Mini Turkey Pumpernickel Heros Recipes

MINI TURKEY POT PIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F. Spray the wells and rims of a jumbo 6-cup muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Cut six 4″ and six 6″ circles out of your pie crusts. Fit the larger circles into the muffin cups.
• Mix the rest of the ingredients together and divide the filling amongst the 6 cups.
• Place the 4″ pie crust on top and press to seal the edges together. Cut a few slits for ventilation.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

TURKEY PASTRAMI ON PUMPERNICKEL

Steps:

• For the brine: In a medium saucepan, bring to a boil all ingredients except the turkey. Simmer until sugar and salt are dissolved. Let cool completely. Double a one gallon re-sealable bag and fill with brine. Add turkey, seal bags and place in a shallow pan in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. (Just in case of leaking, check occasionally.) Remove breast from brine and rinse and dry well.
• For the rub: Pulse all the ingredients in a spice grinder or food processor until it becomes a coarse paste. Rub mixture all over turkey breast. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate resting in a bowl for 24 hours.
• To cook: Soak the chips submerged in water for 15 minutes. Place oven rack to position 4 inches below broiler. Preheat broiler on high. Drain chips and place in a 2 pound aluminum loaf pan. Broil the chips for 5 minutes, stir broil another 2 minutes. Remove to lower third of oven. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place turkey skin side up in a pan fitted with a roasting rack. Place oven rack used to broil the chips in to the center of oven and roast turkey above smoking chips for one hour.
• Increase the heat to 325 degrees F if convection, 350 degrees F if standard oven. Carefully turn over and continue to roast until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, another 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Remove turkey from oven. Cover loosely with foil and cool.
• To make the sandwich: Slice pastrami very thin. Toast bread. Spread mayonnaise on 1 piece, layer pastrami, onions, tomato and lettuce on top. Spread mustard on the other piece of toast. Place on top and cut it in half diagonally. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

HAVARTI TURKEY HERO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the chutney, mayonnaise, peanuts and cayenne; spread evenly over the cut side of bread bottom. Layer with turkey, lettuce, cheese and apple. Replace bread top. Cut into 8 slices.

MINI TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Add the onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, ketchup, parsley, Parmesan, Pecorino, salt and pepper to a large bowl and blend. Mix in the turkey. Shape the turkey mixture into 1 1/4-inch-diameter meatballs. Place on a large plate or baking sheet.
• Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and saute until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat.
• Transfer the meatballs to a plate. Pour off any excess oil. Add the marinara sauce, about 3 cups. Return all the meatballs to the pan. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend, 15 to 20 minutes. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the meatball mixture to a serving bowl. Serve with toothpicks.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

TO-DIE-FOR THANKSGIVING STUFFING

Steps:

• Saute onions, garlic, and rosemary in 4 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat until golden and soft.
• In a huge bowl (or the nearest thing you've got--I use the turkey roaster), combine bread cubes, eggs, and remaining bacon fat. Then add onion/garlic mixture, the thyme, and pecans.
• Combine the bourbon and chicken stock; starting with 1 quart, add enough stock to produce the consistency YOU recognize as "stuffing."
• When combined, stuff bird or place in separate large baking dish(es).
• Bake at 350 for at least 45 minutes--longer if you prefer a dark crust on your stuffing.
• Serves 12 or more as part of a Thanksgiving feast.