Cajun Roasted Turkey Breast CrockPot Recipe

Day 166.

This is a moist, flavorful way to make turkey breast. I like turkey, but don't like the dryness and blandness that sometimes comes along for the ride when making turkey. Cooking turkey in the crock really helps with keeping the meat from becoming overly-dry.

You can rub whatever spices you like on turkey pieces, but I was in a Cajun mood, and was pleased with this spice combination.

The Ingredients.

--turkey breast

--1/2 t black pepper

--1 t kosher salt

--1/2 t red pepper (cayenne)

--1 T onion powder

--1/2 t paprika

--1/2 t thyme

--1/4 t nutmeg

--3-4 sprigs of fresh rosemary, or 1/2 t dried

--1 cup chicken broth

The Directions.

I used my 6qt Smart Pot Crock-Pot for this dish.

I took the skin off the turkey breast. I know, I'm a weirdo.

In a bowl, combine all of your spices together. Rub the turkey with the spice mixture, getting it in all the nooks and crannies. Put the bird piece into the crock, meaty breast side down. If you have extra spice mix left, go ahead and pour it on top.

Add the 1 cup of chicken broth.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. There isn't much moisture in turkey, so try not to peek too often.

Serve warm with your favorite sides, and save the leftovers for sandwiches.

The Verdict.

This turned out the way that I expected. It was not dripping in moisture the way that a whole chicken is after being crocked, but it was only the white meat of the turkey represented ---where as in the whole chicken you get a nice mix of brown meat, which has tons of juice.

The kids ate it dipped in barbecue sauce, and we've been having leftovers for sandwiches the whole week.

I liked the spice combo--it gave a bit of kick on the outer edge, with out being over-powering.

Turkey with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce CrockPot Recipe

Day 213.

I had an abundance of raspberries in the refrigerator left from making sorbet and smoothies in the VitaMix. Since it was buy-one, get-one-free at Safeway, I had to bring home more than I needed, which meant that if I didn't hurry up and use them they'd grow hair. And beards. And then would be deemed "living things" by my kids who all of a sudden have decided that all living things need to be saved.

even house flies.

ugh.

Bobby Flay was on Food Network yesterday doing something (again) with chipotle chili peppers (smoked jalapenos) and said that chipotles (usually) need to be paired with something sweet.

And that's when the light bulb hit. Or turned on. Or something.

The Ingredients.

--1-2 pounds turkey breast cutlets, or a piece of turkey breast (I used 1 lb turkey breast cutlets, but this makes a lot of sauce and can handle much more meat than I used)

--2 cups fresh raspberries
--juice from 1 lemon (yes, that green shrivelly thing is a lemon)
--2 T water
--1 t chipotle chili powder
--1/2 t kosher salt
--1/2 to 1 T sugar, to taste (this isn't pictured because I didn't put it in. It was a mistake. You should add it.)
--1 T olive oil

The Directions.

Put the tablespoon of olive oil in the bottom of your crockpot stoneware, and push it around so it coats the bottom nicely. Add your turkey. My turkey was fresh and thawed, but frozen should work okay, too.

In a blender, combine the raspberries, water, salt, chipotle chili powder, lemon juice, and sugar.

Pour over the top of the turkey.

Cover and cook on low for 6-10 hours---the range is huge because if you use a frozen turkey breast, it will obviously take longer than 1 pound of thawed cutlets. I cooked our cutlets on low for 6 hours. Turkey can get tough when it's cooked on high, so I prefer to cook on low.

The Verdict.

We ate this. It was edible. The kids dipped their turkey (with most of the sauce wiped off) into ketchup.

Adam and I ate it and couldn't decide what we thought. I think the consensus was that it was okay, but kind of weird.

The raspberries lose a lot of their color when cooked this long, and the seeds sometimes snuck up on me and surprised me. I probably should have strained the sauce in a mesh thingy before cooking it.

I think adding sugar will really help, but I don't think we'll make this again to test that theory out for reals.

Apple, Cheddar, and Turkey Meatballs CrockPot Recipe

Day 250.

