KMTR-NBC Channel 16
November 24, 2004
News Source Today with Kelli Warner and Jeff Smith

How to cook a turkey is the number one worry of Thanksgiving hosts. This recipe is fool proof, with moist, tasty results guaranteed!!! As for the leftovers, how about turkey tacos??? They are a nice change from the old standby, the turkey sandwich.

How to Cook a Turkey

1 12-pound fresh or completely thawed turkey
1 stick butter, softened
1/4 cup sage, dried
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
meat thermometer

Remove giblets and neck from turkey. Rinse turkey well. With your hand, loosen the skin on the turkey breast, reaching up under the skin, loosening it from the entire breast. Pat the entire turkey dry with paper towels.

In a small bowl, mix the butter, sage, salt, and pepper. Using your hands, spread about 2 tablespoons of the sage butter under the skin of each breast. Spread the remaining sage butter all over the outside of the turkey, coating it evenly.

Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake at 275 degrees in a convection oven, or 325 degrees in a standard oven. Turkey will take between 3-5 hours to bake depending on weight, and your oven. Check for doneness using a meat thermometer in the deepest part of the turkey breast. Remove foil during last 40 minutes of cooking to brown the skin.

Remove turkey from the oven when the temperature reaches 175 degrees or so. The temperature will continue to rise (approximately 5 degrees) after removing the turkey from the oven. Let rest 20 minutes before carving.

Turkey Tacos

Homemade Taco Seasoning:

2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups diced leftover turkey (cooked)
1/2 cup water

Taco Fixings:

Tortillas or taco shells
Black or refried beans (heated)
Cheddar cheese
Shredded lettuce
Salsa
Sour cream
Olives
Hot sauce

Combine seasonings in a small bowl. In a medium skillet, bring the diced turkey, taco seasonings, and water to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes. While turkey is simmering, place taco fixings in individual bowls.

Arrange all of the toppings on the kitchen table so each person can "build their own" taco or burrito, exactly how they like it.