My Vegas Mommy: Talking Turkey with Butterball Turkey Talk-Line Expert - Nicole Johnson

Sharing your favorite memories with friends and family has always been a special part of the Thanksgiving holiday. Some people may remember savoring that unexpected side dish their grandmother made when they were a kid. Others may remember the year their mom forgot to turn on the oven and dinner was served much later than was planned.

Cooking that holiday meal takes a lot of planning and preparation, whether it’s your first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner or you’re an old pro at roasting the turkey. Fortunately there are professionals to help. Butterball Turkey Talk-Line experts have been helping families by providing advice for 35 years – the 50+ experts help more than 3M holiday cooks each November and December. This year, the Talk-Line experts will open the vault to share most memorable calls over the years, personal recipes, top tips and never before seen video/photos.

We spoke with Nicole Johnson, Butterball Turkey Talk-Line® Co-Director whose been talking turkey for 12 years! She also has 4 of her own butterballs like me. So, this busy mommy understands the importance of spending time with the kids in the kitchen. She shared with us The Four T’s rule for any Thanksgiving cook: Thaw, Temperature, Two-Hour Rule and Three Days to Eat

Check out our interview:

Nicole's Most Memorable Call:
Johnson’s most memorable call took place during her first year on the Talk-Line. A young woman called in whispering because she didn’t want her very new in-laws, who were all in the dining room waiting for her to serve Thanksgiving dinner, to hear her on the phone. She needed Johnson’s help because she was having difficulty with the meat thermometer and did not want her new mother-in-law to know! At the time, Johnson had been a newlywed herself for less than a week, so she reassured the young woman and guided her through the proper way to insert a meat thermometer.

Favorite Thing About Turkey Talking:
“It allows me to use my own experiences to empathize with our callers when they encounter similar problems as I have. I enjoy being a turkey talker because I provide our callers with simple tips that enable them to prepare a fabulous meal!”

Favorite Throwback Holiday Recipe:
Open-Pan Turkey with Salmon Mousse and Seasoned Gizzards

Turkey has a way of bringing people together. In fact, it’s hard to think of a Thanksgiving without it. This year, Butterball is asking family and friends to “throwback” to their favorite Thanksgiving memories and reflect on the holiday meal.