What can I put around the turkey, once it's on the platter, to make it look nice?

Question

It doesn't necessarily have to be something that will get eaten. I'd just like to make it be a nice presentation. Also, what can I put in the opening of the turkey. I cook the stuffing seperate, for health reasons, and don't bother putting it in the turkey once everything is cooked because of my picky hubby. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Answer 1

Put your favorite citrus in the cavity of the turkey. You may use lemon, orange, lime or any combination of the three. Also add herbs which you plan on seasoning the top of the turkey with, inside the cavity as well. Before adding your citrus and herbs to the cavity, season well with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.

You can roast your turkey on thick onion slices. Use about 2-3 medium onions, sliced across about 1-1 1/4 inch thick. The onions will act as the roasting rack and keep the turkey out of direct contact with pan. The juices of the turkey will also flavor the onions and other vegetables you add to the roasting pan-carrots, celery.

You can use the cooked vegetables as an edible garnish for the turkey. This works well because all of the flavors already go together, being cooked in the same pan. You can also add fresh herbs, the ones used to season turkey, to the final turkey plate. You can cut up pretty sections of your citrus as well. Cut off just the tips of the citrus, where the hard circle is that was once connected to the tree, and the opposite end. Just to give the final citrus a base. Work with one half at a time and make a 1/2 inch cut down into the citrus (rind and part of flesh) on a bias, about 45 degrees. Make a cut in the opposite direction, one inch to the right of your first cut, which meets with your first cut at a point. Continue this pattern around the lemon, and repeat on other citrus half. These will make your plate look nice.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I think that part of the question is the picky hubby. If you put herbs or citrus in the cavity of the turkey, it is possible for it to pick up the flavoring.

While lemons and such would look lovely and have a nice smell, I don't think I would like the way it might flavor the meat.
Bland foods that won't lend their scent or taste to the meat I think are the best bet here.

Lettuce and spinach will work well, for the bed. Cranberries and tiny candied crabapples would look nice around the bird. If not those maybe cherry tomatoes or radishes carved into tiny roses? (these keep very well in ice water until ready to use).

For the cavity, perhaps some whole cooked sweet potatoes? Those are not strong enough in flavor to make the bird pick up the taste. You could also you a few dinner rolls. Perhaps some fresh parsley which has no real flavor to accent.

Answer 3

For flavor, put in the cavity, some celery. Take it out just before serving. Are you having the turkey carved at the table or will you have it carved and serve as slices? If you are carving at the table, just a little greenery will do, kale leaves or something. If you are pre-slicing, arrange the slices on the platter from dark to white in a fancy way that is easy to lift off a slice, no other adornment needed. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Answer 4

Your Thanksgiving platter could desire to be crammed with shade, fantastically fall colours! in case you like a watch-appealing & appealing turkey platter, right this is what you're able to do: smartly encompass your turkey with eco-friendly leafy lettuce. Lay right here vegetables on precise of the lettuce: one million. Carrots 2. Mini pink pores and skin Potatoes 3. Sliced Yellow Squash 4. pink & Yellow Peppers you are able to lighty steam the vegetables or they may be uncooked. no longer in common terms will your turkey platter be desirable, this is going to additionally be nutritious & scrumptious! Bon Apetit'!

Answer 5

For a traditional table, I would use herbs, like fresh sage and rosemary springs and maybe some purple kale.
For a funkier table I would use sliced star fruits -- I love those things -- mixed with fresh cranberries.
For the cavity of the turkey, how about some halved oranges and lemons with a few of those cranberries mixed in. The aroma of the citrus would be great!

Answer 6

I've used lettuce and spinach leaves. Line the platter first, put the turkey on top of it and then place small colored peppers all around the turkey. For the opening, how about fruit.

Answer 7

I personally put a whole onion in the cavity of the bird.
As for decorations round the platter, I like my chipolatis wrapped in bacon, round balls of stuffing,My butcher gives me little fancy bits to put on the legs, (like what you put on a rack of lamb) and a selection of Roast potatoes,and a selection of roast vegs. The colour is very festive and bright.
All other veg etc: I put in seperate dishes and let everyone help themselves.

Answer 8

game chips, parsley and lemon wedges

for game chips just peel some potatoes slice them really thin and deep fry then

and you could put half a lemon in the cavitiy of the turkey

Answer 9

How about dollar bills and gold coins so everyone will jump on the turkey and fight over it?

Answer 10

cranberry jell sliced for the platter and smoked sausage links in the cavity