Honey & Thyme Brined Turkey

Taken from MyRecipes.com

7 cups water, divided
3 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
6 thyme sprigs
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups ice cubes
1 (6-pound) whole bone-in turkey breast, skinned
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
Cooking spray
Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Combine 1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons pepper, and thyme sprigs in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and remove from heat. Pour into a large bowl; cool to room temperature. Add remaining 6 cups water, salt, honey, and sugar, stirring until salt and sugar dissolve. Pour salt mixture into a 2-gallon zip-top plastic bag. Add ice and turkey; seal. Refrigerate 24 hours, turning the bag occasionally. Remove turkey from bag, and discard brine. Pat turkey dry with paper towels.

Rub turkey with oil. Combine 1 tablespoon pepper and chopped thyme; rub over turkey.

Preheat oven to 400°.

Place the turkey on a roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 1 hour or until thermometer inserted into thickest portion of the breast registers 180°. Place turkey on a platter. Cover with foil; let stand 15 minutes. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.

Turkey & Wild Rice Casserole

Taken from Realistic Eats

2 cups wild rice

1T olive oil and cooking spray

1 lb. fresh sliced mushrooms

2 carrots sliced

3 stalks of celery sliced

1/2 onion chopped

2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

3 cups cooked turkey diced

2 tsp dried sage
1/2 cups slivered almonds

3 cups chicken stock - reduced sodium and fat

1 1/2 cups light cream

2 T sherry or lemon juice

1/4 cup dried cranberries

Cook rice according to package directions. Let cool.

In a large skillet or dutch oven heat oil and saute all of the vegetables until tender. Then add all of the remaining ingredients and simmer until slightly thickened.

Spray a 13x9 casserole dish with cooking sprat. Preheat oven to 350. Place rice in bottom of casserole dish and then top with the meat mixture. Cover and bake for 20 minutes and then uncover and and cook another 10-15 minutes until thickened.