TURKEY TIME!!!!! As you can see, this excites me, because it is my personal specialty and my absolute favorite thing to make. I have never shared this recipe with anyone, so you should all feel special! As with most of my own recipes, the spice amounts are approximated, so change as needed!
Ingredients
1 12+ lb turkey
3 Tbs fresh sage
3 Tbs fresh thyme
3 Tbs fresh parsley
1 Tbs fresh rosemary
1 Tbs garlic powder
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
1 Gram budz (if desired)
2-4 Tbs thc olive oil
**If you don't have fresh herbs, use 1-2 Tbs dried herbs
Instructions
Wash and dry your turkey and preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Gather your sage, thyme, parsley, and rosemary and chop VERY finely. If using dried herbs, chop to fine consistency as well. If using budz, grind well and add to herbs. Add garlic powder, ginger, salt, and pepper. Mix all herbs well. Split mixture in half.
Now, here's where you have a choice. I like to stuff the skin with half the herbs. To do this, lift the skin at the bottom of the breast. Hold the skin with one hand, and gently work your other hand under the skin, separating it from the meat. You should be able to easily loosen the skin from the breast...if you're feeling confident you can gently try to work your way under the skin on the legs. Don't worry if it tears, you can just lay it back in place. Once loosened, take half of the herb mixture and rub it on the breast and legs, under the skin.
Put the rest of the herb mixture in a dish and add thc olive oil 1 Tbs at a time, until it makes a loose, runny paste. Pour oil mixture over the turkey and rub ALL OVER, making sure to get oil/herbs under the legs and wings. Place in a roasting pan breast side up. If you are going to stuff the turkey, do it now. Put turkey in the oven. Check turkey every hour, and begin basting as soon as there is enough juice (usually after 2 hours or so). Your turkey will take roughly 20-30 minutes per pound, a bit longer if it is stuffed. Once the juices start to come out, baste turkey at least once an hour until done. If the turkey starts to get too dark, place foil to cover the breast and wing tips. Once it is close to being done (cook to at LEAST 165 degrees, I usually cook to 180+) remove the foil to get some really nice color. A good way to test the readiness of the turkey is to wiggle the legs; the meat should be soft and move easily.
Baste your turkey as soon as it comes out of the oven, then every few minutes until cooled enough to carve.
Tips
*If your turkey is close to done, but doesn't have good color, you can increase the heat to 350 for the last 1/2 hour to an hour
*Cook turkey as long as you feel necessary...as long as it is at a low temp, and covered with foil on the breast, turkey will stay moist
*Save turkey carcass/juices to make into BOMB medicated soup! (recipe coming soon!)
*Add/change spices as needed. This is just what I use, but measurements/spice types can be changed!
*Pour juice onto meat once it is cut to make sure it stays moist....adds more flavor, too!
So, if you have any questions, let me know. You can ALWAYS use this recipe with regular oil if you want to try the best turkey you have ever had but don't like the idea of making a medicated one. I have been cooking turkey this way for years and as a caterer it is my biggest seller....usually make at least 6 every holiday season!
ENJOY!