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The Sisters Brined Turkey

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The Sweet and Savory Sisters were introduced to brining meats several years ago. Like many people we have had our share of dried out turkey. If you have had your share, then you need to try brining. This takes 8-16 hours without cooking time so you need to plan ahead. We were skeptical about using so much salt. We spoke to two of our friends that are chefs and they assured us that it would not be too salty and we would be very pleased with the results. We have been brining ever since. It is unbelievable how moist and delicious it makes the turkey. It is well worth the time that you put into it.

Brine for Turkey
Get you–
2 gallons water or vegetable stock
2 cups kosher salt
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 ½ teaspoons allspice berries
2 bay leaves
14-16 lb. turkey
1 gallon ice

Brine baby brine-
Get your stock pot out and add your stock, salt, sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries and bay leaves in a large stockpot. Heat over medium high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt. Allow the broth to cool, add ice. Don’t you dare put that turkey in the hot brine. Once the brine has cooled pour it in a 5 gallon bucket or a stainless steel pot. Place the turkey in the brine breast side down; making sure that the turkey is completely submerged. Cover and refrigerate for 8–16 hours. Go on and make up your compound butter so all of those herbs can get to know one another. Time is up so go on and remove bird and rinse inside and out, discard the brine. Dry your turkey off using some paper towels.

This is what you need for your compound butter-
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup finely chopped green onion tops
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1¼ teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper

Let’s do this thing-
Whisk all ingredients in medium bowl. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

Turkey time-
Using a long, thin flexible rubber spatula or your hand, slowly slide the tool between the skin and the flesh of the breasts on both side of the breastbone. The skin is pretty tough and won’t tear if you do it carefully. Do this on both sides of the breastbone but leave the skin attached along the center of breastbone itself. Stuff the compound butter under the skin on both sides. Massage the turkey with the butter on the skin of the turkey, legs and wings. Place the bird in a roasting pan, breast side up. Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2½ hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

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The Sister’s Brined Turkey

The Sweet and Savory Sisters were introduced to brining meats a couple of years ago. We were skeptical about using so much salt. We spoke to two of our friends that are chefs and they assured us that it would not be too salty and we would be very pleased with the results. We brined our Thanksgiving turkey and it was unbelievable how moist and delicious it made the turkey. It is well worth the time that you put into it.

Brine for Turkey
Ingredients:

2 gallons water or vegetable stock
2 cups kosher salt
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 ½ teaspoons allspice berries
2 bay leaves
14-16 lb. turkey

Directions:
Combine stock, salt, sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries and bay leaves in a large stockpot. Heat over medium high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt. Allow the broth to cool, add ice. Combine the brine and turkey in a 5 gallon bucket or a stainless steel pot. Place the turkey in the brine breast side down; making sure that the turkey is completely submerged. Cover and refrigerate for 8–16 hours. Remove bird and rinse inside and out, discard the brine. Pat turkey dry with paper towels.

Compound Butter
Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup finely chopped green onion tops
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons basil
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1¼ teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper

Directions:
Whisk all ingredients in medium bowl. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using. Using a long, thin flexible rubber spatula or your hand, slowly slide the tool between the skin and the flesh of the breasts on both side of the breastbone. The skin is pretty tough and won’t tear if you do it carefully. Do this on both sides of the breastbone but leave the skin attached along the center of breastbone itself. Stuff the compound butter under the skin on both sides. Rub the butter on the skin of the turkey, legs and wings. Place the bird in a roasting pan, breast side up. Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2½ hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

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Sautéed Turkey Breast

Here is another great recipe from our friend Claire. This is a simple yet yummy dish! Hope you will try it! Hope everyone has a Sweet and Savory day!
 
