Honey Mustard Bacon and Provolone Sandwiches

For 2 sandwiches:

• 8 slices bacon
• 4 slices 12 grain bread
• non-stick cooking spray
• 4 slices provolone
• 2 slices red onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 teaspoons Hellman's Light Mayonnaise
• Dash pepper

1. In microwave, cook 8 slices of bacon for each sandwich on paper towels.  
2. Spray both sides of 12 grain bread with non stick spray and toast both sides on foil under broiler.
3. Place a slice of provolone on each bread slice, chopped a couple of slices of red onion and sprinkle on the cheese.  Brown under the broiler.

1. Make honey mustard sauce by mixing 1 teaspoon mustard, 2 teaspoons of honey, and two teaspoons of Hellman's light mayonnaise.  
2. Sprinkle with a dash a pepper.
3. Spread honey mustard mixture over the on each piece of bread.

1. Assemble sandwich by putting bacon on one side and sliced grape tomatoes on the other.  You could also add lettuce, but I didn't have any.  No time to go to the store before the game.

1. Assemble sandwich halves, cut and Assemble enjoy!  

Nancy's No Fear Turkey

• 23 lb. turkey
• 1 lb. container of salt
• 1 cup sugar
• enough cold water to fill sink
• 1 stick butter
• ½ small container of poultry seasoning
• ½ teaspoon of pepper
• large roll of aluminum foil
• a rectangular roaster that has a v-rack..
• a cooler or sink suitable sized to hold turkey for brining

To make a really good turkey, there are several things that are necessary.  First of all start with a big bird.  They provide the most white breast meat and also the most tender meat.  It is not necessary, nor even desirable to buy a pre-basted turkey and in fact, if you do so, this brining process would make it too salty.  Using this method, frequent basting is not necessary. 

For an evening dinner. start process about 24 hours before dinner time.

Sanitize cooler or sink and surrounding area by washing out with antibacterial dish soap, including the sink stopper on both sides.

Then douse a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and wipe down cooler or sink.

Rinse with water, using sprayer.

1. Start thawing turkey in the plastic wrap in which it was sold.
2. Place stopper and turkey in cooler or sink.  Run enough cold water to cover turkey.
3. Several hours later, drain cooler or sink and remove turkey from its wrapper.  Remove inner items (giblets and neck) by running as much water over them that is necessary in order to loosen them for removal.    We do not use these items in our family, but if you do, now store them in the fridge until you are ready to do what you normally do with them.  For people like me, we just discard them.
4. Once turkey is free of these items, rinse out cooler sink and replace the stopper.

Brining the turkey:

1. Now place turkey in cooler or sink and fill with cold water.
2. Add a 1 pound container of table salt and a cup of sugar.  This sugar will not turn the bird sweet.   It only serves as a browning agent.  Stir this mixture around the turkey.  This brining process will help the turkey maintain its moisture and really is a necessary part to make a really good turkey.  Continue to add ice to it as necessary so that the turkey doesn’t  become room temperature.  It is better if the turkey is not completely thawed rather than completely thawed.  You can set an alarm to get up and add ice to it several times during the night.  Cover with aluminum foil to help retain coldness in sink.
3. Continue this cold water bath until about 9:30 the next morning.  Prepare bird for oven

Do Not Stuff:

1. Drain water from around and inside the turkey.
2. Do not stuff the cavity with stuffing.  This allows more heat to quickly penetrate the inner cavity and will promote more even cooking of the bird.  Some authorities say that stuffing the inner cavity is somewhat dangerous, and I know many people have done it for years with no ill effects, but I am not willing to take a chance.

Preparing the bird:

1. Rub inner cavity of bird with butter.  Rub outside of bird all over with butter.  It is important that the butter be solid and not melted to start.  The solid state of the cold butter will enhance the browning ability of the bird.
2. Then rub poultry season all over the bird, inside and out.
3. Sprinkle pepper all over the outside of the bird.
4. Spray roasting pan and rack with non stick cooking spray.
5. Place bird on a V-rack in the roasting pan.
6. Tuck wings back into legs so that it fits compactly into the bird.

Readying the oven:

1. Move lower oven rack to bottom of oven.  Remove top rack to make room for the height of the bird.
2. This step seems unlikely to some people, but it works.  Turn oven to 500 degrees.
3. Do not use a meat thermometer at this point.  It will melt it.

Browning the bird:

1. Place turkey in roaster in oven uncovered.  This process will promote more even browning and sealing in the moisture.
2. Set timer for 25 minutes. While you are waiting for the turkey to brown, it is a good time to sanitize your cooler or sink again.
3. Remove roaster from oven.

