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Originally posted by greatwhitenorthchick
I am having two of my best friends over for thanksgiving dinner and I'm going to cook for them and I've promised that they will have real bird and I won't foist tofurkey on them. The question is, do I actually cook for them or do I pick up the pre-cooked turkey from the caterer the night before? I don't want leftovers. Do turkeys come in small enough sizes for just two people? Should I go with Cornish Hens or some other small bird for them? How does one cook a bird? Any books or websites I could go to for advice?
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It seems that ordering it may be easier, especially for that small of a turkey. You usually estimate about a pound a person (if you don't want leftovers), and I can't imagine that there that many turkeys out there less than three pounds out there. You could go with just turkey breasts. Or phesant. Or goose. Or duck. Yummmmmm...
It's actually not that hard to cook a turkey, and usually there are basic instructions on the package*. I agree wholeheartedly with the brining suggestion, and I also recommend that if you cook it, you rub the bird with (olive) oil before you put it in the oven.
*My big problem has always been time miscalculation, which is why I make sure that there is plenty of alcohol around for my guests while we wait around for the turkey to finish up. I also have a tendency to forget that the giblets are usually in a plastic bag somewhere inside the carcass. I've cooked at least three packages of them inside the turkey.
