Leftover turkey salad with fruit

Although I'm a big meat eater I don't eat much turkey. By the end of Thanksgiving and Christmas I've had all I can stand, but that still leaves me with leftover turkey. There is so much to do with leftover turkey, but one of my favorites is turkey salad with fruit. Leftover turkey makes great turkey salad, and I  love to make a good batch for sandwiches and wraps.

Cherries, apples and raisins

I add a couple of items to the salad to make it all my own, and I think that's why people love turkey salad from leftovers. It's simple, tasty and livens up turkey meat with your own special spin. 



Leftover turkey salad with fruit recipe

• 10 oz. Turkey
• 10 Cherries pitted and quartered
• 2 oz. raisins
• 2 to 3 oz. chopped apples 
• 1.5 oz. Applewood Smoked Gouda shredded
• 3 T Mayo (large helping)
• 1 oz. fine chopped celery
• 1 oz. sliced almonds
• 1 oz fine chopped onions
• 1/2 T butter
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic powder to taste
• Tarragon to taste

Onion, celery and almond preparation

Ingredients in the mixing bowl

Heat a pan on medium and add butter. Add almonds, onion and celery to the pan and saute until brown.  Place in a large mixing bowl to cool.

Turkey and fruit preparation

Chop turkey and apples into small pieces. Pit and quarter the cherries and place the turkey, smoked gouda cheese, apples, cherries and raisins into the mixing bowl with the onions, celery and almonds.

Add mayo, salt, pepper, garlic powder and tarragon and mix. Be careful with the tarragon. Tarragon is very strong and overwhelming if you add too much.

Heart healthy alternatives

Turkey salad on Texas toast with lettuce and tomato 

Exclude butter and use a fat free mayo if you prefer, as well as low calorie, low carbohydrate Santa Fe Tortilla instead of bread.  Use pears, cranberries and grapes if you don't like the above fruits, or  fat free shredded cheese.

Although I saute the onions, almonds and celery it's not necessary. I just prefer the taste better when it's sauteed. I also add the smoked Gouda because it gives the salad such a great smokey flavor and adds to the texture.

This turkey salad recipe only takes 15 to 20 minutes to prepare.

Sautéed asparagus, onions and peppers

Sautéed asparagus, onions and peppers is a  favorite side dish, and it's great with starchy foods like rice, pasta and potatoes. It's simple, colorful and tasty and a good dish for any meal, or the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, also.

Sautéed asparagus onions and peppers recipe

• 1 bunch asparagus, usually a pounds worth
• 1/2 onion, your color choice
• 1/2  red bell pepper 
• Salt 
• Pepper
• 1 to 2 cloves garlic 
• up to 1 T olive oil (you really don't need a lot)

Simple, colorful and tasty

Tough asparagus stalks 

When it comes to asparagus I prefer it pencil thin. I snap off the bottom of the stalks which are tough. I do not throw the tough stalks away. Instead, I save them in a Ziploc freezer bag in case I need them for something else later. 

How to sauté asparagus, onions and peppers

Slice the asparagus in half, but at an angle. It's much more attractive than a blunt/straight cut.

Rinse the asparagus well. Place it aside. While you slice the onion and red pepper preheat your pan on medium. Add olive oil to the pan. Once it's hot add the onion to the pan. Then add the peppers and asparagus. Add the garlic last. Garlic burns very easily and tastes bitter when it burns. 

It will only take a few minutes to cook. Once the asparagus is a bright green the veggies are done. 

Asparagus tip:

Snap off the tough ends and place the asparagus in a bowl of ice water if it looks a little wilted. It will bring them back to life.

Related Material:

Low Glycemic Fruits and Veggies with Healthy Benefits

Happy Turkey Day!

I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving! I'm not sure what you're thankful for, but I have hundreds of reasons to be thankful. To begin, my mom and dad are here, and my kids and husband are safe in bed. That alone is a blessing.

Male Turkey Wikimedia Commons

By the way, if you can take a moment out of your day to feed one extra person, please do. Or, if you need a hot meal don't be afraid to ask. Someone out there will have an open heart.

Toaster pancakes: What to do with leftover pancakes

Pancakes are a favorite at my house, and I make them five mornings a week. They don't take long to make, and can be bought in every type from whole wheat to gluten free. I used to make them from scratch, but found that the boxed versions work just as well.

Pancake stack

Since I love to break cooking rules I rarely follow the instructions, and make way to many pancakes. For years, I would reheat the leftover pancakes in the microwave and they were so soggy and gross. Over time, I realized the toaster was perfect and stopped using the microwave.

Toaster pancakes

Pop your leftover pancakes in a toaster and they will reheat evenly, and add a nice crusty/crunchy texture. It's no different than a toaster waffle. Once out of the toaster add these toppings for flavor.

