Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and this year’s celebration feels more special than usual. After what feels like ages, many Canadians will be able to gather with their loved ones for the holiday. As many of us may have not celebrated like we normally do last year, we may be feeling a little rusty when it comes to hosting. Or maybe you’re a first-time turkey chef! Regardless of skill level, I’m happy to share my top tips for hosting Thanksgiving dinner! And don’t worry – whether you’re cooking for 10 or just 2, these tips will help you stay organized and get that show-stopping meal on the table with ease.

Tip 1: Plan Ahead

Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is not that different than being ready for a busy Saturday night dinner service in a restaurant. As a chef, I always prepare as much as I can in advance (think stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, dressings, gravy, etc. – all things that can be prepped the day before or morning of) which makes everything easier to heat up come dinner time.

When it comes to the turkey, proper planning is key! If you have a Butterball turkey that needs to be thawed in advance of cooking, be mindful that your bird needs to go from freezer to fridge to thaw days in advance. For every 4 pounds, plan for 1 day of thaw time – so for example, a 12-pound turkey needs to be in the fridge for 3 days before it’s ready to be cooked! As for frozen turkeys, be sure to use Butterball’s Turkey Calculator to figure out cook time.

Once cooked, your turkey needs to rest for at least a half-hour before being carved, but you can keep it warm by tenting under some foil. Believe it or not, your turkey will stay hot for up to an hour if you keep it tented, and even draped with a (clean!) towel to trap the heat. This will give you time to get all the other sides prepared before carving the turkey.

Tip 2: Follow Basic Roasting Rules!

There are a few simple rules to roasting your whole turkey that will ensure perfect results. First, the best temperature to roast your turkey is 325°F Again, Butterball’s Turkey Calculator can be used to confirm the ideal roasting time, but always remember that 325°F is your magic temperature. Secondly, find the right roasting pan! Your pan should be no higher than 2.5” high and your turkey should be sitting on a roasting rack to ensure constant air flow around the bird – T-fal’s Ultimate Non-stick Roaster with Rack is a great option! Lastly, always check the internal temperature of your turkey to confirm it’s cooked to perfection – 165°F in the breast, and 180°F degrees in the thigh and stuffing is what you’re looking for to ensure a juicy dinner. When you’re using a Butterball turkey, the only time you need to open the oven is about 30 mins before the turkey is supposed to be done. Start checking the temperature at this time to make sure it doesn’t over cook. If your turkey is stuffed, you can also shield the neck and exposed stuffing with foil to prevent overcooking.

Tip 3: Keep it Simple

Thanksgiving Dinner is not the time to experiment! As much as we want to impress our guests, this meal is all about comfort and tradition. You may have seen a cool technique, interesting flavour combination, or inventive menu item and be tempted to show-off, but resist the urge. Not only is a traditional meal of turkey, mash, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, exactly what people want – it’s also manageable for you. Save your creativity for a dinner party in November, and at Thanksgiving, stick with the classics to avoid any stress.

Tip 4: Throw on a Fun Playlist!

When it comes to prepping for the big meal, I love to use music to keep me motivated, calm and mostly having fun while I’m cooking. When my loved ones start arriving, I’m sure to have my tunes already on to set the mood and start the fun. I’ve actually put together my favourite hosting tunes on Spotify, in case you want to borrow these for your own gathering.

Tip 5: Use the Whole Bird

Pound for pound, whole Butterball turkeys are an affordable way to feed a crowd. But even when I host a smaller gathering, I opt for the whole bird because I know there are so many things I can do with the leftovers. First, I make a soup stock with the bones and carcass – this makes for amazing soups, stews, and sauces, and also freezes perfectly, so I make sure to make a big batch. Next, I like to shred the leftover meat (dark meat is best for this) to make batches of ragu, pot pies, and even empanadas – again all things that you can make in a larger batch and freeze. Finally, I love using leftover white meat throughout the following days as a quick and easy way to build the best turkey sandwiches and salads. By the time you’re done, that turkey will yield so many different meals after your Thanksgiving feast!

Tip 6: For smaller gatherings, try Easy Fresh

If you’re a couple, a young family, or an empty nester, you can still enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal on a smaller scale. Try the bone-in cuts of Butterball Easy Fresh, which includes breast, thighs, and drums. You can pick your preferred cut, roast it simply with salt and pepper, and often times it’s cooked in under an hour. This way, a full turkey dinner for two can be made in little time at minimal expense. Easy Fresh also makes for a cozy, comfort food dinner any time!

You’re in charge of hosting this year’s holiday dinner. You want things to be perfect so you’re stocking up on everything you think you need for the perfect evening.

