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The following post has been brought to you by Canadian Turkey. All opinions are my own

The holidays are pretty much here and the festivities have begun all across the country. I personally have 6 turkeys in my freezer waiting to be roasted over the next few weeks. I took advantage of some great deals at my local grocery store and stocked up. Cooking a turkey goes a long way when feeding crowd. The leftovers afterwards are great for quick and tasty meals throughout the week as well!

Traditionally holiday meals are a roasted turkey but there so many other options. No matter how many guests you have, Canadian Turkey has the recipes you need.

This holiday season, let Canadian Turkey help you make delicious food that is easy and healthy to prepare and is sure to wow your guests! Making memories over a festive meal with family and friends is the greatest way to celebrate the season. Whether you’re a novice cook, new to feeding a crowd or a seasoned pro in the kitchen, Canadian Turkey can help you create show-stopping dishes and provide you with the tips you need to create delicious and memorable meals.

A huge part of gearing up for all of your holiday preparations is deciding on some menu options for those major meals. A classic roast turkey with all the trimmings will steal the show at any festive gathering. Turkey is such a versatile choice, pairing well with many different flavour profiles, spice blends, seasonings, stuffings and glazes. Packed with lean protein and great flavour, turkey makes the perfect centerpiece for your celebration meal!

Canadian Turkey provides a gold mine of resources to help you get ready for the season and create amazing meals with minimal stress and planning. Our Holiday Guide will prepare you to host all of your festive get-togethers with ease and entertain family and friends with our favourite insider recipes. One of the best things to do to minimize your party preparations is to find ways to cut down on your time in the kitchen while still creating beautiful and satisfying meals. Finding ways to plan ahead and make some of your dishes in advance can significantly cut down on your work while leaving you with more time to mingle with your guests and have fun!

Feeling creative? Try to customize your favorite turkey recipe with different flavours and methods to create a dish your crowd will love, or feel free to experiment with a brand new recipe. Here are some pro-tips for making your next turkey your own:

Experiment with different brining and marinating flavors – get creative with your own family favorites!

Use a glaze to baste your bird throughout the roasting process to add a different flavor finish – think maple, cranberry, jalapeno, paprika or bourbon, for example.

Create your own rub of family-favorite spices for a unique signature style.

Stuff your turkey with a different selection of aromatics to customize and infuse flavor while cooking – shallots and thyme, apples and sage, or onions and rosemary are all a great place to start!

Create spiced and flavored butters or oils to rub underneath the skin and add a major flavor boost while cooking.

Need more great ideas to get holiday-ready? Canadian Turkey is here to help! Read the Holiday Guide here.

5 Ways to Get Holiday-Ready with Canadian Turkey:

Save money by purchasing a utility turkey. Utility turkeys taste the same as Grade A turkeys but may be missing a wing or have a tear in the skin. Once you carve up your turkey your guests will never know the difference! Get your family excited about this festive Canadian tradition by cooking your turkey using their favourite seasonings or traditional spices. Save precious cooking time and have more fun entertaining by preparing a meal using turkey parts instead of a whole turkey. You can customize your meal based on your guests’ preferences by easily serving more dark or white turkey, and cut your cooking time in half or less. Plan to easily feed a large holiday crowd on a budget by serving a whole roasted Canadian turkey. You can prep your turkey in advance and plan to make all your sides while the turkey is in the oven! Check the Whole Turkey section of the Canadian Turkey website (canadianturkey.ca) where you’ll also find our Whole Bird Calculator to help you determine the perfect size of turkey for your meal. Bookmark helpful information on sites like Canadian Turkey, with resources like Turkey Basics videos to help you create the perfect roast turkey meal with fool-proof instructions, hints and tips.

Spanish Style Turkey Rice Pilaf

Prep time: 25 mins.

Cook time: 30 mins.

Serves: 4-6

2 lbs Canadian turkey thighs

2 Canadian turkey sausages

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp sweet paprika

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup diced onions

1/2 cup diced celery

3 cloves crushed garlic

1/2 cup white wine

1 cup turkey broth

1/2 cup water

2 pinches saffron

1 1/2 cups Basmati rice

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1 cup peppers, sliced

1/2 cup green olives

1/2 cup cooked peas

2 tbsp capers

1 tbsp lemon zest

Cut thighs into large size chunks. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne and paprika.

Sear in a medium size non-stick frying pan over high heat until browned on all sides. Remove from pan and set aside.

Remove sausage from casings and crumble or cut into chunks. Cook over medium heat until cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.

Heat vegetable oil. Sauté onions and celery, until cooked through and translucent, 3-5 minutes.

Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.

Add white wine and turkey broth. Add saffron and let simmer for 1 minute.

Add water, rice, salt to taste, turmeric and peppers. Add turkey. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and let cook for 15-20 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked through. Remove from heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes.

Fluff rice. Top with olives, peas, capers and lemon zest.

Serve immediately.

Tip: Feel free to add any leftover veggies to the rice before you cook it like carrots, cauliflower, kale or mushrooms. Plan for some leftovers! This pilaf makes a great lunch the next day. Just drizzle with some olive oil or salad dressing and serve at room temperature.

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