I can't believe I've sat and typed at a brand "new post" screen for 250 days in a row. I am beginning to not remember what I used to do each morning. I certainly didn't eat cold meatballs for breakfast with my coffee.

I hate it that I'm posting this on a Saturday, because Internet traffic is terribly low on Saturday, and these are so good I feel like bowling them down the street. 1) to show-off these terribly awesome meatballs, and 2) to dissipate the pack of tweens with skateboards hanging out on the corner.

The Ingredients.

--1 1/2 pound extra lean ground turkey
--1 egg
--1 tsp kosher salt
--1 tsp ground black pepper
--1 tsp onion powder
--1 green apple, peeled and shredded
--1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
--1/2 cup dried unsweetened cranberries

The Directions.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the ground turkey with the ingredients. I used my hands.

Make golf-ball sized meatballs, and drop them into your crockpot. I used a 6 quart crockpot, but you could use any size over 3 quart, probably. These made enough meatballs to feed our family of 4 for dinner, with 8 leftover for breakfast and lunch. If you have a large family, or would like to cook enough to freeze, double or triple the recipe. You can definitely stagger-stack the meatballs on top of each other.

Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 5-9---the cooking time will depend on how many meatballs are in the crock, and the size of your machine. The more full it is, the longer it will take to cook.

I cooked 1 1/2 pounds of meatballs in a 6 quart for exactly 4 hours on high. I could have left them in a bit longer to brown the ones on the very top, but we were hungry.
While they cook, juice will collect on the bottom of the crock, and the meatballs will start off getting bright white and slimy looking. Don't be alarmed---they will continue to cook and will begin to brown. They (miraculously enough!) don't seem to stick together in a big blob---you'll be able to separate them.

The Verdict.

We all really liked these a lot. They're delicious. Moist, flavorful, and fun to pop in your mouth. I did need to fish the cranberries out of my three-year-old's plate, because evidently eating warm cranberries is "wrong."

CrockPot Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Day 271.

Last week Maura emailed and asked if I had a crockpot shepherd's pie recipe. I didn't. I didn't even have a regular shepherd's pie recipe, and actually wasn't too clear on what went into one.

She sent me a base recipe, and I made it the other night in the crockpot. I also made a box of macaroni and cheese (Annie's gluten free, in the bright blue box) for the kids---just in case.

They ate the mac and cheese, but the stars must have been in a funky alignment because they also each ate a bowl of the shepherd's pie.

I was astonished.

The Ingredients.

--3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
--1 lb ground turkey or beef
--2 cloves garlic, chopped
--2 cups frozen vegetables (I used roasted corn and peas)
--1 medium onion, chopped finely, or 1 T onion flakes
--1/2 tsp seasoned salt
--1/2 tsp onion powder
--1/4 tsp black pepper
--1/4 tsp paprika (then a bit more for garnish)
--1 cup water
--2 cups shredded cheese

The Directions.

I used a 4 quart crockpot---it was the perfect size. A larger will work, but it will cook faster.

Brown the meat and onion on the stove, and drain any fat. Toss the meat with the spices and garlic---I didn't but next time I'd probably put the garlic and spices in with the meat in the frying pan, it would be easier.

Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. Put the meat in the crockpot and stir in the frozen vegetables, and a cup of water. Add two cups of cheese on top. Press the mashed potatoes down on top of the cheese and meat. Sprinkle with a bit of paprika.

Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for about 3, then remove the lid and cook on high for 30 minutes to release the condensation and allow the potatoes to brown a bit on top. Everything is cooked already, so you're really just allowing the flavors to meld and the potatoes to crustify.

Someone will ask about using raw meat. I'm sure it will work, but I have a swimming-in-fat-and-grease phobia, so I didn't do it. If you are going to try, I'd cut the water down to 1/2 a cup and remember that the potatoes might not get the type of crust you are looking for unless you vent the crockpot with a chopstick or wooden spoon.

The Verdict.

I will make this again. I loved it that all of us ate the same thing at the table, and the kids really enjoyed the meat and potatoes.
Thank you, Maura!

Absolutely Crazy CrockPot Turkey

Day 281.

