Filed under: Books, Cookbook of the Day

Talk Turkey to Me: A Good Time in the Kitchen Talking Turkey and All the Trimmings is one of those cookbooks that is so enjoyable to read that you almost forget it is a cookbook - and after reading well-written but intensely instructive texts, this comes as a welcome change. Author Renee Ferguson starts out by talking about selecting a turkey, choosing between fresh and frozen and the various sizes available. She covers defrosting and turkey anatomy (a crucial point, as anyone who has forgotten to remove the giblets from the bird before stuffing and cooking can tell you), too. From there, the book goes on to discuss stuffing, how to determine doneness and just about every cooking technique you can think of, from roasting to smoking to frying, along with all the important do's and don'ts for each. Once the turkey is done, you can move on to the chapters about sides, salads, desserts and tips for using up leftovers.

How does Renee know all this? She is one of the experts behind the Butterball Hotline, and not only does she share her turkey knowledge generously, but she also shares stories about funny callers and dinners gone wrong. After all, nothing will take the pressure off from a holiday meal better than a good laugh.