Showing posts with label turkey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label turkey. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

STOCKPILE COOKING - TURKEY & WILD RICE CASSEROLE



TURKEY & WILD RICE CASSEROLE


This is my absolute favorite recipe for leftover turkey!
My family looks forward to this one every year.

I like to make as much as possible and freeze it so we can enjoy it throughout the year.
This is one of those recipes that the longer it marinates the better it tastes!


Ingredients:
  • Leftover Turkey, chopped
  • 2 Cups of Leftover Gravy
  • 2 Boxes of Wild Rice (I prefer Uncle Ben's)
  • 2 Cans of Sliced, Water Chestnuts (I bought at Winco for $.43 a can)
  • 3 Stalks of Celery (chopped)
  • 1 Medium Onion (I like to do a mix of red and white onion so I use 2 small)
  • 1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup (from my stockpile paid $.20 a can last week)
  • 2 Cups of Mayo
  • 1 Tbl. of Celery Salt
  • 1 Tbl. of Onion Powder
  • 1 Tbl. of Garlic Salt
  • 1 Tsp. of Black Pepper

Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 400
  • Cook wild rice per directions on box.
  • Meanwhile, put leftover turkey, water chestnuts, celery and onion in an oven safe dish

  • In a medium bowl, mix Cream of Mushroom Soup, Mayo, Gravy and all seasonings.
  • Mix until combined

  • By this time the wild rice should be done cooking.
  • Place rice and sauce mixture in the oven dish with turkey and veggies.
  • Mix until well combined
  • Spread out evenly

  • Place dish in a 400 degree oven uncovered for 45 minutes or until golden brown
  • ENJOY!!





Monday, November 14, 2011

TURKEY HOTLINE - IT'S ALL IN THE TIMING....




It is time to talk TURKEY WITH THE TURKEY HOTLINE!!
 
I think the only way you can ruin a turkey is over cooking it. 
 
I found a few great cooking conversion tables to help you cook your bird to perfection! 
Even your mother-in-law will want to give you praise!  HA! 
 
 
How long to cook a turkey - oven roasting at 325 degrees F.:


WEIGHT IN LBS.
8
12
14
18
20
24
COOK TIME – UNSTUFFED
2.75
3
3.75
4.25
4.5
5
COOK TIME – STUFFED
3
3.5
4
4.25
4.75
5.25


How long to cook a turkey on a grill at 350 to 400 degrees F.:
Use a 14 or 15 pound bird. Don't stuff it. Figure about 3 hours but check it after two hours. Timing is very imprecise.

WEIGHT IN LBS.
8
12
14
18
20
24
COOK TIMEIN HOUR UNSTUFFED
1.5
2.75
3
3.5
3.75
4.5
COOK TIME IN HOUR STUFFED
1.75
3
3.25
3.75
4
4.75


How long to cook a turkey if deep frying:
A deep fried turkey takes about 3 to 5 minutes per pound when cooked in 350 degree F. oil.
After deep frying at the lower range of cooking time, 3 minutes per pound, check the temperature with an instant read thermometer. If the temperature is 160 degrees F the turkey is done and can be removed to rest. The temperature will continue to rise to 165 degrees F as the bird is resting.
If the turkey has not reached 160 degrees F, return it to the oil, carefully, for more frying.




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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

TURKEY HOTLINE: TO STUFF OR NOT TO STUFF.....



It is time to talk TURKEY WITH THE TURKEY HOTLINE!!


TO STUFF....
OR
NOT TO STUFF.....

PREMADE....
OR
HOMEMADE....


This is always the big debate at my house during Turkey Day. 

I can't help but think in my mind that Grandma's turkey is always dry because she stuffs the bird. 

Stuffing is bread...it soaks up all the moister that the bird has to offer. 

Oh, and then lets not forget about all the creepy turkey body parts and any leftover nuts she has in her fridge that she insists on adding.

So...my question to you is: To Stuff or Not to Stuff? Make from a box or homemade?

What do you do? 
Do you have a good homemade stuffing recipe?  Please share, I don't have one!

Want to try stuffing the bird? 
Here are a few basic tips that will help make sure your stuffed bird stuffing turns out great!

·         Prepare your stuffing right before you stuff the bird.
o   This will keep your stuffing moist
·         Only stuff your bird with all cooked ingredients.
o   Sautéed veggies
o   Cooked meat
o   Whatever other weird things you like to put in stuffing J
·         Put prepared stuffing the in the bird right before roasting.
o   DO NOT STUFF THE NIGHT BEFORE!!  Your stuffing is bread which will soak up all the yucky raw turkey juice!
·         Evenly stuff your bird’s neck and body cavities. 
o   Filler up, but don’t want to stuff too tightly. 
o   Over stuffing can cause uneven cooking
·         Stuffing needs to be 165 degrees when done.

Or you can do my favorite method:
·         Bring 1 ½ cups of water and ¼ cup of butter to a boil
·         Add 1 Box of Stove Top Turkey Stuffing to boiling water.
·         Stir until all stuffing is moist.
·         Cover and remove from heat.
·         Let stand for 5 minutes
·         Fluff with a fork and enjoy!



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Monday, November 7, 2011

TURKEY HOTLINE TOPIC- BRINING TURKEY



It is time to talk TURKEY WITH THE TURKEY HOTLINE!!


With Turkey Day approching I thought it would be fun to cover
all things turkey!


FIRST TIME HOSTING?
I send me your questions!
I will post it so others can leave a comment to help!


HAVE AN AMAZING RECIPE OR TIP?
Please share to help the newbies & us looking for a fresh idea!


HOW DO YOU DECORATE YOUR TABLE?



TODAY'S TOPIC - BRINE

Brining can seem so scary for a first time Turkey Cooker, but it is so simple and one of the best ways to cook a super juicy bird that even your Mother-in-Law will like (though it will never be as good as hers....Ha!)

Make your turkey turn out moist and delicious by seasoning the entire turkey, not just the skin, with a process called brining. When brining, a raw turkey is soaked in salted water for a number of hours while refrigerated to help it retain moisture during the cooking process. Some brines can also add flavor to the turkey.


Follow these simple steps to have an amazing juicy bird:
  1. Start with a fully thawed bird, a frozen bird will not soak in the brine
  2. Clean large container to hold the bird, 5 gallon bucket is perfect size
  3. Use 1 cup of Kosher Salt per gallon of water (kosher is best but if you are going to use table salt change measurements to 1/2 cup salt to 1 gallon water
  4. Add any herbs you may want to flavor your turkey.  Bay leaves, Thyme, Fresh Garlic....
  5. Place turkey in brine and put in a refridgerated place for required amount of time.
  6. Brine time will depend on bird size (see equation below)
  7. When ready to cook, take turkey out of brine.  Pat dry and cook as normal.
1 pound of turkey = 1 hour of brine time (22 pound turkey = 22 hours of brine


Do you ever brine turkey? 

Share your brining tips and recipes!!






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Friday, November 4, 2011

TURKEY HOTLINE




It is time to talk TURKEY WITH THE TURKEY HOTLINE!!


With Turkey Day approching I thought it would be fun to cover
all things turkey!


FIRST TIME HOSTING?
I send me your questions!
I will post it so others can leave a comment to help!


HAVE AN AMAZING RECIPE OR TIP?
Please share to help the newbies & us looking for a fresh idea!


HOW DO YOU DECORATE YOUR TABLE?