I got adventurous yesterday. I don't really know what came over me, but I was feeling brave and went out on a limb. The jury is still out on whether or not my concoction was a success. It may actually be a hung jury.

Spurred along by a turkey recipe I found online using anchovies, I went to Trader Joe's. I figured: turkey, anchovies, tomatoes... sure! Why not? This was a real recipe by a real chef guy that is served in a real restaurant.

Nothing could be wrong with that.

I didn't print out the recipe. I just went. And hunted. And gathered.

I kind of like what I made.

I may be the only one.

in the entire world.

that's okay with me.

The Ingredients.

--1 1/4 pounds turkey breast cutlets
--8.5 oz jar sundried tomatoes, drained and rinsed
--2 oz can anchovies, drained and rinsed (even though 2 cans are pictured, I only used 1)
--6 slices of bacon (I used turkey)

The Directions.

I used a 6.5 quart crockpot. Anything over 3 quarts would work just fine.

Spread the bacon on the bottom of your crockpot. Rinse off the anchovies, and lay them on top. Add the turkey cutlets; it's okay if they overlap.

Rinse off a bit of the oil from the sundried tomatoes, and add it on top of the turkey. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours (this was in a not-very-full 6.5 quart, so if you are using a smaller pot, it will take longer).

The Verdict.

I served this with polenta that I JUST YESTERDAY perfected in the rice cooker. Yay! (1 cup cornmeal, 3 cups chicken broth, 1 T butter---after cooking cycle, take the lid off, stir, and let sit for about 5 minutes. delicious.)

The combo of the smoky and slightly salty turkey with the acidity and tang of the sundried tomatoes was crazy-good. I didn't eat the bacon or the anchovies, I just used them for flavor.

I'm the only one who ate this. I ate 2 1/2 servings, and will gladly eat leftovers for lunch. Apparently if you announce you're making something with anchovies for dinner, people seem to want to prepare something all on their own.

All said? I'm pretty darn happy with this recipe. Iron CrockPot, anyone?

CrockPot Turkey Breast Recipe

Day 316.

Happy Veteran's Day! Make sure to thank those in your lives who have or who are actively supporting our country in this most honorable way.

And then make turkey. In the crockpot.

I do plan on finding a little turkey (probably a 10 pounder?) to cook in the crock, but I wanted to test out a turkey breast first.

I used my mom's "famous" and "secret" family recipe. Hey mom! Your recipe is now going to be even more famous, and it's no longer a secret. :-) Thanks mom, I love you!

This is good turkey. It's moist and juicy, even though there isn't any brown meat. If you'd like, you can certainly throw in some turkey legs along with the breast. The rule of thumb is usually 1 pound of turkey per person.

The Ingredients.

4 to 6 pound turkey breast (bone-in or out. your choice)
2 cups cheap white wine (you can use broth or apple juice instead, if you'd like)
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
1 onion
salt and pepper

The Directions.

I used a 6 quart crockpot and a 4 1/2 pound turkey breast. I easily could have fit in some legs or a larger breast piece.

I know that it's suggested to not cook with any wine that you wouldn't drink, but it's okay because I drink cheap wine.

Unwrap the turkey breast and pat it dry with paper towels. If desired, cut off the skin with poultry shears, and discard. (I did this. I couldn't help myself.)

Salt and pepper the breast liberally.

Plop it, breast-side down into the crockpot. Wash your hands well.

Cut up an onion coarsely and push some pieces down next to the turkey and put a few in the rib cavity. Add the stick of butter.

Pour the wine over the top.

Cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours, or on high for 4-6. Use a meat thermometer to test doneness--it should register at 170°.

Remove from crockpot, and let sit for about 20 minutes before carving. The meat will be much more tender than if cooked in an oven.

The Verdict.

We all ate turkey! And not on Thanksgiving!


Here are other absolutely amazing Thanksgiving recipes for the slow cooker.
And don't throw your bones away! Make:
turkey and wild rice soup or
turkey stew

CrockPot Turkey and Wild Rice Soup Recipe

Day 325.

The weather has officially changed. I am running the heat in the morning, the guinea pigs have moved inside, and the flannel sheets are out of hiding. Last night, I finally finished reading "The Long Winter" to the girls. We have so much to be thankful for--- if you have kids that sometimes forget how richly blessed modern day life is, I highly recommend reading it aloud.

