I thought it would only be fitting that I start off the Countdown to Thanksgiving with a turkey recipe.

On Sundays, we have a family dinner with my mother-in-law.  Last week, I found turkey breast on sale for 99 cents a pound so I picked up a 7 pound turkey breast.  I then cooked it up for our family dinner.  My family loved the turkey.  In fact, a week later, my mother-in-law was still raving about the juiciness and tenderness of the turkey.

Do you want to know a little secret?  I’m 40 years and had never roasted or baked a turkey before.  My grandma would bake the turkey when I lived at home.  Then when I got married, my father-in-law would bake the turkey.  He’s been gone almost two years so my mother-in-law has taken over the turkey baking.  I decided to try to “roast” one now.

As I share the Countdown to Thanksgiving, I’m going to share memories from Thanksgivings past.

20 years ago, I was participating in the Disney College Program.  I lucked out that I was not scheduled to work during Thanksgiving weekend so I opted to make a Thanksgiving dinner.  I made it on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Instead of turkey, I roasted/baked a chicken instead.

More on that Thanksgiving in later posts.

Somehow my pictures of the turkey breast were erased.  Argh!

Makes It’s Own Gravy Turkey Breast

adapted from No. 2 Pencil

Stars of the Recipe:

• 5 lb turkey breast (I wouldn’t go any bigger.  I used a 6 quart crock pot and the 7 lb barely fit.)
• 2 (10.75 oz) cans of cream of mushroom soup
• 1 package of onion soup mix or 2 Tbsp. of  Homemade French onion mix

Steps:

1. Wash off the turkey breast.  I also removed the turkey gravy mix from the breast.
2. Place in the slow cooker.
3. In a small bowl, mix the cream of mushroom soup and onion soup mix together.
4. Pour over the turkey breast.
5. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.  (It needs to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.)
6. Serve with mashed potatoes and other Thanksgiving goodies.

I really didn’t like the gravy that was left over in the crock pot so I removed some of the liquid and made my own gravy.

Easy Gravy

Stars of the recipe:

• 2 Tbsp. of butter
• 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
• 1/2 c. of turkey or chicken leftover cooking liquid

Steps:

1. In a small skillet, melt the butter on medium heat.
2. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute.
3. Pour the liquid into the skillet.
4. Whisk together until combined.
5. Turn the heat to medium high.
6. Allow the gravy to boil.
7. Turn the heat to low to allow to simmer until thickened.
8. Enjoy over turkey or mashed potatoes.

Happy Eating,

Traci