Turkey and Noodles in an Apple Broth

 

There are few culinary disappointments like a turkey and noodle dinner that is about as tasteless as a cardboard box. The trick to making a turkey breast taste wonderful is what you cook it in and what you marry it to. In this case we are going to marry the turkey and noodles with a sweet future, one that will bring you memories even after the meal- the ceremony- is a distant dream. To do that, you will need specific ingredients:

1/2 pound of Inn Maid Noodles (egg noodles, preferably German or eastern European style)

54 ounces of Turkey Broth (2 cans of Walnut Creek Foods Turkey or Chicken Broth)

1 pound of turkey breast (1/4 pound meat per person)

2-3 cups of Simply Apple Juice (an Apple cider is even better). Just make sure it is not a processed, light apple juice which won't do for this

1/4 pound Kerrygold Butter

4 cloves of garlic

Ground peppercorns

Tarragon (1 tablespoon dried, 2 sprigs fresh)

Thyme and Rosemary to taste

Large saucepan, large pot to boil noodles and cook finished meal, large cooking fork to use with the turkey, large spoon for cooking noodles and finished product, serrated knife for cutting turkey breast, butter knife

This recipe serves four people 

In a large saucepan, place the turkey breast, apple juice or cider, ground peppercorns and tarragon. Place a lid on the pan and cook at a low-to-medium heat. Test it to see if it is done by taking a serrated knife and large fork and cutting through the meat to make sure nothing is pink. When the turkey breast appears cooked, set it aside. 

At the same time, or later if you have just one source of flame to cook over, in a large pot heat up your 54 ounces turkey or chicken broth until lightly boiling. Then, add the noodles and the "broth" (formed from the apple juice/cider and turkey cooking) in the saucepan. Cover and cook. Since all flames vary as far as how fast they cook an item, check occasionally. Add the rosemary and cut up cloves of garlic when it looks like the noodles are almost ready. The best thing to do, is to check the taste or appearance of the noodles. If they taste done, turn off the heat. Keep the lid on the pan and let the flavors steep for about 5-10 minutes. 

When the noodles have finished cooking, add thyme to taste if desired. I like to use thyme if it is fresh from my garden. Add the butter or add it in in individual bowls. Serve hot and fresh!