Anyway. Today I am thankful that I met Kalyn Denny at BlogHer, and I am so happy to have found her Turkey and Wild Rice Soup. Adam proclaimed it the best turkey soup he's ever had, and the kids each ate two bowls. I may have wept. I'm not sure.

The Ingredients.
adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen

--turkey carcass (if you don't have one, you can use 2 cups of cooked turkey)
--8 cups water (to make broth. if you don't have a carcass, use 8 cups chicken broth)
--1 chicken bouillon cube (only if you are using the carcass to make broth. Don't use if you're using broth.)
--2/3 cup uncooked wild rice
--1 yellow onion, chopped
--1 cup chopped celery
--1 cup chopped carrots
--1 tsp sage
--2 T balsamic vinegar
--2 cups spinach leaves (Kalyn used cabbage, but cabbage reminds me either of engorgement or the cabbage soup diet)

The Directions.

I used a 6.5 quart crockpot.

This is a 1 1/2 day project. We're going to use the turkey bones to make broth for the soup. If you are using chicken broth and 2 cups of turkey, bypass this step.

Put your turkey carcass into a crockpot, and cover with 8 cups of water. My carcass was only from a tiny turkey, so if you need to break the bones down to fit in your crock, do so.
My turkey was still stuffed with a quartered onion and some apple, so I didn't bother to add any vegetables to season the water. You may certainly add some onion, celery, or anything else you'd like to season the broth. The more meat and skin left on the bones, the more flavorful the broth.

Cover and cook on low overnight. I cooked the broth for 10 hours. In the morning, put on an apron to strain the broth with a colander. What? No apron? Perhaps you could use a brand-spanking-new "I Heart CrockPotting" one? Since I have a bunch of crockpots, I strained the broth into a new one. You might need to strain the broth into a big bowl, then dump it back into the crockpot.

Pick off the meat, and add it to the broth.

Chop up the vegetables (not the spinach), and add to the pot. Dump in the wild rice. Add the sage, bouillon cube, and balsamic vinegar. Stir.

Add two heaping handfuls of baby spinach to the pot. It will look like a lot, but will shrivel down nicely while cooking.

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6. The soup is done when the vegetables have reached desired tenderness. There is a lot of volume here; this is a good candidate for a day when you are out of the house for a long time. No need to worry about it over-cooking.

The Verdict.

This is my new favorite soup. I love, love, love the hint of tartness from the balsamic vinegar, and how it darkened the broth. The wild rice exploded a bit, and actually resembled barley by the time we ate it. The kids ate a bunch, and I had at least 3 bowls throughout the day yesterday. We have a quart left, which I will happily serve for lunch.

Thank you, Kalyn!

CrockPot Whole Turkey Recipe

Day 324.

I did it. A whole turkey in the crock.

I am officially turkeyed out.

I was able to fit a 9.5 lb turkey into a 6.5 quart crockpot. It was a tight squeeze, and this is the absolute largest turkey you should attempt to cook----even if you have a 7 quart crockpot. The meat needs to reach 140 degrees after 3 hours of cooking on high to keep it in the "safe zone" for consumption.

"hey Steph, how'd you learn that?"

I was hoping you'd ask! I learned this by participating in a live webchat hosted by Butterball, and their trained Turkey-Talk Bloggers. Chris Jordan, from Notes from the Trenches, and Susan Wagner, from Friday Playdate are fresh out of Turkey U. and are eager to help families with their burning (simmering) turkey questions.

You can ask anything turkey. Chris only slightly snickered when I asked where the thigh is. (guess what? it's not on the drumstick at all---it's the part where the drumstick connects to the bird. huh.) There is another chat scheduled for November 25, or you can call 1-800-BUTTERBALL.

The Ingredients.

--turkey (9.5 lbs is the MAXIMUM to fit in a 6.5 quart crockpot)
--olive oil
--salt
--pepper
--garlic powder
--dried parsley
--onion
--apple (I used yellow)
--meat thermometer (necessity, not a luxury. go get one if you need it)

The Directions.

