Saturday, November 22, 2008

Thanksgiving Turkey in Denmark

I was one of three other turkey cookers for the expat Thanksgiving Dinner this weekend. Of course Danes don't celebrate Thanksgiving, and so turkey is a fairly uncommon grocery item here.

(However, but, *as a side note*... due to American influx/influence they are becoming easier to find this time of year. I saw some at our local grocery - regular size (12-14 lbs) for $200 Kronner (that's about $40).

The club gets their turkey from a butcher, who gets them fresh (freshly dead) from a local turkey farmer. These things were gigantic. The legs were so big and so long, I had Rich cut them off along with the wings and then I cooked them Friday night, then cooking the main bird on Saturday.

Weight - 9.7 kilo (that's over 21 lbs)
Price - 770 Kronner (Yikes! Don't mess this up)
Cooking Time - 2 hours legs and wings;
4.5 hours for the rest.
Gravy - a bucketful

That's not going to fit.


This thing still had its giant neck attached, a few feathers, and little inside body parts that I just want to forget about (and they weren't in a nice little bag like Butterball provides).


The legs and wings.


Now it just fits. I stuffed the inside with red onion, white onion, carrots, and celery, doused it with Adobe seasoning and pepper and then just let it cook.


Temperature registered 192 F; safe to eat and juicy too.


Due to limited oven space, and time, I cooked the stuffing the night before. I had Rich bring me bootleg ingredients from his last trip to MN - bread crumbs (which they don't sell here), and cream of celery soup (no canned soups of any kind - except tomato - to be found here as well).

Someone else made a dark bread crumb stuffing - maybe pumpernickel - with a smattering of green beans in it - it was GOOD.




After all that work, we have no turkey leftovers of our own. But we did save the carcass and might try to make some soup later today if I get to feel like cooking again. Right now, I just want to drink coffee and knit a bit....I'm *trying* to get some kitchy Christmas gifts done.

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