I’ve had several requests for my turkey brine and herb paste recipes. In a just-in-time fashion, I’ve posted them below. I use an organic, range raised heritage turkey for my Thanksgiving turkey. I also use this brine for pork chops and turkey breasts that I cook on the grill.

Turkey Brine Recipe and Instructions

Ingredients:

• 12 oz Dark Brown Sugar (approximately 3 Cups packed)
• 16 oz Kosher Salt (approximately 2 Cups)
• 20 Cloves Garlic – crushed
• 16 Bay Leaves crumbled
• 24 Whole Cloves
• 12 Whole Alspice
• 12 Tbl Peppercorns – cracked (I use a coffee grinder)
• Zest of 1 Orange
• 2 Quarts of water for boiling
• 4 Quarts of water chilled in the fridge
• 8 Cups of Ice cubes

Put the first 2 quart of water in a large pot on the stove. Add the sugar and salt and heat while stirring until the sugar and salt dissolve. Add the rest of the spices, orange zest, garlic and herbs to the hot water and let steep for 10 minutes. Pour the hot contents into a large pail – I use a food grade 5 gallon plastic bucket that I bought at a beer making shop. Add the cold water and the ice cubes and give a good stir. Check the temperature of the brine mixture – it should be cold. If it is still warm, add blue ice packs and/or put it in the fridge until chilled.

Rinse off the turkey and submerged breast down in the brine. You can put a plate on top of the turkey to keep it under the brine. If you need to, you can add another quart of water to the brine to cover the bird. Store in a cold place for the next 24 hours. You might need to turn the bird over once or twice depending on how the turkey is sitting in the brine.

After 24 hours, pull the turkey out and give it a good rinse and pat it dry with towels.

Note that the drippings off of a brined turkey will be saltier than normal. When you make gravy, you might need to use unsalted broth. Also, the turkey is already salted so don’t add extra salt.

Part II: The Herb Mixture

Now you have a brined turkey that will stay moist when you cook it and it will have a great flavor, especially in the breast meat. This adds another layer of flavor that is more intense and just under the skin.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C Thyme minced
• 1/4 C Rosemary minced
• 1/4 C Sage minced
• 1/4 C Parsley minced
• 6 Cloves of Garlic minced
• A very healthy grind of Black Pepper
• Zest of 1 lemon or 1/2 an orange
• Canola Oil

Add everything to a bowl. Add enough canola oil to make a loose paste. Use a fork to smash and bruise all the herbs and zest and garlic.

Put the turkey on cutting board breast side up and neck away from you. Use your fingers and hands to make a pocket between the skin and the meat of the breast, thighs and legs. You will need to poke your fingers through the membrane between the skin and the meat at the base of the breast-bone on either side. Then, you will slide your hands under the skin and along the breast meat then out to the thighs and legs. Be careful to not tear the skin.

Grab small handfuls of the herb mixture and work it all over the meat off the breast and thighs and upper portions of the legs. Work in small batches and massage the herb mixture into an even layer under the skin.

Rub the skin with canola oil and now roast your turkey as you normally would.

I put the orange (cut into quarters), a couple of stalks of celery, a couple of carrots, an onion and sprigs of rosemary and sage into the cavity of my turkey.

Scallops with Green and White Bean salad

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C minced sweet onion (Walla Walla or similar)
• 1 Tsp. Fresh Thyme leaves or chopped Thyme tips
• 1 clove of garlic peeled
• 1/2 C. White Wine – medium dry
• 12 Oz of large dry scallops or the closest even number (8 in this dish)
• 1 Tbl each Olive Oil and Butter
• Penzey’s Northwoods Fire spice mix or the mix below
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

Mince the onion and either pick the thyme leaves or chop the thyme tips. Lightly dust the scallops with the Penzey’s Northwoods Fire mix or lightly dust with chili powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt and pepper. Heat a 12″ non-stick pan over medium high heat. Add olive oil and butter and heat until butter stops foaming and turns lightly brown.

Add the scallops and the whole garlic clove to the pan but do not crowd the pan. Let the scallops sear on one side for 3 minutes. Turn the scallops and add the thyme and onion. Stir the thyme and onion into the oil. Let the scallops sear for 2 to 3 more minutes then remove to a warm plate.

Add the white wine and turn the heat up to high. Scrape all the brown bits off the pan and stir while you reduce the wine by half

.

Plate the scallops. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Pour the sauce over the scallops.

Ingredients

2 Chorizo Sausages – cut into 1/4 lengthwise then chopped to 1/4 inch long pieces
2 small onions diced (about 1 cup diced onion)
1/2 red bell pepper diced
4 small carrots peeled and sliced (about 1 cup)
3 cloves of garlic minced
1 Tbls butter
3 Cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 14oz Can of Hominy – drained and rinsed
1 14oz Can Petite Diced Tomatoes – drained (save the juice for something else)
1 Tbls Chili Powder
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 Tbls Buffalo Chipotle Hot Sauce (the best, most useful stuff)
2 tsp Dried Mexican Oregano
2 Cups cooked black beans (we had made these the day before), drained
1 tsp Sugar
Salt and Pepper

Garnish: Avocado and Lime

1. Melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Cook until the butter stops foaming
2. Add the onions, bell pepper and carrot and a pinch of kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, until the vegis are soft. (about 5 minutes)
3. Add the chorizo and cook until the fat starts to render out of the sausage (about 5 minutes)
4. Add the garlic, chili powder and oregano and cook until fragrant (about a minute)
5. Add the broth and bring to a boil
6. Add the hominy, tomatoes and beans and stir to combine
7. Add the hot sauce and cayenne and taste for spiciness. Adjust these for the level of heat and smokiness that you want
8. Add the sugar. Note: this won’t make it sweet it will just balance out the smokey flavors.
9. Simmer partially covered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
10. Near the end of the cooking time, add a healthy grind of black pepper and test for salt.
11. Finish in the bowl with chopped avocado and a squeeze of lime.

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