Your turkey must be completely and totally thawed. Seriously. Call the Butterball hotline if you don't know how to do this safely.

I took a lot of the skin off. You don't have to, the skin seems to magically brown a bit in the crock, but I have weird skin issues.

Remove the neck and the bag of stuff they put inside the turkey. If you're going to use it to make stuffing or something, do that, but please don't tell me.

Pat the turkey with paper towels to dry it off. Rub a handful of olive oil all over the bird, inside and out. Sprinkle salt, pepper, dried parsley, and garlic powder all over and in it, and rub it around. If you have a secret family concoction of herbs, by all means, use it.

Peel an onion, quarter it, and shove inside. Core an apple and do the same.

Lower the bird into your crockpot. I wanted to put it in breast-side down, but Chris and Mary (from Butterball) said not to. So I put it right-side up.

Cover. Cook on high for 3 hours, then check the internal temperature. You need the turkey to register at least 140 degrees.

Cover again and cook on high for another few hours. I needed to leave the house, and this turkey cooked on high for a bit over 5 hours. Check the internal temp again in a few places. It should be 170 degrees or higher. You can certainly cook it longer if needed, or keep it on warm until you are ready to carve.

CAREFULLY remove turkey from crockpot. The edges will have browned nicely. If you'd like, you can broil the top for a few minutes in the oven--put the turkey in a roasting pan, don't use the crock. I tried this, and was pleased with how the turkey looked afterwards. I broiled for about 7 minutes.

Let sit for 15-20 minutes before carving.

The Verdict.

I'm so happy this worked. I feel.... relieved. Like my shoulders have lost a lot of tension, which is weird, but I must have been worrying about this sub-consciously for a while or something.

My kids didn't eat it. They had no interest. I gave them frozen corn and barbecued beans from a can.

My parents ate a bunch, and so did Adam.

I had a turkey sandwich around 9pm.

CrockPot Turkey Breast Recipe
CrockPot Creamed Corn
CrockPot Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese and Sour Cream
CrockPot Cornbread Stuffing
CrockPot Traditional Stuffing
lots more CrockPot Holiday(ish) Food

Slow Cooker Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

Sharon emailed me last week and said that she had a hanker'n for some Turkey Tetrazzini a la Slow Cooker. I didn't know that I had a hanker'n until I read her email and the recipes she linked for me to look at.
But I did. I seemed to have had a hanker'n. She sent links to Epicurious, AllRecipes, and Food Network.

After reading through the recipes, I wrote one of my own to work with the slow cooker. It worked, eventually. I at first didn't include enough pasta, so my tetrazzini was more like wallpaper paste than a creamy pasta dish. This was easily fixed, however, and the end result was a nice comforting meal we enjoyed on an unseasonably chilly night.

Thank you, Sharon!

The Ingredients.

1 (16-ounce package) dry spaghetti noodles (maybe divided. Please read the entire recipe and decide for yourself how you'd like to proceed!) I used brown rice noodles from TJ's.
1-2 pounds turkey breast tenders, cut in small chunks
5 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 small onion, diced
1 (14.5-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, chunked
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cups chicken broth (check for gluten!)
salt to taste at the table

The Directions.

Use a 5-6 quart slow cooker, and spray the inside well with cooking spray.

What I did: I initially used a half-package of spaghetti noodles, and broke them in half, and laid them on the bottom of the stoneware. I then layered the other ingredients on top, in the order I typed up above. But! after cooking on low for 3 hours, I noticed that the noodles pretty much disappeared, so I cooked the remainder of the package on the stovetop in heavily salted water (super-heavily salted, the top of the container fell off!) until barely al dente, then stirred the drained pasta into the slow cooker.

I then cooked on low for only one more hour, then clicked it to warm for another 3. The turkey was fully cooked, the noodles were perfect, but the onion that I didn't cut fine enough had still a bit of a crunch.

The Verdict.

So. My dilemma is in deciding if it would have been better to put the entire package of pasta into the machine and then layer the ingredients in and cook on low for 3-5 hours (not high!) or if it is better to leave all the pasta out, and just cook it on the stove, then mix it in.
Or, do what I did.
I just don't know.

