Ground Turkey Salad Spread

I have always loved the season between Thanksgiving and the end of the year.  We can get roasted turkey very inexpensively, and I just love turkey.  And I especially love leftovers.  Like most people I do the sandwiches, casseroles, soups, and so forth.  BUT, my mom would make a ground turkey salad spread that our family could not get enough of.  I made it for my son, and I make it for my husband.  It's easy, takes very few ingredients.  And it really makes a little meat go a long way.

 As I think back, I sometimes wonder if maybe one of the things I loved most about the anticipation of those turkey salad spread sandwiches, was the chance to turn the crank on the old table top meat grinder that my mom had.  We kids used to take turns, and it always seemed like our turn was never long enough.  Those were certainly good times, now that I look back.

I often wonder what became of my mom's old workhorse of a grinder?

As I said, it doesn't take much meat, and my mom used to make the salad spread anytime we had leftover turkey or even ham.  Both are equally delicious.  And the spread never lasted more than one day.  You can use both white and dark meat.  

You will need:
about 2 cups of meat, (turkey or ham)
1 large onion
dill pickles, (about 3 or 4 whole)
mayonnaise
yellow mustard

1 medium size bowl

 First remove the skin and remove the meat from the bone and chop the meat into chunks.  Chop the onion into chunks.  If your pickles are whole, slice them.  Everything needs to fit into your meat grinder.

Get your meat grinder set up and ready to go.

Today my mom would marvel at how easy I have it in the kitchen, (very little effort goes into grinding, slicing, dicing, etc.).   My kitchen set is at least 30 years old, but it's sturdy, well built and I still use it.

If your meat grinder has multi-blades or settings, choose the smaller blade setting.  This is the smaller blade on mine.

First grind about 1/3 of the meat, then do 1/2 of the onion, and 1/2 of the pickles.

After you have done 1/3 of the meat, 1/2 of the onion, and 1/2 of the pickles, repeat the process.

When you are finished, the last 1/3 of the meat will be the final thing to grind.  Finally, my mom would always push 1 or 2 slices of bread through the grinder.  This was to serve 2 purposes; first to push the last bit of meat out of the grinder, and second to add a small about of binder to the spread.

As you can see, we already have almost a full bowl of ground meat.

 Now add about 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, (more of less depending on the texture and moisture of the meat), and 1 teaspoon of mustard, (you don't need much mustard - just enough for a little flavor).

Now stir everything together, incorporating the mayonnaise and mustard evenly throughout the meat.  The mixture will be creamy and smooth.

And here is your salad spread, ready to spread on bread, crackers, tortillas, (as a roll up), or whatever you want.

I like to give mine a quick taste to see if it needs any salt or seasonings.

On crackers, it's delicious!  On bread, with lettuce and tomatoes, (oh be still my heart, I am a small child again sitting at my mom's table reliving my youth).

See how the spread holds it's shape, it doesn't fall off the cracker when you take a bite.  It's smooth, creamy, yet still has a good body.

My husband likes to make lettuce roll ups with the turkey salad spread.  Just layer it along the inside of a large leaf of lettuce and roll the lettuce around the spread, (like a tortilla), and eat away.

So if you still have a little leftover turkey or ham - try making some salad spread.  It's a great lunch idea.

Enjoy!

Christmas Popcorn

Twelve years ago, I took a class on "Making Christmas Gifts From Your Kitchen".  One of the recipes we learned from Angel Shannon, was how to make Christmas Popcorn.  I have been making this for my husband's co-workers, our friends and family ever since - and it is a big hit with everyone.  Some of my husband's co-workers have jokingly referred to it as their "Christmas cocaine".  Even though I give them enough to take home, not once have any of them managed to save any by the end of the day for anyone else in their family to share their popcorn.  It's a quick, simple recipe, and it makes quite a lot, (11 cups).  You can easily double the recipe.  And the best part - it's all microwave cooking !

You will need:
8 cups of popped popcorn
1 cup cocktail peanuts
1 cup Christmas M&M candies
1 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
1 pound white candy coating
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

an extra large bowl
a medium microwave safe bowl
wax paper

First, you need to pop your popcorn.

It doesn't matter if you use microwave popcorn, or regular, top of the stove, popcorn.

Note:  If you use microwave popcorn, I find that 2 packages will usually make 8 cups, (but have a 3rd, just in case).  When I find them on sale 4 for $1, then I buy 12, so I have them in the pantry when I'm ready to use them.

The Christmas M&M candies will be in the red and green colors, but if you want to use the multi-colored M&Ms that's OK.  I just use the plain, not the peanut M&Ms.  You can even use the bulk brand of M&M candies.

Pour the 8 cups of popped corn into the EXTRA large bowl.  Make sure not to get any of the non popped kernels, (this is why I always have a 3rd bag of microwave popcorn on hand - in case there are a lot of  un-popped kernels).

