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Turkey Tom Foolery

November 15, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 15 Comments

Seems to me there are a lot of shortened days and days off around this time of year.

So we’re always looking for something fun to do in our off hours.

Enter the Thanksgiving crafty afternoons.

Today we’re making turkeys…

fruity turkeys…

apple turkeys…

Fun turkeys your little ones can make in a flash and eat even faster.

Here’s our recipe for

Apple Turkeys

crafts Turkey Tom Foolery

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Craft time:  20-30 minutes

WHAT YOU NEED:

Apples (for the turkey body)

toothpicks

pretzel sticks

fruity cheerios

raisins

dried pineapple

dried apricots

marshmallows

crafts Turkey Tom Foolery

WHAT TO DO:

After positioning your apple on its side.  On the bottoms of your apples, stick 4 toothpicks to give your turkey some legs to stand on.  You can stick a raisin or marshmallow on the bottom of each leg for his feet.

crafts Turkey Tom Foolery

Next let your kids decorate the turkey’s feathers.  Stick 4-5 toothpicks into the top/rear part of your apple (away from the stem).  Your kids can thread the toothpicks with raisins, dried pineapple, dried apricots or cheerios to make the turkey’s feathers.  Top each feather off with a big raisin or a mini marshmallow to keep things in place.  In between each feather you can add a pretzel stick for added color.

crafts Turkey Tom Foolery

We used big marshmallows or big pieces of dried fruit for the turkey head.  You could even cut some construction paper and color a turkey head if you like.  Get creative, have fun, happy turkey day!

Filed Under: Crafts, Featured, Fruit Recipes For Kids, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

How to Roast the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey

November 12, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 16 Comments

So we’re getting close…

Can you believe that Turkey Day is less than 2 weeks away?

Crazy!

So let’s rev up and get ready…

dinner How to Roast the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey

Roasting a moist and juicy bird is no easy feat.

Sure Mom made it look like a snap all those years but when you’re suddenly faced with tossing your own bird in the oven for the first time you realize that you actually have no idea how to do this!

Have no fear…

I have mastered how to create the perfect Thanksgiving Turkey.

First up…

Stuff it.

No, not not with stuffing.

dinner How to Roast the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey

With lemon…

and herbs…

and onion…

and garlic…

Cut ‘em up and shove ‘em right up in there.

dinner How to Roast the Perfect Thanksgiving TurkeyNext put some butter underneath the skin.

Carefully separate the skin from the breast meat and slide some pats of butter on in there.

Add in some herbs too, rosemary, sage, parsley, thyme.

Not too many, just enough for the flavor to sink in.

Trust me, you’re going to love it.

I use about 3 T or so, broken up into smaller pieces.

Leave it out to soften for an hour so, make it easier to get in there.

Sprinkle the outside of the bird with S&P and you’re ready to rock.

So let’s cook this thing.

Preheat your oven to 475 degrees.

Yup, I said it, 475.

When it’s hot and ready to go, put your bird in a covered roaster and toss it in the screaming hot oven for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes knock back your heat to 250 degrees.

Yes, I said 250.

We’re going to slow roast this bad boy and make it super tender.

Cook the turkey at 250 for 20 minutes for each pound.  So if you have a 12 pound turkey you cook it for 4 hours, a 15 pound turkey would be at 250 for 5 hours.

This is the final and most important step.

Let your turkey rest on the counter for 20 minutes before carving.

It will continue cooking while all the juices soak into the meat.  You don’t want those yummy juices all over your cutting board, right?

After 20 minutes just to be sure you should check it with a meat thermometer.  Just stick it into the breast.  It should read 170 degrees.

That’s it, you’re all set, and now you’re a Turkey All Star!  Get ready for the perfect bird.

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Featured, Holidays, Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Turkey Saltimbocca

August 26, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 8 Comments

This is a version of a recipe that I saw on America’s Test Kitchen.

I switched out chicken (or veal) cutlets for turkey cutlets instead, hey turkey cutlets were on sale at the store…can’t pass up a bargain!

I doctored up the sauce a bit as you all know I can’t follow a recipe to save my life what with my recipe OCD and all.

I like this dish because the kids can help with the prep and it’s a great light and easy meal.

Perfect for the end of summer.

Give this a whirl…you’ll be glad you did.

dinner Turkey Saltimbocca

Serves: 4  Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 15 minutes

1 1/2 pounds turkey cutlets

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 T garlic powder

1/2 t ground black pepper

16 sage leaves, divided (8 minced, 8 whole)

8 slices thin prosciutto

3 T olive oil

1 cup dry white wine

1 large shallot, chopped fine

2 t lemon juice

3 T butter

1 T chopped parsley

Pat cutlets dry with paper towels. In a large bowl combine flour, garlic powder and pepper.  Dredge turkey cutlets in flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Lay cutlets flat and sprinkle evenly with minced sage. Place 1 prosciutto slice on top of each cutlet.   (These are great steps for the kids to help with, just be sure they wash their hands after handling the raw poultry!)

