Wayne County kids have their own turkey recipes
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 22, 2007 8:12 AM
Forget the Reynolds Wrap ladies -- and Food Network star Paula Dean.
And Butterball better snatch them up before the phones start ringing this afternoon.
Students in Vicky Moots' kindergarten class at Faith Christian Academy were ready and willing to share their secrets for the perfect Thanksgiving bird.
They might be a little short on the details, but these youngsters know that building the best holiday feast takes a lot of work.
Well, most of them, except for Parker Ivey. He has a man's eye view of cooking for the holiday -- simple, direct, uncomplicated.
"My dad puts the turkey in the fryer and then takes it out," he said. But he simply shrugged when asked how long the process took -- an unnecessary detail.
At Sarah Anderson's house, she has firsthand experience with turkey preparation.
"I help my daddy and put it in the oven," she said.
Jacob Simpson keeps a close eye on the proceedings in the kitchen. He knows who is boss on Thanksgiving Day, his mom.
"Sometimes my mama might put it in the oven," he said. He was uncertain how long the cooking should take, "but it seems like a long time."
And for some of the youngsters, Thanksgiving had a bit of stress attached to it.
Logan Pittman said he once had a vivid dream about a turkey.
"I saw one on a grill with all the grease on it. Somebody ate it all," he said, noting that he didn't get any for himself.
But for other junior chefs, they felt pretty sure they knew the secrets to proper preparation.
Summer Teachey suggested the best way to make a turkey is to "cook it in the oven for about 16 minutes. It's done when it beeps."
Brennon Cox said a turkey needs salt and pepper, after which one should "put it in the oven at 10 degrees, cook it for 20 minutes. It will turn brown." Then, he added, serve it with salad.
Gracie Spencer said she once watched her dad put a turkey on the grill.
"It took a long time," she said. And while she couldn't say how to determine when it was done, she suggested, "look on the clock."
Another option is to "put it on the grill and cook it 30 minutes, turn it over and cook it some more," said Tyler O'Connor, who said he would also like to eat some macaroni and cheese for Thanksgiving.
Miyah McCall said the turkey preparation process begins when "you take it out of the package.
"My mama puts salt in it and she puts chicken inside and she puts green beans inside, and then when it's done, she takes it out of the oven and then we eat it."
She also "turns that little button that's on the one oven and then she cooks it for 50 seconds. We know it's done because my mama told me."
Heather Price keeps an eye on cooking times and temperatures, too.
"First, my mama puts it in the oven (and she cooks it) for 15 minutes at 57 degrees -- and then we eat it. You know it's done because when it beeps. That's when it's done."
Ben Stovall likes his turkey well-done.
"You may put it in the oven, at 19 degrees and cook for maybe like four hours." It's done, he noted, "cause it might be smoky."
Chloe Mills said she has witnessed her dad cooking a turkey "on the stove, in the oven, on high, and put hot sauce on it."
She said she "thinks you cook it at 475 degrees, for about 910 minutes."
You know it's ready, she added, "because there's a thing on top of it and it dings like a bell when it's done."
Jackson Freeman's recommendation would be to "put salt on it and pepper and ketchup, cook it in the oven, cook it on hot. It will make a 'ding' sound so you know when it's done."
Kevin Baker offered another variation on the theme.
"You need salt, pepper and hot sauce," he said. "Cook it in the oven, cook it on hot for 10 seconds. It goes 'ding' and you check it. If it's done, we take it out."
Garyn Taylor also favors putting hot sauce on the turkey.
"Cook it in the oven for two or three minutes," she suggested.
It's easy enough to determine when the bird is done, Garyn said.
"It looks different. It changes color. It looks black."
Courtney Eberlan was a bit more detailed in her cooking report.
"You put it in a bowl. My daddy puts it in a bowl to cook it outside. He got a brand new grill," she said. "It doesn't take so much time, but I have no idea how long.
"When we had two turkeys on one Thanksgiving and one turkey wasn't done, it was yucky, and we had to cook it again."