Thanksgiving 911

When Thanksgiving dinner is on the line, head to our collection of the 23 most frequently asked holiday questions for help. Whether the gravy is lumpy, the planning is daunting, or you forgot to buy the right flour, we've got the solution for all your holiday dinner nightmare moments. Relax and enjoy-we've got you covered.

Q. Help! My turkey has not thawed yet. What can I do?

If you need to cook your turkey in the next 24 hours and it's not thawed yet, your best bet is probably to thaw it in the microwave oven. Check your owner's manual for the size turkey that will fit in your microwave oven, the minutes per pound, and power level to use for thawing. Remove all outside wrapping from the turkey and place on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak. Cook your turkey immediately after thawing it in the microwave. Do not refreeze or refrigerate it before you cook it.



Orange Bourbon Turkey

1 (12-pound) fresh or frozen whole turkey, thawed
2 cups fresh orange juice (about 6 oranges)
1 cup water
3/4 cup bourbon, divided
1/3 cup molasses
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
4 oranges, peeled
Cooking spray
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Orange slices (optional)
Flat-leaf parsley sprigs (optional)

Preparation:
Remove giblets and neck from turkey; discard. Rinse turkey thoroughly with cold water; pat dry. Combine orange juice, water, 1/2 cup bourbon, and molasses in a 2-gallon heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; add turkey. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 4 to 24 hours, turning bag occasionally. Remove turkey from bag, reserving marinade.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Tie ends of legs with cord. Lift wing tips up and over back, and tuck under bird. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt into body cavity. Stuff cavity with oranges. Place turkey on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray or on a rack set in a shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer into meaty part of thigh, making sure not to touch bone. Bake at 350° for 3 hours or until thermometer registers 180°. (Cover turkey loosely with foil if it gets too brown.) Remove turkey from oven. Cover turkey loosely with foil; let stand at least 10 minutes before carving. Discard oranges.

Pour reserved marinade into a saucepan; bring to a boil. Skim foam from mixture with a slotted spoon; discard. Reduce heat to medium; cook until reduced to 3 1/2 cups (about 15 minutes). Combine 1/4 cup bourbon and flour in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add to reduced marinade; bring to a boil, and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt. Serve sauce with turkey. Garnish with orange slices and parsley sprigs, if desired.

Q. What can I do if my dressing is too dry/too gummy?

The question of whether dressing should be dry or gummy is strictly a matter of personal preference, so the best recommendation is to follow the recipe exactly, especially in terms of the amount of liquid that's added. However, if you follow the recipe and think it's too dry, you can always add a little more warm chicken broth and bake just a little bit longer to incorporate the broth. If the dressing is too gummy, you can bake it longer, uncovered, to dry it out a bit.

Get Recipe: Sage Cornbread Dressing

Q. We planned for 2 but have 8 coming. Any ideas for last-minute dishes?

Don't worry about preparing every dish from scratch-select a couple of recipes you'd like to make, then fill in the menu with some store-bought items such as cakes, pies, bread and frozen vegetable casseroles. If you don't have time to thaw a whole turkey, consider serving turkey breast or turkey tenderloins.

Get Recipe: Gingered Green Beans

Q. What temperature does the turkey need to hit to be safe?

The minimum safe internal temperature for turkey, according to the USDA, is 165 degrees. When cooking turkeys at high heat, like the Blast Furnace-Roasted Turkey, the thermometers that come with the bird may pop early, so make sure to keep a regular thermometer on hand. To check, insert a thermometer in the thickets part of the breast. Wash the thermometer between tests to ensure you don't cross-contaminate the bird.

Get Recipe: Spice-Brined Turkey with Cider Pan Gravy


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