Turkey with Cornmeal Dumplings

After Thanksgiving, you might have more leftover turkey than you know what to do with. Here is a terrific recipe for leftover turkey. Now, there are some people who see no reason to make something out of the leftover turkey when you can just enjoy the turkey as is. But then you might never try the tasty recipe. 

This recipe makes a thick stew that is a bit like Thanksgiving in a bowl--turkey, cornbread, and gravy. Next time that I make this recipe, I might add some chopped celery for more Thanksgiving flavor. The dumplings are made by dropping in spoonfuls of batter into the soup base. My first few attempts did not result in dumplings, but later attempts did result in good-sized dumplings.

Turkey with Cornmeal Dumplings 

• 3 cubes chicken bouillon dissolved in 2 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1/3 cup flour blended with 1/2 cup cold water
• 3 cups cubed cooked turkey
• 1/3 cup cornmeal
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup flour

Over medium heat, stir dissolved bouillon and blended flour until thickened. Add turkey. Stir together well cornmeal, baking powder, salt, poultry seasoning, egg, milk, and flour. Drop by tablespoon into gently simmering sauce. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until dumplings are cooked through. Enjoy!

Apple Slices

Apple Slices are a Chicago bakery standard. They are a variation on double-crust apple pie, but baked in a sheet pan and topped with glaze. The result is somewhat closer to cookie bars than pie. My favorite memory of apple slices are at Little Bohemia Restaurant. Every meal included soup, delicious rye bread, a main course, two sides, and a dessert. Grandpa usually got the apple slice dessert or, sometimes, the peach slice.

This treat could be made with just about any filling. Apple is the most common filling, but you can find peach, pumpkin, cherry, and many other varieties. When I made this batch, I did take a shortcut by using canned apple pie filling. If you have time and fruit available, you can make your own filling.

Apple Slices 

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 21-ounce can apple pie filling

Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp. melted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 Tbsp. milk (more or less)

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until crumbs form. In a measuring cup, combine water, egg yolks, and lemon juice; pour over flour mixture. Blend with a fork. The dough will be moist. Press half of the dough into a 13x9 jelly roll pan, using fingers or a small roller to push dough to cover the pan. Cover the dough with the pie filling. Roll out other half of dough on a floured surface. Carefully place dough over the pie filling and pinch edges. Cut several slits into the top dough for steam vents. Bake at 400 for 40 minutes. Allow to cool.

Make the glaze by blending the ingredients together. Vary the amount of milk to get the right consistency. Spread glaze over the apple slices. Allow glaze to harden. Slice into 2 or 3 inch squares. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Prizes

During Fall, pumpkin-based products pop up everywhere. Recently I found this recipe in Mom's recipe box, so I had to give it a try. These cookies are delicious and amazingly soft. I highly recommend these cookies. This recipe makes dozens of cookies, so you will have plenty to share and still eat many on your own. And, as an added bonus, your house will smell amazing after baking these cookies.

I did not have pumpkin pie spice on hand, but it is easy enough to make your own. For this recipe, I add more spice than what is called for by using 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice. You can easily vary the spices to suit your taste.

Pumpkin Prizes 

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 3 1/2 cup flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugars thoroughly. Add eggs. Beat well. Stir in pumpkin. Sift together dry ingredients; mix with creamed mixture. Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Bake 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Enjoy!