Before you know it, you’re spending more money than you wanted and you don’t have half the items you need yet. We’ve all been there.

Luckily the best parties don’t have to be the most expensive. Here’s how you can successfully host a holiday bash on a budget.

1. Make a game plan. Create lists of everything you need – food (don’t forget your Butterball turkey), drinks and decorating extras. This will keep you organized and on track when making purchases. Resist the urge to add in items that aren’t on your list while shopping. Need a little help creating your list? Start here, then add and subtract to make it your own. (read more)
2. Why not DIY? When it comes to decorating your place for the holidays, there are many things you can make yourself. Getting a little crafty can save you a lot of money in the long run. This is far more fun than buying everything pre-made, too. Head to Pinterest for tons of inspiring DIY ideas.
3. Potluck it up. Many hands make light work. The same can be applied to hosting. If your guests offer to bring something, take them up on it. If you plan on asking them to contribute, give them ideas to help them out. This can include bread, wine, or extra appetizers – every little bit helps your budget!
4. Go for something borrowed. Avoid buying something when someone can loan it to you. Need a kids’ table? It’s very likely a guest will have a spare card table they can bring along. The same goes for extra chairs.
5. It’s all about the atmosphere. Elegance doesn’t need to be expensive. Candles are one great and cost-effective way to amp up the ambiance for your dinner. Streaming a playlist is another must for the evening.
6. Waste not, want not. Turn your turkey leftovers into delicious post-holiday dinners. (read more)

Thankfully, you don’t have to break the bank. Thankfully, there’s Butterball.

To ensure your Thanksgiving is a success, we have some handy turkey tips and tricks for you.

Elevate your dishes:

• Brush your turkey with oil – Butterball turkeys are already brined, so you’re halfway there. To prevent your turkey from drying out, just brush the skin with some oil.
• Add vegetables to your stuffing – take your stuffing up a notch by adding various root vegetables. Not only will it add a variety of colour and flavour, but it will be enhanced with good nutritious ingredients too.
• Keep your pan drippings – This is the good stuff! Use your pan drippings as gravy and your guests will thank you for it. Click here for our secret to a delicious pan dripping gravy.

Make sure you are equipped with the appropriate tools and your preparation will be so much easier. Here’s some helpful tips:

• Roasting Pan – For convenience, many people use a large foil roasting pan for cooking a turkey, but they’re not always sturdy enough to hold your big bird. We suggest investing in a roasting pan. It’s easy to lift the pan from the oven and it won’t spill its contents. You can also use it year after year.
• Carving Knife – Make sure you have a carving knife that is sharp enough to cut through the bird without excessive effort and without shredding it. Clean slices are what you and your guests are after. An electric knife is a great option too.
• Meat Thermometer – This nifty device takes the guesswork out of cooking turkey and helps to ensure that it’s completely cooked.
• Turkey Lifter – This is item will help you lift your turkey from the roasting pan to your serving dish, without any hiccups!

Whatever you prepare, we’re sure it will be enjoyed by all.

By: Chef Shahir Massoud

Growing up in an Egyptian household, our annual Thanksgiving table didn’t always seem “traditional”.  Sure, my mom always cooked a whole bird, (usually seasoned with rosemary and sage), there was stuffing, and of course, some gravy. But there were also grape leaves, cucumber yogurt, kobeba (a dish with ground beef or lamb, bulghur wheat, pureed onion, and spices), and her famous phyllo cheese squares. Without realizing it at the time, she masterfully balanced the two worlds between a classic Thanksgiving spread and the celebratory flavours from her childhood to be shared with her family.

In that spirit, I’ve shared my own tips on how to cook a modern Thanksgiving feast, while simultaneously incorporating the flavours of your heritage. Whatever you cook, remember it’s your kitchen, your rules.  Yes, you should serve a whole bird, but you can also use the occasion to get creative by incorporating new and bold tastes.

• Turkey is the star of the table, AND it’s versatile!

A Thanksgiving without turkey is not Thanksgiving. As a kid, I remember getting invited to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, and the host served chicken cordon bleu. Even as a nine-year old, I recognized that Thanksgiving just didn’t feel the same without the turkey centrepiece. The great news is that your turkey is a blank canvas for whatever spice, marinade, or rub you want to incorporate. You can take your bird in any culinary direction, so let it be the inspiration for the whole meal! For example, my Indian-Inspired Boneless Turkey Roasts include the robust flavours of a quality garam masala and Kashmiri chili.  Or, using a whole bird, try taking a modern Middle Eastern spin by incorporating a za’atar and sumac infused rub—it’ll take your turkey in an exciting new direction.

