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Mary's Turkeys Recipe Pitman Family Heritage Turkey Recipe
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Heritage Turkey Roasting Instructions

Prep Time30 minutes
Active Time5 hours
Resting Time30 minutes
Total Time6 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: instructions, roasting, whole turkey

Materials

  • 1 whole Mary's Heritage Turkey
  • ¼ cup Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsps Minced Garlic
  • 2 tbsps Minced Brown Onion
  • 2 tbsps Minced Fresh Rosemary
  • 1 tbsp Minced Fresh Thyme
  • 3 tbsps Minced Fresh Parsley
  • 1 tbsp Ea. Lemon Zest Lemon Juice
  • 3 tbsps Butter
  • ½ tbsp Cracked Black Pepper

Instructions

For Best Results

  • Pre-Heat Oven to 325ºF
  • Thaw Your Turkey in advance (see notes below for thawing instructions)
  • Use a Thermometer (see notes below for what type of Thermometer to Buy)
  • Remove the clip that holds the drumsticks together. Remove by Squeezing Wires Together.
  • Add 2-4 cups of Water or Broth in pan.
  • Let the Turkey rest for about 30 minutes before carving to allow juices to flow into the meat.
  • When the Turkey reaches 165-170˚F in the turkey's thigh, they turkey is done. (Heritage Turkey 160-165˚F)

Cooking Instructions

  • Marinate the turkey the day before cooking.
  • In a bowl, mix together olive oil, garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme, parsley, lemon zest & lemon juice.
  • Place turkey on roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Rub the entire outside of turkey with marinade. (You can also rub the marinade under the turkey skin) Cover the turkey with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Melt butter and pour over the turkey. Season turkey with the pepper. Place the turkey in oven and cook until 160-165 degrees at the thickest part of the thigh using a thermometer.
  • Remove turkey from the oven, tent with foil and let rest 30 minutes before slicing.
  • We do not recommend stuffing the Heritage Turkey as that will increase the cooking time and the danger of drying out the turkey. Cook the stuffing on the side in a separate pan. The Heritage Turkey will be done before the Stuffing will be fully cooked.

Notes

TURKEY THAWING

See our instructions for thawing a turkey.

TURKEY THERMOMETERS

See our instructions for what type of Thermometer to Buy.
Thank you for participating in the 2003 "Heritage Turkey" Pilot Program. We appreciate your support, and we trust you will have a "tasteful" experience this holiday season!
 
We would like to extend a special thanks to Roger Mastrade of Santa Cruz. Without his help, none of this would have been possible. We appreciate his countless hours spent and his dedication to the preservation of the heritage turkeys through Slow Foods U.S.A. Thank you for introducing us to Slow Foods. www.slowfoodusa.org
 
We are also very grateful to Gene Burns and Joel Riddell of KGOam 810, www.kgo.com, for having us on their Dining Around with Gene Burns Show. Thank you so much for letting everyone know about our heritage turkeys! Your help and support made this year a huge success for the heritage turkeys!
 
This particular recipe is compliments of Bruce Jacobs, Executive Chef of the Bristol Farms fine gourmet markets in the greater Los Angeles area. He truly has created the perfect way to prepare and enjoy these unique Heritage turkeys. And yes, we have sampled the results of Bruce's recommendations and the taste is exquisite!
 
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!.
 
Rick & Mary Pitman