Topsy Turvy Turkey Food

TOPSY TURVY TURKEY

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven 325: Grind the 3-4 fresh spice ingredients or use your own favorites to mix with the softened butter. loosen the skin and push butter mixture all under the loosened skin. Rub the outside of the turkey with any remaining butter mixture.
• 2. Mix a basic spice rub together: salt, pepper and poultry seasoning and sprinkle mixture inside and outside of the bird, then stuff the bird with your favorite dressing and truss the opening securly as possible so nothing falls out. Tuck the wings under to protect them from burning.
• 3. Place the bird "BREAST SIDE DOWN" on an inverted roasting rack. Adding chopped onion, garlic, carrot and celery to the roasting pan adds great flavor to the bird and drippings for tasty gravy.
• 4. Add water mixed with a small amount of white wine, apple or cranberry juice to the pan keeping it from drying out. Tent the bird with foil when it starts to brown and remove the foil the last 40 minutes of roasting time.
• 5. Follow a basic roasting time table or use a thermometer the inner thigh temp should reach 165F. If stuffed, the center of the stuffing should also be 165F
• 6. Flip the Turkey breast side up onto a cutting board and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving. While the turkey rests, make your gravy; add the pan drippings and roasted vegetables to your stock pot and simmer for at least 15 minutes and then strain and thicken your turkey stock with a rue mixture.

TOPSY TURVY CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN WITH SALT CRUST SEASONING

Steps:

• Mix all the seasoning mix ingredients together and store in a jar until needed.
• Remove all the wrapping from the chicken and snip the elasticated string that ties the chicken together. Wipe the chicken all over with kitchen paper to dry the skin. Sprinkle a good amount of rock salt over, making sure that you cover all the chicken. Now chill overnight or for at least 8 hours so the salt can draw out any excess moisture.
• Preheat the oven to 190C, 375F or gas mark 5.
• Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking, brush and shake off the excess rock salt.
• Place the chicken in the roasting tin and season inside the cavity. Push the lemon and onion inside with the herbs. These will produce steam and flavour, to keep the chicken moist. Brush the chicken all over with melted butter or olive oil, then season liberally with the rest of the seasoning mix. (The salt makes the skin crispy and the butter will keep the chicken moist.).
• Roast the chicken, breast side up, in the centre of the oven for 1 hour, then carefully remove the chicken, and with two roasting forks to aid you, turn the chicken over, so the breast is underneath now. Continue to cook for a further 30 minutes. Then take the chicken out and turn it over once more, with the breast side up now, and continue to roast for a further 15 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
• To check that it is cooked, pierce the fattest part of the thigh with a fine skewer. If the juices are pink or show traces of blood, cook the chicken a further 10-15 minutes, then check again. If the juices are pale golden, the chicken is cooked.
• Using two forks, lift the chicken from the roasting tin onto a large plate and reserve the cooking juices. Leave for 10 minutes before carving. This allows the juices, which have risen to the surface during cooking, to be reabsorbed into the meat to give a moist texture.
• Cook's tips.
• How to make Gravy.
• Drain all but 3 tbsp of the juices from the roasting tin. Set the roasting tin on a hob and reheat the juices. Sprinkle in 2 tsp of plain flour and stir well with a wooden spoon. Gradually stir in 300ml chicken stock. Bring to the boil, stirring until thickened and smooth. Season well. If the gravy is bland, add a little mustard and a splash of soy sauce. For a special gravy, some of the stock can be replaced with red or white wine.
• Carving the Chicken.
• Hold the chicken steady with a fork, then insert a large sharp knife between the body and leg. Cut off the leg. Divide the leg in half at the joint to give a drumstick and thigh portion. Cut away the wing on the same side. Carve down the breast in thick slices. Repeat on the other side of the chicken.

TOPSY-TURVY PIE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, olives, chili powder and salt. Pour into a 9-in. pie plate; set aside. , For topping, in a small bowl, combine the baking mix, milk and butter just until combined. , Turn onto a floured surface and knead 8-10 times. Roll into a 10-in. circle. Place over meat mixture; crimp edges to seal. Cut small slits in pastry. , Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes.