brining Archives - LunaCafe

The Perfect Roast Turkey

November 19, 2012 by Susan S. Bradley Leave a Comment

Roasting a perfect Thanksgiving Day turkey is a cinch—especially if you keep a few things in mind. The first and most important of these is to buy a premium, FRESH turkey. Below are some of the options available in Portland, Oregon. The biggest myth I hear from folks about roasting turkey is that it “takes all day.” I just roasted a 16-pound bird to perfection in 2¼ hours. It’s resting on the stovetop now for another 30 minutes. Then we will eat it with the best stuffing I’ve ever made: Spicy Ciabatta & Cornbread Stuffing with Italian Sausage, Wild Mushrooms & Fresh Herbs. (Posting next.) So minus the brining (48 hours) and warming to room temperature (1 hour), the bird is ready to eat in under 3 hours.

Filed Under: Autumn Leaves, Holiday, Meat & Poultry, Thanksgiving Tagged With: brining, glazing, purchasing, Recipes, roast turkey, roasting, Thanksgiving, trussing

Spiced Apple Cider Brined Roast Cornish Game Hens with Apple Cider Mustard Glaze

November 18, 2012 by Susan S. Bradley 6 Comments

Spiced Apple Cider Brined Roast Cornish Game Hen with Apple Cider Mustard Glaze

A large roast turkey is considered mandatory for many families as part of the massive meal that typifies Thanksgiving. It’s big, bold, beautiful, and definitely celebratory. When you have a large crowd to feed, there is no grander way to go. But what if your family is small, dispersed across the country, or for whatever reason, you long for a more intimate but still festive dinner with only a few close friends?