Early Ellie May Weekly Special

roxfisher · Feb-23-2008, 09:22 AM

Well, feeling half human again, I really had the craving for a roast turkey dinner.

Bouth 1/2 turkey breast with skin on and two turkey thighs with skin on.
1 Box Mrs Cubbisons seasoned dressing
1 stick butter
1 cup diced celery
1 Tablespoon dried parsley flake
1 egg
1 can chicken broth
2 packages Knorr brand roasted turkey gravy
Whole berry cranberry sauce

Salt, pepper, OLD BAY (for those that think I forgot) Herbs de Provence and some cooking spray (they have them now that are actually veggie oil and not just silicone)

Melted butter in skillet and added the celery and saute'd for a few until translucent (note, 1 cup of diced onion can be added but at my house we can't go there)
Dumped the two packet box of seasoned dressing in a bowl, added the saute'd celery with the butter, parsley, egg, black pepper and chicken broth and stirred it up.
Placed in 11x14 baking dish that had I had sprayed with the oil.
Scrunched it up in the middle so that when I placed the turkey on top the dressing was completely covering the dressing
Sprayed the turkey with oil and then sprinkled the Old bay, herbs de provence and cracked black pepper to coat well.
Covered with foil and in the oven for about 2 hours at 350.

Done!! Moist and tender and served with gravy over top with a side of cranberry.

Now I usually do the whole turkey dinner thing with all homemade dressing, cranberry sauce and gravy but I tell you this was really good. You could have easily doubled everything and gotten just about an entire full size turkey dinner less the legs (I guess you could put them in there also)
Much less cooking time when the bird is cut up in pieces.
I would next time double the dressing for just the 1/2 breast and thighs as this was so good, it is all gone and I have a little white meat left and 1 thigh portion left.

elliemay · Feb-24-2008, 12:44 PM

yum can you explain how you scrunched the dressing in the middle? The dressing was completely covering the dressing? Do you mean you put the turkey around the sides, or did you just put the turkey on top. Would it be better to cook them separately? Can a one armed woman make this? I can smell it now!

roxfisher · Feb-24-2008, 12:55 PM

'splain it to me Lucy---

I mounded the dressing in the middle of the baking dish leaving a few inches all the way around. You want to try to completely cover the dressing with the turkey so that neither will dry out.
The juices from the turkey drip into the dressing increasing the flavor, and the steaming keeps the turkey moist. If cooked separately, they would be more dry. This was moist enough that the breast meat had juices running through it when you cut with a fork.
Excess fat then wicked out to the edges of the dish.
I do make dressing separately but I found that this method really improved the flavor, tasted like the dressing from inside the turkey cavity, very moist.
Yes, a one armed woman can make this as it was very simple. The only thing you would need is someone to dice the celery.
Make the stuffing, mound it into the center of the dish, place the turkey over the dressing then season the turkey.
Much easier and faster than a whole bird and tastes just like the slow roast turkey dinner.

elliemay · Feb-24-2008, 01:14 PM

Ok got it Rox, thanks! Do you find turkey in the market year round? This sounda so good.

roxfisher · Feb-24-2008, 01:17 PM

Yes, you can find turkey year round, but on the most part whole turkeys will be frozen, as well as the whole turkey breast (just the wings, legs removed, still has turkey cavity and entire breast)
Turkey parts are what I found. Half turkey breast (looks like giant chicken breast halves) and turkey thighs.
These are bone in with the skin, both important parts for flavor.

OFN · Feb-25-2008, 06:05 PM

I love turkey. This may end up being my favorite recipes from Rox. Going fishing this weekend, but this looks like a great project for the following weekend. Thanks Rox.

roxfisher · Feb-25-2008, 06:24 PM

Damn, now if only I could go fishing this weekend. I can go, just don't have a boat!

OFN · Feb-25-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxfisher

Damn, now if only I could go fishing this weekend. I can go, just don't have a boat!

Me either

, my club is chartering the Apollo out of Sea Landing in Santa Barbara this weekend. JJ and crew are fun to fish with and all I have to do is show up with money for food, beer and fish cleaning, and tip of course. Then off to Miguel or Rosa we go. There may be one or two spots left open if you are interested. Let me know. It is an overnight trip leaving the dock at 9:00 PM Friday night, earlier if everyone shows up early. $155.00 for non members. I think there are two or three gals from the club going. Not sure if we are going to get nailed with a fuel surcharge with prices jumping up so much this last week.

Nat

roxfisher · Feb-26-2008, 08:17 AM

Would be great but too far away for me this Friday. I just might look for something local.

OFN · Feb-26-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxfisher

Would be great but too far away for me this Friday. I just might look for something local.

I hope you get out. I am way over due. Last time I was on the water was November of last year. Stress level is getting to high and fish must die

.