As people prepare for mostly smaller Thanksgiving celebrations this year, the Great Bend Tribune sought out some of our younger residents for advice on how to cook a common holiday centerpiece – the turkey. The Tribune received responses from kindergarten teachers at Jefferson Elementary School and Central Kansas Christian Academy in Great Bend, whose students were happy to provide guidance on preparing this Thanksgiving staple.
Whether it was salt, fruits, other meats, unusual condiments, or other less conventional ingredients, the young cooks had a wide variety of ideas on what to cook a turkey with, how hot to cook it, how long to cook it and even how to serve it when the turkey is finished.
Mrs. Donita Donovan’s kindergarten class
Central Kansas Christian Academy, Great Bend
Eli - “My daddy heats up the turkey on the grill for a long, long time.”
Hadley - “I do not know how to make a turkey — I have never done it.”
Jazalene - “My mom heats it up and cuts it up in pieces and puts it in foil and puts it on the grill and warms it up on the grill.”
Easton - “We put it in the oven and warm it up and then we cut it up. I do not know how long it takes.”
Brantley - “My mom got a turkey and she heated it up and it started to get big – then you should sit if for like 10 minutes.”
Camdyn - “I don’t know how my mom makes a turkey – she never has really – not my dad either.”
Aiden - “I don’t know – I’ve never seen a turkey!”
Lawson - “I really don’t know anyways.”
Treacyn - “My mom cuts it then my mom cuts it again for everyone. She puts salt on one plate for Papa. Papa likes salt on his. He likes salt on everything he eats.”
Mrs. Abby Jonas’s kindergarten class
Jefferson Elementary School, Great Bend
Students in this class were given a recipe card on how to cook a turkey, and asked to fill in the blanks:
“There are three steps to cook a turkey.
First, stuff the turkey with: _______
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with _____
Finally, cook the turkey at ___ degrees F for ___ hours
Truly, that is how you cook a turkey!”
Here are the recipes Mrs. Jonas’s class offered the Tribune. Where applicable, spelling was not edited, but left as the kindergarten chefs responded:
Cooper:
“First, stuff the turkey with salt and pepper
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with hot sauce and bacon
Finally, cook the turkey at 5 degrees F for 10 hours”
Connor:
“First, stuff the turkey with apple in the mouth
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with bacon
Finally, cook the turkey at 1300 degrees F for 2 hours”
Callan:
“First, stuff the turkey with sugar and pumpkin salt
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with salt and sauce
Finally, cook the turkey at 10 degrees F for 8 hours”
Daleyza:
“First, stuff the turkey with bome and sugar
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with white stuff
Finally, cook the turkey at 607 degrees F for 8 hours”
Emma:
“First, stuff the turkey with ham and chicken
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with salt and pepper
Finally, cook the turkey at 6 degrees F for 4 min (hours)”
Landon:
“First, stuff the turkey with salt, bacon and hamburger meat
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with ketchup and red cherries
Finally, cook the turkey at 40 degrees F for 16 hours”
Kolbie:
“First, stuff the turkey with ham
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with dressing
Finally, cook the turkey at 3. degrees F for 2 hours”
RJ:
“First, stuff the turkey with meat and flour
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with dressing
Finally, cook the turkey at 30 degrees F for 1 hour(s)”
Sidney:
“First, stuff the turkey with meat and yummy salt
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with milk
Finally, cook the turkey at cold degrees F for 4 hours”
Cohen:
“First, stuff the turkey with oat meal and peppers
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with salt and sausages
Finally, cook the turkey at 90 degrees F for 40 hours”
Cole G.
“First, stuff the turkey with bacon and chicken
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with butte and pepper
Finally, cook the turkey at 5 degrees F for 5 hours”
Cora:
“First, stuff the turkey with salt and tomatoes
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with butter and flour
Finally, cook the turkey at pepers degrees F for 7 hours”
Nolan:
“First, stuff the turkey with brown seasoning
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with ketchup
Finally, cook the turkey at 20 degrees F for 2 hours”
Addie:
“First, stuff the turkey with cotton balls
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with salt and pepper
Finally, cook the turkey at 50 degrees F for 10 hours”
Cole T.
“First, stuff the turkey with saot and chicken
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with brown bone
Finally, cook the turkey at 23 degrees F for 3 hours”
Zander:
“First, stuff the turkey with fish
Next, smother the outside of the turkey with peppers and salt
Finally, cook the turkey at 11 degrees F for 10 hours”
