Please read the article below to ensure your Thanksgiving Turkey is clean and Gluten free.
Cherry Glazed Turkey
1, 12-15 lb. Organic or Free-range Turkey
1 Turkey Bag
(Note: It is very important to buy a free-range of organic turkey that is unadulterated. Commercial brand turkeys can be several years old before being sold and they are filled with varying chemicals and other products ranging from Wheat, GMO corn products, MSG and Yeast to name just a few.)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp anise
1 Tbsp sea salt
2-3 Tbsp sea salt (to rub down the insides and outside of the turkey)
1 cup of wheat free cherry jam
Thaw the Turkey according to the safety directions and clean out the inside of the Turkey, paying particular attention to cleaning and rinsing out the neck and body cavities really well. Then take the 2-3 Tbsp of sea salt and rub the inside and outside of the turkey really well with the salt. With the Breast side of the Turkey facing upward, cut the membrane that holds the skin over each breast of the turkey. Once the membrane is cut you can lift the skin to rub down the meat underneath the skin, and then when you are done the skin will then form a protective cover over the rub so the flavors will seep into the turkey meat.
For the Rub, in a small bowl add the cinnamon, basil, thyme, anise and 1 Tbsp sea salt. Mix this well then rub this on both breasts of the turkey underneath the skin.
Place the Turkey in the turkey bag and stuff the turkey with the any of my Wheat free Stuffing mixes (found in A Wheat free Life vs the Holidays) and then seal the turkey cooking bag. Place the Turkey in the cooking bag, into a roasting pan and cook thoroughly. It is very important to follow the cooking directions that come with each turkey and the turkey bags. Especially when cooking a turkey with stuffing. Different weights require differing cooking times. The internal meat temperature should reach a minimum of at least 180-185 degrees.
During the last 15 minutes of cooking time. Remove the Turkey from the oven and gently cut the top of the cooking bag and remove 3-4 cups of the turkey broth. Set aside the broth for later use. With the bag cut open on the top spread the cup of cherry jam like a glaze and return the turkey back into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Happy Thanksgiving
What's in your Turkey? By Michelle S. Badger
For years my only concern in cooking my Thanksgiving Turkey was in properly preparing and cooking it to prevent food borne illnesses like salmonella and campylobacter.
Now however, I have found it very difficult to buy meat without additives like dairy, wheat, soy, corn and a myriad of other chemicals like: natural flavors, modified food starch, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers, monosodium glutamate, butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) sodium phosphates, sulfites, vegetable proteins, yeasts, sugars and the list goes on.
These additives are either added as a, filler, like can be commonly found in preprocessed hamburger or these additives are injected into the meat as is commonly found in chickens and turkeys.
As is the case with chicken or turkeys you can read on the labels and see if it says, “injected with approximately __% solution.” The majority of these solutions contain wheat/gluten or one or more of the additives itself has an additional additive which most contains wheat/gluten. It is also important to avoid basted, self basted or marinated turkeys for the same reasons.
A better option I have found for my family is to buy one of the following: free range, heritage or organic turkeys.
I cannot stress the importance of reading labels and if necessary contacting the company to ensure your Thanksgiving Turkey is Wheat/Gluten free.
I will note here that in buying real foods as in buying a turkey that hasn’t been turned into a chemistry experiment will cost more than your traditional commercial turkeys. However, when you and your family and guests have the blessing of enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and Thanksgiving Turkey without becoming sick the extra money spent well be well worth it.
Have a Happy Wheat-free Thanksgiving!
A Wheat Free-Life vs the Holidays