By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Nov 22, 2011 at 3:17 PM

I have no idea how many turkeys I've cooked over the years and I'm still not certain about what to buy.

The battle, of course, is over fresh vs. frozen turkeys.

For years and years I got a frozen turkey and thawed it out according to the instructions and people just seemed to love the whole Thanksgiving feast.

Then when the high-end Metro Market opened in Downtown, I was at the meat counter one day near the holiday when the guy behind the counter asked if I wanted a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving.

He said they had the very best in fresh turkeys, Bell & Evans. It was more expensive but not by a huge amount, so I said, "Hey yea, let's go fresh this year."

So, ever since then I've gone the fresh turkey route and that's been the rule for Thanksgiving, no matter where it is being held.

I will confess that I can't tell the difference between the two when it comes either to cooking the thing or eating it. They both taste almost like turkey.

The idea of saying "fresh turkey" appeals to the snob in me, but the idea of saving even a little bit of money also has a strong appeal.

Any help on this one would be appreciated, even at this late hour.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.