Apple, Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing

Apple, Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing
Enough to stuff a 10 lb bird


5 1/2 cups cubed white and whole wheat bread (Add rye for a bit of extra flavor!)
1 pound ground turkey or pork sausage (if you use pork, drain off the fat)
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 apple, cored and chopped - Golden Delicious work best
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
1 cooked turkey liver, finely chopped (Optional)
3/4 cup turkey or chicken stock
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (unsalted is best as the sausage and stock are fairly salty already)

Preheat oven to 350 degree F . Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes until evenly toasted. Transfer toasted bread cubes to a large bowl.

In a large skillet, cook the sausage and onions over medium heat, until evenly browned, breaking up the sausage into small pieces. Add the celery, sage, rosemary, and thyme stirring, for an additional 2 minutes to blend flavors.

Combine sausage mixture and the bread in bowl. Mix in the chopped apples, dried cranberries, parsley, and liver. Pour the turkey stock and melted butter over the top, and mix lightly. Spoon into turkey’s chest cavity loosely.

Or you can place into a large casserole dish and bake covered for 30 minutes. Be sure if you do this method that you add an additional 1 cup of turkey or chicken stock so it does not dry out.

Low Carb - Asparagus with Vinaigrette

10 ounces frozen asparagus

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 1/2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons chives
1 teaspoon parsley
salt & pepper to taste

Cook asparagus, drain and put back in bowl. Stir vinegar into mustard until blended. Add rest of ingredients, mix well. Spoon over asparagus. Chill several hours. Spoon a little marinade over each serving.

Serves 4.

238 Calories (kcal); 19g Total Fat; (63% calories from fat); 9g Protein; 15g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 88mg Sodium

Fresh Broccoli Salad

2 heads fresh broccoli - washed, cut into bite sized pieces
1 red onion - chopped to desired size
1/2 pound bacon – fried crisp, cooled and crumbled
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup sliced almonds or your favorite nuts (walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc.)

Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar


Mix the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar together until smooth. Stir into the salad, let chill and serve.

Jar Recipe - Herb Salad Dressing Mix

1/4 cup parsley flakes
2 tablespoons each dried oregano, basil and marjoram, crumbled
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fennel seeds, crushed
1 tablespoons dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

Place all the ingredients in a 1 pint jar, cover tightly and shake well to mix.
Store in a cool, dark, dry place. Makes 1 cup


Attach instructions to jar:

To Make Herbal Vinaigrette Dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoons Herb Salad dressing mix, 3/4 cup warm water, 2 1/2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar or white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoons olive oil and 1 crushed clove garlic. Taste and add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the Herb Salad Dressing Mix if you want a stronger flavor. Let Stand at room temperature at least 30 minutes before using, then whisk again. Makes about 1 cup.

NOTE: this low-sodium, low fat mix can be stored for up to six weeks.

Penne Spring Pea Salad

Makes 6 servings
Serving Size 1 cup
• 1/2 pound penna rigate or medium pasta shells, cooked and cooled
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or thawed frozen green peas, cooked
• 1 large yellow or red bell pepper, sliced
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions and tops
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup minced parsley
• 2 teaspoons drained green peppercorns, crushed (optional)
• 1 3/4 teaspoons Equal measure or 6 packets EQUAL Sweetener or 1/4 cup EQUAL
• 1 dash pepper

1. Combine pasta, peas, bell pepper, and green onions in salad bowl. Blend milk and mayonnaise in medium bowl until smooth. Stir in vinegar, parsley, peppercorns, and Equal.
2. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat; season to taste with pepper.