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

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.