Kindergarten students at Minneota Public School and St. Edward's School put on their chef hats and give their insight on how to prepare the Thanksgiving turkey for the upcoming holiday feast.

Minneota Kindergarten Students explain: ‘How to Cook a Turkey’

Kindergarten students at Minneota Public School and St. Edward's School put on their chef hats and give their insight on how to prepare the Thanksgiving turkey for the upcoming holiday feast.

Public School
Mrs. Dalager's Class

"I would get the turkey from the store Walmart. I will bring it home in the car in the back. My mom will have to drive because I can’t drive yet. When I get home, I will put it in the fridge. It is going to need to be cooked. I have no idea how to do that. I think I will put it in the oven for 13 hours. The oven should be at a kind of hot temperature. Get it out by using gloves…you know, the cooking gloves. Eat it. I am not going to make anything else because I just don’t want to because I don’t like cooking food. My cousins are coming over to help eat the turkey." - AJ Citterman

"We would eat candy hearts. Wait…I guess we need turkey. I will get it at Walmart. I am going to drive. I am going to get eggs. There are two Walmarts. Then I would drive to the other one too. We are going to eat just eggs and turkey. I will cook the turkey on the grill. We need to flip it and flip it two times. That’s all. Wait, cook the eggs on the grill, too. Put the eggs on the grill and then go inside and come back out and flip it and then it's done. And that is it. Now we are ready to eat. Papa will clean up the mess." - Atreyu Lenderman

"I am going to cook cake. We will make turkey, too. I will get the stuff at the store, you know, Dollar General. I am going to drive the car to the store. I will drive the white van. I can’t reach the pedals so my mom will drive. We will get strawberries, too. I would do frosting for the cake. First you mix the cake mix and put it in the oven for 10 hours. Pull it out and hold it until it is done cooling. Leave it alone. If it is cold, you eat it in tiny bites. The turkey is going to go in the oven and cook for supper. To get it ready you need to wait 11 hours and wait for when it is supper and then you can eat it. Wait maybe it should be for 20 hours. The oven is going to beep so know it is done. Then you just eat it when it is supper time." - Brenten Whortenbury

"Drive to the store and come back. I would get a turkey at the store. Put the turkey in the cart and go back home. I will do the driving. I can reach the pedals in my mom’s car. I would cook it. Use the oven. Turn it on. When it is ready, I can take the turkey out. When the oven dings the turkey is done. It took five minutes to cook. I have to use mittens to get the turkey. Cooking mittens. I would set it out on the table and tell my parents that it is ready. Then we would eat. I don’t know what could be next. I think we are done." - Charlotte Sonnenburg

"I don’t know, you would get a turkey. I think I would go to the store. I would buy one. I don’t like turkey. Put the turkey in the car and bring it home. Can you put the turkey in the oven? I don’t know. Yes, I think I would try it in the oven. I probably need to get the turkey out of the car before I can put it in the oven. When the oven dings I will take the turkey out. Then I will put it on a plate. Now it is ready to eat. I will clean the dishes with soap and water. The dishes have to dry. Put them in the cupboard. Then I am done." - Colton Panka

"I would get the turkey out of our freezer since we have a bunch in there. We are going to fry it. First take the turkey out of the bag. Then grab a smoke alarm. You take it off the ceiling so we can use it for the turkey. If it goes off it means there is too much smoke. I decided to fry the turkey so I need to put it in the 100 degrees fryer. Then grab a pan for the corn. Then grab a pan for the stuffing. Grab a pan for the cranberries. Then watch a movie. Wait…I need to get up and check the turkey. Now it is ready to eat. Put the turkey on a plate and get all the dishes spread out on the table. And that’s it. Food is ready." - Dylan Remme

"Grab the turkey from the store. Brad’s Market. I would bake the turkey in oven. 1st I need to put stuffing in the turkey. There is like a little hole open and you put it in there. Put it in the oven and bake it. It needs to be really hot! It should stay in there for 10 minutes. I will need those hot gloves to get it out. Let it cool off on the table. Cut the turkey with a knife and a fork and then we eat it. Put the dishes in the sink and go play." - Ivy Thostenson