I do know that this worked, but it certainly wasn't a very hands-off meal. And we ate it, even the leftovers for lunch the next day (the onion was soft by then!)

other pasta dishes that work well:

traditional lasagna
buffalo chicken lasagna
macaroni and cheese
ziti

Slow Cooker Turkey Stew Recipe

I made the most delicious turkey stew over the weekend. I've never actually had turkey stew, so I don't know if it's the best that exists, but it's definitely the best I've ever had. And, since I used leftover food from Thanksgiving, it was free!

I'm kind of bummed Adam took the leftovers to work to eat for lunch, because now I'm forced to eat peanut butter on an apple-cinnamon rice cake. Again.

The Ingredients.
serves 8

There are two parts, here. The first part is to make broth with your leftover turkey carcass. If you don't have a carcass on hand, and would still like to make this soup, jump to the next step and use 8 cups of chicken broth and 2-3 cups chopped turkey.

for broth:
use a 6 quart slow cooker.

turkey carcass, or rib cage bone-sets from 2 turkey breasts
9 cups of water
2 tablespoons granulated chicken bouillon (read label carefully for msg and gluten, I used the Herb Ox brand)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (this takes the meat flavor out of the bones, and creates a beautiful color and flavor)
1 large onion, finely diced OR 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes

cook on low overnight, or for about 8 hours. Unplug, and remove stoneware from cooking element. Uncover and let cool. When cool enough to "go fishing," remove all bones from broth, leaving meat inside the pot.

note: if your slow cooker releases a bunch of steam and condensation while cooking, put a layer of foil or parchment paper down over the top, then put the lid on so you don't lose your cooking liquid.

for stew, add the following:

2 cups peeled and diced sweet potato
1 (28-ounce) can diced or stewed Italian style tomatoes
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon coriander
1 tablespoon chile powder
1 (15-ounce) can corn, and juice
4 cloves chopped garlic OR 1 teaspoon dried garlic powder

The Directions.

Combine all ingredients in a 6 quart slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or until sweet potatoes have reached desired tenderness and flavors have melded.

The Verdict.

We all really liked this a lot. The girls were slow to warm up because they thought the name "turkey stew" was weird and didn't like that the broth wasn't clear, but I didn't offer them anything else to eat. When they finally tasted it, they happily finished their bowls. Adam said he liked it even better than our normal turkey soup, which is pretty high praise, since that soup is fantastic. I really liked the deep color and the sweet potatoes in contrast to the tomato base. This did not have any spicy taste, just lots of flavor.

Slow Cooker Big Easy Meatloaf Recipe

It's the summer! And evidently that means that I neglect the computer.

oops! Sorry about that.

But I have been crockpotting, and I'd like to share a meatloaf I threw together that we enjoyed out in the yard.

I really appreciate that I can use the crockpot on a hot day and not have it heat up the house the way the oven or stove does. I also appreciate that the kids and I can be out in the yard playing in the water instead of hanging out in the house while I tend to dinner.

The Ingredients
serves 4-6

1 pound lean ground turkey or beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 fully cooked andouille sausage links (6-ounces, total)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten

The Directions

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. I put a metal loaf pan into the slow cooker and baked the meatloaf in it (no need to add water, just put the loaf pan into the crock), but if you'd prefer to not use a loaf pan, you can just make a blob with the meat and put it directly into the crock.

Anyhow, take the casing off of the sausage, and chop it into pieces. Toss it in a mixing bowl with the ground meat, all the spices and the beaten egg. Mix well; I always use my hands. Shove the meat mixture into a 9 x 5 x 3 baking pan and put this pan into an oval crockpot (or plop the meat blob into the crock all alone).

Cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3 to 5 hours. You'll know the loaf is done when it's brown on the top and it starts to pull away from the sides. If you're not using the loaf pan, the meat will cook faster---check after 4 hours on low, 2 to 3 on high.

When thoroughly cooked, turn off and unplug the cooker and let the meat sit for about 15 minutes before removing from the pot.

