Speaking of Turkey...

My mind (and yours, I'll bet) is now on turkey.
I ordered my free-range, Maine-bred, well-educated, organic grain-eating, happy-living bird from Rosemont Market.
I have folded down corners and ripped out recipes from every food magazine I could get my hands on.

Cider-brine or dry brine?
Breast up or down?
Butter-soaked cheesecloth or baste?
There's a lot to think about.
I wish I could remember what I did last year. Why didn't I write to down?
Oh yeah...too exhausted.

Let's step back for a moment from the roasted Thanksgiving turkey thing.
Here's a meal involving turkey that can be made any time, with much less effort required.
No: stuffing, brining, basting, hours.
Yes: big flavor, ease, happy cook, weekday dinner.

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Vegetable Rice
adapted from Everyday Food

1 cup white rice, long-grain or jasmine

1 large carrot, shredded

3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs or panko

1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey breast

1 egg white

5 scallions, chopped

1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tsp. fresh grated ginger

4 tsps. fish sauce

4 tsps. hot pepper sauce, such as Sirarcha

4 tsps. sugar

sea salt

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

sweet chili sauce, for serving

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups salted water to a boil. Add rice, stir once and return to boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until water is fully absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in shredded carrot, 1/2 of the chopped scallions and 1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro. Cover until ready to serve.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine breadcrumbs and 3 Tbsps. water. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add turkey, egg white, scallions, cilantro, ginger, fish sauce, hot pepper sauce, sugar, garlic and 1 tsp. sea salt. Gently mix to combine and form into golf ball size meatballs
In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Brown meatballs in batches, on all sides. Transfer meatballs to a rimmed baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
Serve meatballs with rice and sweet chili sauce.

A very happy Thanksgiving to all my Mignardise friends! I'm grateful for your continued support.