Talking turkey Dinner

I make a turkey dinner for our friends every year. This year I experimented with a few different turkeys and stuffing solutions for 30 people at one time. Are you ready?

Turkey:
Brine the turkey in 2 gallons water and 2 cups salt for 6-8 hours the day before.
Take the turkey out of the brine and refrigerate overnight.
Turn on the over to 325
Stuff the turkey with stuffing to fill the cavity
Gingerly pull the skin up and dot the breast and thighs with butter
Add liquid to the bottom of the pan (I use white wine)
Roast per lb recommendation in a covered roasting pan.
After 2 hours baste hourly removing some liquid for the stuffing
Remove the pan cover 30 minutes before it is done

Let is rest for AT LEAST 30 minutes out of the over if not more covered in foil.


Stuffing:
I use Mrs Cubbisons - but you can dry out your bread and all that jazz if you want
Add dry stuffing (2 boxes)
1 cup butter
1 onion - chopped
1 package of celery - chopped
Cook the butter, onion and celery in a pan until soft
Mix 2 cans of chicken stock, butter, celery onion and stuffing

Stuff the bird and put the remaining stuffing in the crock pot on low all day.
Add drippings from the turkey and stir once and hour.

When the turkey is done add the stuffing from the turkey and mix.

Sausage and Peppers

A fall favorite.

1 1/2 lbs. Italian Sausage (I mix hot and mild)
1 8oz can of tomato sauce
2 large green peppers
2 large red peppers
1 medium onion (sliced)
Water
1/4 tsp. oregano

Heat oven to 375
in a large pan add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Add chopped sausage and onion. Roast for 1.5 hours turning periodically.
Add cut peppers, 1 cup water, tomato sauce and oregano. Stir and cook for another hour.

Crockpot Ham

The Crockpot ham that is world famous (in my world)
Bone in Butt Ham (important - spiral cut is too dry and shank is too greasy)
1 Bottle of Apple Cider (apple juice works)
Whole cloves

Put the ham in the crockpot bone down
FILL the crock pot with apple cider
toss in a handful of cloves

Cook on low all day
It is AMAZING!

Cooked Carrots

Peel and chop carrots into 1" pieces
Place them in a glass pan, in a single layer
cover with chicken broth
add rosemary and thyme to taste
Bake at 400 for 1 - 1.5 hours

Crockpot Potatoes

These are only 3 WW points per serving... not bad!

Peel and slice about 1lb potatoes
put in the crockpot with 2 chopped pieces of garlic
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp. butter
lots of Johnny's seasoning salt

Put on low for 4 hours

delish!

Kale Sausage Bean soup

This is an amazing soup:
In a crock pot chop up turkey sausage (I use Jenni-o hot)
Put in the bottom of the crock pot
Add 1 chopped medium onion
2-3 chopped carrots
8 cups water
2 tbsp. chicken bouillon
1 drained can of navy beans
4-6 cups chopped kale
salt and pepper

Let cook on low for about 4 hours and stir. Then cook on low for a few more hours. so good, so good for you!

Cucumber Salad

So refreshing - especially with fresh garden cucumbers and tomatoes!

2-3 chopped cucumbers
2 chopped tomatoes
1/4 fine diced red onion
1-2 oz feta
Feta Dill Lighthouse dressing (you can usually find it under the OPA yogurt dressing)