What's your favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Tell us and you might win a surprise!

Today is the big day... A day we all find things to be thankful for! Except for the turkey.  He is generally not very thankful for this day.  

Of course there are those of us that will be thankful tomorrow knowing that this day of cooking will be over for another year. 

Even so, it's wonderful when family and friends can gather around for a special meal, full of holiday traditions.  We all have our family favorites! In my family, the highlight of the Thanksgiving Day dinner is the turkey stuffed with oyster stuffing. Now, I must admit that we have a few of our newer family members who do not care for oyster stuffing (if you can imagine that!) so we always have a side stuffing for them. My own children, however, will fight to the death over the last spoonful of oyster stuffing!

So for the sake of sharing, and for those who have not tried oyster stuffing and want something different on their table, here is my family recipe.

Turkey with Oyster Stuffing

        1 large turkey, thawed                                            2 loaves stale white bread                  

        4 stalks celery, chopped                                         1 medium onion, chopped

        1 stick butter                                                           4 cans oysters

        Bell's Seasoning                                                     Salt & Pepper

        Wine, any kind of wine, whatever you like.

Gently remove the crust from each slice of bread. In a large bowl, tear the bread into small pieces being careful not to crush the bread. (Yes, I know this seems silly and it's easier to buy the stuff in the bag, but this is the way my mother made it, so just suck it up and do it!)  We usually sit around the evening before Thanksgiving to do this... and that's where the wine comes in.  Have a glass or two while tearing bread.

Add approximately 2 tablespoons Bell's Seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.  In a skillet, saute celery and onion in butter until soft and slightly transparent (not browned).  Drain oysters but save the juice.  Slightly saute the oysters and add all of this (except reserved oyster juice) to the bread in that big bowl I told you to use. Toss gently and add enough juice until stuffing is the right consistency... not soggy!

Wash and pat dry the turkey. Rub the turkey with salt, pepper and a light sprinkle of Bell's Seasoning.

Now here comes the part my daughter hates. I can hear her now saying "You want me to put my hand up WHERE?"  Yes, stuff the stuffing up the turkey's rear end and into the neck cavity and anywhere else in the bird it will fit.

Baste that turkey with more melted butter, cover and roast according to directions.

Now go read a good book, drink more wine and wait until it's time to baste... or better yet... tell us your favorite family recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and you might find a surprise in your mailbox!  Just post it here in the "Comments" section!

One lucky winner will be picked!  I'll give you a bit of time.  Post your recipe by December 18th.