Twinkie Turkey

In case you were wondering what you left off the Thanksgiving shopping list this year, it's not the pumpkin puree or the backup store-bought gravy — you forgot the Twinkies! That's right, Twinkies. Back in 2006, Hostess made its very own Twinkie cookbook complete with "an inventive and unexpected recipe collection" created and submitted by Twinkie eaters. The following recipe is  Thanksgiving-themed. Here it is in the event that you have any Twinkie fanatics on the guest list this year:

Twinkling Turkey
Serves 15 to 20

Ingredients
1 (8 1/2 ounce) package yellow corn muffin mix, prepared and baked according to package instructions
6 Twinkies, halved lengthwise
1 (14- to 18- pound) turkey
1 tart apple, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 cup of honey

1. Remove the muffins from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Scrape the crème filling out of the Twinkies with a small spoon and reserve in a small bowl.

3. Cut the Twinkie pastry into cubes and spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Decrease the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

4. Rinse the turkey. Crumble the muffins into a bowl, add the apple and toasted Twinkies, and mix lightly. Loosely stuff the mixture into the turkey and truss the legs. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack set in a roasting pan.

5. Roast the turkey for 12 to 15 minutes per pound, until the thigh temperature reaches 175 degrees F to 180 degrees F and the juices run clear.

6. In a small bowl, combine the honey with the reserved crème filling and mix well. Brush the turkey with the honey mixture during the last 10 to 15 minutes of roasting time.

7. Remove the turkey from the oven and let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

Best wishes to you and your families for a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving!  Happy Hanukkah, too!