EDMONTON — Thanksgiving may be another week and a half away, but it’s not too early to start planning for it. In fact, those wanting to cook a fresh, local turkey are running out of time to order their bird.
“I think the key really, first of all, is buy a good Alberta turkey, and I think a fresh turkey is the way to go,” Mary Bailey, publisher of local food magazine The Tomato said on Global Edmonton Morning News.
“It’s a lot less work actually, because a frozen turkey you have to worry about finding a place in your fridge for like, five days while it defrosts and all that stuff, so there’s an element of risk there.”
Where to buy
Several stores offer fresh birds, and Bailey recommends buying at farmers’ markets or local stores. She says local farms will be taking orders for the next few days, so it’s best to get your order in sooner than later to avoid disappointment.
Here are her top picks and where to order them:
- Four Whistle Farm: Downtown and Old Strathcona Markets
- First Nature Farm: Old Strathcona Market
- Sunworks Farm: Blush Lane, Old Strathcona Market. Order until Oct. 5. Call 1-877-393-3133
- Spud the delivery service has turkeys available from Winter’s Turkeys in southern Alberta
Costco also carries fresh turkeys in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, and Sunterra Market carries local turkeys.
Cooking tips
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Once you have the bird, how do you make sure to get a delicious roast and not a dry, flavourless one?
“Most people overcook their turkey, and they cook it at too high a temperature.” Bailey recommends cooks put lard or another type of fat on the breast side of the turkey, because that meat is quite lean and prone to drying out.
READ MORE: Well-rested thanksgiving turkey is key
But what if you don’t have a massive clan to feed? Bailey said in some stores, you can buy a half turkey or even just a breast. Below is her recipe for a roast turkey breast with sausage and kale stuffing, that feeds six to eight people.
“It’s guaranteed to be moist, because that little bit of fat in the sausage is going to keep everything moist, because of course, the breast is total protein.”
First time jitters?
For those taking on Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, Bailey recommends checking out the ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen website for recipes and cooking tips. Got questions? The answer line is open Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. at 1-877-420-9090.
As for leftovers, Bailey suggests using them to make soups and sandwiches.
Watch below: Roasted turkey breast with sausage and kale stuffing recipe
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