The Easy Way

Thanksgiving, 2013: it's in the bag.

In previous years hours were spent preparing the turkey brine; we had to boil the vegetables and spices, cool and decant the liquid, ice the mixture, and dispose of the detritus in the compost bin. This time we did it the easy way by buying a brining kit (less than $10) from Urban Accents. True, the brine still had to be boiled, while the spice packet contained dried, not fresh ingredients, but the whole process was much faster, cheaper, and cleaner. [Update - 11/28: the proof of the turkey is in the eating, and diners pronounced the result excellent.]

Another plus: the brining kit came with a food-grade plastic bag. In past years we used large new bags of uncertain provenance. While the risk of chemicals leaching into the icy brine is minimal, it's best not to take chances.