Wednesday, November 16, 2011

beware

Be aware that Thanksgiving Day is fast approaching, bringing the inevitable and ominous roast-turkey syndrome into millions of American homes.
Men, women and trusting children will routinely (and boringly) munch on slices of turkey meat along with some truly tasty side dishes that deserve a better centerpiece.
For the fact is that turkey itself is simply tasteless, as I have said before. And you don't have to take it from me: the Denver Post's Tucker Shaw, writing of the traditional holiday feast, observed the other day that "turkey, unless it's correctly seasoned, tastes like nothing."
Exactly.
For seasoning, Shaw mentions salt -- lots of salt -- as, for instance, soaking the bird in brine for eight to ten hours before cooking.
Well, in my less than expert opinion, salt might bring tasteless turkey to life -- so you know something's there -- but could not by itself make it fit to eat. I'd try onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, picante sauce. Better still, I'd try baked ham or a rib roast.
But do try something. You don't ever have to take plain old turkey breast again.

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