Harris Teeter Run for Jennie-O Turkey Breast

We haven’t been to Harris Teeter for quite some time. We usually go to the neighborhood Giant that is just a couple of blocks away. But every year around this time I am on the lookout for a Jennie-O oven ready turkey breast. I’ve been hooked on Jennie-O since we lived in the Midwest. It makes for such an easy turkey day. We really don’t have any plans this year, but at least we know we will have turkey if we end up staying at home. Last year we went to central Virginia for Thanksgiving, but they have other ideas in mind this year. Our friends mentioned perhaps getting together, but that is nothing in stone. And we don’t know if we want to entertain. So we made a run to the Harris Teeter after our morning walk to see what they had. I checked on line to see if it was even listed/in stock. My husband was also on the lookout for his dressing that disappeared this year. And we always liked Mrs T’s spinach pierogi - and that was the only place we could find it. I also thought we could pick up a roll of Christmas paper for the few items we need to wrap. It was sort of hit and miss, but we were able to find the turkey breast which was the most important part. They also had butterball whole turkey oven ready bags, but that’s way to much. We also found garlic and Parmesan Mrs T’s instead of the spinach. They didn’t have my husband’s Brianna chipotle dressing but we found another one to try. And since we have a condo meeting this evening from 5:30-7:30 we decided to pick up some fried chicken and macaroni and cheese to have for dinner before we go. I can’t remember the last time we had that since it’s so far out of our regular low fat, Mediterranean diet regime. We also found our old Harris Teeter card and got our senior discount for about ten dollars. So we struck out on a few things but got the most important item. It was well worth the trip. 

Jennie-O Turkey Thanksgiving in March

We forgot all about it. Today is our anniversary and you could say we unknowingly celebrated it yesterday. We bought a 2.75 pound Jennie-O turkey breast for Christmas but didn’t use it because we received a Balducci's turkey gift package with all the fixings from our kids. Yesterday we decided to make the turkey breast for dinner just to use it up. And I’m so glad we did! It’s supposed to take about three hours to cook, but it was ready in a little over two. I love any turkey that goes from freezer to oven in a bag. That trend started many years ago and I’d never do anything else. To go along with the turkey we made mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetable, salad, bread, and the pack of gravy that comes with the turkey. I prefer a more “done”turkey anyway, and this one was just perfect. It cut so easily and was falling apart. I always loved thanksgiving turkey and especially the mashed potatoes. Now we have enough for another dinner and then some for sandwiches and or soup. It was an unexpected treat for a very special occasion - even though we forgot all about it. 

Jennie-O or Butterball Turkey?

I am not much of a cook. I have to follow directions completely. My husband, on the other hand, just throws things together and -  voila! For Thanksgiving I have always depended upon Jennie-O freezer to oven turkeys. Before we moved to DC eleven years ago we always had Jennie-O. I even ordered them on line if necessary, but they don't ship anymore. Jennie-O was not always easy to find here. I was lucky to locate a Safeway in Arlington that carried them; and I resorted to Omaha Steaks one year for a fully cooked bird.  Then I found my favorite brand at Target in Alexandria. So this year - right after Halloween - we went grocery shopping at Harris Teeter in McLean. We got a turkey breast there last year so I was hopeful they might have a whole turkey because we would be hosting dinner this year. I was so thrilled to find a freezer to oven Butterball whole turkey. So I scooped the twelve pound bird up and was so relieved! And wouldn't you know that today - at the Safeway we shop at every Saturday - there were Jennie-O turkeys sitting right there in the freezer section. Either there is more demand for this convenient way to make holiday meals, or more places are carrying them. So if you're not the best cook out there this is the way to go. I can vouch for it. And I don't think it matters if it's a Jennie-O or a Butterball.