Recipes for Christmas

Christmas main dish
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Rchristmas turkeyosemary Holiday Turkey

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 1 (12 pound) whole turkey

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, basil, Italian seasoning, black pepper and salt. Set aside.
  3. Wash the turkey inside and out; pat dry. Remove any large fat deposits. Loosen the skin from the breast. This is done by slowly working your fingers between the breast and the skin. Work it loose to the end of the drumstick, being careful not to tear the skin.
  4. Using your hand, spread a generous amount of the rosemary mixture under the breast skin and down the thigh and leg. Rub the remainder of the rosemary mixture over the outside of the breast. Use toothpicks to seal skin over any exposed breast meat.
  5. Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the pan. Roast in the preheated oven 3 to 4 hours, or until the internal temperature of the bird reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).
 
Turkey in a bag Print E-mail

holiday turkey in a bagHoliday Turkey (in a Bag)

Ingredients

  • 12 pounds whole turkey
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 5 stalks celery
  • 2 large onions, quartered

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Rinse turkey and remove giblets. Salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Sprinkle the bottom of a turkey size oven bag with flour. Place turkey, celery and onions in the bag. Seal bag and poke several holes in it with a fork.
  4. Bake 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until internal temperature of the thigh meat reaches 180 degrees F (85 degrees C).
 
Smoked Turkey Print E-mail

smoked turkeySmoked Turkey is a Great Holiday Treat!

Ingredients

  • 1 (10 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons seasoned salt
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans cola-flavored carbonated beverage
  • 1 apple, quartered
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat smoker to 225 to 250 degrees F (110 to 120 degrees C).
  2. Rinse turkey under cold water, and pat dry. Rub the crushed garlic over the outside of the bird, and sprinkle with seasoned salt. Place in a disposable roasting pan. Fill turkey cavity with butter, cola, apple, onion, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Cover loosely with foil.
  3. Smoke at 225 to 250 degrees F (110 to 120 degrees C) for 10 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C) when measured in the thickest part of the thigh. Baste the bird every 1 to 2 hours with the juices from the bottom of the roasting pan.
 
Apricot Ham Print E-mail

Baked Ham with Apricot

Ingredients

  • 1 (5 pound) fully-cooked, bone-in ham
  • 20 whole cloves
  • 1/2 cup apricot preserves
  • 3 tablespoons dry mustard
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

Directions

  1. Score the surface of the ham with shallow diamond-shaped cuts. Combine preserves and mustard; spread over ham. Pat brown sugar over apricot mixture. Place ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes per pound or until ham is heated through and thermometer reads 140 degrees F.
 
Ham with Honey & Brown Sugar Print E-mail

christmas ham recipeChristmas Ham with Brown Sugar & Honey Glaze

Ingredients

  • 1 (5 pound) fully cooked sliced ham
  • 1/4 cup whole cloves
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 oranges, juiced

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Place the ham in a roasting pan and dot with cloves. In a saucepan combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey and orange juice. Stir and simmer over medium-low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. Pour the glaze over the ham.
  3. Bake the ham uncovered for 1 hour in the preheated oven.
 
Holiday Turkey Print E-mail

turkey recipeThe Perfect Holiday Turkey

Ingredients

  • 1 (18 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
  • 2 cups kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 2 large onions, peeled and chopped
  • 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 4 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup dry white wine

Directions

  1. Rub the turkey inside and out with the kosher salt. Place the bird in a large stock pot, and cover with cold water. Place in the refrigerator, and allow the turkey to soak in the salt and water mixture 12 hours, or overnight.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thoroughly rinse the turkey, and discard the brine mixture.
  3. Brush the turkey with 1/2 the melted butter. Place breast side down on a roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan. Stuff the turkey cavity with 1 onion, 1/2 the carrots, 1/2 the celery, 1 sprig of thyme, and the bay leaf. Scatter the remaining vegetables and thyme around the bottom of the roasting pan, and cover with the white wine.
  4. Roast uncovered 3 1/2 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Carefully turn the turkey breast side up about 2/3 through the roasting time, and brush with the remaining butter. Allow the bird to stand about 30 minutes before carving.