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Roasted Herbed Turkey

2 Lemons

Dijon Mustard

1 cup Soy Sauce (I use low sodium soy sauce)

Nice handfuls each of rosemary, basil, thyme and sage

Preheat oven to 350° Make sure to remove the neck, gizzards, heart & liver then rinse & pat dry the turkey – placing it in a roasting pan either with a lid or you will need heavy duty foil to tent over the turkey while it is roasting. Next slather dijon mustard all over the turkey generously, I like to get up underneath the skin & coat the meat with it, making sure to get the skin loose so that we will be able to put the herbs under the skin when we’re ready to really infuse the herb flavors into the bird. Next, roll the lemons across the counter several times to loosen the fruit & juice from the rind, then cut into quarters & squeeze over the turkey, place rinds into the cavity of the bird. Next, gently pour the soy sauce over the turkey to coat it thoroughly but being careful not to wash off the dijon mustard.  Now it’s time to stuff herbs under the skin but make sure the skin continues to cover the bird & herbs. Then place herbs all over the outside of the bird, as well. You can keep some herbs back to use as garnish, if you like. Now cover with a lid or if you have foil, tent the foil over the bird tightly.  Depending on the size of your bird, you’ll want to roast for several hours until the internal temperature of the thigh meat has reached 180°.  Approximately 30 minutes before the bird is done cooking, you will want to check and see if it is browning, if it isn’t browning, then you’ll want to remove the lid or the foil. Now, make sure to baste frequently so you’ll keep the exposed breast meat from drying out on you.  This makes one of the most juicy, suculent and tasty turkeys you will ever put in your mouth.  Serve this with all your normal holiday sides.

I’ll be posting wonderful holiday recipes over the next few days & weeks so be sure to come back often. 

Here are the links to check out my turkey roasting & carving videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DDm3W9aWUg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKSZouKvRZQ

Juicy Wine Company, my all-time favorite wine bar in Chicago (and everywhere else), is running a don’t-miss special on Tuesday nights: $10 Obama Burgers and 1/2 price American wine (by the bottle or the glass!). What is an Obama Burger? Glad you asked. Here is what Rodney Alex, owner of Juicy Wine Company, had to say in his recent press release:

“But, just like giving your ailing dog a pill tucked inside a scrumptious treat, we’re gonna wrap our unabashedly liberal patriotism in something a thousand times more delicious than a Snausage: The ObamaBurger. But this isn’t just any cheeseburger. Why? Well, other than being named after the next President of The United States, it’s got bacon on it. (Proving Barack Obama is not Muslim. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!) And we’re not talkin’ about just any bacon, here. We’re talkin’ about what may be the best gourmet bacon in the country: Benton’s Smoked Country Bacon…

The audacity of pork

Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams has been producing award-winning country hams, domestic prosciutto and bacon in the hills of Madisonville, Tennessee since 1973. In 2007 the Southern Foodways Alliance bestowed Allan Benton with it’s highest honor, The Jack Daniel’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Allan’s meats are served in some of the finest restaurants in the country because of their distinctive, full, mouthwatering flavor.

It’s the ingredients, stupid

But you can’t make a truly awesome burger with just beef, bacon and buns. That’s why we’re piling Benton’s hickory-smoked country bacon on top of a char-grilled mound of juicy, Kobe beef (reflecting Obama‘s Pan-Asian upbringing), topping it with gooey Wisconsin Cheddar, spicy, Michelle-fist-pumped caramelized onions and a dollop of our very own Secret South Side Sauce. We then cram all that goodness between two slices of marble rye (celebrating Barack’s multiracial background) and feed it to our panini press, transforming it into the ultimate patty-melting-pot that is America. Add a heaping side of Harvard Yard Baked Beans (commemorating Barack’s days as the first Black president of The Harvard Law Review) and that, my fellow Americans, is The ObamaBurger.”

After reading this, mom and I naturally had to pay a visit and sample these burgers for ourselves. Yes, they are all that. Really. The burgers are cooked on Juicy’s outdoor grill before they get dressed and pressed, which gives them a wicked beef crust. Yes, Benton’s bacon really is the best, and nestled between two slices of Red Hen Bread‘s marble rye, there is nothing not to love. (The baked beans were likewise delicious, not too sweet and chock full of that lovely bacon.)

But don’t forget the wine, either. Juicy is known for scoring only the tastiest boutique wines, and at 1/2 price, Tuesdays are your chance to try something super special. (We enjoyed a faboo Pinot Noir, and Juicy’s knowledgeable waitstaff stand ready to make suggestions.)

Tips: The Obama Burgers are for dine-in only (no takeouts allowed). For an extra special treat, ask to sit out on their new deck. Also, be sure to get there early before they run out of burgers!

Juicy Wine Co
694 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago IL 60622

(312) 492-6620

Mon – Thurs: 4 pm – 1 am
Fri: 4 pm – 2 am
Sat: 11 am – 2 am
Sun: 11 am – 3 pm

The only place I know of (other than my kitchen) that a body can get a REAL cappucino (or espresso or latte or iced chai tea…)

Iced Moccacino, my current fav

Formerly known (with great love and affection) as The Daily Perk, The Rye Cafe is still the coolest place to hang out, read, write, socialize in the middle of the day. (They open earlier for your morning java, but I personally never get there until at least 11! Ah, the artists life.)  The atmosphere is comfy cozy with it’s terracotta floor tiles, the original antique copper tiled ceiling, and lighting that perfectly sets the mood. Every month a different local artist is featured on the walls of “The Rye”, and every Wednesday night is “open mic” night.(come around 7ish.) The location has always been a hub for artists of all sorts, interesting conversation, and a place to meet new people or socialize in comfort with old friends. I personally love to go there to write, and pay my rent in flavoured coffee, specialty coffee and food.

The coffee, as I’ve said, is the best around. If you want to bring it home, they sell coffee beans for your home  brewers. If you are looking for food, their wraps are fantastic. Fresh ingredients and made with love. I can NEVER finish one, and almost always will take half home. They also have daily soups and specials. And for the attention to detail you receive, from the smile you get at the counter to the food on your plate, you’ll be impressed with the prices on the casual yet gourmet menu.

The Rye is one of those Little Town Wonders. You won’t want to miss it.

Lori Petroff