12/1/13

In the Kitchen: Warm Turkey and Spinach Salad with Crispy Bacon and Cranberry Vinaigrette

Do you get tired of soups and sandwiches after Thanksgiving? I sure do, and that's why I was so happy to find this recipe in Cooking Light many years ago. It was submitted by Jan Birnbaum in the November, 2003 issue, from the Catahoula Restaurant in Calistoga, California. I tried to link up to the restaurant just now, and since I got a page all written in Japanese, I'm thinking the restaurant must have closed. No problem, however. The recipe lives on. Long live food!

So, anyway, this is what we're having for dinner tomorrow. (Tonight we're going out. Yay!) I like this recipe because it uses quite a bit of turkey, and it also uses your leftover cranberries in the vinaigrette. Here's the image from the Cooking Light website:


Looks good, huh? It uses spinach and butter lettuce and there's also a poblano pepper in the mix. Poblano peppers are not as hot as, say, a jalapeno, but they are hot enough. If you don't like a lot of kick, I'd say back off by half. You'll like the brightness it gives the dish by using just a little.

The vinaigrette is delicious and it makes a really nice alternative to the usual soup and sandwiches to which left over turkey is so often relegated. You can find the recipe right here. I note that they've changed the recipe to substitute pancetta for bacon. When it was originally published in the magazine, it used bacon, and that's the way I've always made it. For a less snooty version, don't hesitate to use 2 oz. of bacon instead. Besides, it's what's in my fridge.

As soon as I hit the publish button, I'm going to go make some biscotti. After spending all day in the sewing room working on Wind in the Whiskers, I think it's time for a change, don't you? Baking on a rainy day is a great substitute for sewing sometimes.

What's on your agenda for Sunday?

7 comments:

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Sitting and thinking as the elderly guy next door leaves again on the stretcher from the local fire dept and his daughter from Seattle stands forlornly in the doorway.

gpc said...

That looks delicious -- almost makes me wish I hadn't sent all the leftovers home with the kids. We had our 'bonus Thanksgiving; dinner today, and I am pretty sure I will never need to eat again.

Lyndsey said...

That looks really tasty ( and perfect for post Christmas turkey leftovers). cooking sound perfect as an alternative to sewing.

Dar said...

That looks very tasty. Yes, I agree that cooking does takeover when sewing slows down or vice versa. The only difference, you don't gain weight with sewing.

Anonymous said...

Well, since I missed this post and it's Monday eve!, I made a Christmas stocking that was a most agreeable project.....begun and completed in a couple of hours!!! The 'hubbs' watched football (the Vikings actually won one!!!! Miracles do happen!!!). That recipe looks good and the biscotti sounds good, too! Maybe Wednesday.........hugs....

Brown Family said...

I have not cooked for Thanksgiving in years! I have either went to my Mom's or now to my daughters. Occasionally to my sons. Therefore, no leftover turkey! I almost miss it!

quiltzyx said...

That salad does look DEEEElicious! My BIL sent most of the left-overs home with my nephew & his family. Judy & I kept the carcass with one wing & leg/thigh & she made some beautiful soup. I love home made soup! But I was yearning for a turkey sandwich, I must say. Oh well. I'll have to send her a link to this salad though, for future reference!