The Necessity of Copper

Photo from Google Images

Growing up, I remember copper pipes, copper pots and pans, copper jewelry, and copper items you could just set up all over the house as your home decor.

Why was copper so important to us?  It was considered a very important mineral that our ancestors made sure we got replenished with as they cook with the pots and pans or wore copper as jewelry.

Copper can be found in your liver, skeletal muscle (tendons), brain, heart, and kidneys.

Copper is important for cellular energy production, connective tissue formation, central nervous system function, and melanin formation.

So is it any wonder why its very hard to find copper (real copper) for your personal use anymore?!
Oh you can find it, but it's not that same texture that I remember from years ago.  The copper I remember didn't have copper shavings as time went on.  The copper I remember was more dense.

Don't mind me.
Just a random thought.


Much love,
Granny

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RECIPE: Great Northern Beans with Smoked Turkey Breast

Hello there!  Granny here with one of her favorite recipes:  Great Northern Beans with Smoked Turkey Breast.  There are so many benefits that come with this recipe:

1. saves time during the week - one meal in one pot
2. health benefits
3. promotes hair growth
4. tastes great
5. enough to share

The list could go on, but I'll stop here.
I use beans as a staple meal when my weeks are extra long.  It frees me from stressing out having to cook with limited time.  Beans also are high in fiber (good for digestive tract), contain biotin which promotes hair growth, helps increase muscle tone, and there is a variety of ways you can cook them.
Turkey breast has its own benefits, it's a lean meat less talked about containing large amounts of B6 and a good amount of B12, and just like beans they taste great depending what your taste calls for.
Of course as all Granny's do, there is always more than enough to share.  I'll be sharing this tasty treat with my coworkers.

Great Northern Beans with Smoked Turkey Breast
1 small turkey breast (mine was approx 6lbs)
1 1/2 lbs of dried great northern beans
onions
seasoning to taste (whatever you like)

Turkey Breast:
Roast turkey breast in oven according to instructions using seasonings of choice after cleaning it.  After taking out of oven allow to sit for approx 10-15 min before carving.  Carve turkey, then dice into smaller pieces (you choose the size).  Put turkey into mixing bowl and let marinade in liquid smoke for approx 2 - 4hrs (I normally do it as long as the beans take to cook).

Beans:
Sort beans for debris.  Rinse beans well. 
See instructions for soaking method.  Lately, I've been using the quick soak method and it works just as good as if you were to soak overnight.  Use seasoning of choice.  Beans usually take 3 - 4hrs to cook if using on medium heat with lid tilted for better cooking.  Once beans are tender, add turkey and onions and allow to set together as you would spaghetti noodles and sauce.
*onions can be cooked with turkey or beans.  I love onions so much I do it with both.

Serve with cornbread and you have a tasty meal that is very filling.

Enjoy!  I sure plan to!!

What are some of your recipes for northern beans?  Leave comments below.

Much love,
Granny