Sautéed Turkey Breast
 
2 pound turkey breast, skinned and boned and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 1/2 cup flour
1 stick unsalted butter
1 large onion, chopped
29 ounce can tomato sauce
10 ounce can chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 
Dredge turkey in flour.  In skillet, cook turkey in butter for 2 minutes on each side.  Set aside turkey.  Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet.  Mix in all spices.  Saute onions in mixture.  Add chicken stock and tomato sauce.  Let mixture gently boil until it starts to thicken.  Add cooked turkey pieces and let simmer until sauce is thickened.  Serve over rice.  (to freeze:  before mixture is thick, place in freezer container, let cool, then freeze.)
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Turkey Carcass Gumbo

Growing up our family tried not to waste any food. Money was always tight and we always had lots of mouths to feed.  We always had multiple friends spending the night with us and hanging at our house. Our friends loved to come to our house for many reasons, but mostly for Moms and Dads cooking.  After Thanksgiving and Christmas Mom would always boil the turkey carcass down and make a stock.  She usually would make a soup or stew.  Our Dad would make gumbo.  This is his recipe for Turkey Carcass Gumbo.  I made this for Andy last night and he loved it. 

Turkey Carcass Gumbo

Ingredients:

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 ½ cups onions, chopped 

1 cup celery, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 ½ tablespoons Slap ya Mama, Cajun seasoning  

1 pound andouille sausage, chopped

2 quarts Turkey Broth (Recipe follows)

2 bay leaves

Reserved turkey meat from broth

2 ½ cups frozen okra (optional)

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons green onions, chopped

Steamed white rice

Directions:

Combine the oil and flour in a large cast-iron pot.

Cook the mixture over medium heat.  Stir roux constantly with a wooden spoon for about 25 minutes. The roux needs to resemble the color of chocolate.  

Season the onions, garlic and celery with the Cajun seasoning.

Add the vegetables to the roux and cook for 5 -7 minutes.

 Add the sausage and cook, for an additional 5 minutes.

Add the strained turkey broth and bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes.Add the reserved turkey meat and okra and cook for approximately 10 minutes. Add the parsley and green onions.

Serve gumbo over a bed of rice with plenty of French bread for sopping. 

Turkey Broth

 

Ingredients:

1 turkey carcass

3 ribs celery, cut in half 

2 large onions, quartered

4 quarts water

 Salt to taste  

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

2 bouillon cubes

5 bay leaves

Turkey Broth

Put the turkey carcass in a large stockpot. Add the celery, onions, water, salt, peppercorns, bouillon cubes and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to medium.

Simmer uncovered for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Skim any foam that forms on the surface. Remove from the heat and let cool. Strain and set aside any meat that has come off the bone and pick meat that remains on the bone. Skim fat.

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Don’t throw out that Turkey!

White Chili

3 – 4 cups leftover turkey meat

1 onion, chopped               

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon cumin

1 ½ teaspoon chili powder   

½  teaspoon garlic powder

1 16 ounce envelope spicy ranch seasoning mix

1 4 ounce can green chilies

1 can rotel tomatoes

1 cup diced fresh tomatoes

2 cans great northern beans

1 can white kidney beans

32 ounces chicken or turkey broth

4 ounces cream cheese

Directions:

 Cut turkey into bite sized pieces and sprinkle with cumin, chili powder and garlic powder. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven; add onions and sauté until onions are translucent.  Add turkey meat ranch packet, green chilies, Rotel tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, beans, salt and pepper to taste and chicken broth.  Lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for approximately 1 1/2 hours. Cut cream cheese into little chunks. Slowly add cream cheese to soup stirring constantly. Garnish with cheese, spring onion, sour cream, etc.

We like to serve our chili with tortilla chips or beach bread.   

Beach Bread

½ stick of butter

1 clove of garlic minced

¾ cup of ripe tomatoes (drained)

Cajun seasoning (Slap ya Mama)

½ cup of mayonnaise

3/4 cup of Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese (or any of your favorite cheese)

3 Tbs. fresh parsley

1 loaf of French bread

Preheat oven to 350 degree

In a large skillet melt butter over medium heat, add garlic and tomatoes cook for a few minutes

Season with Slap ya Mama  

Mix mayo, cheese and parsley

Combine all ingredients

Cut loaf of bread in half and then cut bread lengthwise

Spoon mixture on bread and bake for 5 minutes

Then broil for an additional 3- 5 min. Watch closely 

Cut bread into individual portions.  Use bread for dipping and sopping

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