BreezyCooking
Washing Up
With the holidays upon us, I was wondering what brands of turkeys other folks have found to be their favorites.
I grew up in a "Butterball" house. Thanksgiving wasn't Thanksgiving without a huge Butterball turkey as a centerpiece. In fact, my grandmother, who always had stronger than strong brand preferences for everything & anything (bless her heart), claimed that she could tell a Butterball apart from all other brands (ahem. . . yeah. . . lol!!). So when I was out on my own, obviously Butterball was what I too bought, but after awhile I found Butterballs both temperamental to cook & too salty to the taste (probably because of all that internal basting stuff they inject them with). Other brands - "Shady Brook", "Honeysuckle", etc., also seemed to be hit or miss as to quality.
So now I positively swear by Whole Food's fresh organic/free-range turkeys. Ever since we tried one a number of years ago, we haven't gone back to any other brand for our Thanksgiving bird since. We now order a bird from Whole Foods every year & have never been disappointed. You order the bird ahead of time (in fact, we'll be doing that within the next 2 weeks), & then pick it up a day or two before the Big Day. Always fresh - not chilled to the semi-frozen state & then thawed.
And I definitely do NOT mean the above in a snobby way at all. Believe me, I know all too many people who love to spout off about all the organic/free-range stuff they buy at uber prices, yet really don't give a hoot about the difference, if any. These birds clearly are better - at least in our opinion. Tremendously better in both taste & texture. And for that one day a year when husband & I enjoy a large whole bird (not to mention all those tasty leftovers), we feel the added expense is definitely most worthwhile.
Absolutely no brining necessary with these beauties (thank God - I don't need another extraneous holiday task - lol!). As far as seasoning, I normally make my stuffing/dressing separate from the bird, but do normally place some onions, garlic, & celery in the cavity. Other than that, I baste once in a while with plain melted butter & that's it. The bird - both white meat & dark meat - comes out tender & juicy, & what's almost even better, that tenderness & juiciness continues through any & all leftovers. The leftovers from that first initial Whole Foods turkey had us looking at each other in amazement. They were so moist without any prompting with broth, gravy, etc. Cold turkey sandwiches were ethereal - lol!!
They truly are supreme birds, & I highly recommend them.
I also have to mention that Whole Food's customer service is also above reproach. One year I unwrapped our turkey to find one whole wing/shoulder limb missing. Now since it's just husband & I, it wasn't any big deal, but since the turkey's are pricey, the next time my husband was shopping there, he did mention it, & they gave us a credit for the bird with a smile!! Now that's great customer service.
And just so you don't think I'm just "taken" with the idea of "organic/free range", after that first Whole Food's turkey epiphany, we decided to spring for a Whole Foods organic/free range goose for Xmas, & both of us agreed that we frankly didn't taste any difference between it & any other Xmas goose we'd purchased.
So nix the goose, but go for the turkey.
I grew up in a "Butterball" house. Thanksgiving wasn't Thanksgiving without a huge Butterball turkey as a centerpiece. In fact, my grandmother, who always had stronger than strong brand preferences for everything & anything (bless her heart), claimed that she could tell a Butterball apart from all other brands (ahem. . . yeah. . . lol!!). So when I was out on my own, obviously Butterball was what I too bought, but after awhile I found Butterballs both temperamental to cook & too salty to the taste (probably because of all that internal basting stuff they inject them with). Other brands - "Shady Brook", "Honeysuckle", etc., also seemed to be hit or miss as to quality.
So now I positively swear by Whole Food's fresh organic/free-range turkeys. Ever since we tried one a number of years ago, we haven't gone back to any other brand for our Thanksgiving bird since. We now order a bird from Whole Foods every year & have never been disappointed. You order the bird ahead of time (in fact, we'll be doing that within the next 2 weeks), & then pick it up a day or two before the Big Day. Always fresh - not chilled to the semi-frozen state & then thawed.
And I definitely do NOT mean the above in a snobby way at all. Believe me, I know all too many people who love to spout off about all the organic/free-range stuff they buy at uber prices, yet really don't give a hoot about the difference, if any. These birds clearly are better - at least in our opinion. Tremendously better in both taste & texture. And for that one day a year when husband & I enjoy a large whole bird (not to mention all those tasty leftovers), we feel the added expense is definitely most worthwhile.
Absolutely no brining necessary with these beauties (thank God - I don't need another extraneous holiday task - lol!). As far as seasoning, I normally make my stuffing/dressing separate from the bird, but do normally place some onions, garlic, & celery in the cavity. Other than that, I baste once in a while with plain melted butter & that's it. The bird - both white meat & dark meat - comes out tender & juicy, & what's almost even better, that tenderness & juiciness continues through any & all leftovers. The leftovers from that first initial Whole Foods turkey had us looking at each other in amazement. They were so moist without any prompting with broth, gravy, etc. Cold turkey sandwiches were ethereal - lol!!
They truly are supreme birds, & I highly recommend them.
I also have to mention that Whole Food's customer service is also above reproach. One year I unwrapped our turkey to find one whole wing/shoulder limb missing. Now since it's just husband & I, it wasn't any big deal, but since the turkey's are pricey, the next time my husband was shopping there, he did mention it, & they gave us a credit for the bird with a smile!! Now that's great customer service.
And just so you don't think I'm just "taken" with the idea of "organic/free range", after that first Whole Food's turkey epiphany, we decided to spring for a Whole Foods organic/free range goose for Xmas, & both of us agreed that we frankly didn't taste any difference between it & any other Xmas goose we'd purchased.
So nix the goose, but go for the turkey.
