As families take on the modern fast paced lifestyle, it takes special skills to cook up a traditional meal with contemporary tastes but whatever you do, let cooking be a vintage social affair this Christmas. Go out and have it baked at the neighbourhood ‘forn'. Just the sight of you clutching a casserole or aluminium can covered with a tea cloth will warm up the whole village.
Here's the traditional recipe for a luscious Turkey lunch or Dinner on Christmas day:
Ingredients:
Turkey frozen or Fresh (defrost if Frozen)
Some people will claim hand on heart that a frozen turkey (frozen for just a couple of days before being cooked) tastes better and totally different from a fresh one.
We'll leave this up to you of course, but to our mind, fresh is always best!
Salt
Black pepper
Cloves of garlic
Onions
Paprika
Thyme flakes
Seasoning sauce of your choice
Hot spicy sauce
Green seasoning
Croutons
Celery stalks
Butter
Rice
Skewers
Carrots and other vegetables of your choice
Potatoes
Olive oil
Tender love and help from a child's gentle hands. This will make the recipe irresistible not matter the outcome.
1. Rinse the turkey and place it in the roasting pan with legs and cavity facing you. Remember the belly is up!
2. Clean the insides as necessary, but most vendors would do this for you. Insist that they do.
3. Marinate with 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. black pepper, 3 cloves of garlic (chopped), 3 onions (chopped finely), 1/2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp. thyme flakes, 2 tsp. Seasoning Sauce, 1 tbsp. Hot Sauce, and 2 tsp. Green Seasoning. Rub this all over the turkey and smear the inside too.
4. Stuffing can be done with 1 package of Croutons, 2 celery stalks, 1 large onion, salt and black pepper to taste, 1/2 cup of butter, 1/2 cup of parboiled rice.
5. Use a little butter for frying. Add chopped celery and onions. Sautee for 1 - 2 minutes until celery and onions are golden in colour. Add croutons, rice, salt and black pepper to taste. Stir all of them together for the turkey filling. When the turkey is stuffed seal it with skewers. In the roasting pan pour ¼ cup chicken broth (or water). Add about 3 tbs of olive oil. Around the turkey put peeled carrots, potatoes, veggies. Cover and place in oven at 375 degrees for approximately 3 hours, basting frequently with a pastry brush. When it is done it should be golden brown and tender.
PS: wait for 10-15 minutes before carving can be done, and always use a sharp knife and wish everyone a Merry Christmas before the first bite!
Bon Apetite