Turkey Brine

By Southern Bite

With Thanksgiving upon us, the quest to produce the most beautiful, perfectly browned, yet still juicy, turkey is back on our minds. If you’re like me, it’s easy to get so caught up in all the other things that go along with the holiday, you often forget to give that turkey the attention is needs. The truth is, one easy step will help make that turkey the showstopping centerpiece it should be!

A brine is the perfect way to impart some amazing flavor in your turkey and keep it from drying out too much—which will help if it gets a little overcooked, too. It’s a basic solution of salt and sugar that helps to lock in moisture and add flavor. To add that flavor, I add soy sauce, garlic and fresh herbs. Don’t worry, it doesn’t end up tasting like soy sauce. It just gives it a great umami flavor. You can also add lemon peel, orange peel, peppercorns and other aromatics. Just be cautious not to add anything acidic.

There are a few things you should keep in mind, however. Make sure you use a fresh turkey when brining. Often times, frozen turkeys have been frozen in a sodium solution and brining would most likely add too much salt. I also recommend not stuffing a brined bird. The seasonings in the turkey can often leaching into the stuffing and cause it to be too salty. I recommend cooking your stuffing (or dressing) in a separate casserole dish just to be safe. On the same note, it’s best to be cautious when making gravy with the drippings from a brined turkey. It too can become too salty for the same reasons. Be sure to taste your gravy before adding any seasonings if you do use the drippings.

Y’all enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 gallons water
• 1 cup Salt
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 head Garlic, sliced crosswise
• 1 cup Soy sauce
• 6 sprigs Fresh thyme
• 4 springs Fresh rosemary
• 1 Turkey

Directions:

1. Make sure the turkey has been well rinsed, with the giblets removed.
2. In an extra-large stock pot, combine the water, salt, sugar, garlic, soy sauce and herbs. Stir until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Submerge the turkey in the brine, and refrigerate for 18–24 hours.
3. Prior to cooking, remove the turkey from brine and discard the brine. Rinse the turkey well with cool water to remove the excess salt, and pat it dry with paper towels. Cook the turkey as you normally would.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries & Pecans

By Southern Bite

Brussels sprouts make the perfect side dish to accompany any Thanksgiving feast. This recipe is so simple, it will allow you to create a show-stopper side without a lot of work. It’s so tasty, no one will know how easy it was. Plus, roasting is the perfect way to prevent that bitter taste that Brussels sprouts get when they are over-cooked. The sweet cranberries and balsamic vinegar are the perfect complement. I bet even those in your family who don’t like Brussels sprouts might like these.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. Brussels sprouts
• 3 Tbsp. Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 cup Pecan halves, toasted
• 1/2 cup Dried cranberries
• 1 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
2. ash and trim the ends from the Brussels sprouts. Remove any dark outer leaves and slice them in half from top to bottom.
3. In a large bowl, combine the trimmed Brussels sprouts with the olive oil and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to coat the sprouts in the oil and arrange on the baking sheet. Roast for 20–30 minutes or until the sprouts are tender, with crispy, dark roasted outer leaves. Remove from the oven. Toss with the pecans and dried cranberries and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately.

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Whether you make your own or use a can, it seems you’re almost guaranteed to always have just a little bit left over. And, nobody likes to waste precious pumpkin purée. A little pumpkin goes a long way in making your favorite dishes tastier and more nutritious. Here are some easy recipes that go well beyond pie filling.

Pumpkin Soup

The main ingredients in vegetarian pumpkin soup are pumpkin purée and vegetable broth. Variations are endless, but some of our favorites include the addition of caramelized onions, low-fat milk, cinnamon and nutmeg. Another option is to create a traditional potato soup using canned pumpkin instead; season with cumin and a pinch of curry. Pumpkin soup makes a great first course for a holiday dinner.

Pumpkin Hummus

Pumpkin adds a touch of color and light earthiness to the flavor of hummus. Stir 1/4 cup of pumpkin purée into 1 cup (about 7 oz. container) of your favorite hummus. You can find a variety of brands and flavors in the Deli Department.

Pumpkin Chili

Adding a can of pumpkin to your pot of chili provides a good dose of fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Whether your favorite chili recipe involves beans, tofu or ground beef, the addition of pumpkin purée gives the chili a nice substance, flavor and texture.

Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

Give your favorite tomato sauce a little extra body and festive flavor. Simply stir 1 cup of pumpkin purée into 3 cups (about 26 oz.) of your favorite jarred or homemade pasta sauce. You can also sweeten up your favorite lasagna recipe by spreading pumpkin purée between the layers.

Pumpkin Buttercream Frosting

Cream two sticks of unsalted butter at room temperature, 1/2 cup of pumpkin purée, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Slowly add two pounds of confectioner’s sugar (more or less) until the buttercream is no longer separated by the pumpkin.

Need more pumpkin inspiration? Try these recipes below!

After days of planning and hours of prepping, you finally shared the long-anticipated Thanksgiving meal with all your holiday guests. Now, don’t let all that hard work go to waste! Rather than using your leftovers to make your typical turkey sandwich, you can take a creative approach with these updated recipes. Making a one-of-a-kind breakfast or cozying up with a warm bowl of turkey chili will continue to impress any weekend guests and you’ll feel good knowing your leftovers were put to good use.

Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

Give your mashed potatoes a second chance by simply adding a few ingredients. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these potato pancakes are easy to make and are a great way to revive leftover taters.

