Learning the Turkey Basics – Make a Party of It!

By Roxanna Sarmiento

Going home for Thanksgiving is a holiday tradition. But what if you can’t travel this year? The economy is on everyone’s mind and flying for the holidays is becoming increasingly difficult for many families. As a result, there will be many nervous first time cooks in the kitchen this Thanksgiving.

Why not host a practice run with other first-time cooks instead of stressing out about Thanksgiving dinner? Find a few friends who want to learn and make a party of it!

Don’t look at this as a “fake” Thanksgiving dinner – it’s really an opportunity to learn new traditions and to spend a fun evening with friends. After all, Thanksgiving is all about bringing people together!

Unlike a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, guests will dine on sides and appetizers before enjoying the turkey. It’s a fun twist on tradition and gives you the opportunity to try new recipes. Who knows, you might find a new family favorite!

Party planning tips:

• The host provides drinks, light appetizers and of course, the turkey. Ask your guests to bring their favorite sides and copies of the recipe to share.

• Try starting with a smaller bird – Lil’ Butterballs are perfect for this because they need less time in the oven.

• If you choose a frozen bird, make sure that you’ve safely thawed the turkey before the day of the party. You can find guidelines here, but a quick rule of thumb is 1 day per 4 pounds, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time.

• Don’t open the bird before the party – part of the fun (really!) is having everyone get their hands dirty.

• Set out a stack of dishes and utensils on the table so that guests can help themselves at mealtime. Arrange each guest’s side dish and recipe cards at the table as guests arrive.

• Prep and roast the turkey as early in the event as possible: the first step is to remove the bird from its packaging, then let your most adventuresome friend prepare the bird. Every Lil’ Butterball comes with three bags – one holds the giblets, the other one holds the neck and there’s a bonus gravy packet (you won’t find it on full size Butterball turkeys). Once you’ve done this, pat the inside of the bird with a paper towel. There’s no need to rinse. Stuffing is optional, but it slightly increases cooking time.

• Follow the simple directions for open pan roasting – they’re included in every Butterball turkey and give you beautiful results with minimal effort.

• As you wait for the turkey to roast, its time to enjoy the side dishes your guests have brought and enjoy yourself as you pick up some new recipes. But be sure to leave some room for turkey – the night’s big finale!