Slow Roasting Phase:

1. Place a doubled  triangle of folded foil over the breast area.

1. Then cover with a large tent of foil over the roaster.
2. Turn oven down to 325 degrees.
3. Roast for about 6 hours.  Check with meat thermometer in the breast.  Be sure to stick the thermometer down all the way.  It should reach 160 degrees internal temperature.
4. When done, remove from oven and let rest on counter on the roasting rack while rest of dinner finishes cooking.  Leave the foil cover on to retain heat and moisture.
5. About an hour later carve the turkey and place on serving platter.
6. You can use the drippings on the bottom of the pan to make gravy if you wish. 

Nancy's Rainbow Tossed Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• (1-pound) package CREAMETTE RAINBOW TWIRLS
• about 20 grape tomatoes,
• ½ cup diced orange pepper
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
• 1 diced cucumber (leave skin on)
• ½ cup dice orange bell pepper
• 1 can whole pitted black olives sliced in half
• ½ cup chopped red onion, soaked in cold water, then drained and patted dry

Dressing:

• 1 cup olive oil
• 4 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• ½ cup Olive Garden dressing

Prepare CREAMETTE RAINBOW TWIRLS according to package directions. Drain. Add tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, ripe olives, celery and onion. Blend olive oil, vinegar, seasoned salt, pepper, paprika, and Olive Garden dressing . Toss dressing with salad mixture. Cover and chill. Before serving toss gently.

Nancy's Foccacia Sandwich

• 1 loaf cheese covered focaccia
• 1 8 oz. package thin sliced ham
• 1 8 oz. package thin sliced chicken
• 1 8 oz. provolone
• 1 small jar pesto sauce

1. Slice the focaccia horizontally.
2. Spread the cut side of the base with pesto sauce.
3. Arrange the chicken on top of the pesto.
4. Arrange the ham on top of the chicken.
5. Arrange the provolone on top of the ham.
6. Place the top of the loaf on the provolone.
7. Wrap the large sandwich completely in aluminum foil.
8. Place on an aluminum cookie sheet.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.
10. Remove the aluminum foil.
11. Slice into 8 wedges.
12. Serve and enjoy.

Nancy's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

When I post a recipe with strawberries and rhubarb, it is tempting to tell you a story that this is is old family recipe, handed down through the generations. But it simply isn't. In fact, it's just a concoction of my own. Sorry the recipe isn't an heirloom, but I hope that it taste is good enough to pass on. :-)

• 1 10oz. package frozen rhubarb, partially thawed
• 1 lb package fresh strawberries, washed trimmed and sliced
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 egg white
• extra sugar for sprinkling
• 1 package refrigerated pie crust.

1. Place bottom crust in pie tin, dock it, weight it and bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
2. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes.
3. While the crust is cooling, mix in a large bowl, the rhubarb, sliced strawberries, sugar, cinnamon, salt, cornstarch, and lemon juice.
4. Place mixture in the baked bottom crust.
5. Cut the top crust dough in strips about ¾ in wide.
6. Criss-cross the strips on the top of the pie. Use the extended ends of the strips to seal the top to the bottom.
7. Brush the criss-crossed strips with egg white.
8. Sprinkle the dough strips with two tablespoons of sugar.
9. Bake on a cookie sheet at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
10. Reduce heat to 375 and bake 45 minutes.
11. Turn off oven and let cool on the rack.
12. Refrigerate.
13. When completely cool, cut and serve.

Nancy's Apricot Stuffed Celery

• 8 oz. cream or neufchatel cheese
• 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 18 dried apricot
• 6 ribs of celery

1. Clean celery under running water and dry. Trim and discard ends. Cut celery into pieces about 3 inches long.
2. Process apricots in the food processor until finely chopped.
3. Using a glass bowl, soften cream cheese in a microwave, 30 seconds at a time on High until softened consistency.
4. Stir into the softened cheese the brown sugar and salt.
5. Add the chopped dried apricots and stir.
6. Fill celery sections and place on plate.
7. Cover and chill until time to serve.

Nancy's Brussel Sprouts

One person thought it looked good and I did actually like it even though no one else in the house liked it, so I will post the recipe.

Nancy’s Brussel Sprouts

• 14 baby brussel sprouts
• ½ teapoon olive oil
• 1 strip of bacon, cooked on a paper towel until crisp in microwave and crumbled
• 1 teaspoon Old Dutch sweet and sour salad dressing
• ¼ teaspoon refrigerated minced garlic (from a jar)
• ¼ teaspoon sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon parmesan cheese

1. Microwave the brussel sprouts in covered dish for three minutes.
2. Slice the brussel spouts so they are in ribbons or slices.
3. Saute brussel sprouts in the olive oil for about 2 minutes.
4. Add garlic, Old Dutch salad dressing and toss.
5. Remove from the heat.
6. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, and crumbled bacon.

Serves 2.