Tackling Thanksgiving Turkey for the First Time: A Video Recipe

My son Ethan really loves to cook and eat delicious food, so it's no wonder Thanksgiving is one of his favorite holidays.

Last year, we tackled cooking a whole turkey with stuffing for the first time. So if you're nervous about making your first turkey, too, just follow Ethan's simple instructions.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 turkey, thawed
• 1 large roasting pan
• Butter
• Poultry rub (optional)
• Poultry thermometer
• 1 bag seasoned stuffing mix
• 1 egg

Here's how to make it:

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Remove the turkey from the wrapper, noting the weight. Remove the neck and giblets from inside the turkey, and remove the plastic leg ties.

In a large bowl, combine the stuffing mix (Ethan used a bag of pre-seasoned vegan stuffing from Whole Foods) with the egg; add enough water to make it mushy and stir until evenly moist.

Next, take the stuffing and, in Ethan's words, "shove it in the bird." Stuff the bird with as much stuffing as you can fit inside and pile the rest up outside the opening.

After you've stuffed the turkey, grab a handful of butter (literally, in your hand), and rub down the entire outside of the turkey. This will help it cook up golden brown and crispy. After you've rubbed it down with butter, you can also add a poultry rub or seasonings of your choice.

Place the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast, then put the turkey in the oven and reduce the temperature to 350 degrees. Bake approximately 15 minutes per pound of turkey or until the thermometer reads 180 degrees, basting occasionally.

There you have it – a delicious, simple, beautiful main dish to share with family and friends!

Do you have a recipe to share? Leave a comment or email jessica.schrader@patch.com and your recipe could be featured on Ferndale Patch! Original recipes only, please.