Turkey Time

Thanksgiving is coming and we are all giving some attention to where we will be and what we will be eating.  If you are going to have the traditional Thanksgiving feast, have you thought about where you will be purchasing your turkey?  Some of you have already bought a frozen turkey from the grocery store and have it safely in deep freeze.  But, for those of us who haven't gotten there yet, there are now other options.  These days you can easily find a fresh turkey (uncooked), or even order one from a restaurant or other organization already cooked.  For the fresh turkeys, they can be conventional, natural (I usually think of this as no additives or preservatives), or even organic (just the turkey, ma'am - no hormones, antibiotics, GMOs in their feed, etc.).  Many health food stores are taking orders for your fresh organic turkey right now, and the prices are not that bad.  I've heard a price range of $4.00 per pound and up.  You can then pick it up the day before Thanksgiving and not worry about defrosting your bird in the refrigerator for days.  If you are lucky enough to have a free range turkey farm near you, they may sell one to you directly, eliminating the middle man.  Each year we usually order a smoked turkey from a barbecue joint, but I'm sure it's probably conventional.  I'm not so excited about it this year, but maybe my solution is to ask around - perhaps there's a delicious organic smoked turkey out there for us.   Do happy turkeys taste better?

(Conventional factory farm)

(Free range farm)