My favorite holiday hands down.
I love the whole deal - shopping, preparation, cooking - the whole shooting match.
Going to try to Brine a bird this year, I've heard of and read about doing it, this year it's all or none on the brine.
Ever try a Deep fried Turkey?
Had one in Louisiana back in the late 80's - different, but a good reason to be outside.
I'd definitely brine the bird. We did a test run with a 1/4 turkey that we had and it tasted really good. Very moist meat and the skin was very tasty. I'd also recommend getting a fresh bird if you can - they just taste better.
Do what Alton Brown says. Follow the procedure and season however you like.
Thanksgiving is certainly a great holiday. Good food, good company, and minimal commercialization.
Right now I am preparing an italian style coffee. Its 11:57 pm and I am in the mood.
(Tomorrow I start working late 2pm)
This is one of my favorite themes.
As I love to cooking and trying new recepies. Alton Brown has some interesting proposals for me.
But let me start with the beginning. There is the "crude" raw meat or vegee. Whatever the quality counts. It all starts to make sense as soon as u compared the differences as u said.
When my collegue calls me up on the only day I am off work, most likely it is because she has a recently caught fish for me. I know her husband, a native Canario had caught it. And I know it will be sth special. Love to eat predetors. Barracuda style. BBQed they r just hilarious.
But let us stay with ur guys food.
A wild turkey - I heard unbelievable stories about their size, when I lived in AZ - certainly tastes soooo much better than the one u bought - and even though it says on the wrapping it is young, directly frozen or whatever - there is no way comparing a fresh hunted animal to a "supermaket" one. The trick on "fresh" meat or fish is: u actually - oh wonder - don't need so much species anymore! So why that? Because the fresh natural "grown" meat has enough taste on its own. On the contrary: It would be a CRIME to do to much spicing to it. Its original taste would be covered by what: the taste of spices to which "conservatives" r added in large quantities?
No way José!!!
If u r in the rare, luxurious situation (like Duck and his family) to eat a recently hunted piece of meat. Whatever it is, conserve its own rich flavor with adding as less as possible of spices and enjoy its natural taste to the full!!! if u alowe me to get rid of a last remark: if it is somehow possibel BBQ it over a Sequamore wood (or whatever quality wood is available for u) fire. There is no better taste than the natural one. No flavor so original.