"I wouldn’t cook the turkey because I am a kid and my mom should cook it. But if I had to, I would get a turkey at a farm. There is one in the country. You would have to drive to get to the farm. I would use a rope to catch the turkey. You would put the turkey in the back of the car on the drive home. When I get home, I will put the turkey right in the oven. Wait, the feathers need to come off. I don’t know how to get them off. Now you put it in the oven for 50 degrees. Let’s say it needs to be in the oven for an hour. You just open the oven to get it out. You would have to let it cool off and then eat it. My dad would probably eat the left overs. When I am done eating, I will just sit around and play Roblox."
- Jaxxon Ochocki

"I would have to go to South America to get a turkey. I would drive in a car. I would need a net to catch the turkey. It lives in a barn there. To get it home, I need to wrap it with a rope and drive back home. At home, unwrap the rope and cook it. Put the turkey on a pan and put it in the oven. It should be 20 degrees and cook for 20 minutes. When it beeps, the oven, it is done. Then the turkey is ready. Slice it up and eat it. It is will be all gone and then you are done."
- Jayce Popowski

"I would get a turkey from the store I suppose. I would need to drive… I mean my mom will drive her car to get me to the store. At home, you need to turn the things, you know the knobs, and you turn them so the heat goes up. The oven needs to be 3 temperatures hot. Now put the turkey in the oven for 34 minutes. Then my mom takes it out of the oven because the oven is hot and I can’t touch it. It is ready to eat." - Joshua Bednarek

"I will go Hy-Vee to get the turkey. When I get to the store I will get a shopping cart and find the turkey. Put the turkey in the cart and go pay for it. Now go home and cook it. Put sauce on the turkey before you cook it. Put some meat on top of the turkey and put it in the pan. Put the pan on the stove. It needs to cook for one minute. I don’t know when it is done. I will ask mommy to help me. Now we feed it to ourselves. When I am done eating, I will go to bed." - Karli Esping

"To get a turkey, I would need to get one from the farm. My aunt’s farm has turkeys in a pen. Climb in and pick one up. They don’t like to be caught so I am going to chase it to the end and then grab one. I will bring it the house on the farm and cook it there. Kill the turkey and put it in the oven. Wait, put the turkey in a pan first. The oven needs to be hot…whatever temperature…I am not sure. It should stay in there for five minutes. The bell rings when it is done. Now I don’t know what to do. Maybe I pull it out of the oven. Um…now I will eat it. Done."
- Logan Breyfogle

"I would get a turkey from the store in the food section. And then we need to take it home. We will need to drive with a car. My dad will drive. When we are home, we need to cook the turkey. We put it in the oven and make it. We put some stuff on it and vegetables, too. The oven needs to be really hot and the turkey cooks for 12 minutes. I just know when it is done and it will be time to come to the table and eat it. When we are done eating, we go play and watch TV."
- Mia Gutierrez

"I will use a hoop to catch a turkey. Cook it in the oven. Eat turkey at the table. Now I am full. Eat more. Done." - Michael Poach

"I will have to get the turkey from a grocery store. You know, Brad's. I think it will be just by the candy. Pay for the turkey and take it home. To cook it, you will need a pan. Flip the pan upside down and the turkey will go flying in the air like a pancake. Make sure you cook it with dumplings and chicken in the oven or on the stove. You will need both because I am making so much. When it is done cooking, you need to take it out of the oven. You know you will need a clock and when it goes ding it will be done. Eat the turkey and yum! And now we go outside and talk to grandpa. He brings us donuts all the time."
- Olivia Hennen

"I will buy turkey at the gas station. I will drive the car to the gas station. Pay for the turkey. I will take it home. The oven needs to be hot before you put the turkey in it. Now put the turkey on the plate and let it cool off. And I can eat it. That’s it." - Reese Fier

"I would save my mom and cook the turkey for my mom. I would get the turkey from the farm. I will run and jump at the turkey. And then I got him and put him in my car. And now we drive to home and we put him the cave. We feed him chicken food and he eats it at night. The turkey stays in our house for 9 days. But now my turkey knows how to get out of the cave and he got out of my house. But I caught him again and now he is sleeping. I don’t want to eat the turkey. He doesn’t taste good. Instead, we are going to eat watermelon and vegetables. My mom and dad always feed me vegetables because I like vegetables." - Romeo Andujar

