One of my raw turkey disasters was a year we attempted to pit-roast it. Yeah, that takes longer than you think. It was gross, we had guests and tried to hurry things along with the microwave after we dug it up and saw how uncooked it was. Not the best T-day meal that year.

I kept a list nearby with a timeline so I wouldn't forget stuff and it all worked out well.

Sorry about yer bird!

not very appetizing

Woman, 47, Stabbed Boyfriend For Starting Thanksgiving Dinner Without Her

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025895599

So, by comparison, we had a peaceful dinner.

Of course, the last time a tough turkey was sold in the United States was during the Truman administration.

The last time she cooked one, she put it in her Nesco Roaster (see http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-990856/nesco-18-qt-nonstick-roaster-oven.jsp for a picture), put a pint or so of water in the bottom, and steamed it for a couple of hours. One of my favorite things about turkey is a nice, crisp skin. That turkey's skin was inedible.

I don't know anything about the Nesco Roaster. At best I can see steaming it, then putting it in the oven to crisp up.

Most turkey's will be tough because (1) people overcook the hell out of them, and (2) they tend to go for the purdue/butterball with the huge breasts that have no fat and are close to tough to begin with.

I blame a lot on people's reliance on those little pop-up timers. I think they're set to pop at 185 degrees, which is more than high enough to keep the turkey company from being sued, but futher people don't notice it's popped for a while, and then they take it out and let it sit more. So by the time you're done maybe it's hit 220, and yeah, it's going to be tough.

Buy her a nice instant thermometer and show her how to use it and how heat rises (even after pulled from the oven). With any luck, you won't have an overcooked turkey (though you might have a portion undercooked a time or two whlie she gets the hang of it).

One cannot put it in the oven to crisp up the skin, since the skin is so waterlogged.

snd I'm just talking out of my ass here..

Remove the skin
Steam
overlay the skin and crisp in oven.

Myself, I woulndt be steaming at all, and the drawback is that the steam renders some fat from the skin adding to the juiciness.

So, if you insist on this approach, this might be a workaround, but I think you can do much more with more interesting results - for instance, spatchcock it (cut it up, layer it down, maybe separate the parts) and grill or oven cook it with seasoning and have a good result.

Have fun next year!

Even though I love to cook, and when my kids were still at home I'd cook turkey five or six times a year because I just love it and think most people make far too much of a production of Thanksgiving, I have a LOT of sympathy for someone who normally doesn't cook or even monitor the process and is now trying to do it all. I'd like to say she should have noticed the oven wasn't on long before, but I can easily understand how that could be overlooked in the day.

I have no horror stories, just some fond memories of a brief, three year period in my recent past when I hosted Thanksgiving for about twenty or so people. It was giant fun. I loved cooking a turkey, the guests all felt terribly guilty as if they were imposing on me -- the weren't! I wouldn't have done this if I hadn't wanted to -- and brought along various side dishes. There was LOTS of wine, and a good time was had by all. Alas, my marriage came to an end and this group was a whole bunch of mutual friends, I moved to a different city, and it's all in the past now.

This year, I'd tried to invite myself to my sister's house, but she made it clear (politely, I hasten to add) that it was going to be a very hectic day for her and my presence would more add to the confusion than help, so I stayed in my city, cooked a full dinner for myself and had a great time. After my meal I went over to visit the guys who live next door. Brought along a bottle of champagne, drank, hung out for a bit and it was a lovely day.

It is so easy for the holiday to get bad, and I never wish that on anyone.

she never cooks enough to be held accountable. Personally, if I had done it, I'd be mortified, but she goes near the oven so little.

My worst disaster, which I believe I recounted here in the past, wasn't even my doing (I was too young) and I get various accounts, but it involves my aunt in White Plains, NY and I guess we were all there as a family (circa 1970 maybe), the turkey was done up, the adults were getting poofed on red wine, and my aunt went in to baste or turn the turkey or something.

Anyway, she had overwrapped the legs and opening, so there was no room for gas to escape. When she opened it or cut into it, it exploded - turkey parts everywhere, ceiling, walls, whatever,

Perhaps everyone had a good laugh, poured more wine, and enjoyed the evening. I have no idea.

Because most people so rarely cook a turkey, it become especially easy to goof up in some big way. Plus, there's often the added pressure of extra guests that day, putting a lot on the cook.

I am mentally opening another bottle of wine myself, thinking about the exploding turkey.

To my understanding, it was quite the mess.

Is this a family legend that gets repeated every holiday?

but we've tried hard no to repeat it

"This year, I'd tried to invite myself to my sister's house, but she made it clear (politely, I hasten to add) that it was going to be a very hectic day for her and my presence would more add to the confusion than help"

I know that the story makes her look bad, but I was being a bit more thoughtless in trying to invite myself.

Here's a bit of background and context: A year and a half ago her husband died suddenly and unexpectedly (heart attack). She has three grown children, one of whom still lives at home. Three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. Plus, our oldest sister now lives with her. Depending on exactly who showed up that day, there was already going to be a full house.

It also might not be obvious that I live in Santa Fe, and she's in Overland Park, Kansas, and so I was not only inviting myself for the meal, but to stay there. She's usually more than accommodating when I visit, so I'm honestly not bothered by not going. And more to the point, I uninvited myself, after she initially agreed I could be there.

She's really a great sister.

even if you'd stayed in a hotel.

I was able to stay with her back in June, and I'll be visiting again. It's okay if it's not Thanksgiving. I actually had a great day by myself.