• Get Creative with the Sides

When you think of a Thanksgiving table, some form of potato, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy are usually staples. Fair enough. But what if those potatoes were vibrant, yellow Bombay-style spuds to match that Indian-inspired turkey roast? Then, picture a tangy mango chutney to take the place of a cranberry sauce. Bake up stuffing-spiced (think sage, thyme, rosemary) pita chips to accentuate a fresh Fattoush salad along-side that Middle Eastern whole bird! You can even season the gravy to fit whatever theme you have going this year. Keep the framework of the traditional meal, while still finding ways to sneak in your own family’s traditional plates and sides.

• Involve your Guests!

Whether you’re gathering friends, family, or both, think about ways to include your guests. As the host, you should tackle the turkey (whether you choose a roast or Easy Fresh cut for a smaller gathering, or whole bird for a big group). And don’t forget to decipher your cook time and thaw time with Butterball’s Turkey Calculator to keep this part of the meal easy breezy. But, for the sides and desserts, feel free to disclose your theme to your guests, and ask them to embrace the flavours of your heritage, and invite them to do the same! Then, on Thanksgiving, you’ll have a Thanksgiving table filled with great food, warm memories, and interesting stories behind the inspiration of each dish. After all, isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about!? Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

“Never let ’em see you sweat. Guests feel guilty if they think you’ve worked too hard to make dinner for them—which of course you have!” – Ina Garten

Entertaining is hard work. Luckily, with some planning and a little festive magic you can be a whiz at holiday hosting.

• Signature drinks make everything special. Serve a special cocktail to really impress your guests. Options include mulled wine, spiked eggnog or your own punch concoction.
• Plan ahead. Don’t leave everything until your guests arrive. Figure out all the important details in advance, like how long you’ll need to thaw and cook your turkey. Or skip the thawing altogether with a cook from frozen whole turkey. Once you’ve got your holiday meal hero prepped and ready to go, everything else will fall into place. You can also prepare a lot of side dishes and desserts a day or two ahead. Consider washing your veggies and peeling your potatoes and carrots before the big day arrives (just remember to store them in water overnight). For more on planning ahead, check this out.
• Set your table the day before. Tackle this task early to make it an enjoyable activity rather than a stressful necessity. Give yourself plenty of time to clean and iron your festive linens and find the perfect napkins. Everyone will be impressed by the thought you put into setting your table.
• Create a playlist. Music will make everyone feel at ease. Stream holiday classics all night to charm even your most grinch-like guests.
• Stock up on games. Before you host for the holidays, make sure you have a good selection of games. This is a great way for everyone to bond after dinner, and ensures the evening stays lively from start to finish.
• Send a gift home. Give your guests something to remember the night by. This could be homemade baking, a festive candle, or an inexpensive ornament.
• Make no apologies. As the great Julia Child once said, “no matter what happens in the kitchen, never apologize.” Once you’ve put in all that hard work try to relax and enjoy yourself. That way you can focus on your guests and spending time with them. That’s really what matters most.

Thankfully, you’ve got this. Thankfully, there’s Butterball.

By: Chef Benjamin Leblanc-Bedouin

 

It’s summer and we all know the most epic part of the season is hosting the ultimate weekend BBQ bash! Time to round up your friends and family because we have the six steps you need to plan and execute an incredible backyard weekend of eats, friends and some savings.

• Outdoor means outside – take the heat out of the kitchen and cook everything on the grill! Use the burner on the BBQ to cook eggs for breakfast, boil your water for your pasta or use Turkey Franks as spider dogs (cut a small slit in the middle and watch them fan out as they roast over the fire). When it comes to big groups – the simpler the better.
• Prep, prep & prep – There is nothing like having everything ready to go prior to your guests arriving! There are tons of cheap menu items that pack a mean punch in the summer, use cost effective ingredients that are easy to prepare ahead of time. Try out some Turkey Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Turkey Jalapeno Poppers or a Strawberry and Turkey Ham Salad!
• Share the love – When someone asks you what they can bring, instead of saying “oh don’t worry about it” – people love to help so give them a job! Why not ask them to bring their best dish that everyone can enjoy so that you can enjoy some savings!
• Lose the timeline – A weekend get together means one thing – no set mealtime! Prepare menu items that can be available at any time and don’t be afraid to serve them up sporadically throughout the day to make sure your guests are well fed all day long.
• Have a showstopper – Try something out of the box! It’ll be more fun for you and definitely fun for your guests if you step out of your comfort zone and try something different. For example, these Cheesy Garlic Bread Turkey Franks are an easy and delicious twist on a classic!

With careful planning, prepping, and prioritizing an unforgettable experience, you can truly WOW your guests! All while reducing stress, thoroughly enjoying yourself, managing costs effectively, and, last but not least, ensuring you are forever known as the weekend BBQ bash master!

By: Chef Shahir Massoud

Fellow parents, rejoice!  It’s that magical time of year where we get to return our beloved children to their rambunctious hallways and patient teachers – it’s back to school! There’s so much excitement in the air this time of year, but with the thrill of new beginnings also comes the return of weeknight dinners after a long day. So here are a few of my top tips to help you get back into the swing of things when it comes to getting a hot, healthy meal on the table in no time.

Use those leftovers for lunch

Whenever I’m making a quick weeknight dinner, I also find it useful to think about how to reimagine the leftovers into an exciting lunch. As a kid who grew tired of the same old ham and cheese between white bread, parents are always looking for ways to keep their kids engaged with their food – that way they’ll eat it! For example, when prepping the Butterball turkey breast for the Turkey Breast Satay recipe, grab another breast while you’re at it and grill it simply with just salt and pepper. That way, you’ll have it ready for the next day to throw into a turkey BLT or shred into turkey fajita rolls – two quick but interesting ideas for the kids’ lunchboxes (that will also be peanut-free for safe school consumption!).

Get the kids involved where you can!

Whenever you can get the kids involved in prepping dinner, it’s a good thing. They become more invested in the meal this way, and it leads them to try new things and actually eat what’s being served. It can be simple too – let them add things to the blender and turn it on (exciting for a little one!). Sure, they might be too young to handle the grilling, but even getting them hands-on with some of the simple steps goes a long way.

Prioritize mealtimes together

This one is tough (and it’s something that we’re working on still, so it takes time!), but try to put away all distractions at dinner time. A quick recipe doesn’t mean you have to rush through the actual meal. Dinner is a chance to put away phones, homework, arts and crafts – any and all distractions and connect as a family. There may be grumblings at first, but eventually this is a family tradition worth adopting.

Make it fun!

Are you tired of the same old routine when it comes to weeknight dinners? Spice up your meals by introducing Theme Nights! This creative strategy adds a touch of excitement and anticipation to your family’s dining experience while simplifying the planning process. Ideas such as “Taco Tuesday,” “Stir-Fry Wednesday,” “Comfort Food Thursday,” or “Pizza Night Friday,” are all super fun ways to keep not only the kids but you engaged and excited to cook dinners.

Hopefully, these tips will help make your weeknight dinners easier, whether you make them happen 5 days a week or 1 day a week. Good luck parents, you’ve got this!

By: Ivanka Hanley

September means back to school and back to work! The best way to feel prepared and ready is to have lots of healthy snacks and meals available. This makes the transition from summer a little easier on everyone. Taking a little bit of time on the weekend to meal plan and meal prep will help to set you and your family up for success. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

1. Meal plan – Take some time to look through your cookbooks, Instagram, Pinterest or Butterball.ca for easy meal ideas that get your inspired (and hungry!) like this easy and tasty Turkey Bacon Bowl.
2. Variety keeps it interesting – Pick 2-3 lunch ideas where you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time and assemble the night before. Having more than one lunch idea helps keep the days interesting and will keep you looking forward to lunch.
3. When thinking of easy meals that will keep kids full and energized, always consider the following formula:
   1. Greens (buying prewashed mixed greens helps to eliminate washing/chopping)
   2. Protein of your choice such as turkey bacon, turkey breast or turkey ham are easy to prepare and packed with flavour
   3. 2-3 veggies (tomato, cucumber, celery, carrots, broccoli to name a few)
   4. Cheese (cheeses like goat, feta or cheddar add lots of flavour)
   5. Carbohydrate like potato, sweet potato or pasta. This helps to complete your meal and leaves you fuller for longer
4. Prep and go – Always try to pack your family’s lunch (and even breakfast) the night before. This helps to ensure you can easily grab it with you or have it ready in the fridge. Try out these Turkey Bacon Egg Bites for a grab and go option!
5. Do it yourself – Consider making your own salad dressing or use healthy sauces like salsa, hummus or tzatziki to add to your meals for extra flavour that will keep everyone excited for lunch!

Back to school season is a busy and exciting time for both kids and parents, so let us take some of the pressure off with these easy tips, designed to set the whole family up for some delicious, easy and nutritious success!

Who doesn’t love a backyard BBQ, or a quick summertime dinner on the grill? Whether you are planning a quick weeknight meal or gathering with your friends, here are five easy tips to becoming the grill master of your dreams this summer!