"I don’t know how to get a turkey. I think I will hunt for it. It will be in the weeds. Bend down and look through your gun scope. Shoot the turkey when you see it. Bring the turkey home. It needs to go into a pot so it can be cooked. Put oil in the pot too. And rip the feathers off. Put the pot on the stove and heat the stove up. Then it is hot enough so you can eat it. Get plates. Put the turkey on the plates. Then eat it. Go to bed." - Royce Pochardt

"I would get a turkey from my farm. I think there is one hiding there but I haven’t found it yet. I will need to keep on searching. I think it is hiding in the barn. I will need to look really hard to find it. When I see it, I will grab it. I don’t think it will run away. Then I am going to bring it inside the house and cook it. I will need to put it in a pan and cook in the oven. When the timer goes off, I will know the turkey is done cooking. I don’t know what to do next. Take the turkey out when the timer goes off. Then eat it."
- Weston Thooft

"I wouldn’t cook a turkey at all. I would order pepperoni pizza. I don’t like turkey. But, if mom said we have to have turkey I would get it at Brad’s. It needs to go in the back of the car on the ride home. It needs to go on a pan to cook. You need to cook mashed potatoes at the same time so you can eat them together. The turkey needs to cook on the stove. The timer will beep when the turkey is done. You have to wait for it. When the timer beeps, it is time to take the turkey out."
- Zach Roberts

Mrs. Hart's Class

“I would go to a farmer that has a white beard. I’ll say, “Can I have a turkey, please?” And then I’ll say, “Thank you.” I want one that is raw, pink, with fur and has the head, arms and feet already cut off. That would be really hard to do that by myself. It can have the inside bones, but that is it. I’ll bring it home but Mom will have to drive me. I’m a kid and kids don’t know how to drive. Then I will fry it on the stove in a pan. I will fry it for 10 minutes. I will cut it up with a knife. Can I tell you something? It is a secret. We got my dad a new knife! It is really sharp and I will use it. We will all eat the turkey, even my cousins. Molly will get the leftovers. I will make a salad all around the turkey and put on pepper and salt. We will have bread and ham and cheese and fruitcake for dessert. When we are all done eating, the food will all be gone. When Thanksgiving is over, we won’t eat any more Thanksgiving food. Then, it will probably snow.” - Bria Abraham

“I will hunt for a turkey where there is tall grass. I’ll blast it with my BB gun. I have my own, you know. I will carry it in a net to my house. Actually, I will pull it – not carry it. I’ll throw it in the tail gate bed. I will drive the truck to my house. I will take the turkey out and get the feathers and beak off. I’ll put it in the oven in a pan for 10 minutes on 5 hot. The oven will ding or the timer on your Alexa will go off. Then I’ll put gloves on. The special gloves that you wear to protect your skin when you take it out of the oven. I will let it cool down while it just sits there for a bit. I will pour some milk, get Oreos and make some stuffing. I don’t eat stuffing but my dad will. We will have lemonade, lemons, broccoli, and oranges. My whole family will eat it. Then we will have ice cream cake for dessert.”
- Huxtin Anderson

“I will go to a farm. I will look in the barn in the hay. I will catch a turkey with my hands. I will NOT kill it. My dad will shoot it with a gun. I will put it in a box in the stove and cook it for four minutes. You have to take it out with gloves on. I will share it. First, I will cut it with a knife. I will make pumpkin pie, cheese and donuts. Grandma and Papa and Lee and Mom and Dad and me will all eat it together. We will put our plates in the sink and go and play toys when we are done. That’s it!” - Reese Bottelberghe

“I would go and get a turkey from a farm. I will ask my dad where there is one. When I find one, I will shoot one with Max’s gun. He just got it. Did you know that? It is the same as my grandpa’s. Then I will put the turkey on the grill. It can cook for I think 20. I’ll take the feathers off by pulling them. Then I will cut it all up with a knife. Any knife. I will put it all on plates and we will all eat it with mashed potatoes and gravy and carrots. We will wash our hands and dry them and then go play.” - Reed Buseth

