Thanksgiving. Turkey Day. Call it what you will, but it's a feast that everyone anticipates all year long. If the star of your Thanksgiving dinner table seems to have lost its luster in recent years, then you may be stuck in a Thanksgiving turkey rut. This tends to happen to cooks who cook their turkeys the same old way every single year without fail.

If this is you, fear not, pilgrim. Help is at hand. It can be a lot of fun to make this year the year that you break free from the norm and leave dinner guests drooling after your bird’s drumsticks, thighs and other select parts. While our tips may not turn you into the next Ree Drummond or Bobby Flay, chances are good that you’ll win a few accolades for your efforts when your family sits down for this year’s feast.

Boozy Bird on Enclosed Grill

You may have made “beer can” chicken before. The beer can is inserted into the cavity of the chicken and infuses flavor into the chicken as it cook. To pull it off, pour one-half of a can of your favorite brew into your turkey pan, and then prop your bird upright onto the beer can. Those taller beer cans work best for this technique. After an hour of grilling (and every subsequent hour), pour a cup of beer over the turkey and baste the bird with the juices in the bottom of the pan. Allow approximately 13 minutes of cooking time for each pound of turkey at approximately 350 degrees F. You’ll know your bird is cooked to perfection when your meat thermometer registers 165 degrees F.

Tacchino Arrosto – Italian Style Turkey

Take the flavor of your Thanksgiving gobbler to a new level with Italian herbs and spices. A rub made from thyme, fennel, oregano, garlic, orange, lemon, capers, red peppers, rosemary and olive oil yields a moist, tender, flavor-filled turkey that will make dinner guests gobble till they wobble.

Divine Brine

If you have never tasted turkey soaked overnight in brine prior to cooking, you’re missing out. Traditionally, turkeys are brined in salt water the night before Thanksgiving. But you can add a tart yet sweet twang to your turkey by soaking it in bit of acid, such as apple cider vinegar for a divine-tasting turkey that pairs perfectly with sides like sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce.

Ditch the Gobbler Altogether

And last of all, if your family isn’t really that “into” turkey to begin with, why not shake things up a bit and serve something else as your main course this Thanksgiving? From prime rib to pork crown roast or spiral ham, lamb chops and roast chicken, there are literally dozens of options that you can use to replace your old dependable gobbler with something that might wow them more.

Whatever you choose to do to break free from your Thanksgiving turkey rut, let creativity be your guide. Remember, it’s all about family, and yours will likely be delighted in whatever you bring to the table.