• Your BBQ Thermometer Isn’t Always Accurate

While opening and closing the barbeque lid, you can lose a lot of heat, and end up not knowing what temperature your grill is. Instead, grab an infrared thermometer to help find your hot and cold spots, and use a food internal temperature thermometer to help ensure your food is cooked to perfection. Always aim for 165°F/74°C in your turkey!

• Variety is the Spice of Life

It’s almost impossible to choose what delicious food to grill, so why not do it all? Butterball Turkey Burgers, Turkey Franks or Turkey Drumsticks are all elevated in flavour when met with a hot grill. Use your favourite marinades, glazes and sauces to mix things up and offer your guests a menu worthy of the summer season.

• Don’t Mix and Match

When you’re cooking your food on the grill, pick a spot and keep it. We know we’ve all been there—casually flipping our food over and over again. Know that every time you flip, you lose heat and moisture.

• Fresh is Best

When you’re choosing ingredients for your side dishes, always use what’s in season to get the most of the flavour! For example, you can try Roast Turkey with Spring Asparagus Salad in May, Cheesy Garlic Bread Turkey Franks in June, and a Sweet and Sour Apricot Turkey in July, and the list goes on!

• Dare to be Different

Step out of your comfort zone with your grill! Have you ever smoked a turkey breast? Or tried making a breakfast entirely on the BBQ? Or even attempted grilling romaine hearts or pineapple? There are tons of new ideas that you can whip up, so you can make grilling a unique experience for you AND your guests.

Don’t worry if you’re not a “grilling expert”—you don’t have to be! With the right tools, products and a little courage, you can create and execute a menu that will be both delicious and fun! Happy grilling!

One of my favourite time saving tips as a busy working mom is to think about family meal planning using the strategy I call, “cook once, eat twice” to create new, reinvented meals—especially in Nutrition Month—but also, any time!

What is the difference between a leftover and a repurposed meal?

Making leftovers by doubling whatever you are cooking so you can have the same meal tomorrow night (or an extra stash in the freezer) is a useful time saving technique. While leftovers can be useful, for some people they can also be boring.

Another option is to transform leftovers into what I consider, a reinvented or repurposed meal. For those that don’t love eating the same thing two days in a row and want to see more variety on their plate, repurposed or reinvented meals are an awesome solution.

To create a repurposed meal, you’ll be thinking about using what I call “planned extras” – cooking extras of one part of the meal to use in a new way the next day. You can try:

• Roasting a whole turkey for dinner tonight and using extras in a new meal with pasta, salad, soup, or even a breakfast, like this Bubble and Squeak, tomorrow.

• Chopping double the amount of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and/or peppers today for your raw veggie tray, to stir-fry or roast the extras in the oven tomorrow.
• Cooking extra potatoes or yams to make shepherd’s pie, potato salad or soup the next day.
• Cooking a double batch of grains such as rice, couscous or quinoa for a new meal, chili, or salad the next day, and incorporating some leftover turkey. Try this Thai-Inspired Turkey Green Curry as an example!
• Cooking a big batch of lentils for a pasta meal tonight and setting aside the extra to stir into a different meal with rice and veggies or lettuce wraps tomorrow.

Now, I’ll show you how to use this Cook Once, Eat Twice method in practice.

Day 1:

I’m using Butterball Boneless Turkey Roast as a “planned extra” for this meal. It’s a lean, go-to protein option for weekday meals, especially because it’s full of zinc, selenium, B6, B12, niacin (B3) and iron, and acts as a high-quality lean protein source.

• On a weekend or ‘work-from-home’ day, cook one or two Butterball Boneless Turkey Roasts from frozen in the oven at 325°F on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. I like to brush it with a little oil to help cook the roast to that beautiful golden brown colour. You’ll simply leave in the oven for approximately 3.5 to 4 hours or until the meat thermometer reads 165°F or 74°C. Be sure to always reference the cooking directions on the package!
• When the turkey is 30 minutes to an hour away from being fully cooked, start assembling your side dishes. Turkey pairs with just about anything, but I like to serve this meal with rice or roasted potatoes and steamed peas and carrots or green beans.
• Continue to prepare your side dishes while you let the roast rest. Then, slice the warm tender turkey and voila–dinner is served!

 

Day 2:

The next day with the extra roast turkey you’ve already cooked, you can use this to create a second totally different reinvented meal.  Since my family are taco fanatics, here’s a simple, no-recipe-required Turkey Taco meal. You could also make a soup, quesadilla, or gourmet grilled cheese!

