Turkey Trappings
Every year I'm astonished at the silly ideas that surface about cooking a turkey. The idea of starting it breast-side down for instance, and then turning it on its back halfway through. That's both dangerous and pointless. The idea of roasting the bird in an oven bag that could produce a steamed flavor. The idea of buying a prebasted turkey which is supposed to insure juiciness but often just means it's an inferior turkey.
The truth is, it's not hard to cook a turkey in a gimmick-free manner though the size can be intimidating. Just roast the darn thing in a medium oven, first uncovered. Then cover with foil when it gets brown enough and continue to roast until done. And if you are really worried about doneness, buy a thermometer. It's cheap and can be used when you cook other foods.
