Apple Cider Brined & Smoked Turkey Breast

We are experimenting with recipes for smoked turkey breasts in anticipation of Thanksgiving . . . and just because smoked turkey breast makes great lunch sandwiches. This turkey breast is bursting with smoky flavor, incredibly moist, and super tender too. This recipe ia a variation of one found in a Southern Living Magazine.

Apple Cider Brined & Smoked Turkey Breast

4 cups water

4 cups apple cider

3/4 cup kosher salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

3 (approx. 4”) fresh thyme sprigs

2 (approx. 4”) fresh rosemary sprigs

10 fresh sage leaves

1 entire garlic bulb, cut in half crosswise

4 cups ice cubes

1 (5 3/4- to 6-lb.) turkey breast (Barry deboned ours)
Olive oil 
Favorite barbecue rub (such as Rendezvous Famous Seasoning®, Eat Barbecue Zero to Hero (a sweet rub)®, or Gates® rub - commercial or homemade) + a little salt & pepper

Hickory wood chips or chunksrder Ingredients

1. Bring water, cider, salt, sugar, vinegar, thyme, rosemary, sage and garlic to a boil in a large stockpot or 8-qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in ice. Cool completely (1 hour).
   
2. Place turkey in brine ; cover and chill 5 to 12 hours (I lined the container with an extra large bag before adding the turkey and brine.)
   
3. Prepare smoker according to manufacturer's directions, bringing internal temperature to 225° to 250°; maintain temperature 15 to 20 minutes. Place wood chunks on coals.
4. Remove turkey breast from brine, and pat dry with paper towels.
   
5. Brush breast lightly with olive oil and liberally cover with rub mixture + salt and pepper..
   
6. Smoke turkey, maintaining temperature inside smoker between 225° and 250°, for 3 1/2 to 4 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 165°.
   
7. Slice thin when breast is cool. (Barry uses a meat slicer.)
   

Recipe without photos . . .
Apple Cider Brined & Smoked Turkey Breast

4 cups water

4 cups apple cider 

3/4 cup kosher salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

3 (approx. 4”) fresh thyme sprigs

2 (approx. 4”) fresh rosemary sprigs

10 fresh sage leaves

1 entire garlic bulb, cut in half crosswise

4 cups ice cubes

1 (5 3/4- to 6-lb.) turkey breast (Barry deboned ours)
Olive oil 
Favorite barbecue rub (such as Rendezvous Famous Seasoning®, Eat Barbecue Zero to Hero (a sweet rub)®, or Gates® rub - commercial or homemade) + a little salt & pepper

Hickory wood chips or chunksrder Ingredients

1. Bring water, cider, salt, sugar, vinegar, thyme, rosemary, sage and garlic to a boil in a large stockpot or 8-qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in ice. Cool completely (1 hour).
2. Place turkey in brine ; cover and chill 5 to 12 hours (I lined the container with an extra large bag before adding the turkey and brine.)
3. Prepare smoker according to manufacturer's directions, bringing internal temperature to 225° to 250°; maintain temperature 15 to 20 minutes. Place wood chunks on coals.
4. Remove turkey breast from brine, and pat dry with paper towels.
5. Brush breast lightly with olive oil and liberally cover with rub mixture + salt and pepper.
6. Smoke turkey, maintaining temperature inside smoker between 225° and 250°, for 3 1/2 to 4 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 165°.
7. Slice thin when breast is cool. (Barry uses a meat slicer.)

Awesomesome Apple Cake

Chock-full of apples, this cake is moist, tender and totally awesome! After just one bite of the cake that Theresa Stroda prepared, we needed the recipe. It's one that she found in a Taste of Home publication and that has always earned rave reviews from all who give it a try.
The caramel/butterscotch sauce is the crowing glory to this delicious dessert.
I did add walnuts . . . because apples and walnuts just seem to compliment one another.

Chunky Apple Cake Recipe      One 13-in. x 9-in. / 12 – 14 servings  

Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 cups peeled & chopped tart apples

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, optional

Caramel/Butterscotch Sauce

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream + extra to whip for topping if desired

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla. 
   
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 
   
3. Combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well (batter will be stiff). Stir in apples until well combined.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until top is lightly browned and springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 30 minutes before serving.
   
