Turkey conundrum

[onlyMark]

I have two turkeys. Each weight 3.5kg. I want to cook them at the same time and they will be on the same shelf in the oven.
They need to be cooked for longer than just one 3.5kg turkey but not as long as if it was one 7kg turkey.
How long would I cook them for?

[bixaorellana]

Mark, you do not need to increase the cooking time. Just make sure the oven is preheated when you put them in and that there is space between them. Then time it as though it were only one 3.5kg bird.

For what it's worth, I cook whole chicken and turkey breast side down so that the breast will be continuously basted by the fattier back. If you like that nice golden presentation look, just flip the bird towards the end of cooking time so that the breast can brown.

[kerouac2]

Am I permitted to wonder why anybody would want to cook a turkey, much less two of them? Road kill?

[Deleted]

 I would check out this site. Not to contradict Bixa but no harm in double checking.

linkhttp://www.butterball.com/calculators-and-conversions

[onlyMark]

K2, you are permitted to wonder.
Civilisation wouldn't have gone very far without curiosity.

[onlyMark]

Casi, your link just brings you back to this same page. I'll look at their website though.

To answer K2 though, we are away in Zanzibar at Christmas. I would not be optimistic we would find a proper Christmas dinner whilst there and we won't even try anyway. So we are having it this Sunday, along with other friends who will also be away over the holidays.
As we are between the American Thanksgiving and Christmas, turkeys in the shops are in short supply, the only ones available are relatively small, and one would not be enough for all of us.

[mickthecactus]

Zanzibar eh? That’s exotic.

Or is it...

[onlyMark]

The name in itself conjures up an impression for sure. In reality it is also an island full of interesting happenings (like the shortest war in history, about 40 minutes give or take), the base for numerous explorers, a bloke called Tippu Tip and all sorts. Plus some good beaches and holiday stuff.

[bjd]

Zanzibar certainly conjures up images of spices, men dressed in white robes and the smell of spices. I have been to Lamu in Kenya, so would love to go to Zanzibar too.

[onlyMark]

Zanzibar is bigger and more hectic then Lamu, but there are many similarities. I had a more relaxing time on Lamu than Zanzibar.

Typical East African island beach house on Lamu -

[whatagain]

Quite exotic indeed. Fir a while I thought the name was invented.
After extensive reading of Wikipedia it confirms what I so consciously knew about it being a place for slavery and I discovered Freddie Mercury was born there.
It looks like a place to spend holidays.

As for turkeys I think we must have cooked less than 5 in all our life ...

[mickthecactus]

You certainly get around young Mark,

[bjd]

We stayed at the Pole Pole Guest House. It was definitely not fancy accommodation. I just googled it. It has information online but still doesn't seem to be fancy. The roof terrace had good views over the town so sometimes people from fancy hotels would come to see the view.

I was there with my son in 2003. We spent every evening sitting on the roof terrace, looking out to sea and eating ripe mangoes! What wonderful memories.

[onlyMark]

Yes, I'd forgotten about Freddie Mercury.

Mick, young in mind but not in body nowadays. Bear in mind I didn't really start wandering/travelling/working abroad until I was late thirties, so I've managed to fit a bit in for sure.

"Pole pole" in East Africa is about one of the most known phrases, probably after hakuna matata. I doubt there is a town without a Pole Pole Guest House! That and the Jambo cafe. I don't remember where I stayed.

[Deleted]

Dec 8, 2017 11:23:30 GMT mickthecactus said:

You certainly get around young Mark,

I agree. It makes me so envious all your adventures Mark.

(_{As to "Pole pole", is that some kind of bad Polish joke that  went over my headski head?
Not to worry, I have come to enjoy these as I have a dear dear friend who is relentless in his spontaneous chiding of my heritage).}

[bjd]

I hadn't read it like that, Casi. It's said Pol-eh,i.e. pronouncing all the letters. Pole pole means slowly, slowly in Swahili -- the way to live in Lamu.

[Deleted]

I really didn't either BJD but couldn't resist the opportunity to invite one of Mark's very witty retorts.

(Clearly I am bored being stuck inside and avoiding chores etc. that I could/should be doing.)

[onlyMark]

I can't think of one Casi, but I do know that out of all human characteristics, the one I find most enjoyable, long lasting and useful is a sense of humour.
It was also useful with girls.

As well has being handsome.

And modest.

By the way, I have some washing that needs doing.........

[Deleted]

Don't you have three "girls" at the ready?

[onlyMark]

To do my washing? I have better hopes for the daughters. Though when they were about nine they told me I expected too much of them.
I said we'd discuss it after their night shift at the factory.

[whatagain]

I understand what you mean. I am surrounded by women and one girl at home and cannot hope to have any washing done.
Now would I be pleased ?

[questa]

Zanzibar has been on my bucket list for 10 years...Stone Town, old Palace and cathedral. spice farms.
The people are very proud of their #1 export...Freddy Mercury, but in a strict Muslim culture it is forbidden to show the usual pop star treatment as he was blatantly gay.

[whatagain]

Wasn't he bisexual ?

[lagatta]

I bought a large packet of turkey parts for soup (cheap), and there was a surprising amount of meat on them.

Wondering what I'll do with them makes me think of a whole thread on how to avoid wasting food. I've been guilty of that of late. No, not a lot, but as my appetite has diminished I risk throwing out the tail end of things I've cooked - after all, I don't want to be ill either.