Pour in 1 cup of M&M candies.

Pour in 1 cup of cocktail peanuts.

Pour in 1 1/2 cups of crispy rice cereal.

Note:  you can use the brand "Rice Krispies" cereal, or any brand of a crispy rice cereal.

Now gently stir everything together.

Pour the white, (vanilla), candy coating in a medium microwave safe bowl,

 Add in 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter.

Heat on high in the microwave until melted and creamy.

Note:  I heat mine on 30 second increments, and give it a stir so it doesn't burn.  It usually takes about 2 minutes total.

 While the candy and peanut butter is melting, lay out a couple sheets of wax paper, (about 2 feet in length,each).

OK  - the candy and peanut butter are melted and nice and smooth.  Now we are going to make the magic happen !

Pour the peanut butter mixture over the popcorn mixture, evenly.

Give the popcorn mixture a good stir, to make sure that the peanut butter mixture evenly coats all the popcorn mixture.

Now spread the popcorn mixture out on the wax paper.

 As you can see, there's quite a lot.

Let the popcorn set and harden, (about 1 hour).  Then break into pieces, and box or bag your Christmas popcorn for gift giving.

But make sure to save some for yourself.  Kids, (and husbands),  especially love this stuff.

While the popcorn is cooling, I make up bag toppers for my husband.  Then we fill up bags, add the toppers, and they are ready to go.

You could also use a Christmas tin for your popcorn.

Give it a try.  It a delicious treat, that's quick, easy, and inexpensive.

Enjoy !

Barb's Peanut Brittle (easy to make)

Do you have that neighbor, co-worker, or guy in your life that you just don't know what to give a small holiday gift to.  Are you strapped for cash and short on time, yet want to give a yummy treat to someone?  This is the same old fashioned peanut brittle recipe which required constant stirring in a black iron skillet that I learned back in the mid 1980's.  Only it's updated to a microwave version, and you only have to stir it 4 times, and it takes less than 10 minutes to cook, (not the usual couple of hours on the stove top). It only takes 6 ingredients, and you probably have most, (if not all of them), in your pantry already.  For years I gave this as a Christmas gift to my uncle, then my cousins started asking for boxes of it as well.  I gave the recipe out to so many people over the years, and everyone has remarked about how easy and delicious the brittle is.  And the best part is you can change out the type of nuts you use to make different kinds of brittle, (see my notes at the end).  This recipe will make 1 pound of brittle.

You will need:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1 cup roasted, salted peanuts
1 teas butter
1 teas vanilla extract
1 teas baking soda
cooking spray (for baking sheet)
medium sized heavy microwave safe bowl
heavy duty oven mitts

In a medium sized heavy microwave safe bowl, combine 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup white corn syrup.  Stir together, (this helps to make sure everything microwaves evenly).

Note:  I use cooking spray to coat my measuring cup before I measure my corn syrup, then the corn syrup pours out better and doesn't stick to the cup, and clean up is easier.

 Microwave on high for 4 minutes.

 Remove from microwave, add 1 cup of roasted, salted peanuts.

Stir well.

Microwave on high 4 minutes.

While the brittle is microwaving, spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

After 4 minutes, remove the brittle mixture from the microwave.  It will be hot and bubbling.  Be sure to use your oven mitts, so you don't burn your hands.  Notice the brittle mixture and the peanuts are browned.

Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Note:  do not use imitation vanilla, you want the real stuff, it make the taste go a long way.

 Add 1 teaspoon of butter

Blend everything well.

Microwave on high for 1 minute.

Remove from microwave, (remember to use your oven mitts).  This brittle will be extremely HOT!

 Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

Gently stir in.  Notice how the brittle gets light in color and starts to get foamy.  This is what it is supposed to do.

Pour the mixture onto the sprayed baking sheet.

Use your spoon to spread the mixture out, so that it is even consistency (not to thick in some places).  Set aside and let it cool for about 1 hour.

 After 1 hour, break the brittle apart into  small pieces.  And now it is ready to package for gift giving, and eating.

Here are some of the ways I like to give my brittle:

In pretty jars with a ribbon, in a decorative box, in a holiday tin, etc.

This jar of brittle already has someone special tagged.  They will be so surprised to get homemade peanut brittle.

NOTE:  if you want to change the type of brittle you make:
Almond Brittle:
substitute 1 cup of dry roasted almonds for peanuts,
substitute 1 teaspoon of almond extract for vanilla
Also try:  omit the butter and add 1 cup of shredded coconut with 1 additional teaspoon of almond extract

Pecan Brittle:
substitute 1 cup of pecan halves for peanuts
everything else is the same

Cashew Brittle:
substitute 1 cup of dry roasted cashews for peanuts
everything else is the same

How many ways did you make the brittle?
I have more homemade holiday gifts to share.     ENJOY !