The Verdict

I loved how the andouille sausage livens up this meatloaf (which can sometimes be pretty darn boring). I also liked that I was able to use up the two sausages I had roaming about the freezer and a package of ground turkey meat. We ate our meatloaf in the yard with some potato wedges. The kids always dip meatloaf into A-1 sauce.

always.

more meatloaf!

traditional meatloaf
blue cheese and cherry meatloaf (sounds weird, but it's totally good)

I haven't started reading The Help yet, have you? I ordered it through Amazon, and sent it off with Grandma with strict instructions not to bring it back until July 1 so I could meet a few writing deadlines. She read it in three days, and LOVED it. I'm so looking forward to diving in!

brand new in the GF/CF world: My friend Diane just released her new cookbook, available for download. It's a great price, and a wonderful resource. She is also offering an affiliate program if you'd like to help out with advertising (this is not an affiliate link, btw, just helping to get the word out!).

Slow Cooker Creamy Turkey Dinner Recipe

Q: Can you make a creamy turkey dinner with mushrooms without using a can of condensed soup?

A: Absolutely.

I haven't bought condensed cream of something soup for about 10 years. I know this because I've been married 11 years, and I know that during that first year of marriage I used this "wonder soup" a lot.

lots and lots. quite often, even.

I stocked up when the cans were on sale, and I gave myself a pat on the back when I saw them all lined up in the cupboard.

There is nothing wrong with using canned condensed soup.

Once in a while.

I don't personally buy or use it anymore because of our gluten allergy, and I although I've learned there are non-glutenized soups now on the market, I still don't buy it because I've gotten used to cooking without.

I'm pretty much the furthest thing from a food snob. I figure whatever gets food on your table at the end of a busy day is good, whether that's Taco Bell, a frozen lasagna, gloppy condensed soup, or 365 (366) days of food from a crockpot. It's your choice.

This recipe was inspired from one of my early condensed soup crockpot meals I made (OFTEN) as a newlywed. This is a good dinner to eat in front of the TV while balancing a paper plate on your lap, sprawled out in an inflatable chair.

I miss our inflatable chairs!

The Ingredients.
serves 4-6


2 pounds turkey breast, cut in chunks
1/2 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 onion, thinly sliced
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 tablespoon dried parsley (unless you have fresh, then use about 1/4 cup at the very end)
1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream
1 cup frozen green beans (I like the long thin ones, not the thick weird ones they give you in the school cafeteria)

The Directions.

Use a 4 quart slow cooker. Put the turkey into the bottom of your cooker, and pour on the beef broth and balsamic vinegar. Add onion, mushrooms, and dried parsley. Stir a bit to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for about 4. If you only have a 6-quart slow cooker, this will cook much faster, unless you increase the quantities. Remember that slow cookers work the best when they're at least 2/3 of the way full.
If you are going to use a 6-quart, check after 4-5 hours on low, or 2-3 on high.
If you'd like the turkey super tender and shreddy, cook for a longer period of time on low.

Stir in the heavy cream and green beans. Cover and cook on high for another 30 minutes, or until beans are thawed and heated through. Serve over cooked pasta.

The Verdict.

My kids wanted me to call this "Winner Winner Turkey Dinner" (they've watched a bit too much of Guy Fieri, lately). I liked the combo of beef broth with the touch of vinegar when paired with the mushrooms. It's tasty, and you don't end up feeling like you ingested a week's worth of sodium.
Adam ate two plates, and took the leftovers to work for the next day's lunch.

I'm going to keep my eyes open for an inflatable arm chair.

Asian Inspired Turkey Breast (in the Slow Cooker) Recipe

 

Hello! How has summer been treating you so far? We've been laying kind of low, with weekend trips scattered here and there, but mostly we're just enjoying being at home. 

While I type, the big kids are watching an "America's Got Talent" marathon from the DVR and the baby (now eighteen months! eeps!) is cooking Lincoln Log soup in the play kitchen.

and the heater is running. because it's 66 degrees in the house and drizzling outside and I AM A GREAT BIG HUGE HONKING WUSS.

I promise I'll turn it off by 10am.

I think.

maybe.

