Orange Turkey Meatballs and the Weekly Menu

Tender turkey meatballs seasoned with Asian flavors, covered with a delicious orange sauce, served over rice for an easy, delicious dinner.

Turkey and Swiss on Rye, A Book Review and The Weekly Menu

When I was visiting my friend, Linda, in Tucson earlier this month, she suggested a fun series, The Althea Rose Mysteries, that she has been reading since the first one came out in 2015.  

I ordered up the first of the series as an audiobook on my library app and have been listening to it during my daily walks.

Turkey Wild Rice Soup #SundayFunday

I decided to change things up this year by adding Wild Rice to the soup made with the turkey frame from our holiday dinner.

The Sunday Funday Bloggers are sharing Soup recipes today........

Panera Copycat Turkey Chili #SundayFunday

This delicious soup is nutritious, filled with lean turkey and tons of veggies.  It is also gluten and dairy-free as is the version offered at Panera Restaurant.  This is my adaptation of their recipe.

Amy of  Amy's Cooking Adventures invited the Sunday Funday Bloggers to share Fast Food Copycat Recipes.......

Healthier Lasagna paired with a Small Family Vineyard Pinot Noir and a Book Review #WineDownWednesday

A friend recommended the book Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave.  She knows that I love wine and that I love to read.  She had just started the novel and thought of me right away. 

I ordered it up and then I thought it might be a good choice for our new Wine-Down Wednesday group and offered to host for this month.......

Smoky Turkey Burgers #SundayFunday

Show your mom some love today by inviting her over for an al fresco meal of grilled burgers.  Show her heart some love by making them with turkey instead of beef.  

The Sunday Funday Bloggers are Firing up the Grill today......

Lamb Meatballs in Tomato Sauce #SundayFunday

These flavorful meatballs spiced with the warm flavors of the Mediterranean are served with a slightly spicy tomato sauce.  They are sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

The Sunday Funday Bloggers are sharing Lamb recipes just in time for Easter........

Chicken Spaghetti #FoodieExtravaganza

This easy peasy casserole that starts with leftover chicken, or in this case turkey, is sure to please with ingredients commonly found in American pantries.  

The Foodie Extravaganza Gang is celebrating National Canned Foods Month......

Instant Pot Smoked Turkey and Navy Bean Soup #MultiCookerMonday

Using an Instant Pot for bean soup has become my new favorite thing about this small kitchen appliance.  No soaking, no precooking and perfectly prepared, soft, creamy beans every. single. time!  This navy bean soup is paired with smoked turkey and was an amazing way to use up my Thanksgiving leftovers.  I might smoke some turkey legs just so I can make this soup again.

Please join us for Multi-Cooker Monday...................

Countries United Through Food and Wine #Winophiles

France and the USA have long been friends.  They provided us with the Statue of Liberty in 1886.  They sent the Friendship Train in 1949 and now French Winemakers have come to Oregon, USA to open wineries and share their knowledge with us.

I received a bottle of Resonance Pinot Noir as a gift for this event.  All opinions and writings are my own.

Join the Winophiles as we visit Oregon + Bourgogne Tied Houses................

Turkey Cranberry and Cheese Pull Apart Bread #BreadBakers

Starting with Sourdough Pizza dough mixed with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce, seasoned with Italian Herbs and two different cheeses.  This pull apart bread is a fun and delicious way to get rid of the very last of the leftovers.

And while you can see that it didn't release very nicely from the pan, it was absolutely delicious and took care of all the remaining Thanksgiving leftovers in my refrigerator.

Turkey and Cranberry Pannini #FoodnFlix

Every year we have a rotation of Christmas Movies that we watch.  The main three are: my personal favorite, It's a Wonderful Life; Frank's favorite, White Christmas; and we both love the original Miracle on 34th Street.

There are other Holiday movies that we watch as well but these are the main three that are considered "must watch" in our household.

This past weekend we started with White Christmas.

Turkey Nachos with Cranberry Salsa #CranberryWeek #FoodieExtravaganza

Want a great way to enjoy those leftovers on Black Friday?  Make up a batch of these Turkey Nachos with Cranberry Salsa.  You're Welcome.

This is my second contribution to the celebration of Cranberry Week........

Roasted Garlic Turkey Chili #OurFamilyTable

This white chili is loaded with layers of flavor from roasted chile peppers and a whole bulb of garlic.  It is one of the best bowls of chili I have eaten.

The From Our Dinner Table Group are sharing Game Day Chili Recipes........

Turkey Tostadas #FantasticalFoodFight

This meal, made in one pot and ready in less than half an hour is the perfect Taco Tuesday offering.  Made with ground turkey it is perfect when you are watching your red meat consumption.   It is chock full of nutritious legumes and vegetables.  A meal that you will enjoy serving as much as your kids enjoy eating it.

