Thanksgiving Day Myths

So with Thanksgiving right around the corner I wanted to help debunk some random myths for this very special day. So lets start.

1. Turkey makes you sleepy: So your on the couch flipping through channels trying to find anything to watch. You notice your eyes are heavy and your starting to fall asleep. Stupid turkey, you assume because your turkey contains tryptophana feel-good serotonin that is why your falling asleep. WRONG!! Actually there is more of this tryptophan in cheese and chicken then in that turkey you just ate. Your actually falling asleep because you were up at 5 a.m. cooking for all your insane in-laws, then when they got there and started with the usual the stuffing is good but I would have speech you reached for a glass of wine to take the edge off. Don't blame the turkey blame the in-laws.

2. Fresh pumpkin is better than Canned pumpkin: There is nothing wrong with canned pumpkin in this case. It is far easier and also more consistent when baking. If you do insist on going the fresh route get sugar pumpkins. Or you can do what I do support your local bakery and just pick up a pumpkin pie. Save yourself the trouble for when your in-laws say this pumpkin pie taste great but its a little salty. You can say thanks I'll let the baker know.

3. The bigger the Turkey the better: So not true. Actually farmers now produce there turkeys to be bigger and in this case bigger is not better. When you buy a bigger turkey you are going to sacrifice taste. You need an old fashioned turkey just the way whomever made them. try a heritage turkey or a crossbreed turkey. You can always do what my Uncles do. Go out and shoot the turkey yourself.

4. Stuffing is the same as dressing: Do people really have this argument? dressing and stuffing are similar, but not the same. Dressing is your stuffing only in a casserole dish. The oven will make a nice crunchy coat which I love. You actually should never stuff your turkey. You can get salmonella due to all the bacteria in there. Also stuffing adds mass to your turkey and slows down your cooking time. The longer you cook a turkey the drier it will get. Remember don't stuff our turkey just use a casserole dish and cook it separately.

5. Pop up plastic Thermometers are great: Or not. Pop ups are unreliable they often get stuck and never pop and they also pierce the skin of the turkey. Piercing the skin of the turkey lets out valuable juices and that is a cooking no-no. Use a probe thermometer and be safe you don't want to under or over cook your bird.

With this being said have a Happy Thanksgiving.