Leftover Turkey Rice Soup

Wondering what to do with your left over turkey? The easiest thing to do is make soup! Remember back in October when we brined and roasted a chicken then made stock with the carcass? No? Well, go here and refresh your memory. If you're not up to making your own stock but still want to make soup, stay here and let's continue.

Ingredients:

8 cups chicken, turkey or vegetable stock.
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
1 can chickpeas, drained
1 can diced tomatoes, with juice
1 tbsp parsley flakes (and any additional seasonings you like)
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup rice, cooked (any variety)
2 cups cooked turkey, chopped (great way to use up all that dark meat no one eats!)

1. Add stock to a large pot and bring to a boil. Add carrot, celery, chickpeas, tomato, parsley and salt & pepper. Simmer on medium-low for 15 minutes.

2. Add rice and turkey. Simmer for another 15 minutes.

Pumpkin Trifle

Hello! I'm back! Are you shocked? I did not abandon my blog. Just been taking a hiatus. To be quite honest I haven't even been cooking all that much the last six months. It's quite sad and pathetic actually. I hope to post a few recipes over the next month, then I will be taking another short break while I move houses.

This lovely holiday dessert recipe comes from my cousin. I made individual portions for Thanksgiving and it was a huge success. There is nothing healthy or natural about this recipe. It's the holidays... let's live a little!

The base of my trifle is spice cake. If you live in the USA you can buy packages of Gingerbread mix, which is what the original recipe called for. In my area of Canada all we have available is Spice Cake mix and it did the trick just fine!



Pumpkin Trifle

- (USA) 2 (14oz) packages gingerbread mix or(Canada) 1 box Spice Cake mix (Duncan Hines - available at Save On Foods)
- 1 large box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 30oz can pumpkin pie filling
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 tsp ground cardamom, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- 1 12oz container Cool Whip, thawed
- 1/2 cup crushed ginger snaps, optional

1. Bake gingerbread mix or spice cake mix according to package directions. Cool completely.

2. Meanwhile, prepare pudding. Stir in pumpkin pie filling, brown sugar and spices.

3. Crumble half the gingerbread or spice cake into a large trifle bowl, punch bowl or other pretty glass bowl*. Pour half the pudding mixture over top, then add a layer of Cool Whip. Repeat with remaining cake, pudding and Cool Whip. Sprinkle crushed ginger snaps on top to garnish.

4. Refrigerate overnight.

*You could also use individual dessert bowls as I did. Portion the ingredients according to the number of servings you require and layer according to directions.

Enjoy!

Pear & Gorgonzola Tarts with Red Pepper Jelly

This is the second fall themed appetizer I prepared for my cousin's 1st birthday party. As with all party appies I make, there is no photo! I will probably be making these again. They were popular amongst the blue cheese fans in the crowd. I didn't have time to top mine with the pepper jelly but I'm sure they would have been fantastic if I had taken the time for that extra step. They definitely needed a kick of sweetness. A dribble of honey or some rich caramelized onion would have been a nice topping too.

Ingredients:

1 package phyllo pastry, thawed
1/4 cup butter, melted
4 ounces (125g) Gorgonzola cheese plus a couple ounces extra, crumbled
8 ounces (250g) cream cheese
3 tbsp milk or cream
salt and pepper.
3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and chopped
1 jar Cranberry Hot Pepper Jelly

Directions:

1. Unfold phyllo pastry and cut into 3x3 squares. Brush melted butter on a square and cover with a second square. Repeat process until squares have 4 layers. Press into the cups of a mini muffin tin. Pre-bake phyllo cups according to package directions (about 8-10 mins or until light golden-brown). Remove from oven and let cool. Can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

2. Add Gorgonzola, cream cheese, milk, salt and pepper to a food processor and blend together until smooth. Fold in 3/4 of the chopped pears.

3. Spoon a small amount of cheese mixture into each phyllo cup. (I added my cheese mixture to a pastry bag and squeezed about a teaspoon of mixture into each cup.) Top with a couple pear pieces and a bit more crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Top each with a 1/4 teaspoon of pepper jelly. Serve warm.

Grandma's No Bake Whipped Cheesecake

My Grandma has been making this cheesecake for over 40 years. She pinched the recipe from the restaurant kitchen when she worked at Woolworth's in the early 1960's. (It's also known as Woolworth's Icebox Cheesecake.) This cheesecake has been a favourite in my family ever since, and makes an appearance at every major family function and holiday gathering. I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon at Grandma's the other day learning how to make this classic dessert. It's easier than I expected, although a stand mixer (which I do not have) is a definite must. It could be put together using an electric hand mixer but would require a bit more time and effort.

Ingredients:

- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 block (250g) cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tins evaporated milk, refrigerated overnight before using
- 1 large packet lemon gelatin
- 2/3 cup boiling water
- 2/3 cup cold water

Directions:

1. Mix 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs and melted butter together in a bowl. Press crumbs into a deep 9x12 inch baking pan, covering the bottom and up the sides about half an inch. Reserve the other 1/2 cup of the crumbs for topping. Refrigerate crust until ready to use.

2. Add cream cheese, sugar and vanilla to a small bowl of an electric stand mixer and cream together until smooth and well blended, about 3 minutes. Set aside.

3. Add milk to a large bowl an electric stand mixer and whip until stiff peaks are formed.

4. While milk is beating, prepare gelatin. Mix gelatin powder with boiling water and cold water. Mix well to dissolve powder but do not allow to congeal.

5. While mixer is running, slowly add gelatin mixture to whipped milk. Mix together on slow speed for 1/2 a minute.

6. While mixer is still running, slowly add cream cheese mixture to whipped milk. Mix together on slow speed for another 1/2 minute or until all cream cheese is incorporated.

7. Pour mixture over crumbs in prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining crumbs over top. Refrigerate at least 12 hours before serving.

Sausage, Apple & Sage Stuffed Mushrooms

My cousin's baby turned 1 year old last week! She hosted a family birthday celebration over the weekend, the day before (Canadian) Thanksgiving. In honour of the holiday, my cousin wanted to do a fall/Thanksgiving theme cocktail menu. I offered to help out by making a few dishes.

Unfortunately, no pictures yet. The appies were gobbled up before I could snap a photo!

First up - Mushrooms stuffed with... STUFFING! I've always believed that stuffing is the best part of the holidays; or at least the best part of the holiday dinner. Last year I posted my mom's recipe for Moist Bread Sausage Apple Stuffing. It's THE best stuffing EVER and that is no exaggeration. I re-worked the recipe to make it suitable to stuff into large white mushrooms. Topped with a bit of grated Parmesan (because every stuffed mushroom recipe should be topped with cheese), these mushrooms are to die for!

If you want, you could make this into an entrée by using large portabella mushrooms. To get the celery and onion to a fine, minced consistency, I chopped them into smaller pieces, then put them into a food processor.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
1 cup minced celery (about 3 stalks)
1 cup minced onion (about 1 large onion)
1/4 cup fresh sage, chopped fine
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 lb (4 oz, 250g) ground pork sausage (NOT Italian sausage)
2 apples, peeled, cored and minced
1/4 cup apple juice or cider
1 1/2 cups dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan, plus
36 large white button mushrooms, washed and de-stemmed

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange mushrooms, tops face up, in a single layer. Roast in oven for 10-15 minutes, while you prepare the stuffing. Remove from oven to cool. Replace parchment with a fresh sheet and arrange mushroom tops down, in a single layer.

2. Melt butter in a large sauté pan. Add onions and celery and cook until onions are translucent and celery tender. Add seasonings and mix well. Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bow.

3. In the same sauté pan, cook sausage and apple with apple juice until sausage cooked through and apples are soft. Add mixture to the bowl of onion and celery.

4. Once vegetable mixture has cooled slightly, add bread crumbs and Parmesan to the bowl. Toss everything to mix well.

5. Scoop mixture into each mushroom cap. Sprinkle with a bit of Parmesan cheese. Bake in pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes until tops are browned. Serve immediately.

Thanksgiving Recipes

I'm posting this a little late for the Canadian readers since Thanksgiving dinners are being held tonight and tomorrow night. For the American readers, maybe some of these recipes will give you inspiration for your meal next month!

My mom's classic and our family favourite - Moist Bread Sausage Apple Stuffing. I changed it up this year by adding fresh chopped sage. Delicious!


A new favourite (of mine) - Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli and Asparagus with Garlic Balsamic Reduction. My other Brussels Sprouts favourite is when they are sautéed with onion and bacon!


Or how about Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Brown Butter Sauce.


Another new dish - Roasted Root Vegetables with Candied Pumpkin Seeds. I made this one last year instead of mashed potatoes.



Happy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen - Cranberry Port Wine Jelly and Merlot Wine Jelly

Two more easy jellies to make for holiday gifts. These ones are even easier than the Cranberry Hot Pepper Jelly because there is no food processing step. Wine jellies are fabulous with cream cheese and pate. They are also good over lamb and game meats.

Recipes from 'The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving'.

Cranberry Port Wine Jelly

1 cup port wine
1 cup 100% cranberry juice (NOT cocktail and NOT concentrate)
3 1/2 cups white sugar
1 pouch liquid pectin

1. See here for instructions on how to prepare jars for canning and here for how to prepare your boiling-water canner.

2. Place wine, cranberry juice and sugar in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in pectin. Skim off any foam.

3. Ladle mixture into hot 125ml canning jars. Cover with a hot snap lid and secure with a ring. Process jars in a boiling-water canner for 10 minutes (15 minutes if you are above 1000ft elevation). Turn off the heat. Wait 5 minutes before removing jars from water (to stabilize pressure inside jars). Remove jars from water and place them on a towel. Let jars sit, undisturbed, to cool at room temperature overnight. Remove rings, label jars with contents and date, and store jars in a cool, dark place. (If you are giving as gifts, leave rings on, or replace rings just before gifting.)

Yields 4 1/2 cups

Merlot Wine Jelly

You can substitute ANY wine in place of the Merlot.

2 cups Merlot wine
1/4 cup fresh, strained lemon juice (2-3 lemons), or 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
3 1/2 cups white sugar
1 pouch liquid pectin

1. See here for instructions on how to prepare jars for canning and here for how to prepare your boiling-water canner.

2. Place wine, lemon juice and sugar in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in pectin. Skim off any foam.

3. Ladle mixture into hot 125ml canning jars. Cover with a hot snap lid and secure with a ring. Process jars in a boiling-water canner for 10 minutes (15 minutes if you are above 1000ft elevation). Turn off the heat. Wait 5 minutes before removing jars from water (to stabilize pressure inside jars). Remove jars from water and place them on a towel. Let jars sit, undisturbed, to cool at room temperature overnight. Remove rings and store jars in a cool, dark place. (If you are giving as gifts, leave rings on, or replace rings just before gifting.)

Yields 4 1/2 cups

Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen - Cranberry Hot Pepper Jelly

Making homemade jellies is a lot easier than I expected. With the right supplies and a little patience, you too can create some gourmet jellies for holiday gifts. Cranberry Hot Pepper Jelly makes a great appetizer, served with crackers and cheese, especially cream cheese. It's also great as a spread on a turkey sandwich.

The best part about making your own jelly is that it is CHEAP! Assuming you already own the required canning equipment, the cost per 125ml jar of Cranberry Hot Pepper Jelly works out to less than $2 per jar! My batch of eight jars actually cost $1.73 per jar. That cost includes the jar, sugar, pectin, red pepper, jalapeño and cranberry juice AND the jar top labels. (The vinegar is not included in the cost analysis because I already had a large jug on hand, but even with the amount of vinegar used in the recipe added in, the total per jar would still be under $2.) Homemade jellies are personal, affordable, easy and delicious.

The green jalapeño peppers used in this recipe are quite mild and taste peppery rather than spicy. If you'd like a spicier mix, try using Serrano peppers or red jalapeño peppers. You could also add a teaspoon or two of dried red chili flakes to the saucepan during step one.

Recipe from 'The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving'.


1 large sweet red pepper
2 green jalapeño peppers, seeded
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup 100% pure cranberry juice (NOT cocktail)
3 cups white sugar
1 pouch liquid fruit pectin
8 125ml canning jars, snap lids and rings
1 jelly bag or cheesecloth

1. See here for instructions on how to prepare jars for canning and here for how to prepare your boiling-water canner.

2. Finely chop red pepper and jalapeño peppers in a food processor. Place mixture in a small stainless steel saucepan* with water and vinegar. Bring mixture to a boil, cover, reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes. Strain mixture through a course sieve, pressing with the back of spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Pour liquid through a jelly bag or through a couple layers of cheesecloth to remove any remaining sediment.

3. Place strained liquid, cranberry concentrate and sugar in a medium stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin, return to a full boil and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam.

4. Ladle mixture into hot 125ml canning jars. Cover with a hot snap lid and secure with a ring. Process jars in a boiling-water canner for 10 minutes (15 minutes if you are above 1000ft elevation). Turn off the heat. Wait 5 minutes before removing jars from water (to stabilize pressure inside jars). Remove jars from water and place them on a towel. Let jars sit, undisturbed, to cool at room temperature overnight. Remove rings, label jars with contents and date, and store jars in a cool, dark place. (If you are giving as gifts, leave rings on, or replace rings just before gifting.)


Labels are Avery #8293 - High Visibility Inkjet Round Labels.

Yields 8 - 125ml jars

Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen - Limoncello Liqueur

Limoncello is a sweet Italian liqueur. It is easy to make and tasty to drink. The traditional way to enjoy this treat is ice cold, straight up in a shot glass. Or try it in a martini. My favourite Limoncello martini recipes follow below.

Limoncello Liqueur:

8 organic lemons
1 750ml bottle vodka
2 1/2 cups water
2 cups sugar

1. Wash lemons with a vegetable brush in hot water. Rinse well. Using a vegetable peeler or zester, peel off the rind, avoiding the white pith. The pith is bitter tasting and will affect the outcome of your Limoncello. You can also grate the zest using a Microplane, just be careful to only grate the yellow skin and not the white pith. If you end up with pith on the back of your rind, gently scrape it off using a paring knife.

2. Place the rind in a large airtight jar. Pour in vodka and seal the jar. Leave vodka in a cool dark place for at least five days and up to thirty days. The longer you leave the mix to steep, the better. The more time it has, more lemon flavour will be infused and the vodka will become brighter yellow.

3. After steeping your vodka for the desired length of time, prepare a simple syrup by mixing 2 1/2 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until sugar is all dissolved and mixture has thickened. Let cool to room temperature.

4. Mix the cooled simple syrup with the vodka/lemon mixture. Re-seal and allow to rest in a cool, dark place for another five to thirty days. If you are in a rush, you can skip the second rest period, go right to the straining in step five and instead allow the mixture to rest after it has been strained.

5. After the second rest period, strain the mixture through a coffee filter or cheesecloth lined funnel into bottle of your choice. Discard the lemon rind.

6. Store finished Limoncello in a cool, dark place for up to one year. "Connoisseurs" advocate storing your Limoncello in the freezer until ready to serve. I DO NOT advocate storing yours in the freezer because, as I learned, it actually freezes! A cold fridge is sufficient enough.



When giving as a gift, I include a scroll of Limoncello drink recipes. Here are some of my favourites:

Limoncello Limon Blush Cocktail:
1 oz Limoncello
3 oz lemonade
½ oz cranberry juice
½ oz soda water
1 lemon wedge for garnish

Add first three ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a tall glass filled with ice or a chilled martini glass. Top with soda and garnish with a lemon wedge.

Killer Limoncello Martini:
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz Limoncello
½ oz lemon juice
Lemon wedge or lemon peel spiral

Combine liquid in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lemon peel or wedge.

Limoncello Fizz:
1 oz Limoncello
3 oz soda water
1 oz Ginger Ale
Squirt of lemon juice
Lemon wedge for garnish

Mix all ingredients in a tall glass filled with ice. Stir well and serve with a lemon wedge.

Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen - Vanilla Vodka

This is one of the easiest homemade Holiday gifts. It is a little on the expensive side when it comes to homemade gifts, only because vanilla beans are not cheap but the expense is worth it.

In case you are wondering, I bought my glass flasks at The Container Store. They offer a wide assortment of glass bottles and jars.

Vanilla Vodka:

Per 250ml glass jar, you will need:

1 vanilla bean
250 ml vodka (cheaper the better!)
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 coffee filter

1. Split vanilla bean. Using a small knife, run the blade up the bean to remove the seeds.

2. In a large re-sealable container, add vodka, vanilla bean and extracted vanilla seeds. Cover and store in a cool, dark place for 1-2 weeks.

3. After 1-2 weeks, set up a funnel on the glass jar and line with a coffee filter. Strain the vodka through a coffee filter, into the jar. Add pure vanilla extract. Place the vanilla bean in the jar and seal.

4. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.

Incidentally, if you concentrate the vanilla flavour (reduce the amount of vodka and increase the amount of vanilla beans), you will eventually create homemade vanilla extract!

Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen - Peanuty Chocolate Oreo Cookie Bark

This is another recipe from the Kraft Kitchens. I've made this one for a few years now and it is very easy and very good. Who doesn't like chocolate, peanut butter and Oreo cookies!?

1 box (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 box (6 squares) BAKER'S White Chocolate
2 Tbsp Smooth Peanut Butter (I used 3)
10 OREO Cookies, smashed

1. PLACE semi-sweet chocolate and white chocolate in separate medium microwaveable bowls. Microwave until completely melted, following directions on package. Add peanut butter to white chocolate; stir until well blended. Crumble half the cookies over chocolate in each bowl; mix well.

2. DROP spoonfuls of the chocolate mixtures onto waxed paper-covered baking sheet, alternating the colours of the chocolates. Swirl gently with knife. Top with more crumbled cookies.

3. REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

I alternate between serving the bark in glass jars (as shown) or Christmas Asian-style take out boxes (below).

Variation: Instead of peanut butter & Oreos, use dried cranberries and chopped macadamia nuts. I made a batch using cherry flavoured dried cranberries and dry roasted macadamia nuts. It created a sweet and salty treat, perfect for someone that prefers salty snacks.

Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen - Accidental Toblerone Fudge Sauce

Hello! I've taken some time off cooking. Well, that isn't exactly true. I'm still cooking but nothing has been deemed worth of posting here. Although the pot roast, mushroom and zucchini pizza I made last night was pretty delicious.

With only two weeks till Christmas, I've been very busy. My shopping is all done. My presents are all wrapped and my Christmas crafting is nearly complete. I don't usually bake around Christmas time. I'm not much of a baker. I'm more of a creator. This year I created homemade Limoncello liqueur, Vanilla Vodka, Toblerone Fudge Sauce and Peanuty Oreo Cookie Bark. The results are pretty darn good, in my opinion.



Today I will share my Accidental Toblerone Fudge Sauce. Accidental because I set out to make a KRAFT Kitchen's Toblerone Fudge recipe. Unfortunately my fudge didn't set and I needed to come up with something to salvage the $10 worth of chocolate that was in my pan. This recipe is not healthy. It isn't wholesome. It isn't cheap. But it is sinfully delicious. That is why I'm giving almost all of my fudge sauce away as gifts.

If you are interested in the original Toblerone Fudge recipe, check here.

Jill's Accidental Toblerone Fudge Sauce:

Yields about 8 cups - Enough to fill 4 - 500ml canning jars

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
3 cups full fat evaporated milk (about 2 large cans)
600g Toblerone (That is one full and a one half of the 400g large holiday bars or 6 smaller 100 g bars)
6 squares bakers chocolate (semi-sweet or bitter-sweet)

1. Coarsely chop all chocolate and set aside.

2. Mix sugar, butter and evaporated milk in a sauce pan. While stirring constantly, slowly bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Let boil for five minutes will continuing to stir.

3. Remove sauce pan from heat. Pour chopped chocolate into sauce pan and stir until completely melted.

4. Let cool to room temperature. Sauce should be of a thick consistency and coat the back of a spoon, yet still pour easily. If sauce is too thick, stir in more condensed milk, 1/4 cup at a time. If sauce is too runny, more chocolate may need to be added.

5. Spoon or pour sauce into airtight jars. I used 500ml canning jars and boiled them after, per box instructions, to form a proper airtight seal.

6. Store jars in refrigerator.

Chocolate Sauce Uses:
- Heat a bit in the microwave and spoon over ice cream, cream puffs, pancakes and other desserts.
- Add to milk for rich and creamy chocolate milk
- Serve as is over ice cream

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli & Asparagus

This was one of my Thanksgiving dinner side dishes. These veggies take very little time to cook. They are topped with toasted pine nuts and a balsalmic reduction. Everyone in my family enjoyed the dish. It's a keeper. From The Healthiest Meals on Earth.

Roasted Broccoli & Asparagus:

olive oil
1 lb Brussels spouts
1 bunch asparagus spears
1 large head broccoli
3 whole cloves garlic
salt & pepper
Garlic Balsamic Reduction (see below)
2 tbsp toasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Wash and trim the Brussels sprouts. Cut in half lengthwise. Toss the Brussels and garlic cloves in olive oil and arrange on a small baking sheet.

3. Place in oven. Set a timer for 10 minutes.

4. While Brussels are roasting, trim the asparagus. Trim and stem the broccoli and cut the broccoli into long thin pieces. Toss the veggies and arrange on a second small baking sheet.

5. After 10 minutes, place the second baking sheet in the oven along side the Brussels sprouts and roast for another 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender and lightly browned.

6. Remove from oven and place vegetables in serving dish. Make the Garlic Balsamic Reduction and pour over veggies. Add pine nuts. Season with salt and pepper.

Garlic Balsamic Reduction:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 whole roasted cloves garlic (from above)

1. While vegetables are roasting, add vinegar to a small sauce pan. Simmer over medium heat until vinegar starts to reduce and thicken.

2. When vegetables are cooked, remove roasted garlic pieces. Add reduced vinegar and roasted garlic cloves to a blender and puree.

3. Spoon garlic balsamic reduction over finished vegetables.

Turkey Pies

The worst part about a turkey holiday is dealing with the turkey left overs. One can handle turkey soup and sandwiches for so long! The inspiration for Turkey Pies came from the Dear Food Network Thanksgiving day special. One of the hosts used pre-made puff pastry and created turkey pot pies. Initially I tried to make pot pies as seen in the episode, however puff pastry is not as easy to work with as I thought it would be. Instead I ended up making "strudel" style pies - much easier with beautiful results. The filling was concocted with the veggies I had available in my fridge. This isn't the healthiest meal but it sure is tasty and and is a quick and easy way to use up those dreaded left overs. You can also make the pies smaller to serve as appetizers.

Turkey Pies:

1 pkg frozen puff pastry, thawed at room temp
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced carrot
1 cup diced celery
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup diced sweet potato
1/2 cup diced zucchini
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 can low fat cream of chicken soup
left over turkey gravy
salt & pepper to taste, if needed
egg wash (1 egg, lightly beaten mixed with 1/4 cup water)

1. Heat oil in a saute pan. Saute onions, celery and carrot until translucent.

2. Add other veggies and continue to saute until mushrooms have reduced slightly.

3. Add soup and gravy. Stir well to mix. Let simmer on low for 15 minutes.

4. Add salt & pepper if needed. If your gravy was well seasoned, additional S&P probably won't be necessary.

5. Roll out puff pastry on a flour covered counter top. Cut dough into squares to suit your pie size (for example: 3 inch square for appies, 5-6 inch square of entree).

6. Spoon turkey mixture on half of a pastry square, leaving a 1/4 inch on each side.

7. Fold pastry over to cover mixture. Press down sides with finger tips to form a tight seal. Ensure your seam is sealed otherwise tasty juices will leak out while baking!

8. Slice 3-4 slits across top of pie to let steam escape.

9. Brush tops and sides with egg wash.

10. Bake on parchment lined cookie sheet in 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes. Pastry will be puffed up, flaky and browned lightly on top.

Thanksgiving - Roasted Root Vegetables with Candied Pumpkin Seeds (GF)

Photo: Vegetables prepared & ready for the oven.

A dish full of healthy, wholesome fall vegetables. This is a fabulous alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole, and surprisingly, a real crowd pleaser! Unfortunately I didn't get an "after" photo, but the dish looked fantastic.

Roasted Root Vegetables with Candied Pumpkin Seeds:

1 small butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch thick wedges
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
1 medium sweet potato, peeled, halved and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
3 large shallots, peeled and quartered
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 sprigs fresh thyme
3 tbsp olive oil
sea salt & ground pepper to taste

1. Combine vegetables on a large rimmed baking sheet.

2. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place fresh herb springs on top of vegetables.

3. Cover with foil and roast in 350 degree oven for 90 minutes. Remove foil and roast an additional 30 minutes, tossing occasionally until vegetables are tender and golden brown.

4. Spoon vegetables into a serving bowl. Top with candied pumpkin seeds and a drizzle of real maple syrup.

Candied Pumpkin Seeds:

1 cup dried raw pumpkin seeds
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp real maple syrup

1. Earlier in the day, place pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

2. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over pumpkin seeds and mix around with your fingers.

3. Drizzle maple syrup over everything and mix around with a sppon.

4. Toast in 300 degree oven for about 10 minutes, or until seeds start to bown.

5. Remove from oven to cool on the pan, about 30 minutes. Break pieces apart to release individual seeds. Small clumps of 3 or 4 are okay.

6. Sprinkle over cooked vegetables and toss lightly to incorporate.

Thanksgiving - Moist Bread Sausage Apple Stuffing +BONUS

Photo: Before Cooking

This is my mom's classic stuffing recipe, created by merging two recipes from a cookbook so old that the cover has been ripped off and the spine is barely holding together. This stuffing has been served at every major holiday dinner in my family at least the last 15 years. This stuffing won over my stuffing hating brother-in-law. It's THAT good. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get an "after cooking" picture of this or any Thanksgiving dish. You'll have to use your imagination!

Serves 8 with a bit of leftovers

1/2 cup butter
2 cups celery, chopped thin
2 cups onion, diced small
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped (or 3 tbsp dry)
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 lb ground pork sausage
2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 cup cranberries
1/2 cup agave syrup or honey
1 loaf multi grain bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 8-10 cups)
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup chicken broth

1. Melt butter in a large saute pan. Add onions and celery and cook until onions are translucent and celery tender. Add seasonings and mix well. Remove from heat and pour into an extra large mixing bowl or stock pot.

2. In the same saute pan, cook sausage and apple until sausage cooked through and apples are soft. Add mixture to the bowl of onion and celery.

3. While sausage is cooking, simmer cranberries and agave syrup in a small pot of boiling water (2-3 cups of water) just until cranberry skins start to split. It will only take a few minutes so keep an eye on it. They are ready when you hear them pop. Drain the liquid into a bowl and place the cranberries in a second bowl. Set both aside to cool. Save the liquid for the BONUS RECIPE below.

4. Once vegetable mixture has cooled slightly, add bread cubes to the bowl. Using salad spoons, toss everything to mix well.

5. Add cranberries and gently fold into mixture, careful not to crush them!

6. In a small bowl, lightly beat eggs together with the chicken broth. Pour over the stuffing and gently mix to coat.

7. Pack stuffing into greased loaf pans. Cover with tin foil.

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, the last 15 minutes uncovered.

Note: It may seem like a lot of butter, but this is what will help with the "Moist" part of the stuffing. The seasoning amounts are a guideline. Add more or less to suit your own tastes. I prefer a bit more poultry seasoning so I add a 1/2 tsp extra. The cranberries can be prepared the night before to save some time. You may chose to stuff the turkey instead of baking the stuffing separately. Go for it - It's even better that way!

Bonus recipe: Jill's Honey Crantini



Use the cooking juice drained from the cranberries to create a tasty holiday martini.

3 oz drained cranberry cooking liquid
2 oz unsweetened REAL cranberry juice (if using Cranberry Cocktail, only use 2 oz cooking liquid)
1 oz vodka
1 oz triple sec
2-3 cranberries per glass for garnish

1. Mix the liquids in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

2. Shake and pour into chilled martini glasses.

3. Garnish with cranberries.

4. If it's too tart, add another splash or two of agave syrup while mixing.

Thanksgiving Menu

This weekend I will be hosting my first family Thanksgiving dinner. Thankfully there are only 5 1/2 of us in my immediate family (the 1/2 being my one year old niece, officially one on Thanksgiving Sunday)!

My plan is to serve a "healthy" Thanksgiving dinner by serving a reduced amount of dishes, using healthier cooking methods. There are only five of us after all so we don't need a table full of food. Contrary to popular opinion, Thanksgiving is not an excuse to overeat. To the horror of my family, I eliminated the traditional mashed potatoes. I was going to cut the stuffing too but my sister very vehemently overruled, so the stuffing gets to stay. I pared my menu down to just the turkey plus three side dishes and two garnishes.

With the help of The Healthiest Meals on Earth I will be preparing the following dishes:

- Citrus Herb Turkey - The turkey will be brined overnight in a mixture of water, salt, honey, lemon & orange peel and cardamom. It will then be stuffed (with lemon & orange halves, whole garlic cloves and fresh rosemary, sage and thyme) and roasted in the oven until golden brown and perfectly cooked.

- Sausage Apple Stuffing - My mom's classic stuffing recipe includes onion, celery, apple, ground sausage and fresh herbs. I'm using multigrain bread, of course.

- Roasted Root Vegetables - Instead of mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole, my vegetable dish will be a mix of butternut squash, fingerling potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, beets, onion and fresh herbs. I may top it with a warm shallot vinaigrette and throw in some toasted pumpkin seeds. We'll see.

- Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli and Asparagus - My second veggie dish will be topped with a balsalmic glaze and tossed with chopped walnuts.

- Cranberry Orange Relish - While we typically use my Grandmother's homemade cranberry sauce, it is packed full of sugar! This time I will be making my own fresh cranberry garnish using fresh cranberries, orange segments and orange marmalade.

- White Wine Gravy - Classic gravy (roast drippings & chicken stock), kicked up a notch with a cup of white wine and fresh herbs.

I am hoping to get some nice pictures of the dishes and will post the complete recipes next week.

In the meantime, I don't have any new recipes to share. The other day I made a couple batches of 10 Cent's Oatmeal Cookies. One batch was gluten free per her recipe and the other was with whole wheat flour for my co-workers. I also added raisins. My co-workers were very pleased.

Last night I snagged another 10 Cent recipe and made nachos to use up my left over Pico De Gallo.

No other cooking planned until The Big Day on Sunday. Posting to resume Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!



photo taken Thanksgiving Day - October 9, 2006 @ 0705hrs