The contenders in Fantastical Food Fight this month are competing to see who makes the best meal in under 30 minutes..........

Turkey Burgers #FoodieExtravaganza

If you stay away from turkey burgers because you are afraid they will be dry and tasteless, fear no more.  This burger may actually beat out beef to become one of your favorites.

It is National Sandwich Month..........

Southwestern Turkey Soup #SoupSaturdaySwappers

Turn that leftover turkey into a completely different meal by combining it with the flavors of the Southwest.

We are starting with Leftovers today at Soup Saturday Swappers.......

Tachin Joojeh #FoodnFlix

This Persian Layered Turkey and Rice dish is a great way to use up any leftover turkey that you have from Thanksgiving.  Crispy and creamy rice on top followed by a layer of turkey and caramelized onions with a layer of fluffy rice at the bottom.

Filled with the aromatic smells and flavors of the Middle East, this dish is a sure fire pleaser.....

Turkey and Noodles #SundaySupper

Our theme for this week's Sunday Supper is Holiday Casseroles.

This could be a casserole that you would serve on your holiday table, like these delicious Make Ahead Parmesan Mashed Potatoes.

Or perhaps a casserole that you put together the night before to enjoy for breakfast before heading out to the Thanksgiving Parade or opening Christmas gifts, like this sausage and vegetable strata.

Vegetable casseroles, like this cauliflower gratin, make perfect side dishes on your holiday table.

In our household the Christmas Holiday Season starts with Thanksgiving.  The Christmas China makes it's first appearance and is used for every meal until January 6th when we end our celebration with the Epiphany of our Lord.

We do a lot of entertaining during this time.  It is not unusual to host 2 or 3 dinner parties, of various sizes, in the course of a week.  Dinner parties mean that there is normally leftovers so I try to plan on how I will repurpose those leftovers for our meals when we don't have company.  The best way to use up leftovers, I have found, is by making casseroles.

Today I am sharing with you a recipe to use up some of that leftover turkey.  This Turkey and Noodle casserole is quick and easy to throw together, relying on canned soup for the rich creaminess it provides.  Made extra rich with the addition of buttered cracker and bacon topping, it is not a diet friendly meal.  It is, however, a delicious meal and a great way to serve up leftovers.  After all, it is the holidays and you will have plenty of time and motivation to watch your diet in the New Year.

Should you have leftover veggies this is a great use for them as well or you can just add some frozen mixed veggies as I did here.

Turkey Noodle Casserole

2 c. leftover turkey, skinned, boned and chopped

1/2 lb. egg noodles, cooked per package directions

1 (10 oz) can cream of mushroom soup

1 (10 oz) can cream of chicken soup

1 c. sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

1 1/2  c. asst mixed vegetables (leftovers or frozen and thawed)

1/2 c. butter

1 c. cracker  or dried bread crumbs

1/3 c. bacon bits or 5-6 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

Treat the inside of a casserole with cooking spray. Place the soups and sour cream in the casserole and stir until blended.  Add the turkey, noodles and vegetables. Stir to combine.

Place the butter in a microwave safe bowl.  Place in microwave and cook on high heat for 30 seconds, stir and cook for another 10 seconds if not completely melted.  Place the cracker or bread crumbs in the bowl and toss to coat. Sprinkle over the top of the turkey and noodles.  Sprinkle the bacon bits over all and bake in a preheated 350* oven for half an hour or until golden brown and bubbly.  Print Recipe

Holiday Casserole Recipes #SundaySupper

Breakfast Casseroles

• Apple Crumble French Toast Casserole by Pies and Plots
• Holiday Breakfast Casserole by The Freshman Cook
• Sausage Breakfast Casserole with Crescent Rolls by Sunday Supper Movement
• Christmas Chilaquiles with Eggs by Our Good Life

Classic Casseroles

• Buttery Baked Bread Dressing by Food Lust People Love
• Collard Greens Au Gratin by Soulfully Made
• French Potato Gratin by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Ham & Cheese Corn Casserole (Spoon Bread) by Palatable Pastime
• Leftover Turkey Noodle Casserole by Crickets Confections
• Lower Carb Green Bean Casserole by Positively Stacey
• Simple Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole (Dairy-Free) by Bites of Wellness
• Turkey and Noodles by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Creative Casseroles

• Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Quinoa by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Cheesy Orzo Pasta Bake by Caroline’s Cooking
• Mexican Cornbread Casserole by Restless Chipotle
• Shrimp Pineapple Rice Casserole by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Make Ahead Spaghetti Western Chili Casserole by Kudos Kitchen by Renee

The Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.

Holiday Leftovers; Mediterranean Chili with an American Wine #WinePW #MerlotMe

Thanksgiving is coming......fast....so we, the members of Wine Pairing Weekend, decided to share some American wines that are perfect for serving up for this American Feast.

