What's Grandma's Secret?

It's a question I always wondered about. My grandma has always made my favorite oven roasted turkey. There was no comparing, and not even my mom could come close. There was always something particularly good about my grandma's turkey, a certain taste and texture no one else could achieve - very moist (sorry, Missy**) and with a slightly buttery/salty taste (but not too much). It was never dry, never bland. She didn't use a rub or fresh herbs.

Being curious, I finally worked up the nerve to ask her what her secret is, and if I wasn't at her house to eat turkey that day, I may have had a heart attack. Do you know what she told me the secret is? PAM. That's right. Pam cooking spray. It's as simple as that. She coats the turkey with cooking spray before covering it and putting it in the oven. She also says "don't open the roaster until the turkey is completely done" but we all know that, we just need to have the restraint and faith not to open it. All these years, I thought she had a special ratio of seasoning or liquid or method of cooking the turkey. The truth is, she may, but until I actually stand by her while she preps the turkey, I'll never know and no one else will either.

So this week, when I made my slow-cooker turkey, I sprayed it with cooking spray (I thought of this a few minutes too late. I had already first prepared and used a fresh herb mixture). Even though I didn't use my oven (I don't trust leaving it on while I'm at work all day - and it's been summer a.k.a. hot), I figured I could at least give the cooking spray a test run. You know what? It was good. So I guess, like most grandmas, she knew what she was doing with her cooking. I just didn't expect it to be so simple.

What other secrets does she have up her sleeve? I don't know, but I need to find out. If you have a favorite thing that someone in your family makes, find out (if they'll tell you). One of the best things about cooking is learning and passing along recipes.

**My friend Missy has a particular dislike toward the "m word" as she refers to it. And Betches Love This.