I know, I know, Easter is over for this year. But this would also be awesome as a Sunday dinner. Or you can even chop your veggies & make the brine on a Sunday afternoon, and then on Monday all you need to do is bake everything. It is possible to make a comforting meal for your family with fresh ingredients- I promise! Don't these ingredients look a lot better than stuffing or potatoes out of a box?
Brine Ingredients:
1 lemon
1 orange
¼ cup salt
¼ cup sugar
1.5 pounds turkey tenderloin
Vegetables:
5 carrots
5 ribs of celery
1 medium onion
The night before serving, prepare your brine. Add salt & sugar to a small saucepan, then fill pan about halfway with water. Heat the mixture just until salt & sugar dissolve. Cut your lemon & orange into chunks, then add to the saucepan, squeezing a bit to release the juices. Let mixture cool. Put your turkey in a Tupperware container or plastic bag, then cover with the brine; adding more water if necessary. Refrigerate.
Once you are ready to cook, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel & chop your veggies into big chunks. Remove your turkey from the brine, and place the brined turkey in the middle of a nonstick foil lined baking dish. Discard the brine & citrus fruits. Scatter the vegetables around the turkey, and rub everything down with a little olive oil and season with pepper. Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until turkey is cooked through.