This is probably the easiest way to cook a turkey. It is basically the same way Mark Twain's cook prepared it for the Clemens family.
You will need: one turkey, fresh or thawed, between 12 and 14 pounds 1 large brown paper grocery bag 1 stick of butter, softened at room temperature poultry seasoning 1 cup chicken broth 1 orange, cut into quarters
First, let the turkey rest on the counter until it comes to room temperature. The turkey will cook better this way than if it's cold.
Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Wash the turkey, remove giblets and neck. Pat turkey dry with paper towels.
Open the paper bag, making sure the seam is on top. Using half the stick of butter, grease the entire inside of the bag.
Sprinkle turkey inside and out with poultry seasoning and rub it in well.
Using the remaining butter, rub it all over the skin of the turkey.
Place the orange quarters inside the cavity, and if desired, the giblets and neck as well. (I cook and eat the turkey liver for breakfast as my reward!) Now place the turkey inside the buttered paper bag. This may be tricky, so you might want to ask for help in holding the bag open.
Place the bagged turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
Tilting the turkey so the cavity is slightly raised, pour in the chicken broth. Then tie the legs together so the broth does not leak out.
Fold the open end of the bag tightly and staple it shut. Don't use tape! You want the bag to be air-tight.
Stick the whole thing in the hot oven and roast it for three hours. Don't look—the turkey is fine. The butter prevents the paper bag from burning, but it will become darker as time goes on.
After three hours remove the pan and let the turkey sit in the unopened bag for fifteen minutes.
Slit open the bag from the top, peeling it (or tearing it) down to expose the nicely browned, juicy turkey!
Remove the turkey to a serving platter and carve it up!
And that's how I make Turkey in the Bag.
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He wrote a few recipes down in some of his writings. I found this in an old library book that had a section called "Christmas Dinner With Mark Twain." I photocopied the recipes, but I don't remember the name of the book. Naturally his cook did the preparation, so I can't say if he developed the recipe for the turkey. But i do know that they had paper shopping bags during the Civil War, so they were no problem to obtain. Mark Twain also mentioned that he liked sunny-side-up eggs with so much black pepper that the eggs looked dirty. My town is very big on Mark Twain, because he is buried here and wrote most of his books here as well.
@Pfuzylogic: So do I. Over the years I think I read everything he wrote--I have a complete collection of his books. I visit his grave often. He is buried with his family in Woodlawn Cemetery, in a very peaceful spot that I find very relaxing. There is also his very unique study on the Elmira College campus, and it's open to the public.
@Pfuzylogic: Nice! I never managed to do that, but I like to sit in his chair when i visit the study, in the hope that some of his writing talent will be absorbed by my butt! 😆
