Baked Turkey Thighs with Baked Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

Baked Turkey Thighs with Baked Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

So, I know, where have I been again?? Well..... this time I have a legit excuse- actually multiple excuses! First, I had a death in my family and had to go home to PA for services and family responsibility (more to come about this in a future post.) Secondly, as some of you already know, I went into battle with a new mandolin and the mandolin won. Three Fridays ago I decided to cut some beet chips with my new mandolin that I got for my birthday. As I proceeded, I thought this is not so hard and that I needed to be careful as my Mom just sliced off the end of her finger in a mandolin accident just a few weeks before. As I thought this, I tilted my hand back to avoid cutting my fingers and in one swift motion, shaved off a huge piece of my palm.... yep down to the muscle. (Insert SCREAM here!!!!) So off to the ER I went. Sparing you the painful, bloody details, I have been in a huge bandage for weeks now. I have not been able to cook, type, see patients, write or even wash my hair, so blogging was completely painful and out of the question. My friends and family have stepped forward in a huge way to take care of my daily duties and hand wrapping, but certain things you just have to do yourself.

This is one of the first recipes that I have made since mauling myself and it felt so good to be back. I love to be in the kitchen.  Being able to make food again was a great relief. There is something to being able to sustain yourself that is empowering to me. I like making things with my hands, and as you all know, that is one of my big stress relievers- baking, knitting, gardening. Moving my hands quiets my mind. Needless to say, in a time right now when I could use stress relief the most, I have been without the ability to quiet my mind and make something beautiful or delicious. It has been depressing.

I hope that you make this recipe and enjoy it. It is something I threw together with ingredients I had at home. The sweet potatoes are amazing. Just a suggestion though- cut them by hand!

Is there anyone out there interested in a mandolin?

OUCH!!!

Baked Turkey Thighs with Baked Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

2 turkey thighs
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 large onion
2 tsp thyme
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 shot of bourbon
1 Tbsp plus 2 tsp olive oil, separated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet, brown both sides of the turkey thighs in about 2 tsp olive oil. Remove from pan when they are fully browned. In the meantime, toss cubed sweet potatoes, onion, garlic, spices, bourbon and olive oil together. Make sure all vegetables are coated with the olive oil and the bourbon.

Place the coated veggies in the bottom of the warm pan. Place the turkey thighs on the vegetable mix. Pour about 1/3 of a cup of chicken broth on top of the veggies.

Bake in at 400 degrees for 60-75 minutes or until temperature in the thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees.