Secrets {Tips} for a Perfect Turkey ~ Guest Post from Erin at EKat’s Kitchen {#2 for Day 52 of The 100-Day Countdown to Christmas}

Surprise! We told you there would be surprises during our 100-Day Countdown to Christmas… it’s just that this one, Secrets {Tips} for a Perfect Turkey, was totally unplanned and is due completely to an embarrassing oversight on my part. If you read our post earlier in the week, you know that we’ve been battling some sickness in our home, mostly last week. That coupled with my failure to change the date for this guest post from when it was originally planned after discussing with my friend, Erin, at Ekat’s Kitchen the possibility of moving it up so everyone would have the information in plenty of time for the Thanksgiving holidays, too…. you now get two countdown posts for today instead of one! Which also means that on the date this one was originally planned, I will be working on something else for you.

As I exit the stage now thoroughly embarrassed and with sincere apology to Erin’s readers who’ve been here looking for her guest post… I am also super excited to bring you some wonderful information from my friend, Erin, that I think you will enjoy trying out this year, not only at Christmas but also Thanksgiving, now just weeks away:

Last year, as I was preparing to cook my first turkey, I was — understandably — nervous.

What if it was too dry?
What if it was undercooked?
What if it was overcooked?
What if it was just plain horrible?!?

What was a girl to do? Why, solicit help from every friend who had EVER made a turkey… and some who hadn’t! Everyone had a different helpful hint, and everyone’s helpful hint sounded so good I had to try it.

So that’s exactly what I did.
I tried EVERY SINGLE SECRET that ALL of my friends gave me.
At great personal risk.

And do you know what happened?
The VERY BEST turkey ever! So I want to be sure to share the top three with you, and share the wealth!

Secret #1: Brine your turkey!

A low-sodium kind of gal, this made me nervous, but what the brine actually does is soak into the skin of the turkey, adding some fantastic flavor to the meat. More importantly, the salt helps make the outside of the bird a little “crunchy” to ensure that the insides of the bird stay moist and tender. You can use my recipe for turkey brine or yours. Brine overnight in a 5 gallon bucket prior to cooking the bird in an oven.

Secret #2: ‘Tis the season!

Your turkey wants to be flavorful as much as you want it to be flavorful. Get in the spirit of the season and add some flavor to your bird. Process 3/4 cup of italian seasoning* and 1-2 tablespoons olive oil into a paste, adjusting as needed for size of the bird and consistency. Loosen the skin of the bird, particularly over the breasts and thighs, and spread a small amount of the seasoning paste between the skin and the meat.
*use whatever seasoning you prefer.

Secret #3: A Spritely bird!

This is the one technique that I was the most skeptical of, and it was perhaps the best, most noticeably amazing one! As you place the turkey into its baking dish, pour a 20oz bottle of Sprite (or other lemon lime soda) into the cavity of the bird. The bubbles effervesce and allow the lemon lime flavor to permeate the bird, while at the same time, assisting the brine with keeping the bird moist.

Cook in an oven, for an amount of time based on your turkey’s weight! Voila! The best, most perfect turkey ever!

Thank you so much, Erin, for sharing these ideas with us today and for your patience with me in getting it published on the date we did settle on! I’m thinking there are going to be some really great turkeys cooked this year. If you enjoyed what Erin had to share, stay tuned for some more guest posts from her later in the series and you will definitely want to check out her blog, full of delicious sounding recipes, such as Sweet ‘N Tangy Kiwi Dressing (I will be trying this one for sure!), and other great tips, such as how to make your own sour cream and onion dip, cheaply and low in sodium.

Erin is an Army wife, originally from and currently living in the beautiful state of Alaska. She enjoys trying new recipes and sharing her experiences with them through her blog, Ekat’s Kitchen.Â