Turkey Vegetable Soup & Cornbread

Some of my favorite memories growing up are of family gathered around the table laughing, talking and telling tall tales. One of the best comforting meals was Mama's (my sweet grandma) or my Mom's vegetable or vegetable beef soup with a great big slice of cornbread with a big chunk of onion on the side. I can taste it now. Nothing fancy, just a variety of veggies, whatever was on hand, a little ground hamburger meat if you please, and secret ingredients of bacon grease and a squirt or two of ketchup to add depth of flavor. Now, for the cornbread greatness - Mama used this aluminum pan that flipped over so you could cook on both sides, and you cook on the stovetop. It made amazing cornbread or cake. Mom, on the otherhand, always makes her cornbread in an old cast iron skillet in the oven, and it comes out with a crunchy delicious outside. Oh, I am already drooling! They are both equally delicious but different. I wish you could try them both! I make my cornbread both ways because Mom scoured the countryside so I could have my own cornbread stovetop flip pan, and she also passed on a wonderful old cast iron skillet to me many, many years ago. I have so many happy memories of food, family and cooking and I hope you do too. I have adapted the old family favorites below to go along with healthier cooking. I hope you try both of these and make many happy family memories in the kitchen!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey
3-4 new potatoes, large diced (depending on size, you need about 2 cups diced)
2 cups celery, large diced
1 large onion, large diced
16 ounces frozen veggies (use your favorite - I use a mix of peas and carrots)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilis
1 quart chicken broth
2 tablespoons ketchup
Sea salt, garlic powder, black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:
In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown turkey in olive oil, stirring frequently to break turkey into small pieces. Next, add in celery, onion, potatoes and sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper and garlic, cooking five to ten minutes longer until onions are softened. Reduce heat to medium-low and add in ketchup, tomatoes (hint, rinse cans out with a bit of the chicken broth and pour into pot), and add in broth. Gently stir and adjust seasonings as necessary. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring frequently. Add frozen veggies for the last ten 15minutes to heat through.

(Note: I like my veggies to break down a bit so I generally cook my soup for the full 2 hours. In the pot of soup I made today, I substituted ground turkey italian sausage for the plain ground turkey and it was delicious, it just added more depth to the flavor of the soup.)

CORNBREAD
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour (Substitute for brown rice flour if you enjoy a Gluten-Free diet)
1 cup cornmeal (If eating Gluten-Free, check your label - Bob's Red Mill makes a Gluten-Free cornmeal)

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar (Replace with Xylitol or Stevia if avoiding sugar)

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk (I use evaporated milk)

2 eggs

4 tablespoons bacon grease, oil or shortening (I use canola oil)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl then add milk, eggs and oil. Slide cast iron skillet into oven to preheat for five minutes. Remove skillet from oven, drizzle skillet with oil and pour in cornbread mixture. Hear that sizzle? Perfect! Slide skillet into oven and cook for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top. (If you are unsure, insert a toothpick in the center to check doneness. When it comes out clean it is done). Finally, cut a big ol' slice and slather with your favorite butter! MMMM MMMM Good! If you have leftover cornbread, why not toast a slice on the griddle the next morning and enjoy with molasses, honey or your favorite preserves? It's heavenly with a hot steaming cup of coffee!

(Optional goodies: A delicious twist - add 1/4 cup sliced jalapeno peppers and 1/4 cup chunked cheese to the mixture before baking - sends this over the top!)