Any simple, tried and tested xmas turkey recipes please?

[Flyonthewindscreen]

I am cooking a turkey for the first time ever this xmas. Did a goose for my only other xmas dinner attempt and have roasted plenty of chickens but am still a bit nervous. Does anyone use a particular recipe that works and please could they share?

Get this month's good food magazine - it does a step by step Christmas dinner guide, including timings :)

Thanks Pottering, will look out for that.

I do Nigellas one out of Feast. Sounds odd but it works, you brine it first and then roast and it keeps lovely and moist and the juice is the gravy. Only thing i would say it beware of 5 spice , i reduce amount as i think its a bit overpowering

i sit turkey on 2 layers of foil, which are then brought together over bird with air gap at top and no gaps in foil so turkey steams. You put dollop of marg on bird first. for the last 30 mins you take the foil off and baste. If you are interested i can give you the timings.

dreaming, the timings for that would be good as your recipe sounds nice and moist. Some of the recipes I've looked seem very dry iykwim.

6-10lb/2.7-4.5kg bird allow 20 min per lb and 20 min over. for birds 10-18lb /4.5-8.1kg allow 15 min per lb and 15 min over. preheat oven to 220c gas 7 for first 40 mins and then turn down to 170c gas 3 for remainder. remove foil for last 40 mins and turn heat to 200c or mark 6 and baste frequently.

key thing is that you don't have any gaps in foil - you can smell it if you do. i normally smear bird in marg and put an onion or lemon in its cavity.

other great thing is that you don't have to do anything for most of cooking time.

Thanks dreaming, piebald will take a look at the Nigella recipe too as you say that makes for a moist bird - worried about plates of dry stringy meat!