Tag Archive for: turkey

Let’s Talk Turkey in Athens GA

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(Information and photo via Keller Williams)

It’s Thanksgiving again, and Americans everywhere will be sitting down for a hearty meal with friends and family featuring the star of the show – the Thanksgiving turkey.

Did you know these fun facts about the turkey?

1. Contrary to popular myth, Ben Franklin did not advocate for the turkey to become the national symbol of the United States. In a private letter to his daughter, he did write that the recently adopted drawing of the bald eagle in the Great Seal of the United States looked a lot like a turkey, and in jest told her that, “He is besides, though a little vain and silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.”

2. The wild turkey is one of the world’s fastest birds, capable of flying short distances at speeds up to 55 miles per hour and running up to 30 miles per hour. Most commercially raised turkeys cannot match the speed and ability of their wild counterparts. They are bred in such a way that their large breast muscles prevent them from flying at all.

3. The first meal eaten on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin was a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

We hope this holiday season finds you with many reasons to give thanks!

 

Greater Athens GA Turkey Cooking Tips

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Are you in charge of cooking the Thanksgiving Turkey this year?

Here are a few reminders for all the chefs out there. (Information and photo via Keller Williams)

Buying the Right Size Bird

It actually depends on how many people you are serving. Smaller turkeys will have less meat and more bone in comparison to their larger counterparts. If you’re cooking a bird that’s less than 12 lbs., you should plan for 2 lbs. per serving. Anything larger, you can plan on 1½ lbs., per person.

Pro Tip: The turkey may be the star of the Thanksgiving meal, but lots of side options can mean your guests may opt for less meat. Take this into account when selecting your bird.

The Great Stuffing vs. Dressing Debate

Different regions of the country are at odds with the correct terminology to use for this delicious dish that essential to every Thanksgiving meal. Outside of the Southern United States, it’s dressing if it’s cooked outside of the turkey, and stuffing if it’s cooked inside.

Regardless of your naming preference, you’ll want to keep one important thing in mind. If you’re cooking your stuffing/dressing inside the turkey, you need to make sure to bring the internal temperature (center of the stuffing) to at least 165°F.

Pro Tip: If you’re committed to cooking the traditional ‘stuffing’ inside the bird, plan on bringing it to full temperature outside of the bird after your meat has reached the right temperature. Waiting until the stuffing reaches the correct temperature can dry out your breast meat, and nobody wants that.

I wish you all the best with your turkey cooking this year. Happy Thanksgiving!