Turkey Brine Recipe

Make your Thanksgiving a happy one.

How?

By brining your turkey! (Now wouldn't it be nice if Thanksgiving was that easy?!)

After eating a tough, dry turkey, I came across this brine recipe last year in USA Weekend. It definitely does the job of transforming your turkey into something special--moist and full of flavor. Give this a try:

1 small onion, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

1 medium carrot, diced

3 garlic cloves, sliced

3 bay leaves

1 Tb. black peppercorns

3 springs each of rosemary, thyme, and sage

6 sprigs of fresh Italian parsley

1/2 cup iodized salt

3 gallons of cold water

You need to start on this brine recipe one day before baking your turkey.

In a large pot, prepare the brine--combining all the above ingredients. Then, with your (defrosted) turkey in a large pot or container, pour the brine over your turkey.

Cover and refrigerate for 12-24 hours (the longer the better I think)

Remove turkey from brine. Dry off turkey with paper towels. Discard brine.

Then, prepare your turkey as you normally would for baking.

If you've never done this before, I think you'll be real pleased. As for me, I'll never make another turkey without doing brining it first.

P.S. Dont forget the jellied cranberry!