• Syrup & butter
• Preserves
• Quick berry fresh pancake syrup (recipe)

Heart healthy toppings

• Sugar free jelly and Reddi-wip
• Walden Farms sugar free caramel and/or syrup
• Reddi-wip and fresh fruit compote
• Fresh fruit compote
• Almond butter & sugar free jelly
• Reddi-wip, bananas and sugar free syrup

You can see I love Reddi-wip, but this list could go on forever. I prefer the almond butter and preserves, but any of these are great to liven up leftover pancakes. Plus, you're not wasting food. 

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich: High protein, low calorie and low fat

100 calories per tortilla

Whether you're in need of a tasty treat, or a fast meal, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are super simple to make.  Although wholesome, they can be very high in calories depending on the ingredients used.

I don't eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches too often, but have found a low-calorie, low fat and high protein version that is tasty and heart healthy.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich recipe

• 1 Santa Fe Tortilla 
• 2 T Pb2 with 1 T water mixed together
• 2 T Sugar free raspberry preserves (your preference)

I buy Santa Fe Tortillas at my local Costco. There are twenty to a pack, and are freezable. According the package the tortillas are 100% whole grain, with no Trans fat and has seven grams of fiber. Deducting the fiber from the carbohydrates leaves this tortilla with a total of six net carbohydrates per serving. These are the same wraps created for the South Beach Diet, as well.

There's even a chocolate version

Pb2 is a powdered peanut butter that uses two tablespoons of Pb2 with one tablespoon of water, and makes a serving that contains 1.5 grams of fat. This is extremely low compared to the average 16 grams in regular peanut butter. It only contains 45 calories per serving.

Although you can choose any type of jelly I prefer Smucker's Sugar Free Raspberry Preserves. For two tablespoons it's only 20 calories, and darn good.

Instructions:

Place the Pb2 concoction and jelly in the center of the tortilla. Push it out towards the edges, and fold the tortilla in half. Or, place it under the broiler (open face) for a few minutes for a hot peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Be careful when folding it in half. The peanut butter and jelly can ooze and burn you. Eat it whole or use a pizza cutter to slice it into wedges.

Great on oatmeal 

Calories

• 100 Santa Fe Tortilla
• 20  Smucker's Sugar Free Preserves (2 servings)
• 45 Pb2

The total calories for one peanut butter and jelly tortilla sandwich are 165 calories with 13 grams of protein. Add a glass of skim milk to this sandwich for a well rounded breakfast, or snack. 

Note: Please click the item links if you have any other nutritional questions about the products.

Simple low calorie teriyaki marinade

I'm a sucker for all things teriyaki, and could drink a bottle of Mr. Yoshida's sauce like nothing,  but during the competition season it's not a possibility. The amount of sugar in the sauce certainly doesn't fit into my nutrition program. However, I found a way to get a great tasting teriyake marinade that's extremely simple to make.

Preparing chicken

Simple low calorie teriyake marinade with chicken

• 3 lb. chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup Kikkoman soy sauce 
• 2 packs Splenda
• 5 cloves garlic chopped
• 1/4-1/2 cup chopped green onions (optional)
• ginger (optional)
• sesame seeds for garnish
• 3 T sesame oil (not needed for grilling)

Heart healthy substitutions

• Pam cooking spray
• Truvia sweetener
• Stevia sweetener
• Low sodium soy sauce

Simple low calorie Teriyake marinade preparation

Pan seared chicken in teriyake marinade

I cook in very large portions for my bodybuilding program and for my family, but this teriyake marinade is adjustable for smaller portions. You can see, I used it for three pounds of chicken.

In a large mixing bowl add chopped green onions, soy sauce, garlic and Splenda. Add ginger if you are using that, also. Stir it well. Add chicken. Let it sit for an hour or two. Overnight is better, or freeze your chicken in the teriyake marinade for the future.

Pan seared or grilled

Grill the chicken or pan sear it. There's no need to use the sesame oil if you plan to cook it on the grill. In the bodybuilding off season I use one table spoon at a time to cook one pound of chicken; then repeat the cooking process. Tonight I used Pam cooking spray. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the chicken.

*If you use Splenda, green onions, soy sauce and garlic in those quantities the calories total 106. I used www.Fitday.com to get these numbers.

Please follow this blog or share this link if you like it! ;)

Quick berry fresh pancake syrup

Pancakes are great for any morning, but I enjoy making them for weekend breakfasts the most. There's nothing going on since the kids aren't rushing to school, and we can sit down to enjoy breakfast together.

Every now and again we like a change from traditional maple pancake syrup, and will add fresh berries to it. It's so easy and gives the syrup a distinct flavor. It's also a good way to use up berries that are close to their shelf life.

I love to use strawberries

Fresh Berries

Choose from blackberries,  blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries or any other berry that suits your fancy.

Quick, berry fresh syrup ingredients

• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 to 1 cup course chopped berries (depends on desired thickness)

Place both in a  large microwave safe measuring cup. A large measuring cup with lid is the best choice to save any leftover syrup. Cook the syrup for about a minute, but keep an eye on it. Your microwave cooking time may be different. It will bubble, and is very hot so be careful. The syrup will cook down the berries, and make a tasty syrup for your breakfast. 