• All you need to do is slice the Butterball Boneless Turkey Roast into thin strips, squeeze a fresh orange over the turkey and toss with a sprinkle of taco seasoning (or a dash of paprika, cumin, garlic powder and chili powder).
• Next, heat a saucepan or non-stick pan with some oil and sauté thinly sliced onions and red/yellow/orange peppers until tender. Toss in the turkey and heat until warmed. Assemble your tacos with all your favorite toppings such as grated cheese, diced avocado and cilantro or chopped tomato, shredded lettuce and sour cream.

 

See? It doesn’t have to be hard to prepare meals that aren’t repetitive, but are flavourful and nutritious for the whole family. Head to the recipes page for more turkey recipes, and ways you can repurpose your leftover turkey into new meals!

By: Jennifer Pallian

Spring has officially sprung, and that means it’s time to celebrate Easter with your loved ones. Whether you’re with friends, family or a bit of both, these helpful tips will have your work in the kitchen done in a flash so you can get back to spending time with the people that matter.

1. If you’re hosting a big dinner, pick your recipes at least a week in advance (like this turkey roast with delicious pan sauce recipe). This gives you ample time to plan your shopping trips if the menu requires multiple stops and gives you a buffer to switch recipes if an ingredient you were counting on isn’t available due to supply chain issues.

 

2. If you’re nervous about hosting and attempting new dishes, it can be really helpful to reach out to family and friends for their favourite tried and true recipes.(like this whole turkey with pancetta stuffing). Using a recipe that someone you trust has recommended is a great way to reduce stress about uncertain recipes. Then on the big day, you’ll be confident and calm preparing something you know is easy and delicious.

 

3. If you’re cooking a frozen Butterball Turkey, pick it up a week in advance to give you lots of time to thaw it. Frozen Butterball Turkey Breast Roasts are my favourite for serving a smaller crowd, and they don’t even need to be thawed!

 

4. Prepare as much as you can in advance, so you aren’t locked in the kitchen on Easter day. Veggies can be chopped in advance, most casseroles can be assembled and this scrumptious Herbed Peppercorn Gravy can be made 1-2 days ahead.

 

5. Choose a dessert (like this fluffy no-bake Easter Egg Cheesecake) that can be made a day or two beforehand and won’t take up oven space on the big day.

There is no one perfect way to host an Easter dinner! Find the things that work best for you and enjoy yourself as you build new traditions and find your rhythm. As long as you’re sitting around your table enjoying a meal with your people, you can call your Easter a success!

By: Chef Benjamin Leblanc-Bedouin

As the snow melts, the days get sunnier and springtime is finally upon us, it feels like the perfect time to celebrate with family and friends! Get the most bang for your buck this Easter with these 5 easy tips for a budget friendly gathering.

 

1. Roasting a Whole Turkey

We all want to serve up tender and juicy turkey and you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to get there! Butterball’s whole turkey just needs a few brushes of oil and a meat thermometer to have it dinner table ready. Besides that, let the turkey do the work, and let Butterball help you out with a few useful resources, like the Turkey Calculator and how to videos!

 

2. Plan the leftovers

We all love the leftovers! In fact, we all make sure that there’s turkey leftover after our celebrations – so why not plan ahead! There are tons of delicious recipes to have on deck to keep enjoying your leftover turkey. Some classic favourites include soup, sandwiches, and casseroles. TIP: As you are cutting veggies for your stuffing, slice a few extra cups to have on hand for recipes throughout the week!

 

3. Simplify your sides

What if you made use of the same ingredient in all your different side dishes? This is an easy way to reduce prep time in the kitchen and get you back to enjoying your free time. For example, add apples to your slaw, your stuffing AND your dessert for a tasty and easy way simplify your meal.

 

4. Try something new

Butterball offers a variety of products that lend themselves well to all three meals of the day. When you plan for your busy day of hosting, have easy and delicious turkey options available to implement into your meals to save time. TIP: Butterball Turkey Bacon is a match made in heaven for a quick and delicious starter salad for your big dinner.

 

5. Use what you have

We all know our seasoning cupboards can get packed full of ingredients. Some advice? Pull them out and incorporate them into your Easter meals. Grab things like allspice, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and incorporate them into your apple crumble. Or, spice up your roasted potatoes with things like paprika, dry mustard, garlic salt or onion powder to get the most bang out of your ingredients already on hand.

Nowadays, meal prep is a staple in everyone’s households. So why not bring that approach to your kitchen for Easter? Try out these helpful tips and you’ll find that you’ll cut back on spending, cooking time and of course, cleaning. Whatever you do – just make sure you let the turkey do the work, because after all, it’s what we came for!

