Cajun Roasted Turkey Or Chicken Food

CAJUN ROASTED TURKEY OR CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the seasoning, brown sugar, oil, oregano, and salt. Divide the mixture in half and add the garlic to one mix. Rub the garlic mixture under the skin. Rub the outside of the bird with the other mixture. Coat evenly.
• Place on a wire rack in your roasting pan.
• Roast until your thermometer inserted in the thigh registers 180 degrees and juices run clear, about 2 hours. Let stand 10 minutes before carving.
• NOTE: I think that 180 degrees is just a bit high. Compare with the cooking chart on the wrapper the bird comes in (most usually there's one on the back).

CAJUN BUTTER SPATCHCOCK TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Combine the butter, wine, celery, bell pepper, onion, Cajun seasoning, brown sugar, hot sauce and salt in a food processor or blender. Process until very smooth. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and keep warm over low heat.
• Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey and save for stock or discard. Place the turkey breast-side down on a cutting board. Cut along one side of the backbone from the tail to the neck with a chef's knife or kitchen shears. Repeat with the other side and remove the backbone. (Save for stock!)
• Turn the turkey over, and press down on the breastbone with the heel of your hand until it cracks. Tuck the wing tips up and over the back of the turkey. (This prevents them from burning.) Place the turkey on a wire rack in a roasting pan.
• Fill a flavor injector with the butter mixture and inject as much of the butter into the turkey at different angles. Pour any remaining butter over the top of the turkey, then sprinkle with additional Cajun seasoning, if desired. Place the roasting pan on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, undisturbed.
• Baste the turkey with the pan juices and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Continue to bake, basting occasionally, until a meat thermometer reaches 165 degrees F when inserted in the thickest portion of the breast and thigh (avoiding bone), 45 minutes to 1 hour. (Add the chicken stock to the roasting pan if it starts to dry out.) Let rest before slicing. Serve with the pan drippings.