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Tackle That Thanksgiving Turkey in a New Way This Year!

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thanksgiving-turkey-Thanksgiving is upon us! This time of year we pause to give thanks. There are so many things for which we are thankful - our families, friends, freedom and good health. We wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

Another thing we're thankful for is all the great food we get to prepare and share with loved ones. We all have our favorites, but there's always room to add new recipes to our repertoire.

Shake things up this year by trying a new method for cooking your Thanksgiving turkey! There are endless combinations of seasonings, marinades, and brining methods that can give your holiday meal a completely new flavor this year. Try out one of these different techniques, or make a new stuffing recipe like the one below.

Seasoning Blends & Marinades


Try stuffing your seasonings and rubs beneath the skin of the bird directly over the meat. You can do this by making a small slit in the top skin of the bird, rubbing your spice mixture beneath the skin, and marinate the bird for at least 24 hours before cooking.


  • Try a mix of sage, thyme, marjoram, salt and pepper.

  • Try a mix of creole seasoning, whole peppercorns, salt and garlic powder.


Step up your brine


A traditional brine consists of sugar and salt, but feel free to add extra subtle flavors to your turkey this year by stepping up your brine!

  • Try adding more exotic spices to your brine like clove, allspice, ginger, or cumin.

  • Try adding whole vegetables and fruits to your brine like leeks, onions, carrots, garlic and celery.

  • Try replacing the sugar with a variety of fruit juices like apple, orange, or even carrot!


Try a glaze this year


Most glazes consist of butter for browning, seasoning or spices, and some type of liquid base. Try one of the interesting glazes for fun this year.

Brown sugar orange glaze


Brown sugar is not just for ham! Try heating 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons orange juice to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once the mixture reduces and becomes syrupy (about 10 minutes) remove it from the heat and whisk in 2 tablespoons of butter. Once your bird gets close to being cooked (or when your thermometer reads close to 125 degrees) start brushing your bird with the mixture every 15 minutes or so until it is finished. If you are feeling colorful, try topping your bird with a little freshly grated orange zest!

Maple ginger glaze


Reduce some of your favorite high quality maple syrup in a saucepan with butter and freshly grated ginger. Using the same process as above, glaze your bird in the last quarter of your cooking time.

You can also try using white wine, lemon juice, ground rosemary or thyme and butter.

Try a new stuffing for your bird



  • Try stuffing the bird with whole bay leaves, fresh sage, carrots, celery, and halved sweet onions.

  • Or try stuffing the cavity with sweet onions, golden delicious apple slices, fresh lemon halves, and whole stems of rosemary.


Remember if you are frying a Thanksgiving turkey for the first time it is imperative that you follow safety instructions and thaw your bird completely before beginning. Please read this page to find some helpful safety tips to keep your holidays happy and disaster-free!