By: Shahir Massoud

And just like that, Easter is here! It’s one of my favourite holidays of the year because it’s a time to celebrate with family when the weather is warmer, the days are longer and the sun is shining a little brighter. So, to make your Easter gatherings that much “hoppier,” I’ve put together some of my favourite Easter tips. Hop to it and have a read!

1. Egg Decorating is Always in Style

Every Easter, my mom would colour hard-boiled eggs and hide them around the house as part of our morning hunt. But, she even took it a step further by dyeing the eggs one colour, letting them dry, then wrapping elastic bands around them. Then, she would dye them another colour.  When you peel away the elastics, you get a beautiful two-tone stripe effect! It’s a great way to get creative with patterns, colours, stickers, etc., and they’re also a smart way to make ahead the egg component of your Easter brunch that you can enjoy afterwards.

2. Speaking of Eggs…

My mom was also famous for forgetting where she hid all the chocolate eggs and treats!  It wasn’t uncommon for my brother and I to stumble upon an Easter treat at the beginning of June. Don’t forget—playing the Easter bunny is your duty, but so is remembering where all of the goodies are. Try to create a little system of where the hidden eggs will go as opposed to randomly throwing them under every nook and cranny in your house.

3. Easter Brunch 101

Now, most people will cook up a glorious turkey dinner to celebrate Easter, so you may be thinking, “you now want me to cook a huge brunch!?”. Yes, yes I do – but there’s a smart way to do it. Think about make-ahead staples (remember those coloured eggs I mentioned above, you can do those a couple days ahead) or easy dishes that require little to no prep (like my ramekin-baked eggs with lean Butterball turkey bacon – recipe of course on butterball.ca).  You can also re-purpose the leftovers from the night before. For example, try my “Bubble and Squeak” or a giant frittata, and throw in the leftover turkey and veg. Buy a few fancy pastries, sweet brioche, a fruit platter or anything sweet to complement your brunch meal, which still keeps the menu simple, but plentiful and impressive for your family and guests.

4. Don’t Forget to Spring-ify!

The best part about Easter is that it always lands when spring has sprung. The gloomy winter is coming to an end, and this is your chance to embrace everything about the year’s most revitalized season. Make sure your menu celebrates in-season produce (asparagus, rhubarb, radishes, etc.) and your table setting showcases the colours, flowers, and scents that are representative of the new season. I personally love tulips, and so does my wife, Mila! I picked up some for her in the airport after coming home from a business trip last week, and they’ve brought so much life and colour to our home.

 

By: Chef Shahir Massoud

Back to school lunch bento boxes are fun to put together, delicious to eat, and add a kick of nutrition to keep kids energized for the day! Check out some useful tips that will help you curate the ultimate lunch that kids will actually eat!

1. Use Butterball Extra Lean Turkey Ham

Kids need protein to get through the school day feeling full, focused, and energized—plus, we don’t want them getting ‘hangry’! The Butterball extra lean turkey ham is a ‘better-for’-you’ route to getting that punch of protein while enjoying the flavours of a smoked ham!  Start by cutting slices from your Butterball extra lean turkey ham, then punch out fun shapes with their favourite cookie cutters.

2. Cookie cutters for everything!

I like to make a trip to my local bulk food store to pick up all sorts of cookie cutter shapes and sizes.  Better yet, take the kids with you and let them select a few that will get them excited about eating their lunch!  Cut out fun shapes from your slices of Butterball extra lean turkey ham, but don’t stop there! Cookie cutters are a whimsical way to transform apple slices, cucumber, bell peppers, pineapple, and carrots! You’ll be amazed how much fruit and veg the kids eat when they’re transformed into fun shapes.

3. Pack up healthier crackers

Try to sneak in some ‘healthier’ stuff, even with the crackers! Look for tasty options that include a wholesome punch: whole grain, quinoa, and even sweet potato crackers are all great ideas. Plus, the kids will have fun using the crackers to build their own sandwiches—there’s so much room for creativity!

4. Always pack a little treat

A well-balanced lunch snack box must have a little treat at the end, right!? It’s important to practice it in moderation but including a little sweet helps the kids get excited about digging in for lunch!

5. Use the Scraps!

Don’t waste the cut-outs leftover from the Butterball turkey ham and the vegetables.  Chop them up and add them to your next batch of omelets, fajitas, or egg bites for breakfast on the run!

As a mom and a business owner, I’m always busy, just like many of you! My days are full of shuttling the kids to hockey practice or school, writing nutrition content and managing my other work obligations. When it comes to groceries and meal prep, I want to make food that’s quick and easy, but that my family is excited to eat as well!

