Judy.....

Hi Judy,

Oh-Oh...forgot to put in the recipe that I throw in a handful of those Ocean Spray Dried cranberries....they are yummy!!

After washing and rinsing the turkey, we give it a refreshing sprinkling of lemon and orange juices squeezed all over and inside the cavity. We drain him, stuff him and then lay him over a bed of celery sticks and carrot sticks in a deep oven turkey pan. This imparts lots of flavors to the drippings and stock that will later become your gravy. Then we butter him up real good with a stick of softened butter that has been mixed with a little bit of paprika, thyme, margoram and pepper. Cover his wings with foil so they don't burn roast. Mom likes to tent him loosely with foil so he "sweats", meaning lots of juices. I learned this method from her and she has been cooking turkey since way before me.

While roasting I begin basting with all those glorious drippings. This puts a rich, brown glaze on him and I begin ladling all the drippings into a smaller pan for gravy later. Oh the aroma...it will make you swoon!! All my casseroles have been prepared and are in the fridge ready for later baking. All that is on my stovetop that day are the potatoes for mashed potatoes, the gravy and the veggies.

I simply love Thanksgiving day....