 or 4 gallons of gravy at a banquet!

i was overwhelmed by the sound level, something like 100+ people talking, it all melded into an audio-blur. I'm not good with crowds but I survived.

I sat at the same table with a rancher friend and his daughter whom i dearly love (both of them). Individually they bring so much sweetenss and light into a room, together its almost too much!  i told Dale about my sharpening venture and showed him my opinel pocket knife. He was impressed even though he does a fine job sharpening himself. We discussed sharlpening angles for various tasks an it looks like I'll be sharpening his 3 machetes next week.

Well, I've probably bloviated enough for a couple lifetimes so I better stop here. Thanks for reading all my flapdoodle.

I rarely cook anything in my gas oven anymore because gas here (LP) is insanely expensive. But I do have a large electric toaster oven. It'll do 2 full size pizzas. Anyhow, I do cornish game hens in my air fryer (large size AF).