Holiday Favorites In 5 Holiday Menus

Menu 1: A Southern Holiday Meal

Smoky Cajun Rubbed Turkey

Sweet & Gold Potatoes Au Gratin

Sausage Cornbread Stuffing

Molten Brownie Cakes

Smokey Cajun Rubbed Turkey

YIELDS: 12 SERVINGS PREP

TIME: 20 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME: 2 ½ TO 3 HOURS

GLUTEN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE, EGG-FREE, SOY-FREE, NUT-FREE, RICE-FREE, CORN-FREE

¼ cup Kosher salt

â…› cup McCormick Smokehouse black pepper

â…› cup chili powder

2 tablespoons smoked paprika

2 tablespoons onion powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon thyme, dried

1 (12 to 14 pound) turkey

¼ cup olive oil

1 cup onion, largely chopped

1 cup celery, largely chopped

1 small head garlic, cut in half

3 fresh bay leaves

1. To make the Cajun rub, combine the salt, pepper, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and thyme, and set aside. Place turkey in a roasting pan or on a baking sheet, something that will fit in your refrigerator with the turkey. Clean cavity and discard giblets.

2. Rub the turkey with olive oil, placing some in the cavity. Next, generously sprinkle and pat the Cajun rub over the entire surface of the turkey, including sprinkling about 2 tablespoons inside the cavity.

3. Cover the turkey with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 48 hours before roasting.

4. Prior to roasting, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place chopped onion, celery, garlic and bay leaves inside the turkey cavity. Then place in the oven and cook for 30 minutes.

5. Turn oven temperature down to 325 degrees F and roast for an additional 30 minutes. Then, carefully spin roasting pan 180 degrees. Continue roasting another 60 to 90 minutes until the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. 6. Remove the turkey from the oven and let rest on counter 15 minutes prior to carving.