Pineapple Turkey Centerpiece Recipes

FRESH FRUIT CENTERPIECE

Steps:

• Cut pineapple into 3/8-in. slices. Using small flower or star-shaped cookie cutters, cut out shapes from pineapple and watermelon slices. Thread assorted fruits onto wooden skewers., Place melon on a serving tray or platter. Insert skewers into base. Garnish with lemon and mint if desired.

PINEAPPLE ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Wash turkey and pat dry.
• If desired, rub cavity lightly with salt. Fasten neck skin to back and skewer.
• Fold wings across back with tips touching.
• Tuck drumsticks under band of skin at tail or tie together with heavy string, then tie to tail.
• Place turkey breast side up on rack in open shallow roasting pan.
• Brush with vegetable oil.
• Insert meat thermome- ter so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle or thickest part of breast meat and does not touch bone. Roast uncovered in 325 degrees oven for 3 hours.
• Pare pineapple; cut lengthwise into halves.
• Remove core; cut each half crosswise int o 8 slices.
• Mix wine, honey, soy, ginger, paprika and garlic. Arrange pineapple on rack around turkey.
• Brush turkey and pineapple with wine mixture. Continue roasting uncovered, brushing turkey and pineapple frequently with wine mixture, until thermometer registers 185 degrees, about 1 hour longer, or move drumstick up and down (when done the joint should give readily or break). Remove turkey and pineapple, keep warm.
• Pour d rippings into 2 cup measuring cup; skim off any excess fat. Add enough water to drippings to measure 2 cups.
• Heat dripping to boiling in saucepan.
• Mix cornstarch and cold water; stir into drippings.
• Boil and stir 1 minute. Serve with turkey.
• Yields about 16 servings.

PINEAPPLE TURKEY CENTERPIECE

Steps:

• I will have to send you the pattern, or if you're a good artist, you can come up with your own by looking at the photo above. Not too hard...
• Lay the pattern on top of both pieces of felt, then cut out turkey head on cutting line .
• Stitch with matching thread 1/4" from the edge,leaving open between arrows/heavy black lines. Trim as close as you like. Leave the back/bottom of the head open, for stuffing.
• Hot glue the googly eyes in place [or use chenille balls for eyes, too]. Put eyes on both sides. Hot glue the 6" loop of yarn where the turkey's wattle would hang [you'll only hang the wattle off one side of the beak]. Hot glue two more chenille balls on each side of bridge of nose, where raw ends of wattle yarn are.
• Stuff batting up inside head, trying to get it down into tip of beak, as well. Let stuffing come as far down as where the stitching stops/starts.
• Open out the back/open section of the felt head, and use straight pins to anchor the turkey head to the "unfeathered" end of the pineapple.
• Voilá ... He looks mighty proud to be struttin' in the middle of your Thanksgiving table!

CAJUN TURKEY STEAKS WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA

Steps:

• Reserve 2 tbsp of the onion for the salsa. Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the remaining onion and half the pepper for 4 mins or until softened and coloured. Stir in the rice, then pour in the stock. Add the kidney beans and a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil, stir once, cover the pan, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for 15 mins until the rice is tender and the liquid absorbed.
• Dust the turkey steaks with the Cajun spice and griddle or fry in a non-stick pan for about 4-6 mins on each side until cooked through. Cut the pineapple into small pieces and mix together with the reserved red onion, pepper, green chilli and lime juice. Spoon some salsa over each steak and serve with the rice.

TURKEY MEATBALL & PINEAPPLE CURRY

Steps:

• Season the turkey mince and shape into mini meatballs, about the size of a large cherry. Heat the oil in your widest pan, add the meatballs and cook, rolling them around the pan, for 8 mins until brown all over. Meanwhile, in a food processor, blend the onion, ginger, garlic, coriander stalks and 2 tbsp of the reserved pineapple juice to a paste.
• Push the meatballs to one side of the pan, tip the onion mixture into the space and cook for a few mins until softened. Add the curry paste and stir for 1 min, coating the meatballs. Add the ground almonds, coconut milk, pineapple chunks, another 2 tbsp of the reserved pineapple juice and a little seasoning. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins until thickened a little. Serve with basmati rice and naan bread.