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Community Corner

Thanksgiving Recipes: How to Cook that Big Bird

Try one of these non-traditional twists on our most traditional meal

 

Each family has its own special technique for cooking a turkey. For some it's down-the-line traditional, for others it's a family variation that won't go away, for others it's this year's trendy trick.

What's yours? Leave a recipe in the comments section below, or let us know what you think of these suggestions from our cooks in the Patch Kitchen.

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If you're hosting Thanksgiving this year, you can try any of the recipes below, from various online cooking sites, to add a new kick to your feast.

Just the name of this recipe could make your mouth water. An Allrecipes.com user contributes this Greek take on turkey, which combines ground beef and pork with tangerine juice, rice and other ingredients for an in-bird stuffing. This one requires no pre-made brine.

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This recipe calls for the use of a turkey breast roast, but variations can be worked out fairly easily for a smaller whole bird or even diced meat for a stir-fry or bake. Chicken dishes can be made with a very similar yogurt marinade to this one and the key is letting the meat soak up the sauce overnight. The flavors are intense and aromatic, and will definitely lend themselves to a unique Thanksgiving meal.

This recipe’s name—and its use of whiskey—is intriguing. A flavorful blend of unconventional ingredients make this dish sound delicious and feasible, and it requires fairly simple preparation. Check out the chef’s note to see how you can use a crock pot for a quicker, easier version of this recipe. Some of the user comments also have great ideas for stuffings that use the same components.

If you're in the mood for something more traditional this year, try this recipe:

The Food Network’s Alton Brown brings us this fairly simple (for a whole turkey) and by-the-book recipe, which uses a brine peppered with allspice berries and candied ginger. It takes about 10 hours of total cooking time, not including defrosting.

TELL US: What is your favorite way to cook a turkey on Thanksgiving? Do you use any special ingredients? Leave your comments  below. 

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