Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Need I say more.  Anything with bacon tops my list.  We spent Thanksgiving away this year so I missed out on the hoopla that was Thanksgiving.  I did think that 2 cups of butter was a bit over the top.  While I love butter, we do have high cholesterol in my family.  The bacon kept the turkey moist.  I served it on the side, but ended up having left over bacon since everyone filled up on turkey.  I chopped up the bacon the next day and threw it in an omelette.

I worked at carving the turkey this year as the gourmet sites say you should.  I cut out the breast on each side and then sliced it.  Then I took both legs and thighs off.  I sliced of the dark meat off the thigh.  All in all I think for the first time it turned out beautiful and pretty easy.  p.s. mine was not as beautiful as martha stewarts....


Adapted from: Get Crocked

Ingredients:

Before roasting

1 (13 lb) whole turkey (uncooked)
1 cups butter (softened)
1 1/2 ounces fresh sage
1 lb or more of bacon (uncooked)
1 onion
1 garlic clove
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)

After roasting remove the foil

Directions:
1.  Pre-heat oven to 325°F
2.  Remove giblets and neck from Turkey. Rinse turkey with cold running water and drain well. Blot dry with paper towels.
3.  Chop Onion and Garlic and mix together. Once chopped and mixed, stuff the Onion and Garlic mixture into Turkey.
4.  Tie up the Turkey’s wings, legs, and drumsticks with Kitchen Twine as desired.
5.  Chop Sage and mix in with softened Butter.
6.  Rub Sage/Butter mixture under the skin and over the skin of the Turkey.
7.  Salt and pepper Turkey to taste.
8.  Place uncooked, Bacon slices all over the skin of the uncooked Turkey. They will stick onto the buttered Turkey.
9.  Place Turkey in a roasting pan and use Foil to tent the uncooked Turkey.
10.  Remove foil tent for last hour of cooking Turkey.
11.  Continue to let bacon cook on Turkey for an additional 15 minutes, then remove. (OPTIONAL – Bacon can then be chopped and placed in a separate dish of your choice).

The finished product

12.  Remove Turkey from oven once 160 degrees is reached internally in the Turkey.
13.  Allow Turkey to rest for 20-30 minutes, then carve (during the rest period, Turkey will continue to cook to 165 degrees).