Saving Money Cooking Turkeys Is Great (Jenifer Whitmire)

A lot of people forget about cooking turkeys unless they are having a large gathering or celebrating a holiday. Some believe it is a lot of work and not worth the effort. The truth is that cooking a turkey does not have to be an ordeal that consumes a great deal of time, is as versatile as chicken, and can save people quite a bit of money.

The first rule is to use everything. A good size bird can easily become five, six meals, or even more. On the first day serve the family whatever choice of the meat they prefer, along with typical turkey dinner fixings. In order to get the most out of this bird, remove all the meat the day after it has been cooked and separate it according to white meat and dark. Do not discard the skin or the bones, those will be used too.

Take all of the "picked" bones and place them into a pot of water and allow it to boil and then simmer. Add a bit of salt and pepper and appropriate seasoning. Just let it sit until the bones are clean and a nice stock has been created. Once cooled the stock can be strained and used or frozen for later use. The savings at the grocery store will surely be noticed. There are countless recipes that will call for this broth, and homemade is always best. These bones can even be ground for use in the garden.

Save that skin. Save the gel too. Some people will say "yuck", but that gel is priceless. These are the ingredients included to make bouillon. A quick stop at the local grocery store will show just how expensive bouillon can be, and this homemade type is the "good stuff". This will not take a great deal of time. Place just enough oil in a saute pan to prevent sticking, and add the skin. Once it cooks down add the gel and a small amount of the prepared stock. Add seasoning as desired, and viola'. Once anyone makes this at home they will never want to buy it pre-made again. The rich flavor is incredible.

On the second night make "turkey dinner sandwiches" with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and boiled onions. Or maybe open faced turkey sandwiches with gravy are more appealing to the family. Either way, this is comfort food that will leave most families asking for seconds. Use the rest of the white meat for sandwiches and the dark for soup, stew, and casseroles. These can all be stored in the freezer for use at another time.

For quicker meal preparation, instead of cooking the whole turkey separate the whole bird and use what is needed. Freeze the rest for another day. Slice breasts, remove legs and wings, and toss the carcass in a pot of water... Simple, fast, and cost effective.

Try a new way of preparing an old dish. Turkey stir fry, fired rice, even tacos are a great way to "spice things up". Get creative and do not be afraid to try something new. There are few rules...

Save a lot of money and eat great by cooking turkeys. Yes, turkey is an excellent choice for the holidays, but it is a great choice every other day too.

View website for a summary of the benefits of choosing free range turkeys, right now. You can also get more info about John Howe Turkeys at http://www.johnhoweturkeys.com today.