Most of us roast a turkey for Thanksgiving.  Some of us have a second or third meat.  I usually have fresh kielbasa and sometimes will include a beef recipe of some sort, depending on how many guests I am serving.

Mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, buttered corn and pumpkin pie always make the menu at our house for Thanksgiving.  I try to add variety each year by changing up the appetizers, soup, salad and second dessert that I offer.

We always have wine and normally that wine is an American wine, mostly because Frank and I are huge California wine fans.  When guests arrive we offer cocktails or sparkling wine with the appetizers and then I try to pair a wine with each course that I am serving as shown in the menu above.

There is no hard and fast rule that you must  drink white wine with fish and poultry.  Much of the decision on what wine to pair with these dishes depends on how they are prepared.  Roasted poultry, including turkey, pair very well with Pinot Noir and Merlot.

Today, I am showcasing a Merlot from Rutherford Hills that I received as a sponsor gift during the
#Merlotme event that takes place each October.  You can learn more about #Merlotme by going to this post or following the hashtag on social media.

I was not familiar with Rutherford Hills prior to being supplied this bottle so I went to their website and did a little research.  Rutherford Hills is located in Napa Valley, it was founded in 1972 and was one of the pioneers in the development of California Merlot.  The grape growers who started this winery Merlot grapes because the terroir is so similar to that of the Merlot growing regions of Bordeaux.

The Terlato family bought the vineyard in 1996 and brought the business into their guiding principle "Quality is a way of life".   Those of you familiar with my blog know that while I appreciate sponsors and getting free samples, I never allow that to affect my posts.  I always give my 100% honest opinion.

In fact, this bottle was not the bottle we originally opened to pair with this dinner.  The first bottle we opened was fine but not wonderful and I wanted to showcase a wonderful bottle for you to enjoy on Thanksgiving.  We set the first bottle aside to enjoy another time and opened the Rutherford Hills.

The wine poured deep and rich.  The first thing I noticed was the smoothness of the wine and the rich finish....reminding me a bit of chocolate that is left to melt in your mouth.  Not the sweetness of chocolate as this wine is not sweet at all but fruity and full. It reminded me of the feeling left in your mouth from melting chocolate.

I think this wine would be a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving table.  I was going to roast a chicken to pair with this wine so that I could, sort of, replicate a Thanksgiving meal.  I changed my mind though and decided to share with you this Mediterranean Chili made with turkey.

As with any good chili, the secret is layering the flavors.  In this case the flavors I have chosen come from the Mediterranean. I started off with ground turkey but this can easily be made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey, just omit the first step of browning the turkey and add cut up cooked turkey along with the tomatoes.

I chose to flavor the chili with pepperocini, dried Italian seasoning and fresh oregano.  I used red onion, fennel bulb, zuchinni , chicken stock and some lemon juice along with canned tomatoes and canned white beans.  I was very pleased with the results.

I will be keeping an eye out for this wine the next time I go to the market.  I hope to find a couple of bottles to serve up with our Thanksgiving Dinner.  Join us again next month as we discuss Giving the Gift of Wine.

Mediterranean Chili

1 lb. ground turkey (or leftover turkey, chopped)

1 T. olive oil

1 fennel bulb, chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 lg garlic clove, minced

2 t. Italian seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

2 pepperoncini, seeded, stemmed and diced

1 (15 oz) can of diced tomatoes with juices

1/2 c. chicken broth

1 med. zucchini, diced

1 (15oz) can white beans (I used Great Northern)

juice and zest of 1/4 lemon

3 sprigs fresh oregano

Crumbled Feta Cheese for garnish, if desired.

Brown turkey in olive oil heated  in soup pot over med high heat. Add the fennel, onion and garlic.  Season with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.  Cook and stir until fragrant and vegetables start to soften.  Add the tomatoes, broth, pepperoncini, zucchini and oregano.  Stir to combine and let simmer for 20-30 minutes until flavors meld and vegetables are tender.  Stir in the lemon zest and juice.  Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese, if desired.  Print Recipe

Other Thoughts on American Wine Pairings

• Culinary Adventures with Camilla is Celebrating an American Holiday with Two Bay Area Darlings: Cowgirl Creamery + Donkey &Goat Winery.
• Wine Predator enjoyed American Wine, American Meal: Duck with Napa's Duckhorn Merlot.
• L'Occasion is sharing 5 American Wines for Thanksgiving.
• Cooking Chat will be sharing Roast Turkey Breast with Cranberry Merlot Sauce.
• A Day in the Life on the Farm will be discussing Holiday Leftovers; Mediterranean Chili with an American Wine.
• Pull That Cork is Celebrating Thanksgiving and Mercer Wine Estates