Substitute with Walden Farms syrup

You can also use Walden Farms calorie free pancake syrup as a substitution. The consistency of the syrup is different so change the ingredient ratios accordingly.

Save the leftover berry syrup for your leftover toaster pancakes or french toast.

Thanksgiving Day Plans

Thanksgiving will be here soon and my family can't wait. We always look forward to the Thanksgiving festivities, and the big turkey dinner.  I usually make our  favorite foods that I don't make too often, but this year, there are some different foods weadded to the list.

The kids want a combination of foods that I wouldn't normally pair together like BBQ and tacos. It's all good though. This Thanksgiving is going to be feast for my kids, husband and parents.

Thanksgiving dinner

First time for this brand

• Chunk's Turkey
• Jaden's Pork BBQ
• Tacos
• Homemade mashed potatoes and gravy
• Homemade macaroni and cheese
• Green bean casserole
• Corn bread 
• Sauteed green beans
• Mixed vegetables
• Sauteed asparagus, peppers and onions
• Stuffed mushrooms
• Asian salad
• Dad's homemade dressing
• Cranberry sauce
• Mom's deviled eggs
• I'm forgetting something....

Desserts

• Lisa's baked sugar cookie dumplings
• Writer Amy Brantley's Twinkie Tiramisu
• Homemade Apple pie (maybe)
• German chocolate muffins 
• Cheese cake (with an interesting twist)
• Chocolate chips cookies (maybe)
• Vanilla ice cream

Food for everyone

This is a lot of food, but my husband still eats like a powerlifter so the leftovers make great meals and alternative recipes. I will take a plate of Thanksgiving dinner to the nearest gas station for the clerk, as well. What can I say? That's the way I roll. 

Some canned and prepackaged foods have been bought for the Thanksgiving holiday, already. I even bought a package of  Golden Farms French Fried Onions, but I'm not sure if I'll use them. My mom always says her face feels greasy after eating the French fried onions so I may do a homemade version. Yummy!

Pillsbury Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel recipe

Pillsbury Bread sticks.

If you like cinnamon-sugar pretzels; you'll love this simple recipe that gives Auntie Anne a run for the money. I don’t make this often, but it’s a delicious treat for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday with family. Add a glass of cold milk for the finishing touch.

Pillsbury Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Serves 6

·         1 can Pillsbury bread sticks

·         1 cup Confectioner's sugar/ powdered sugar

·         to taste Cinnamon

Peanut Butter & Ganache Dip

·         1/4 cup Chocolate chips (white, milk or dark)

·         1/4 cup Cream

·         2 T Peanut butter

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Coating preparation

Prepare your powdered sugar coating first. Place the powdered sugar in a large container and add cinnamon. This should be added to your liking. It can be excluded, also.2

Pillsbury Bread stick preparation

Add an inch or 1.5 inches of oil to a high lipped pan and let it heat on Med to Med-high. Once the oil is hot open the can of Pillsbury bread sticks and pull them apart. Twist the bread sticks and lay them into the hot oil. The bread sticks will only take a minute or two to fry per side.  

Peanut Butter Ganache Dip preparation

Peanut Butter Ganache

Use a sauce pan set on Lo or Med-Lo. Pour the chocolate chips in the pan and let them melt slowly. While melting pour cream in slowly, and add the peanut butter into the melting concoction. The peanut butter will begin to smooth out, and create a rich peanut butter ganache dipping sauce for your pretzels. Watch it closely so it does not burn.

Coating  Pillsbury cinnamon sugar pretzels

Soon as the pretzels are golden brown remove them from the oil, and place them in the powdered sugar and cinnamon container. Put the lid on the container and shake it until your pretzels are covered. Repeat this process with all of the pretzels. Once finished, place them on a nice serving dish. 

Tips

LIsa's Pillsbury Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

• Open the Pillsbury bread sticks after the oil is hot. This ensures the bread sticks are still cold. They are very difficult to pull apart when warm.
• If the bread sticks are warm  and stretch too much, twist the loose ends together.3
• Fry the bread sticks in two batches.
• Use 1/2 of the sugar coating for the first batch, and the other 1/2 for the second batch.
• The bread sticks will cook quickly so have your spatula or slotted spoon handy.

Five Wine Colors for Home Décor

Home décor creates a personalized living space that is outgoing, bright and even sterile. What happens when your home décor needs new looks, or needs to be refreshed? Do you start over, or add décor that brightens the look of the room? There are several alternatives to buying all new furniture such as wine colored home goods.

Wikimedia Commons

Wine colors are vibrant, and also in warm neutral shades. Wine colors found in nature have a full spectrum of shades from pale yellow to deep brown. These palettes add dimension to rooms, and are found in home décor pieces from pillows to paints.

Read more from Yahoo! Contributor Network