A recipe can be healthy, easy and quick to prepare, but if nobody wants to eat it, then what’s the point? The best thing about meal prepping is that everyone in the family can get involved in the discussion and share which meals they’d like to eat in the upcoming week.

In our house, we sit down together and plan our meals. This keeps mid-week stress to a minimum and gets kids invested in buying, making and eating what they’ve chosen. It also saves money since there’s less ordering in and we only buy what we need for our predetermined dishes.

To avoid the mad rush of ticking all the nutrition and food preference boxes, I always plan ahead. That means making sure my fridge and freezer are stocked with foods that help me feed my family – and that’s where Butterball comes in. Butterball has a wide range of turkey products that integrate easily into almost any meal I make.

Some of my favourite meal preps use Butterball Easy Fresh, including my Turkey Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce, Turkey Lettuce Wraps, and Turkey BLT Salad with Buttermilk Chipotle Dressing. Butterball Easy Fresh turkey is my favourite protein to keep in my freezer! Their airtight packaging ensures they stay fresh until I need them, and they defrost.

Butterball Turkey Burgers are another great option for last-minute meals. I take however many I need out of the freezer and toss the rest back in. They cook up juicy and delicious on the stovetop in just a few minutes, and even in the dead of winter, we can enjoy burgers for dinner.

Here are my best tips for meal prepping!

• For a family of four, this is the minimum prep I recommend: 2-3 different proteins, a pot or pan of starch (think grain or roasted potatoes), and 3-4 vegetables, cooked or raw.
• Think about how you’ll repurpose your prepped ingredients into different dishes. For example, my Turkey BLT salad uses plain roasted Butterball Easy Fresh turkey breast that I roast in advance.
  • Although the recipe uses one whole turkey breast, if I only need one salad, I can repurpose the rest for sandwiches, pasta, or even a meal like Indian butter turkey. You can also use Butterball Turkey Breast Roast as one of your meal prep proteins – it’s easy to cook and can be used for any recipe that you’d use turkey breast for.

• Balance is important. Plan your meals to include a protein, grain or starch, and two handfuls of vegetables for each person. It’s all about maximizing nutrition and creating meals that have a variety of nutrients.
• Batch cook for freezer meals. I can’t count how many times I’ve been thankful to have meals in my freezer that I batch-cooked in advance. My favourite freezable batch-cooked meals are chili, turkey pot pie made with Butterball Turkey Breast Roast or leftover whole turkey, pea soup, and turkey noodle soup with tons of vegetables.
• Have the right containers. Freezing and storing prepped food is safest in glass containers since they wash easily, are freezer safe and have no BPA. Remember to cool slightly before placing it into the freezer.

Turn up the turkey with protein swapping!

For a few years now, many restaurants across Canada have begun making the caloric count and nutritional value of dishes visible on their menu. With hidden trans fats and sometimes very high calorie totals, it’s safe to assume that being transparent with nutritional information has influenced the ordering decisions of restaurant-goers.

Why? Canadians want to consume healthy food, whether they are ordering from a restaurant chain, or whipping up their own creation at home. In fact, Deloitte’s 2021 food consumer survey outlines that nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of Canadians have grown more interested in how their diets affect their overall health in the past year (Deloitte, 2021) But unfortunately, this has meant skipping out on some of our favourite foods simply because they are high in fat and calories, or low in protein and carbs.

Thankfully, turkey is the easy, lean protein swap to turn to, so you can continue to enjoy your favourite meals while staying conscious the dish’s nutritional content. Keep reading to learn more about the low-high comparison of some well-known dishes, and you’ll see how turkey can easily fit into your meal repertoire! The nutrition analysis below is done by a registered and authorized dietician of Canada.

Plus, you’ll also find some recipe inspo to help you get started on your swap!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey Schnitzel (serves 8)

Calories: 287

Protein: 23 g

Carbs: 19 g

Fat: 13 g

Pork Schnitzel (serves 8)

Calories: 335

Protein 21 g

Carbs 19 g

Fat 19 g

Turkey Steaks with Chimichurri (serves 6)

Calories: 347

Protein: 54 g

Carbs: 1 g

Fat: 12 g

Pork Chops with Chimichurri (serves 6)

Calories: 376

Protein: 51 g

Carbs: 1 g

Fat: 17 g

Turkey Chili

Calories: 441

Protein: 38 g

Carbs: 45 g

Fat: 13 g

Beef Chili

Calories: 494

Protein: 33 g

Carbs: 45 g

Fat: 22 g