Recipe: Herb-rubbed turkey au jus

Dietitian's tip: Instead of adding butter to the turkey and serving it with gravy, this healthy version is complemented with an herbal rub and a flavorful au jus.

By Mayo Clinic staff

For the rub
2 teaspoons dried sage
1 tablespoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 whole turkey (about 15 pounds), thawed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup water

For the au jus
2 teaspoons dried sage
1 tablespoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup apple juice
1 cup defatted pan drippings

Preheat the oven to 325 F.

In a small bowl, combine the sage, thyme and parsley to make the rub. Mix well and set aside.

Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey and discard. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cool water. Pat dry with paper towels.

Starting at the neck area, insert fingers or a spoon between the layer of skin and meat to gently loosen the skin. Place the turkey breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Add about 1 tablespoon of the herb mixture under the skin of each breast. Rub the outside of the turkey with the olive oil. Rub the remaining herb mixture over the outside of the bird.

Loosely tie the legs together. Place into the middle of the oven.

After about 1 1/2 hours, cover the turkey with a tent of foil to prevent overcooking. Check the doneness after the bird has roasted about 3 to 3 1/2 hours. The turkey is done when the thigh is pierced deeply and juices run clear (180 to 185 F) or when the breast muscle reaches 170 to 175 F.

Remove the turkey from the oven. Let it stand about 20 minutes to allow juices to settle in the meat. Deglaze the pan by adding 1/2 cup water. Stir to scrape up the browned bits. Pour pan drippings into a gravy separator. Reserve 1 cup of defatted pan drippings for the au jus.

To make the au jus, combine the sage, thyme, parsley, honey and apple juice in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until reduced by half. Add the defatted pan drippings and bring to a low boil, stirring often.

Carve the turkey and drizzle turkey slices with the herbed au jus. Serve immediately.

View the original article here

Recipe: Spaghetti with summer squash and peppers

Dietitian's tip: This garlicky primavera-style dish gets its rich, nutty flavor from the whole-grain pasta and chopped walnuts. If you can't find whole-wheat noodles to suit your taste, try a half-wheat, half-regular blend.

By Mayo Clinic staff 1 slice day-old whole-grain peasant bread2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley1 teaspoon salt1 small yellow squash, cut into 2-inch julienne1 small zucchini, cut into 2-inch julienne1 cup shredded carrots1 small red bell pepper, cut into julienne1/4 cup diced yellow bell pepper1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1/2 pound whole-wheat spaghetti

In a blender or food processor, process the bread to make fine crumbs. In a large nonstick frying pan, heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and saute until lightly golden, about 1 minute. Stir in the bread crumbs and cook until lightly browned and crunchy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the walnuts, parsley and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Set aside.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Add the yellow squash, zucchini and carrot, and saute until the vegetables are tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.

Add the bell peppers to the pan and saute until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper. Return the squash mixture to the pan and toss to mix. Set aside and keep warm.

Fill a large pot 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes or according to package directions. Drain the pasta thoroughly.

In a warmed shallow serving bowl, combine the spaghetti, vegetables and bread crumb mixture. Toss gently to mix. Serve immediately.

Source: This recipe is one of 150 recipes collected in The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook, published by Mayo Clinic Health Information and Oxmoor House, and winner of the 2005 James Beard award.

View the original article here