[1] Roast turkey is a year-round treat, especially when all you have to do is put a frozen turkey in a bag in the oven (photos #1 and #2 © Jennie-O).

[2] The turkey is packaged in an easy-to-carry bag.

[3] Sweet potato salad made summery with corn and tomatoes. Here’s the recipe (photo © Averie Cooks).

June is National Turkey Lover’s Month.

There are turkey burgers and turkey hot dogs, ground turkey for meatballs or meat loaf, and turkey sandwiches from turkey breast or [far less appealing] turkey roll.

But the turkey everyone looks forward to is the Thanksgiving turkey (well, except a few folks like our friend Terry’s dad, who doesn’t like poultry).

So why is a roast turkey on the table only once a year?

How about a turkey for July 4th. (After all, it was almost our national bird.)
 
 
> The history of turkey.
 
 
JENNIE-O: THE EASIEST ROAST TURKEY YOU CAN MAKE, ANYTIME

You can have a delicious turkey (photo #1) year-round with very little effort, with an oven-ready frozen turkey from Jennie-O. It’s our best discovery so far this year.

The turkey comes in a bag with a handle for easy carrying (photo #2). Thanks to whomever thought of this (and other turkey producers, take note).

Just take the turkey from the freezer, remove the outer bag, and place the frozen turkey, housed in an inner bag, into the oven.

That’s it: There’s nothing to baste or watch over. It cooks up super-moist and juicy. And clean-up is minimal.

We received our Jennie-O Oven-Ready Whole Turkey as a sample. We couldn’t believe it would be as easy as described, or produce as good a turkey as the typical frozen turkey, thawed before roasting.

But it is! Jennie-O has a new customer in us, and we’ll have whole roasted turkey much more often, and soon (see the next section).

We also will likely forgo our annual heirloom bird at Thanksgiving, because Jennie-O Oven Ready is just too easy to pass up. (And who likes to scrub a roasting pan?)
 
 
TURKEY FOR JULY 4TH

We’re having a roast turkey on July 4th. Turkey was almost America’s national bird, after all. As for those burgers, franks, chicken and steaks: We have them all the time. They’re not exactly a celebration.

There won’t be stuffing or cranberry sauce. We’re making summer sides: sweet potato salad, and a farmers market green salad with a dried cranberry vinaigrette.

We have three bags of cranberries in the freezer, and are planning cranberry sorbet for dessert.

Some participants have been asked to bring potluck dishes that complement a summer roast turkey. We know two of them: corn salad and zucchini ribbon “pasta” salad. We can’t wait to see what the others bring!
 
 
BACK TO JENNIE-O…

Jennie-O Oven Ready Whole Turkey is also available with Cajun seasonings. Both come with a packet of gravy.

The gravy included with our turkey is not the greatest; but we added Gravy Master, and then bourbon, which helped.

Truth to tell, the turkey is so moist and flavorful, no gravy is necessary. Or, you can make gravy from the drippings in the bag.

Check out the line of Jennie-O turkey products including fresh, natural turkeys; cutlets; franks and brats; burgers and ground meat; tenderloins; sausages; meatballs, bacon; even turkey pot roast!

Need turkey tips? Visit Jennie-O for: