Thanksgiving Week - Recipe 3

It's time to talk turkey.  This is the one holiday dish that, short of deep fat frying it, you can enjoy heartily.  While you should avoid the fattier, higher calorie dark meat, the white meat is your friend.  Here's the breakdown according to the National Turkey Federation:

3 ounces Calories Total fat grams Protein grams Iron % DV Turkey Breast 117 .64 26.2 7 Saturated Fat grams Cholesterol milligrams Sodium  milligrams .21 72 45

Not bad at all.  Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird and while the bald eagle is more regal, the turkey makes up for it by being most people's centerpiece on the national day.

If you haven't already chosen a recipe for your turkey or are looking for something new, here is an option that doesn't require brining and is very tasty.

Roasted Turkey
1 (10-12 Pound) WHOLE TURKEY, fresh or thawed if frozen
1 Bunch fresh thyme
4 Whole navel oranges
As needed salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 Cup fresh or frozen cranberries
2 Medium onions, peeled and quartered
1 Cup cold water

Place oven rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
Slide fingertips between skin and breast meat to loosen skin. Place 1/2 bunch of thyme under skin.
Thinly slice one orange and slide slices under turkey skin. Season turkey with salt and pepper.
Quarter remaining oranges and toss with cranberries and onions in large bowl, place inside both turkey cavities.
Tuck wing tips under and tie legs together with kitchen string to hold shape.
Place turkey on a V-shaped rack in large roasting pan with water in bottom of pan. Cover loosely with foil. Roast turkey in preheated oven for 2 1/2 hours, remove foil.
Continue to roast, basting every 20 minutes with pan juices until meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh registers 170-175 degrees F.
Remove from oven, cover with foil and let stand at least 20 minutes before carving. Remove fruit stuffing and discard.
Garnish with Dried Fruit Stew and serve on a platter.

Autumn Fruit Stew
2 Cups tart apple, peeled and diced
1/2 Cup golden raisins
1/2 Cup dried apricot
2 bay leaves
2 Cups TURKEY STOCK or low-sodium chicken stock
2 Tablespoons brandy or substitute 2 tablespoons apple juice/cider

While turkey is roasting, combine ingredients in saucepan.
Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
After turkey roasts, add any accumulated pan juices to stew. Reheat before serving.

Recipe Source: Recipe and photo kindly provided by Perdue via the National Turkey Federation website

That's it for today.  Tomorrow a last minute dessert recipe.

Yours in Health,
Kate