Citrus Basil Roasted Turkey

There seems to be more and more hardships 
and sadness in peoples lives lately...

Especially since I talk to so many people at work now 
from around the world, 

I'm amazed at what some people are going through.  

There is much sorrow due to sickness of parents, 
spouses and children...

There is much disillusionment due to loss of jobs...

There is much hunger and homelessness...

There is loss of homes and loved ones 
due to war and natural storms...

There's so much uncertainty and loneliness...

I just ask us to take the time to listen--

What I have learned is that most of the time 
when people are angry and upset, 

They just really need someone to listen and to understand...

We might not be able to do much..
we might not be able to solve all that's wrong...

But we can be a shoulder to cry on, an ear that hears, 
an empathetic voice...

Sometimes that's all that many of us need....

I also have a prayer list that I keep...

Some people are my family and dear to my heart..

Some people I have only met on the phone...

Some people I have only met through chance while I'm out...

But it does me good to pray for them.  

I'm always hoping they can feel that they're being uplifted.

One of my defining moments of my life was a time 
a few years ago when I was going to have a biopsy...

The morning of, the minister from a church in Brazil 
called me and said,

 "Our church is praying for you."...

Who was I that all these people who I had never met, 
living across the world, were praying for me? 

It still makes me cry, and makes me so grateful that we can make 

such a difference in people lives with never even knowing them.

During this season, let's just slow down, love our families, 

be so thankful for what we have 

and reach out to those we come in contact with.  

Everyone IS fighting a hard battle...we may just not know it yet. 

Since I had to share what was heavy on my heart...

and I cried while I typed... 

and I made you cry when you read it...

I'm now going to share a most delicious recipe I made for Thanksgiving...

my Citrus Basil Roasted Turkey--
It was sooo moist and delicious and I highly recommend it for the Christmas Holidays.  

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Citrus Basil Roasted Turkey
 
1 stick of butter
1 orange
fresh basil--chop 2-3 TBSP
20 lb Turkey
Morton's Nature Seasoning
Celery Salt

I look pretty intense focusing on chopping the basil :)

Slice the butter and place in a bowl with the basil....

Grate the orange peel over the bowl...

Isn't that so very pretty! :)

Slice the orange to use later...

Now to prepare the delicious bird...

This is done with your hands or better yet...someone else's :)--
well, someone has to take the pictures...
just saying...

Smear the turkey all over with the butter, basil, 
orange peel mixture...

This takes time and patience...
easy to say if you're the one holding the camera...:)

Smear it all over with the gooey goodness...

Next you'll add these 2 guys...

Generously...all over....
you really cannot get too much seasoning on the turkey...

This takes a little time and patience too as you 
want to completely cover it with the seasonings...

Hmm...Hmm...Hmm...

And the top next...

I ususally use a Reynolds Turkey Bag to cook my turkey 
 because my Mom always did it this way...:)

You can use a Turkey Roaster and cover it 
well with heavy duty foil.  
You will have to bake it a little longer this way 
and maybe use a meat thermometer to see 
if it reaches the correct temperature.  

You'll remove the foil during the last part of baking 
to make sure it browns beautifully.

Or, just throw it in that turkey bag like Momma did a
nd save yourself all that trouble! :)


Place the orange slices in the cavity and if you have any of the butter mixture left, throw that in there too!

Oh, and an onion if you have one....
I sometimes throw in some celery and even an apple...
just depends on the ingredients on hand and the mood...just saying..

After 3 1/2 hours on 350 degrees in the turkey bag, it comes out beautiful like this!  

We had company over and forgot to take the pretty platter pictures and the pictures of it carved...
but I think you get the idea...

It was delicious!