Leftover Cranberry Sauce & Yogurt Parfait

Enjoy a festive breakfast even while on the run as you conquer your holiday shopping. Garnish with granola or chopped nuts for an extra punch of protein or have as a side for a bigger breakfast.

Leftover Stuffing & Turkey Frittata

This breakfast dish is an egg-ceptional way to use Thanksgiving leftovers! Throw a few extra ingredients into one skillet and you have a colorful and delicious meal.

Leftover Turkey Enchiladas

Add a little spice to your holiday weekend with these easy-to-make enchiladas! Packed with salsa verde and avocado, your taste buds will be thanking you with every bite.

Turkey and Pumpkin Chili

Tender leftover turkey and velvety pumpkin puree make this hearty dish a cozy fall treat. For a finishing touch, top each bowl with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of green onions.

Thanksgiving in a Jar

The Thanksgiving feast doesn’t have to end! Layer your yummy leftovers in mason jars to give guests as they leave or treat yourself to an on-the-go meal that’s hearty and convenient.

 

If you’re anything like us, you like your holidays on ice—as well as shaken, stirred and garnished with a seasonal treat. Now that we’re approaching Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, you’ll need a collection of cocktails to wow your guests and family members through the New Year.

This winter, swap your go-to holiday bubbly for these festive coconut cocktails. (Sprouts Coconut Water’s magical ability to cure a hangover or a headache of any kind is also a serious bonus.) Cheers!

Mrs. Clause’s Coconut Crantini

This one’s for the ladies. The crantini is great year round, but it’s especially nice as a festive holiday drink.

Servings: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. vodka
2 oz. cranberry juice
2 oz. Sprouts Coconut Water
Frozen cranberries
Coarse sugar crystals (Hint: You can make these more festive with colored sugar crystals.)

Instructions:

Rim a martini glass with coarse sugar crystals. Place frozen cranberries in the bottom of the martini glass. Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake with cubed ice. Strain liquid into glass. Sip and repeat.

The In-Laws are Here

This drink is a surefire way to survive your in-laws. The subtle rum doesn’t overpower the delicate flavor of the coconut water. You’ll find peace with each stress-relieving sip.

Servings: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 oz. gold rum
2-4 oz. ice-cold Sprouts Coconut Water
Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions:

Fill a Collins glass with 2–3 ice cubes, add rum and coconut water to taste. Stir and serve.

Santa’s “New” Fashioned

Looking for a new twist on an old fashioned? Just a splash of Sprouts Coconut Water brings the whole cocktail to life.

Servings: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 oz. gin
1 sugar cube
2 dashes bitters
1/2 oz. Sprouts Coconut Water
Lemon peel, for garnish

Instructions:

Place sugar cube in the bottom of a low-ball, add bitters and coconut water then muddle until sugar dissolves. Add gin, stir and fill with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Very Merry Honey Bee

Lemon juice and rum is an easy, reliable flavor combo. But when you add coconut water, this little honey bee is going to reach new heights.

Servings: 1 • Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 oz. white rum
1/2 oz.  honey
1/2  oz. Sprouts Coconut Water
1/2  oz. lemon juice

Instructions:

Just shake and serve. If you’re feeling extra spirited, add a little more honey.

Rudolph’s Coco-Jito

Let’s say Rudolph and the gang took a pit stop while delivering presents in the Caribbean. After all, it doesn’t have to be summer for it to be mojito season! Mint leaves work well with the coconut water for a refreshing twist on the classic.

Servings: 1 • Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 parts white rum
1/2 part lime juice
Small spoonful of sugar
Mint leaves
Sprouts Coconut Water

Instructions:

Muddle lime juice, sugar and mint leaves in a tall Collins glass. Fill with ice, then add rum and coconut water. Enjoy!

Alcohol not available in all stores. Must be 21 and older to drink. Please drink responsibly.

From a previous issue of Sprouts Farmers Market’s monthly e-newsletter. Hungry? Sign up.

 

With the summer heat starting to really beat down, we’ve all got our favorite treats to turn to when we need to cool off. One of those is the pineapple whip float, where juice from the tropical fruit is topped with a pineapple ice cream that makes for the perfect refreshing dessert. We made our own version for the summer, but with a couple of epic twists. Enjoy this cute, fun and fresh fruit cup!

 

Instead of just serving these in a traditional cup, we hollowed out pineapples to create the floats in. We also opted for Blue Sky Soda’s Zero Sugar Ginger Ale, which mixed with the flavors of pineapple, add some zing and fizz.

 

The combination of the Blue Sky Soda Ginger Ale and the pineapple made for the ultimate refreshing treat that’s part pineapple float, part soda float, and 100 percent delicious.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 pineapple
• 4 cups Sprouts Frozen Pineapple Chunks
• 1 cup softened Sprouts Vanilla Gelato
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1-2 cans Blue Sky Zero Ginger Ale
• Optional: mochi, frozen banana chunks

Tools:

• Gallon-sized zipper bag
• Food processor
• Pineapple corer

Directions: 

1. Cut top off of pineapple. Using pineapple corer, remove pineapple meat from pineapple.
2. In a food processor, add frozen pineapple, gelato, banana and salt.
3. Once combined, put mixture in a gallon-sized zipper bag and cut off a large slit in the corner to make a makeshift piping bag.
4. Pipe pineapple whip mixture into the pineapple, leaving some room on the sides.
5. Add mochi and/or frozen banana chunks if desired.
6. Pour in Blue Sky Zero Ginger Ale and enjoy!