My best friend is an excellent cook. I asked her what her trick is just to make sure, because I was pretty sure I remembered and I did. She BRINES her turkey. Overnight in a bucket. Of course I DON'T cook so I wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but I believe she said equal parts salt and sugar, I guess water? Broth, spices, etc. SHE does not botch a bird. If you want me to get more explicit directions on brining let me know and I'll ask, otherwise you might try some cooking website. Here is one that I found: Brining Turkey - Turkey Brine Recipes and Information

Good luck.

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Outmatched, Outclassed, Mentally Incompetent and Insecure Dime a Dozen Forum Attention Hag Extraordinaire

My best friend is an excellent cook. I asked her what her trick is just to make sure, because I was pretty sure I remembered and I did. She BRINES her turkey. Overnight in a bucket. Of course I DON'T cook so I wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but I believe she said equal parts salt and sugar, I guess water? Broth, spices, etc. SHE does not botch a bird. If you want me to get more explicit directions on brining let me know and I'll ask, otherwise you might try some cooking website. Here is one that I found: Brining Turkey - Turkey Brine Recipes and Information

Good luck.

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Outmatched, Outclassed, Mentally Incompetent and Insecure Dime a Dozen Forum Attention Hag Extraordinaire

I don't really mind doing the dishes. For me, it's still worth it to have the rest of the day off and he's good about soaking stuff so it's not that bad to clean up.

I love your idea about turkey tv dinners! Normally everyone here starts complaining about having the leftovers by Saturday. So if I could do something like that and serve it later everyone wouldn't feel like they're going into turkey overload.

My frugal Spanish grandmothers always did that with the turkey left overs so I am just carrying on the tradition.

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Volunteering at church or something is a great suggestion as Robert said. I used to be a member of a support group when I was up in NY. For Christmas Day I invited ALL of my misfit friends (a couple of which were Jewish) and ANYBODY from my support group who heard about it whether I was chummy with them or not for dinner. My feeling was to make a place for people who don't HAVE a place for Christmas.

Might be tough to pull something like that together for Thanksgiving, but not so difficult to plan for a very full and vibrant Christmas celebration and you can make it a "pot luck" kind of thing so that the entire expense doesn't fall on you. You can make it a really good time.

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Outmatched, Outclassed, Mentally Incompetent and Insecure Dime a Dozen Forum Attention Hag Extraordinaire

Since i work 2 jobs i think i will just stay home thanks i might point out i wasn't asking for advice