34 week healthy meal with leftover idea

Healthy meal of the week: Crock Pot Turkey Meal

Healthy Leftover Idea: Turkey Thanksgiving Treats

In preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday, here’s a fantastic meal using the handy crock pot, also known as a slow cooker, that makes it a breeze to whip up a delicious turkey. To top it all off, below is a fabulous homemade cranberry sauce recipe with a twist (courtesy of my dad) that just might become your go-to dish for the upcoming holiday season. Don’t be surprised if your family and friends start begging you for this cranberry sauce recipe.

Plus, there’s an easy-to-make leftover idea appropriately titled Turkey Treats for Thanksgiving that you can use if you find yourself with some food afterwards. This is a great way to have all the flavor of Thanksgiving in the palm of your hands when you have to go to work the next day!

Healthy meal of week 34

Necessary equipment

– Crock Pot (slow cooker)

– 2 pots for stove

-wooden spoon

– baster bulb (optional)

preparation time

– 10 minutes

Time to cook

– 3.5 hours (for 3 pound turkey)

Ingredients

(4-6 servings)

– 3 pounds of turkey (with bone)

– 1 onion

– 1 can of chicken broth

– 1 12 oz. bag of blueberries

– 1/4 cup of white sugar

– 1/4 cup of brown sugar

– 2 garlic cloves

– 1/4 cup Triple Sec (liqueur)

– 1 apple

– 1 orange

– olive oil

– Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (made according to instructions on the box)

– seasonings: garlic powder, seasoned salt and pepper

For Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

– Lettuce

– Multigrain Sandwich Treats (100 calories each)

Addresses

Here’s an easy way to make delicious turkey in your slow cooker. This sampler meal used a 3-pound bone-in turkey breast that fit perfectly in our 3-quart crock pot. If you plan to use this recipe for your Thanksgiving meal where you may serve more than 10 people, increase the ingredients and time accordingly. In other words, this 3 pound turkey took 3.5 hours to cook in the crock pot, a 6 pound turkey should take about 7 hours, etc. The time may be less if you use the highest setting for the entire time and/or depending on how well done you prefer your turkey meat to be.

one. Open the turkey package and cut off any excess or hanging skin. Leave the skin in place that is still attached to the turkey. With clean hands, lightly coat the entire turkey with a little olive oil. Next, rub seasoned salt, garlic powder, pepper, and 1/4 cup brown sugar down both sides of the turkey.

2. Coat the inside of your slow cooker with olive oil. Cut the onion into thick slices to layer in the bottom of the crock pot. You should have a good platform for the turkey to rest on. You may need to cut an onion slice or two in half to make them fit snugly. Pour in the can of chicken broth, add 1/2 cup of the hot water, then place the turkey on top of the onion pieces. Place two garlic cloves on top of the turkey and cover with lid. Turn the slow cooker on HIGH and set the timer for one hour.

3. When the timer goes off, turn the setting to LOW and reset the kitchen timer (or your phone timer) to 2.5 hours. You can also use a syringe to carefully squeeze some of the broth all over the turkey. Do this periodically if you want to help prevent the turkey from getting too dry, just be careful not to press too hard so you don’t strip all of those good spices from the meat.

Four. When you are ready to make the fabulous cranberry sauce, in a pot over high heat, bring 1 cup of water along with 1/4 cup of white sugar and bring to a boil. When it boils add 12 oz. bag of cranberries and bring back to a boil. Once it boils, reduce to a simmer and add a handful of chopped oranges and apple slices (both peeled) along with 1/4 cup Triple Sec liqueur. Stir occasionally for a total cook time of about 15 minutes. You’ll see the blueberries slowly turn from round berries to a pasty mush, which is a sign that they’re almost done. You may need to shred any leftovers if you want.

5. Finally, the last and easiest part of the meal is the mashed potatoes. If you bought an instant-style or microwave-style brand, just follow the directions on the container so you’ll have them ready about the same time the turkey is done. Remember, these usually take only about 5 minutes to prepare, so you may want to save these for after the turkey has been sliced ​​and diced.

6. When the turkey is done, carefully remove the cooking portion from the crock pot and drain with a colander or ladle, whichever is easier and more convenient (and safer) for you. Allow the meat to cool slightly before using a knife and fork to slice the turkey for yourself and your family.

7. When everything is ready, serve up a portion suitable for everyone and enjoy your tasty Thanksgiving meal.

Healthy Leftover Idea: Turkey Treats for Thanksgiving

This is a very easy way to have a Thanksgiving meal in one treat. The only additional items you’ll need to purchase are your preferred type of lettuce (if desired) and low-calorie healthy bread like these Sandwich Thins used in this example that weigh in at just 100 calories for two slices. If your market does not offer this brand, something comparable will suffice.

To make these delicious Thanksgiving treats, all you need to do is open up the slices and place a couple pieces of washed and cleaned lettuce on one side, then brush the other slice with a layer of cranberry sauce. On top of the cranberry sauce, top with sliced ​​turkey pieces, making sure no bones remain inside. Finally top with a tablespoon or two of mashed potatoes and then top with the other slice of bread that has the lettuce on it. Presto, a Thanksgiving turkey treat that’s ready to enjoy right there or wrapped in a piece of foil to take to work the next day.

*Note: If you don’t like a cold sandwich, you can always microwave it on high for 20-30 seconds.