   
   
   
5. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Gradually add cream. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat.
   
6. Serve cake with sauce and top with whipped cream if desired.

Recipe without photos . . .

Chunky Apple Cake Recipe      One 13-in. x 9-in. / 12 – 14 servings  

Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 cups peeled & chopped tart apples

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, optional

Caramel/Butterscotch Sauce 

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream + extra to whip for topping if desired

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla. 
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 
3. Combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well (batter will be stiff). Stir in apples until well combined.
4. Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until top is lightly browned and springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 30 minutes before serving.
5. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Gradually add cream. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat.
6. Serve cake with sauce and top with  whipped cream if desired.

Silky Gingered Zucchini Soup -- dairy free

It looks creamy, it tastes creamy, but there is no cream in this Silky Gingered

Zucchini Soup. Packed with flavor, this is a dairy-free recipe that Inge Teasley shared with me. 

Silky Gingered Zucchini Soup   Makes 4 to 6 servings.
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 medium onion, coarsely chopped
4 large cloves garlic, peel and smashed
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt (I used less and then tasted)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 zucchini, chopped (about 2 pounds)
2 cups chicken broth (could use 4 cups chicken broth & omit the 2 cups beef listed next)
2 cups beef broth
Garnish: chopped chives or finely chopped tops of green onions.

1. Heat  coconut oil in a large soup pot on medium heat, 2 minutes. Add onions and garlic to the pot. Stir often and cook until soft and golden but not browned; about 5 minutes.
   
2. Add the ginger, coriander, salt and pepper to the pot. Stir to combine and when the spices are fragrant,  toss in the zucchini. Stir to coat the zucchini with fat, about 1 minute.
3. Add the broth, bring to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer. Let the zucchini cook 45 to 60 minutes until it's very soft.
   
4. Very carefully, purée the zucchini and broth in a blender or food processor, or with an immersion blender. If you’re using a blender, work in batches, filling the canister only halfway and holding a towel over the lid while you purée.
   
5. Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped chives or green onion tops if desired.

Recipe without photos . . .

Silky Gingered Zucchini Soup   Makes 4 to 6 servings.

1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 medium onion, coarsely chopped
4 large cloves garlic, peel and smashed
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt (I used less and then tasted)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 zucchini, chopped (about 2 pounds)
2 cups chicken broth  (could use 4 cups chicken broth & omit the 2 cups beef listed next)
2 cups beef broth
Garnish: chopped chives or finely chopped tops of green onions.

1. Heat  coconut oil in a large soup pot on medium heat, 2 minutes. Add onions and garlic to the pot. Stir often and cook until soft and golden but not browned; about 5 minutes.
2. Add the ginger, coriander, salt and pepper to the pot. Stir to combine and when the spices are fragrant,  toss in the zucchini. Stir to coat the zucchini with fat, about 1 minute.
3. Add the broth, bring to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer. Let the zucchini cook 45 to 60 minutes until it's very soft.
4. Very carefully, purée the zucchini and broth in a blender or food processor, or with an immersion blender. If you’re using a blender, work in batches, filling the canister only halfway and holding a towel over the lid while you purée.
5. Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped chives or green onion tops if desired.

Caramel Apple Sangria -- perfect for fall!

Caramel Apple Sangria. Need I say more other than it is delicious! Perfect for fall. 

Caramel Apple Sangria 
1 750 ml bottle pinot grigio or other mild white wind
1 cup caramel flavored vodka
6 cups apple cider
2 medium apples, cored and chopped

1. Stir the wine, vodka, and apple cider together.
2. Add the chopped apples.
3. Serve the sangria over ice.

Spinach & Roasted Beet Salad -- perfect for Fall!

Plenty of nutrients in this end-of-the season salad — it's perfect for Fall! Add as much or as little of each ingredient as you prefer.


Spinach & Roasted Beet Salad
Baby spinach leaves
Roasted beets, cubed and flavored with fresh thyme
Walnuts, coarsely chopped
Blue cheese crumbles
Celery Seed Dressing 

1. Place spinach leaves in salad bowl. Top with roasted beets, walnuts and blue cheese.
2. Drizzle with Celery Seed Dressing.