“I will go to a grocery store where they give turkeys away because I don’t really want to hunt for a turkey. I already hunt for pheasants and deer. So, the turkey I will get from the store is already dead. I will take it home and clean it out with a glove on my hand. I saw my Uncle Shawn clean out a deer and it was so disgusting. I hate dead things. Then I will boil the turkey in a pan with hot water on the stove for 30 minutes on 20 hotness. I will cut it up with a knife, but kids really can’t have knives. I will use it even if I am not old enough, I guess. My grandpa and grandma and mom and dad, but not everybody will eat the turkey at my house because I don’t have enough seats. I will have to count. I will make stuffing, but I hate it. I will make mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. When we are done eating, we will put the dishes in the dishwasher. We will clean up the decorations and put them in the basement and get out the Christmas stuff."
- Colton Buysse

“I will go hunting where kids go to hunt. I will go to the grass. When I see a turkey, I’ll shoot it with my dad’s gun. I think you just pull the trigger. I will carry it to my truck – I mean my dad’s truck. It’s fun to use my dad’s stuff. I will drive home and cook it in the oven. But first I will pluck the feathers and cut the wings off. Now, I will cook it in the oven for 20 minutes until it dings. Not the turkey. The turkey doesn’t ding, the oven does. I will have to carry it with my oven gloves on to the plate. I will cut it up into pieces and put it on the plates with the other foods. Oh wait, I forgot to season the turkey with pig seasoning. I will make mashed potatoes and corn and gravy and dessert pizza from Pizza Ranch. My whole family will eat the food I made with me and my brother’s friends. When everyone is done, we will put the dishes in the sink and that is it!”
- Cruze Culver

“I will go to Grandpa Tim’s field. It is in the country. I’ll shoot a turkey that’s in the bushes with my dad‘s gun. I’ll put the turkey in my dad‘s Tahoe and take it to my house. I will cut the feathers off with a knife. We could use the feathers as a decoration. My dad shot a turkey before and he has the feathers on a piece of wood. Then, I’ll cut off the fluffy skin and cut it all up into chunks and put it onto the grill. I will throw away the head and the feet. I will cook the turkey for 600 minutes. When the timer stops, it’s done. I will put it on a tray and put it on plates with Thanksgiving food like rice and fish and chocolate cake. My whole family will eat it. We will put on our pajamas and then when we wake up it’s a New Year!”
- Corbin DeSmet

“I would go to a field. A far away from Minneota field. I will try to find one. I will catch it after I run after it. I will carry it in the net to the truck and put it in the back. I will keep it as a pet until Thanksgiving. I will kill it at Thanksgiving time with a gun. I will cut the feathers off with a knife and throw them outside so they can just fly away. I’ll put the turkey in the oven for 1,000 minutes ... no, five minutes. When the oven goes ding it is done. My mom will take it out with those things that look like mittens. I’ll slice the turkey with a knife. I’ll put hot sauce on it and make apples. No, I’ll put an apple in the turkey’s mouth. We will have pizza too. I will play on my tablet when we are done eating. I am not cleaning up the mess because we can eat it again tomorrow and then just freeze the rest.” - Jase Deutz

“I’ll go to the woods right by the trees. I will look wherever I can go. I will catch a turkey with a knife. I will shoot it with my dad‘s gun. My dad will have to help me. I’ll put it in hot water and the feathers will fall off. Then, I will put it in the fryer for 15 minutes and when the fryer beeps it is done. I will pull it out with the handles so I don’t burn myself and then I will cut it with a knife. Mom will help. Then we will eat it with chicken and dumplings and French fries and strawberry ice cream for dessert. Then we will put the dishes in the washing machine ... no, dishwasher. And then we will do it again because we will be hungry.” - Braxton Kestleloot

