Wild Turkey Thanksgiving at Grieb Ranch

It’s that time of year. Take a stroll down the meat isle of your local grocery store and you will see a bundle of plastic-wrapped and netted frozen or fresh turkey bodies as options for your Thanksgiving meal.

At Grieb Ranch the thanksgiving turkey doesn’t come from the local grocery store . . . it comes fresh from the field. A wild turkey has been the Grieb family Thanksgiving tradition for years. You can’t get any more free-range than a wild turkey plucked from your own back 40. These wild turkeys did not grow-up on antibiotics or receive any growth hormones. Talk about organic!

Turkey Hunters circa 1999

Turkey Hunters circa 1999

Turkey hunting is not a sit-and-wait-quietly experience. Turkeys do not like to be alone so communication with them is important. One can perfect a turkey call, “Kee, Kee” or a “Putt” or a “Plain Yelp” to lure, stop or scatter the turkeys. To hear these sounds and learn when to use them check out this article on Turkey Calling Tips.  Last year, our infamous Turkey hunter just had to start up the chain-saw to get some wood and the turkeys came to him!

The wild turkey is leaner and lighter than the Butterball store counterparts yet distinctively delicious. The Grieb family skins the whole turkey since the hunting event is very close to the eating event. The skinned, wild turkey is rinsed well, stuffed with a favorite stuffing and placed in an “oven bag” and cooked according to the directions on the bag. The oven bag keeps the bird moist and there is less mess and clean-up after the meal. The wild turkey is served alongside many different side options and among those is always Stan’s Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Gobble, Gobble.


Happy Thanksgiving from Grieb Ranch!

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4


 

Stan’s Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Servings: 6 to 7

Ingredients:
1 1/3 C. Milk
2 Cups Water
½ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Rolled Oregano
2 Garlic Cloves
½ C. Butter
2 C. Betty Crocker Potato Buds

Instructions: Place milk, water and salt in a large microwavable bowl. Get Oregano and roll in hands to crush over bowl. Next get garlic press and press the cloves of garlic. Hint-Immediately rinse and dry and put away press. Cut butter into about tablespoon pats of butter. Microwave all the ingredients except the potato buds for 5 minutes-stir every couple of minutes. Measure out exactly 2 cups of potato buds in a dry measuring cup. Stir potato buds to hot mixture. Hint-As you stir the buds in vigorously the mixture will thicken. Microwave another minute Hint: If making large amounts place each batch in a crock pot to stay warm and then serve.

California Wild Turkeys

California Wild Turkeys hanging out in a parking lot.