Let's Talk Turkey!

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year like your perch librarian? Are you also intimidated by the turkey? With the holiday just around the corner, I thought it might be good to talk turkey. Specifically, let's talk about different websites that can help us conquer that big bird.

It's amazing how many ways a turkey can be cooked--in the oven, on the barbecue, in a deep fryer, in a smoker, etc. As for recipes, the number is endless; I kid you not. Bearing all this in mind, I'm going to list a few key places to get started:

• AllRecipes  Here are 13 turkey recipes to peruse. Choose from a classic or an herb roasted turkey to something a little off the beaten path, like a spicy Cajun deep-fried or a roast Peruvian turkey. The recipes include accompanying videos as well.
• Butterball  The name is synonymous with both turkey and Thanksgiving. It covers everything from types of turkey to buy, thawing directions, various cooking instructions, and leftover recipes, among other things. And don't forget about the hotline for turkey questions and emergencies.
• Food Network  The well-known TV channel lists 92 turkey recipes from the classic to the truly out-there turkey (I'm talking about tandoori, Memphis-fried, General Tso's-fried, buffalo-fried, North Carolina-style barbecue, maple-whiskey...you name it).
• Food & Wine  For a rather classy turkey, check out the 26 recipes offered here. There are recipes for turkey that's cider-glazed, citrus marinated, spice-rubbed, beer-brined, and more. There's even Anthony Bourdain's recipe for "business turkey," which has the bare basics.
• YouTube  For visual learners, watch a video and let a cook go through the cooking process step-by-step. Search for "how to cook a turkey" (the cooking method can be specified in the search) and choose from videos made by famous chefs and vloggers. Additionally, it's a good place to look up video recipes for side dishes and desserts.

Do you have a particular turkey recipe you enjoy? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads and delicious eats from the perch.