Roast Turkey

                                             Roasting a turkey is simple and delicious.

If you have a fresh turkey, you are set. If you start with frozen, let it thaw in the fridge.
You will need to let it sit in the refrigerator 24 hours for every five pounds of bird.
Put a pan under the thawing turkey in case of leaking.

You will need a large roasting pan with a lid.
If no lid, use aluminum foil.
You will also need some cooking twine or a long piece of cheesecloth for tying the legs.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ingredients:

Turkey
4 Tablespoons softened butter

Put your turkey in the sink and remove the bag of giblets.
Rinse the turkey and pat dry.
Lift the turkey into the roasting pan.
If you are stuffing the turkey, do that now.
One at a time, twist and tuck the wings underneath the front of the bird. 
Take the cooking twine or cheesecloth and tie the drumsticks together.
Rub the turkey with the softened butter.
Cover the turkey with lid or foil.
You will need to roast it for 20 minutes per pound, adding an additional 45 minutes if you have stuffed it.
After roasting it for half the time, uncover the turkey.
With a turkey baster, pastry brush, or spoon,  baste the turkey every 20-30 minutes.

If the turkey comes with a pop-up timer, it is done when it pops up.
If it doesn't, to test for doneness, try to wiggle a drumstick. If it moves around a lot, it is done.

Remove from oven and let rest for 20 minutes before carving.

Turkey/Chicken Pot Pie

If you have never had a homemade pot pie, you are in for a treat. It is comfort food that warms you up on a cold day.

This is a good way to use up leftover turkey or chicken. You can also use cubed chicken breasts or cook 2-3 chicken hindquarters, take it off the bone and chop.

You need pastry for 9" two crust pie.
You also will need a 9" square pan.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

For the filling:
a heaping half cup of frozen peas and a heaping half cup of frozen carrots
you can also use a 10oz. bag of mixed peas and carrots.
3 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-3/4 cup chicken or turkey broth-canned, homemade, or use water and bouillon granules
2/3 cup milk
2-1/2 to 3 cups chopped turkey or chicken

Roll the pie dough out into a big enough square so you can just put it into the pan, add the filling and fold the top over. It might have a couple uncovered spots near the middle. But you need to slash holes in the top crust anyway so this works out well.

To make the filling,
Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the onion and cook til tender. Add the flour, salt and pepper.
Let it get bubbly and take off the heat. Add the milk and broth and put back on heat.
Bring to a boil. Let it boil 1 minute and keep stirring.
Stir in the turkey and carrots and peas.
Pour the filling into the crust and flip the crust over the filling.
Make air holes if you need.

Bake for about 35 minutes.

Let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into so the filling won't all run all over.

It serves 6 good size servings.