Delia and Jamie are stressing me out-do I really need to push stuffing under the turkey skin?

[MilaMae]

Foolishly watched JO and flicking through the Delia Xmas book-s*t every minute is mapped out,feeling veeeeery disorganised.

Had bought a pack of M&S stuffing,do I need to get more and do I really need to push it under the skin?

Also the carving,don't have a platter or proper carving knife.

I'm the one with a 16lb turkey, Martha Stewart mother and foodie family.

Jamie said ONLY put butter under the skin and a halved clementine inside so it cooks through properly by steaming inside

Cook your M&S stuffing separately and you will be fine

I just put stuffing in the cavity - you can stuff both ends if you like although when you put stuffing inside the ribcage be sure to leave a gap at the top so that air can circulate and it can all cook properly.

I wouldn't put stuffing under the skin, that sounds weird.

This is my method for keeping the turkey moist, which has never failed in 3 generations in this family!
Once the turkey is stuffed, cover it well with streaky bacon - you will need a full pack for a bird that size -, making sure to to put some over the legs. Then cover all that with butter papers. If you don't have any (I save mine through the year), then you can smear some butter and cover it all with greaseproof which works just as well.
Then foil over everything - I use two long pieces, one going each way in the roasting tin and then sit the turkey on top. Pinch them shut at the top, and then you can easily open them up to baste and check the progress.

HTH!

What did he put in his butter? Do you think it'll be on his website?

Sorry, not sure. DH was watching (he will cook it lol), I was MNetting . I expect it will be on the website though

It's not-damn. I think there were cranberries and a whole pack of butter......

He puts lumps under the skin at both ends - neck and arse - and says not to worry as it will melt and spread all over under the skin.

That's what I picked up before I had to channel hop away from the close ups of his disgusting fingernails.

DH says garlic, anchovies and rosemary. But he is watching a Question of Sport, so that may not be totally reliable

i think the acnhovy thing was for some cabbag ehe cooked - i think the turkey butter thing was sage reosemary and chopped dried cranberries but i was popping in and out so not 100% sure. he put it in oven without any wrapping /foil which i hav never tried looked uber easy so may give it a go

DH has just changed his tune . Yes was cranberries and sage

This thread is making me long to roast a turkey. Unfortunately we are going to the in-laws' and MIL is serving an Aldi turducken :(

I may have to cook a random Xmas meal at home some time in Jan -- really want to try some of the recipes I keep reading everywhere.

I know that appeals to me too,you'd think they'd put the list on the site.Just bumped an old thread with the same request on food.Maybe somebody was paying attention. A herb butter I could do so really need the list.

Dtwin2 v poorly and not sure about shopping with the snow so the easier the better.

Ditching Delia.

Recipes from last night are here

www.jamieoliver.com/christmas-lock-in/

just scroll along the recipes from the show bit and you'll get to the turkey, gravy etc.

We always put butter under the skin - BIL is a chef and he told us this way of doing it. it works well if a bit fiddly

Try roasting the turkey breast side down for half the cooking time, and then turn up the other way to brown the skin. That way the breast sits in the meat juices. I have never done this as I used to cover the breast with bacon, and roast covered with foil. I also used to pour off the juices and spoon the fat back over the turkey, using the juice for the gravy. Always worked fine.

If you don't put stuffing in the cavity, (I only put a very small ball of it) you can put in a chunk of onion or apple which will give off steam as well as flavour to keep the meat moist. Whatever you do, don't fill the cavity completely as you need the heat to circulate and cook the bird properly.

Moon the list of ingredients isn't listed it just says herb butter,see his mag .Thanks Jamie!!!!!!

Just do it your way, don't worry about being posh or fiddly, too many other things to think about on xmas day!

Yay list on thread in food!!!!!

Thanks,looks v easy will do us nicely

ONly once have I ever put stuffing under the skin and found it to be fiddly as hell!

I just dress my turkey with many layers of streaky bacon and butter. Also a million pigs in blankets which I take out after an hour or so - all the fat drips out and over the turkey helping to keepit moist.