Simple Appetizer

Ok, ok its a dip, but either way it's a little something to munch on before Thanksgiving dinner.
Mom stopped at the olive bar at the grocery store which makes this even more simple.  Get a healthy spoonful of spicy kalamata olives (about 12-15 whole olives).  Also from the olive bar they have sun-dried tomatoes in oil, again a healthy spoonful is all you need.  Chop-ity chop chop the olives and cut up tomatoes. Like so...

Bright and colorful :) I didn't do exact measurement because this is really to taste...I hope you get a general idea its about 4 tablespoons of yummcious...So what we do with this now is add it to one soft 8oz package of cream cheese, full fat, 1/3 less fat, no fat that's up to you.  I think 1/3 less fat cream cheese.  The oil from the tomatoes, and juice from the olives will thin the dip to perfection.  Serve with your favorite crackers pretzels.

Happy Thanksgiving! And yes this girl is cookin' the Turkey!

So I started with the star of the show of course...the Turkey (it has the longest time to cook so here we go!
I diced 1/2 a white onion and 2 stalks of celery and combined that into 1 pound ground turkey.  You can use ground pork too if you want.

Aromatics filling the room :) mmmm cook on medium heat to brown... mean while follow directions to your stuffing.  I use a bag brand, sage flavored (yum).  Which includes boiling 1 1/2 cups water with 1 stick of butter, take off heat add bread crumbs toss to coat.  Combine the browned ground turkey/onion/celery mixture and gently mix together.  Ta-da.

Clean out the Turkey...i.e. remove neck and organ pouch, drain, rinse.  Stuff both cavities with stuffing...I know it says to lightly stuff...just stuff it, you have cooked the ground turkey completely already so you don't have to worry about under cooked meat.  again....ta-da  ;)

Now for the spices, since we used a whole stick of butter in the stuffing, I used olive oil for the skin.  Drizzle olive oil over turkey and rub all over.  Next make or buy a rub...I used an everyday poultry blend that consists of: salt, black pepper, parsley, garlic, white onion, red pepper, sesame seed, dill seed, dill weed, lemon peel, green peppercorns, and green onion.  So take the seasoning of your choice and rub onto skin of turkey.  Don't neglect the thighs and wings!  and it will look a little like this...

Pop it in the oven following directions for your size turkey.  Basting is essential!  Set timer for 1 hour and see where your at...after 4 hours and recommended basting...presto!