Make Canadian Turkey The Star Of Your Spring Celebrations!

Spring is finally here and everyone is starting to make plans for the warmer days ahead. The coming weeks are filled with many special occasions and family gatherings, and Canadian Turkey is here to show you how to create spectacular family-style meals that will wow your crowd while still being easy to prepare.
We can help you find ways to plan ahead and let you in on tips and solutions to make entertaining and family style meal planning easier so you can spend more time enjoying time with your guests. Turkey is an excellent option for all your upcoming celebrations like Victoria Day, or Father’s Day, and it’s perfect for festive family gatherings like graduations or for everyday family meals like weekend brunches and suppers.

Planning for that special get-together? Why not consider making a roast turkey the centerpiece of your meal. Instead of choosing a prime rib roast, why not reach for a whole turkey when you visit the grocery store? Turkey is a much healthier and far leaner choice. Choosing Canadian turkey allows you to make a lighter and healthier choice while still creating a satisfying and show-stopping meal. A classic roast turkey will economically feed a crowd and provide a variety of cuts to satisfy everyone’s individual preferences. Break it down on a person-by-person basis, and you will be surprised at how inexpensive it can be! Both white and dark meat are lean, so you can feel good knowing you are serving a tasty and delicious meal that is also a light and healthy option. It is the perfect mealtime solution for all your upcoming family occasions and get-togethers!

The other huge benefit to choosing a whole turkey as your centerpiece is that it allows you to plan for leftovers. Canadian Turkey knows that leftovers can be lifesavers! Just two pounds of extra turkey meat is all you need to have a ready-to-go meal starter on hand. Planning for extra turkey means planning for extra meals, cooked all at once and stored in the freezer. That makes for easy weeknight dinners when time is short. Even if you’re cooking for a small group, you can take advantage of cooking for leftovers so that you cook once and eat twice (or more!).

As a busy mom, meal planning and feeding your family is a part of each day. We know that trying to plan ahead to get healthy meals on your table is a constant challenge. Canadian Turkey wants to help you create easy everyday meals that are filled with nutrition and packed with flavour. Turkey makes a great option in all of your favourite dishes - just swap it for any meat protein in your recipe for a leaner option that won’t compromise on flavour. This versatile meat pairs well with a variety of flavours and seasonings, so feel free to use it in all of your family-favourite recipes. Canadian turkey also freezes well and cooks up deliciously in a slow cooker or casserole, making it the perfect choice for make-ahead meals for those busy nights when you need to get dinner on the table in a hurry. We know feeding your family with tasty but healthy choices is a priority every single day.

Choosing turkey for your everyday meals is easy with the variety of turkey cuts you can find at your local butcher or grocery store. Thighs, breasts, drumsticks, sausages and ground turkey are all readily available, making it super easy to include turkey in every meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner. As an added bonus, it’s an economical choice because you can create several dinners, bank some leftovers, or cook up some make-ahead meals from a single whole turkey or a variety of turkey cuts. 

Try poaching a whole turkey breast and see how delicious and easy it is to make some turkey sandwich starters for quick lunches and snacks. This Moist and Juicy Poached Turkey and Roast Veggie Sandwich will be a hit with the whole family!

Poached Turkey and Roast Veggie Sandwich Serves: 6-8

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 45 mins–1 ¼ hrs

Poached turkey ingredients:

1 (3-4 lb) bone-in turkey breast

1 lemon

3 small onions

8 sprigs fresh thyme

Small bunch parsley

4 sprigs fresh rosemary

3 bay leaves

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cups broth

1 cup apple cider OR 1/2 cup rice vinegar + 1/2 cup water

1 tbsp salt

2 tbsp peppercorns

Sandwich ingredients:

1 (3-4 lb) poached turkey breast, sliced

4-6 ciabatta buns

¾ cup roasted red peppers, sliced

¾ cup caramelized onions

4-6 slices provolone cheese

3 tbsp grainy mustard

1 cup arugula

To poach turkey:

1. Add turkey breast, skin side up to a large, wide pot.
2. Add aromatics: lemons washed and halved, onions peeled and halved, thyme, parsley, rosemary, bay leaves, olive oil, broth, apple cider, salt and peppercorns.
3. Add 2-4 cups water, enough to submerge the breast and cover the aromatics.
4. With lid on, bring to a boil and then reduce heat to barely a simmer, for 45 mins - 1 hr until turkey is cooked through and a meat thermometer registers 165 °F (74°C) when inserted into the thickest part of the breast. Cooking times may vary according to turkey size.
5. Once cooked, remove turkey breast from the liquid. Remove skin and discard. Let the turkey rest until fully cooled.
6. Once cooled, slice thinly using a sharp knife. Turkey can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

NOTE: Cooking times are for planning purposes only – always use a digital meat thermometer to determine doneness. For sandwiches:

1. Heat oven to broil. Melt cheese on bottom half of the ciabatta buns.
2. Spread mustard on top half of the buns.
3. Assemble sandwiches: generously layer onions, peppers, arugula and turkey to each cheesy bun. Finish with the top bun.
4. Serve!

TIP: Poached turkey breast pairs well with everything! Feel free to get creative with all your favourite sandwich toppings. Choose from a variety of cheeses and top with a selection of avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, olives, sliced cucumber, mayo or hummus.

Need more great reasons to put Canadian turkey on your table? Read on!

5 ways to make the most of your turkey leftovers

1. Plan for leftovers by allocating 1 ½ - 2 pounds of turkey per person. This will give you ½ to 1 pound of extra meat.
2. Leftover turkey freezes well. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for a quick start to a weekday meal. Visit www.canadianturkey.ca for recipe inspiration and make salads, soups, pastas or casseroles in a snap!
3. Divide your leftovers into dark and white meat so it will be easy to choose what works best in your recipes once frozen.
4. Store your meat in air-tight, leak-proof container or plastic bags. Wrap in plastic to avoid freezer burn and have ready portions on hand.
5. Save and freeze the turkey carcass and bones. Use these to make a delicious turkey stock that can easily be frozen for use in soups, sauces, gravies and mashed potatoes.

Looking for additional tips, recipes and HOW TO’s? Visit canadianturkey.ca for all your cooking inspiration. The recipe section is filled with amazing recipes for full meals, snacks, appetizers and family favourites. There are WHOLE TURKEY HOW TO’s that are packed with helpful tips and instructions. You can also find a gold mine of ideas in the recipe section for make-ahead dishes and leftovers. There’s nothing better than making some delectable dishes for the remainder of the week, or stashing some pre-made meals in the freezer for your next busy weeknight!

Giveaway: 

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Canadian Turkey. All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2010 - 2019. Please Ask First Please note that all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.