A Native American Recipe: Let's Talk Turkey As It Was In The Early Days!
Posted: Wednesday, November 23, 2011
by elle kynzer
Although this recipe for making turkey is credited to the Apache, it was just as much a part of the Cherokee, Creek or Pioneer food preparation. We think the biggest part of our Thanksgiving turkey preparation is getting out our deep fryer, or huge roasting pan. Most of us have enjoyed the modern version of cooking, but many of us here in the South especially are familiar with 'the pit'. The majority of PITs are used for the "pig roast". That was also the way our ancestors made their roasted turkeys; feathers and all.
Don't try this now, but when you are camping, or out hunting, and have a place to make a pit, with all the right utensils/knives, then practice...otherwise it might turn out to be real mess, without experience. Old realities were hard work.
When ready, roll that bird in some heavy, wet, mud. Take the mudball, and put it in foil or banana leaves (cowboys/indians did not have those luxuries) and place in pit on coals, then cover with coals, twigs, leaves, etc, and leave for more than an hour depending on the weight. Make sure the heat is kept covered to cook the bird.....Now, in subzero weather this might not be your best choice.
Our ancestors did not have electric, gas, and in some cases not even a wood cook stove. This is the primitive life our Pioneers and American Indians enjoyed.
Now, if you want to know how good this roasted turkey is, and how easy the feathers peel right off; just read page 135 of the book online at the link below. There was an American Indian who gave this recipe to my husband, when he was young, and it's how this man cooked his turkey, YUM. Sweet potatoes, and some other vegetables work well in these pits with the bird.
Let us count our blessings, Happy Thanksgiving!
http://books.google.com/books
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Elle, interesting. I smoked my first turkey about three years ago and will never go back-moist and flavorful-i's the only way!Please log in to respond to this comment.
"Old realities were hard work" - isn't that the truth. People were tougher and more patient then, I guess. This does sound as though it's worth getting it right, though. I love the mud part!Please log in to respond to this comment.
We in the modern world don't know any of the difficulties faced by our ancestors. I sometimes gripe about our times, but I don't mean it - I don't want to go to the old days. We've got it so good, we don't even appreciate it. I think that tough times go right down to preparing the meals, sleeping on lumpy tiny beds, and freezing in the winter. We'd know just how rough it was by visiting Plymouth. Thanksgiving ought to make us count all of innumerable blessings.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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