Simple Turkey Recipe
For those of you who are not skilled chefs but would still
like to prepare a delicious Holiday Meal for your clients, here is a SIMPLE
recipe for a turkey that is perfectly browned on the
outside while being both tender and juicy on the inside.
Prep Time: 15 m Cook
Time: 3 ½ Hours Ready To Serve In: 4 ¼
Hours
Ingredients:
1 (12 pound) whole turkey; 3/4 cup olive oil; 2 tablespoons
garlic powder; 2 teaspoons dried basil; 1 teaspoon ground sage; 1 teaspoon salt;
1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 2 cups water.
Directions:
1. Preheat
oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Clean turkey (discard giblets and
organs), and place in a roasting pan with a lid.
2. In
a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, dried basil, ground sage, salt,
and black pepper. Using a basting brush, apply the mixture to the outside of
the uncooked turkey. Pour water into the bottom of the roasting pan, and cover.
3. Bake
for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of
the thigh measures 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove bird from oven, and
allow to stand for about 30 minutes before carving.
Whether you prepare a smaller Turkey Dinner for two or three people, or you prepare a whole Turkey, be proud of yourselves for making the effort to help your clients celebrate the holiday season by enjoying a traditional meal. You can help your client by planning a special meal once a week, so they can invite guests and enjoy the meal together.
Sharing meal times with family and friends can provide structure
to the day and increase the enjoyment of food. Whether your client has dementia,
a mental health illness, or is simply experiences loneliness at times, meals
are a great time to invite friends and family over and increase social connections. Good nutrition and hydration and enjoyable mealtimes can
dramatically improve the health and well-being of older people. There are many
psychological, social and biological benefits of eating meals with other people,
and can evoke deep feelings of contentment and security. Regular mealtimes are
good biologically; the act of talking and listening slows down the eating
process.
Studies also show the positive effect of mealtime interpersonal behaviours on the food intake of older clients. If your client doesn’t have friends or family living in the
same city, you can help them think of new friends to invite. Perhaps two or
three other seniors in their neighbourhood who are probably also eating alone
tonight. Other seniors who also attend the local Seniors Centre at the
Community Centre; members of the local library, or just folks you recognise
from your walks on the SeaWall. Humans are social beings, and it is our responsibility to
care for the entire client which means considering their physical, emotional,
intellectual, occupational, environmental, spiritual, and social wellness.
Enjoying a traditional holiday meal with friends or family will help to meet
and strengthen all of these dimensions of our client’s overall health.