I get emails about slow cooking during the summer time, and my answer is that yes, I do use my slowcooker(s) year round. It helps that it is F R E E Z I N G today, but even on hot days I prefer to use the crockpot than heat up the kitchen by using the stove or oven. I like that fish steams so nicely in foil packets without a fishy smell, and I'm getting pretty good at making lettuce wraps. 

This is a great summer time recipe---- the turkey is seasoned with soy sauce, a bit of peanut butter, lime juice and some horseradish which creates a touch of surprise heat. The leftover turkey makes fantastic sandwich filling (I can't seem to get enough of that turkey-and-mayo combination). 

The Ingredients.

serves 6

1 turkey breast (5-7 pounds)

1/3 cup soy sauce (I use La Choy or Tamari wheat free so it's gluten free)

1/3 cup sesame oil 

1 tablespoon all natural peanut butter

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish cream (or 1 teaspoon freshly grated)

3 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped

2 limes, juiced

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

The Directions.

Use the largest slow cooker you've got. I skinned my breast (because I have weird skin issues) and then placed it meat-side down into a 6.5-quart slow cooker. It was not quite big enough, but I made it work (more on that in a sec.).

In a small mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, peanut butter, horseradish, chopped garlic, lime juice, and salt. Whisk together until everything is incorporated. Pour the sauce all over the turkey breast, allowing the sauce to pool up in the ribcage cavity.

Cover. If your lid doesn't fit on your pot completely (mine didn't), cover the top of your stoneware with layers of foil. Crimp the edges as tightly as you can and then place your lid on top. Cook on low for about 8 hours, or until meat is no longer pink when you cut into it and registers 170 degrees. If your turkey has a built-in thermometer it should pop up.

Carefully remove the turkey from the pot and let sit for 10 minutes or so before slicing.

If desired (highly recommended!), pour the crock drippings into a small sauce pan and boil on the stove until the sauce has thickened and reduced (about 8 min or so? I didn't really time this part ---  don't wander off --- stirring every so often). Serve with your favorite sides with the gravy drizzled over the top.

We had our meat with salad and roasted vegetables.

The Verdict.

I forget about turkey in the non-Winter Holiday months. It's low in fat, low in cholesterol, and tastes great. I need to make it more often--- especially since the leftovers are so awesome in sandwiches. My kids are growing up, and ate everything on their plates without complaint.

The baby (so far) eats anything and everything. 

Including the hairy raisins she finds under the couch.

more turkey? no problem.

whole turkey in the crock

turkey breast with white wine (and butter!)

cajun turkey breast

turkey and wild rice soup
apple, cheddar, and turkey meatballs

absolutely crazy turkey (you probably shouldn't actually make this)

also? I've been adopted! Wendy, from Celiacs in the House hosts an Adopt a Gluten Free Blogger roundup and Sunny from And Love it Too and Shea from Dixie Chick Cooks chose me! Both of these ladies are wonderful, and I urge you to take time perusing their sites.

Shea also writes Ingredient Challenge Monday and is hosting a giveaway for two of my books: More Make it Fast, Cook it Slow, and the new Totally Together Journal: Shortcuts to an Organized Life (out this August).

Thank you ladies for having me and for hosting the contest!

have a wonderful day. stay warm.

:-)

HA!

What to Do With Your Turkey Bones and Leftover Meat

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey, what are you doing on the computer on Thanksgiving day anyway.....?

hmm.

it's okay. I won't tell.

Are you wondering what to do with your leftover turkey meat and the bones? Look no more--I've got you covered!

Here are three completely different but absolutely wonderful soups. I can't decide which one I'm going to do this year, but I'm leaning towards the stew because it's good cold-weather food and it's supposed to rain the next few days.

enjoy your family! and don't pick fights with the crazy uncles...

{PS: click on the words under the pictures--- for some reason Blogger isn't letting me add a URL to the photos today. grrr.}

turkey and wild rice soup

turkey stew

old fashioned chicken turkey and noodle soup

Have an absolutely wonderful day with your family. 

updated, November 28: Happy Cyber Monday! I'm giving away 5 Hamilton Beach Slow Cookers this week! Click on over to my review page for your chance to win!