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add whole sage leaves and cook for about 15 to 20 seconds. Using slotted spoon, remove sage to paper towel-lined plate and set aside for garnish later. Add half of cutlets to pan, prosciutto-side down, and cook until light golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook on other side until light golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and keep warm under some aluminum foil. Repeat with remaining cutlets.

dinner Turkey Saltimbocca

Pour off excess fat from skillet, reserving about 1 Tablespoon. Add you shallots and cook until they begin to soften, about 4 minutes.  Add in you wine to deglaze your pan being sure to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom.  Simmer until reduced to about 1/3 cup, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. Turn heat to low and whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Off heat, stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper. Pour over turkey and top with fried sage leaves and extra parsley.

dinner Turkey Saltimbocca

dinner Turkey Saltimbocca

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Summertime Pasta

June 22, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 48 Comments

dinner Summertime Pasta

Welcome to our kitchen! If you’re here from Follow Me Back Tuesday please come in, take a look around, leave us a comment so we know you were here! Ok, now back to our show…

I don’t know why I equate italian sausages with summer but, well, I do.  It makes me think of firing up the grill, or going to a ball game, or hitting the food stands at the town fair.  I love me some sausage, so does the fam, but sometimes I need to find a different way of making it then the good ol’ grilled standby.

Enter the Summertime Pasta.  It’s a one dish meal and it’s so so good.  I just threw a whole bunch of stuff in the fridge into the pan and viola, a delicious dinner is on the table.  Enjoy.

dinner Summertime Pasta

1 lb penne pasta

1 T olive oil

1 lb bulk italian turkey sausage (hot or mild)

2 cloves garlic chopped

1 onion sliced thin

8 0z mushrooms, sliced

1/2 T red pepper flakes

1 t dried oregano

2-3 T dry vermouth (or you could use white wine)

1 cup chicken stock

S&P

parmesan cheese

1 bunch baby arugula

Set a large pot of water on to boil for your pasta.  When it’s hot season the water with salt, add pasta and cook until al dente.

In a large pot heat your olive oil over medium high heat.  Crumble in your sausage and cook until well browned.  Once browned (about 8 minutes or so) add in your onions, mushrooms, and zucchini.  Allow veggies to soften a bit, about 5 minutes then add in your garlic and cook for an additional minutes.  Season with red pepper flakes, oregano, and S&P.  Deglaze with vermouth and allow to cook out for a minute or so.  Add in your chicken stock and bring down the heat and allow to simmer while your pasta finishes cooking.

dinner Summertime PastaDrain your pasta and add to the sausage sauce.  Mix well and then serve on a small plate.  Top with arugula and shaved parmesan cheese then sprinkle with a bit of extra virgin olive oil.  Mmmm good!

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Kid Favorite Recipes, Recipes For Kids, Vegetable Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Sausage & Turkey Pizza Pockets

March 11, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 3 Comments

I was inspired by fellow blogger Me, Myself, & Pie for this recipe.  She made a delicious Turkey and Basil Calzone so I whipped up a different version.  Thanks so much for the great idea.  Go on over and tell her a big thank you too!

Turkey & Sausage Calzone

dinner Sausage & Turkey Pizza Pockets

Serves: 4  Prep Time:  30 minutes  Cook Time: 15 minutes


Cooking spray

1 T olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2  garlic cloves, minced

8 oz. sliced mushrooms

1  pound  ground turkey breast (original recipe called for ground chicken)

1 T tomato paste

¼ cup red wine

1 large can crushed tomato

¼  t  crushed red pepper

1 t dried oregano

S&P

1  (13.8-ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough

½ cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese you could also use fresh mozzarella for really super gooey fillings!

¼ cup parmesan cheese for sprinkling.

½ t garlic powder

½ t S&P

Preheat oven to 425°.

dinner Sausage & Turkey Pizza PocketsHeat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and sausage.  Allow sausage to brown, about 4 minutes.  Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add onions and mushrooms to pan.  Seaon with salt and pepper.  Cook until soft, about 5 min.  Add garlic,s sausage and turkey to pan and sauté 5 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to crumble. Stir in tomato paste, cook for a minute or so. Deglaze the bottom of the pan, scraping up all the good bits, with your red wine.  Stir in your tomatoes and season with red pepper, oregano, and more S&P.   Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Unroll dough onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; cut dough into quarters. Pat each portion into an 8 x 6–inch rectangle.dinner Sausage & Turkey Pizza Pockets Divide turkey and sausage mixture evenly among rectangles; top each serving with 2 tablespoons cheese. Working with one rectangle at a time, fold dough in half over filling, pinching edges to seal. Repeat procedure with remaining rectangles. Crimp the edges with a fork.  Sprinkle the tops with S&P, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese.dinner Sausage & Turkey Pizza Pockets Bake at 425° for 12 minutes or until golden.

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Kid Favorite Recipes, Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , ,

Turkey Empanadas

January 15, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 3 Comments

appetizers Turkey Empanadas

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes For Kids, Dinner Recipes For Kids, Kid Favorite Recipes, Recipes For Kids Tagged With: ,
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