Monday, November 14, 2016

The Easiest Turkey Dinner: Fall Apart Crock-pot Turkey with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy


A couple weeks ago, my lovely friend Emily, who works for the BYU Daily Universe asked me to help her write an article about simplifying Thanksgiving dinner for college students! I got right to work! And because I'm a student at BYU, I feel like I really do know what everyone is capable of doing, so this recipe is right around a college students league. 




So, after MUCH contemplation about what three recipes we should use, we decided that Turkey, Potatoes and Gravy and Pumpkin Pie, were the three most important and essential Thanksgiving foods. So that's what I went with! I decided that a crock-pot turkey would be super easy for anyone, and you'll be surprised about how easy the potatoes and gravy come together! Overall this entire meal is a cinch and practically guaranteed to be a success. 


Feeling a little scared? You shouldn't be! Just tie on your apron and wash your hands, this turkey dinner recipe has been written especially for you, and trust me, YOU CAN DO IT!



TIPS
-Buy an average-sized turkey breast, usually an abnormally small or large turkey will be dry and/or tough. 
-I learned from my lovely blogger friend Mel, that if you overcook your turkey you can pour a little warmed chicken broth over it and it will be wonderful, and no one will know! 
-Cutting potatoes into smaller sizes will help them cook faster, so if you are crunched on time, cut them small.
-Most crock-pots have a keep-warm setting after they finish cooking, if this is the case for you, leave your turkey in it until you are ready to make the gravy. 
-Start potatoes cooking about 30 minutes before you want to eat, and prepare gravy right before you mash the potatoes, this will help with your timing!

The Easiest Turkey Dinner: Fall Apart Crock-pot Turkey with Mashed Potatoes and Homemade Gravy
Serves 6-8
INGREDIENTS
FOR TURKEY:
1 Fresh Turkey Breast, bone-in
Around 2 Tablespoons olive oil (to coat turkey)
Around 3 Tablespoons poultry seasoning (or an equal mixture of thyme, rosemary, basil, and/or sage)
1 teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon pepper

FOR GRAVY:
Drippings from turkey (this is the liquid in the crock-pot when you take out the turkey, you should have around 2 cups, if you don't then use some chicken broth)
4 Tablespoons flour
Salt and Pepper to taste

FOR POTATOES:
7 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and cubed 
4 Tablespoons butter
Dash of milk (or until desired consistency is met)
2 teaspoons parsley
Salt and Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
1) TURKEY: Place turkey breast in crock-pot and coat with oil. Sprinkle all seasonings on top of turkey breast until generously coated (you should barely see the turkey skin on top). Set crock-pot on low for 6 hours.
2) POTATOES: Place cut potatoes, in a large pot filled with water (the potatoes should be be covered with about 1/2 inch water). Cook until potatoes are tender. Drain water and add butter, milk and parsley. Mash to desired consistency and salt and pepper to taste. 
3) GRAVY: Pour turkey drippings through a fine Sieve (to get all the chunks out) into a small sauce pan. Remove about 1/2 cup of drippings into a small bowl and with a whisk, combine with flour and mix until it becomes a smooth paste. Heat sauce pan drippings and pour flour mixture into sauce pan, whisking continuously. Bring gravy to a boil and stir until thick. 
www.sourdoughsunday.com

AND FOR DESSERT? WE DECIDED ON THIS DELICIOUS PUMPKIN PIE
OR CHECK OUT THESE TOP 5 THANKSGIVING PIES


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