5 Alarm Bacon Wrapped Turkey Food

TURKEY BACON WAFFLEWICH

Steps:

• Preheat a waffle maker to medium-low heat.
• Spread each slice of bread with the mustard. Place a piece of cheese on top of each slice.
• Add the turkey, bacon, spinach and onion to one side. Close the sandwich and butter the top with 1 tablespoon butter.
• Set the sandwich, butter-side down, in the waffle maker. Spread the remaining butter on top of the sandwich and close the waffle maker.
• Toast until golden and crisp, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove, slice in half and serve with potato chips.

5-ALARM BACON-WRAPPED TURKEY

Steps:

• For the 5-alarm dry brine: Mix together the salt, sugar, pepper, sage, chile powder, fennel seed, garlic powder, onion powder and red pepper flakes. If not using right away, store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
• For the turkey: Measure out 1 tablespoon of the 5-Alarm Dry Brine per 5 pounds of turkey (a 12-pound turkey will take 2 1/2 tablespoons). Rub the measured brine all over the exterior of the turkey. Add an additional tablespoon of the brine to the inside of the bird, rubbing it on the underside of the breast.
• Let the turkey sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place one strip of bacon down the center of the turkey breast, making sure that at least 1 inch of the bacon hangs over the breast on both the neck and cavity side. Continue to layer the bacon vertically along the breast of the turkey with a slight overlap, making sure to maintain the overhang on both ends. The bacon on the far edges of the breast may not reach the end of the cavity, so tuck those pieces in the crease between the thigh and the body.
• Gather all of the bacon ends on the neck side and pierce the ends through with a single sprig of rosemary. Use the same rosemary to pin the bacon to the breast near the wishbone. On the cavity side use 1 onion cut into quarters to secure the bacon against the back side of the breast.
• Arrange the carrots, celery and remaining sprigs rosemary in a roasting pan and rest a rack on top. Carefully transfer the turkey to the rack.
• Roast the turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (avoid touching bone) registers 160 degrees F, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. (Upon resting, the temperature should raise to a minimum of 165 degrees F.) If the turkey is browning too quickly, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and tent the pan with aluminum foil. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.

BACON-WRAPPED TURKEY ROLL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set a wire rack on a baking sheet.
• Lay 1 turkey breast smooth-side down on a cutting board. There will be a thin side and a thick side. At about the midway point between them, slice horizontally into the thick side to within 2 inches of the outer edge so that you can open that side like a book and have 1 long piece. Pound the turkey with a mallet to an even thickness of about 1 inch. Repeat with the remaining breast.
• Place a large piece of parchment on a work surface. Arrange 12 slices of bacon horizontally on the parchment in 6 lines, with 2 slices of bacon slightly overlapping per line. Arrange the 6 lines so they are touching but not overlapping, with the ends lining up to form a rectangle. Working with the remaining 9 slices, weave the bacon in an over-under pattern by lifting alternating slices of the horizontal bacon lines and vertically placing a slice of bacon over or under as needed to create a woven lattice design.
• Place the turkey breasts horizontally on the bacon, overlapping slightly. Scoop the stuffing into the center of the turkey. Holding the bacon and turkey, roll them up away from you, making sure the roll ends up seam-side down. (Use the parchment to help you keep the bacon and turkey together as you roll.) Tie with twine in 3 spots across the roll and once lengthwise. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until the internal temperature registers 155 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Slice and serve with the gravy and cranberry sauce.

MAPLE SAGE BACON-WRAPPED TURKEY BREAST WITH STUFFING CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray. Shingle the bacon strips side-by-side on the parchment paper, allowing the edges to overlap slightly. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Butter each side of the bread slices, using 2 tablespoons butter in total. Place the bread in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Set aside.
• Mix the remaining 4 tablespoons butter with the sage, maple syrup, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper in a bowl. Use your fingers, and a knife, if necessary, to make a pocket between the meat and the skin of the turkey. Rub the butter under the skin in an even layer. Place the sheet pan with the bacon on a work surface, then lay the turkey skin-side down on the bacon. Wrap the bacon around the turkey by lifting the parchment and pressing the bacon against it to secure. Place the turkey skin-side up on top of the bread and lift away the parchment.
• Roast until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Let rest for 30 minutes before slicing. Quarter the stuffing croutons before serving. Serve warm.