“I would say, no, I don’t know how to make a turkey. My mom never teached me this. OK, I will go to Walmart then. They are dead or they would just be able to hit you in the face. They will be in the food aisle. I will pay $60 and take it home and cook it in the oven for 60 minutes. I will put mittens on and pull the turkey out of the oven. I will use a saw to cut the turkey because I can’t use a knife. One time, my mom got burned from the curling iron. I’ll put some turkey on all of the people’s plates that come for Thanksgiving. We will have pepperonis and strawberries and raspberries and blueberries and then a pie! When we are done eating, we will wash our face. We will put the other turkey that is left on a plate and wrap it up with bubble wrap. Then, it’s Christmas!”
- Bryleigh Kloos

“I will go in the country far away. I will look in the grass. I will catch a turkey with a net. Then, I will shoot it with a gun. My dad‘s gun. No, my dad will shoot it. I will ride in my car to my house with my dad and the turkey. I will cut off the feathers because they don’t taste good. I will throw them in the garbage. Then, I will cook the turkey in the oven for 100 minutes. When it dings the ding sound, it is done. I will put mittens on and take the turkey out. All of my family will eat it with cereal and milk. I mean pop ... Sprite and root beer. Then, we will throw our dishes in the sink and put the decorations away.” - Kenleigh Kloos

“I will go to Grandpa Ron’s field. I will look everywhere. I will probably find one in the corn. I will shoot it with my brother’s gun and cut it up. I’ll make a fire out of a lighter and wood and then I will throw the turkey in the fire so it all cooks up. When it’s all done cooking, I will take the hose and shoot water at it so it cools off and I can pick it up with my hands. I will cut the outside stuff off and cut the pieces of meat up to eat it. I will make chicken, steak, pickles, oranges, apples, strawberries, tacos, blueberries, and the last thing is bear meat. My Liam and Grandpa and Grandma and Me and Mom and Dad and my Uncle and Auntie and Tate and Blake will all eat it. We will fly on an airplane to Hawaii where Tate and Blake live and take the food to them to eat. We will wash the dishes and put them away and then throw away all the turkey bones.” - Lincoln MacArthur

“I will go to Walmart. The turkeys are in the shelf-fridge thing. I think they cost $15. I will take the turkey home and put it in a pan and put it in the oven for two minutes on hot! When the oven beeps, it will be done. I will reach in the oven and take it out and put it on the table. I will share it with my family. I will make cranberries, potatoes, gravy, ice cream and juice. We will put our plates in the sink and the kids will play while the grown-ups talk. Next is Christmas! I am not eating this turkey because I don’t like it.”
- Kendall Maertens

“I would go to a turkey farm. I will have to hunt for one or the farmer will just have to give me one. I will kill it with a knife. I have a multi-tool knife. It even has a can opener. Now what I would do is peel the feathers off or just grab them off and then cook the turkey in the stove for probably 20 minutes. Then I will get the special gloves from somewhere in the kitchen and take it out. I can make dumplings and salad to go with it. I will slice the turkey with my knife and put some on everyone’s plates. My cousins, Grandma, Auntie, Uncle Chuck, Copper my dog, Mom and Dad will all eat the Thanksgiving food. I’ll clean up the table and then I will play with my dog."
- Owen Malikowski

“I will go to the desert and find a turkey. I will catch it with a hook. I will carry it to my house in my arms. Then, I will get out the pan. It will cook in the oven. It will cook for 30 minutes. I will take it out with the hand holders. I will cut it with a knife. My mama will cut it because I am not a grown-up. I will cook sauce and noodles and chicken. I am not eating this because I don’t like turkey. It tastes like yuck. My family will help me clean up with the brush and the pan.”
- Feliciti Owens

“I would go to a turkey place. I don’t know where they are. I’d have to find a turkey person that takes care of turkeys. I will have my dad buy me a sword so I can kill the turkey. Me and Mom and Dad and Winston will all chomp it. I will rip the feathers off and then throw them in the garbage. I will cook it in the stove for 89,000 minutes. When the microwave beeps, it will be done. It beeps all the time. I will take it out with cooking gloves on so I don’t burn my hands. Then, I will put my fork in the turkey and cut it up with my sword. I will cook other meat like pig meat and cow meat, and carrots and lettuce and chocolate candy for dessert. We will wash our hands and relax so we can watch TV.” - Silas Rieder

“I would go to Walmart and buy a dead turkey. It is easier and quicker to cook. It’s hard to hunt turkeys. They run fast. My friend Doug has a house that is a farm where they have to work on the tractors and combines. One time, I was at the farm and I tried to catch a turkey. I didn’t kill it but I jumped on it and then I let it go so I wouldn’t get scratched. So, I will bring four bucks to get one at Walmart. Then I will take it home and wait until Thanksgiving. I will put the turkey on the grill and cook it for eight minutes. When it’s pink and black, it will be done. I will put on two cooking gloves and take the turkey off. I will put it onto a big pan and cut it up. I will put some of it on the table and if people want to come over, they can eat it. I might have corn and mashed potatoes with gravy and pumpkin pie for dessert. Then, I’ll clean the dishes and go play kickball.” - Axel Rodas

“I will go to Hy-Vee and get a turkey. No, wait, we already have a turkey. My dad hunts deer and he wants to hunt turkeys too, but my mom says no, we can just buy one. I will unfreeze the turkey by putting it in the oven for probably about 25 minutes. I will take it out with gloves on. You know the kind that don’t let you get burned. I will cut it with a knife. I will make potatoes and carrots and cake for dessert. Mom and dad and Kade and Tristen and my other family can come and eat it. We will clean up, wash the dishes and then we will watch the Vikings play football.”
- Briggs Sussner

“I will go to the zoo. I will walk around and there you go - I’ll find one. I will carry the turkey in a stroller and put it in my car. Then, I will bring it to my house into my kitchen. I will put it in my oven. Wait, I will chop the feathers down and feed them to a goat. Now, I’ll put it in the oven for 10 minutes. The oven will beep and I will take it out with a pan. I will cut the legs off next. I will make chocolate cake and cupcakes and we can have ice cream, too. My mom will eat the turkey and I will eat the cake and ice cream. I hate turkey. I will sit on the couch and watch a movie, maybe like Elsa.” - Aamara Trotter

“I will get a turkey from a farm. My dad has a farm. But actually, he works on a farm or his mom can drive us to the farm. I will get a rope and throw it around the turkey’s neck. Then, I will tie it. I will throw it and squeeze it. I think I want my dad to kill it but I will do the rope part. I will take the skin off and take it into the kitchen and put it in the stove for 158 minutes. The beeping sound tells me the turkey is done. My dad can take it out because I will burn myself if I try to do that part. I will put the turkey outside so it can cool off. I will put hot sauce and ketchup on the turkey. We will have cereal like Lucky Charms with the turkey." - Greyson Vera Winter

St. Edward's School
Ms. Kampa's Class
(Ms. Larson, teaching assistant)

"My dad, sister and brother hunt for the turkey and then we cook it for three minutes and serve it with corn and burgers. My favorite food is turkey. We go to Grandma’s house and we give presents to our friends and family for Thanksgiving." - Skyla Gorecki

"We make Thanksgiving hot dish with beef and go to my Grandma and Grandpa's house and play with my cousins." - Sierra Gossen

"My turkey comes from the farm and we take its temperature and put it in the oven and cook it for eight minutes with raspberry Jello. We also make pumpkin pie with crust and bake it in the oven. I let my Mom know that the turkey is done, when the timer goes off. We like to drink root beer and 7-up with our meal. We have Grandma and Grandpa come over to eat with us." - Alyssa Gorecki

"My favorite foods for Thanksgiving are turkey, potatoes and pumpkin pie. My Mom gets the turkey from the store and it is already cooked and ready to eat. This year I am thankful for my new baby sister." - Kellen Noyes

"Well, my Dad shoots the chicken and takes the fur off and grabs it by the legs and puts it in the oven. When it is ready, he gets it from the oven and then we have some good chicken alfredo and rice. We have jelly pie for dessert, it is kind of good." - Francis Myhre

"My dad goes to kill the turkey and we cook it on the grill. I don’t like turkey but my brother loves it. We have 'wild turkey pumpkin surprise pie' with potatoes, ketchup, wild turkey, Jello and pumpkin seeds in it. It is delicious. My cousins come to eat with us."
- Reece Guza

Contact Us

The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492