Ground Turkey Burgers:

1 lb ground lean turkey

1 egg

1 Tbsp dried chives

2 Tbsp minced fresh basil

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp chipotle pepper

1/3 cup diced green pepper

1/4 tsp dried California-style garlic 

Beat egg in medium bowl, adding in seasonings.  Add ground beef and green pepper and mix very well.  (Use hands if needed)  Shape into 4 large or 6 medium burgers.  Spray grill pan with a bit of olive oil and pre-heat.  Cook in grill pan over med-high heat for about 8-10 min per side for medium-size burgers and 10-12 minutes per side for larger-size.

Serve on whole wheat buns (toasted lightly is best) with a dollop of mayo, fresh sliced tomato, romaine leaf lettuce and roasted red pepper slices.  A yummy side-dish could be a crisp oriental salad or crusty onion rings.  (or both!)

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Here is a simple chili recipe that I threw together for my own dinner the other night, so I thought I’d share it with you.  For those of you who know me,  you know I don’t do well with following recipes or even writing them down while I am creating them.  So, this is being written while cooking, so I don’t forget what all went in!

Cooking Notes: I like to simmer my chili for as long as possible before serving, the flavors meld well and it becomes thicker without adding more tomato paste.  I will often put my chili in the crock pot if I can’t be home to watch the stove.  If using the crock pot, put all ingredients (except beans) into pot in order.  Cover and cook 6 hours on high.  Then stir well, add beans and cook another hour on low.

Turkey Chili:

1 lb ground turkey

2-3 stalks celery, diced

1 large onion, diced

3/4 cup carrot, finely diced

Over medium high hear, brown all ingredients above in a large pot.  Add next 11 ingredients-

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp chili powder

3 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 tsp coarse ground Kosher salt

1 tsp dried parsley

6-oz can tomato paste

4-oz can diced green chilies

2 quarts stewed tomatoes (or 2- 28 oz canned stewed tomatoes plus 16 oz can)

Simmer all ingredients for 45 minutes (or up to 2 hours), then add beans below.

2-16oz cans chili beans (I use mild sauce style)

2-16 oz can northern beans

Simmer for 20-30 minutes more.  Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and/or sour cream.

Easy Corn Bread:

I use the basic recipe from the box of the cornmeal that I buy, with a few alterations of course!  I like to use a cornbread/scone divided pan, so everyone gets an individual piece of cornbread, the crunchy edges and the moist middle.  It’s a simple cornbread, perfect with butter and honey.

1 1/4 cups flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour)

3/4 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1/4 cup oil (or if you prefer- 1/4 cup applesauce plus 1 Tbsp oil)

1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Spray 8-9″ round, square or divided pan.  Combine dry and wet ingredients in 2 separate bowls.  Stir them together, mixing until dry ingredients are moist, but not over-mixing.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake 20-25 minutes for round or square pan, 15-20 minutes for divided pan.  Don’t over bake, bake until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  When done, cool slightly, remove from pan and serve warm.  Butter and honey insure there will be no leftovers.  (9 servings with round or square pan, 12 with divided)

There you have it, a simple, healthy dinner that is sure to please. It’s a dinner that can be made when you don’t know what else to make, as the ingredients are basics that should be in a well stocked pantry, fridge and freezer.  Make life easy on yourself by allowing those food storage areas to work for you.

Let me know what you think of the cornbread and the chili in the comments below. If you have some add-ins or some alterations, please note those as well.  Enjoy your dinner!

I thought I would share something sinfully delicious with you today, since we just came off of the Candy Holiday!

I am not a fan of cake, never have been, probably never will be…it’s never “just right”.   Especially box or store made… I can’t even go there.  A made-from-scratch or delectable real bakery confection might pass occasionally, but I would much rather pass and have a slice of pie or some sort of luscious dessert, such as Tiramisu, lemon torte, or chocolate almond cheesecake.

When I was browsing a few blogs this morning, I came across a posting- another blogger- Jules author of the Pancakes and French Fries blog- doesn’t like cake either.  She posts a recipe is for a Chocolate Guinness Cake.  So, I just had to share a link to her site, as she posts Nigella Lawson’s recipe for this cake for those who don’t like cake!

Directions:

1.  Click here for the recipe

2.  Make the cake

3.  Post your comments on how you liked it!

Enjoy each crumb… talk to you soon!

To celebrate the flavors of summer for a few more weeks, I am sharing a grilled chicken recipe that I created a few months back that my family has been enjoying.  It has become a simple and delicious alternative to traditional grilled chicken.

The ingredients can also be varied a bit to allow for whatever is handy to guide the flavor.   Make it as a main dish to serve with various sides, such as grilled potato pockets, potato salad, rice pilaf, or even spinach salad.  The recipe goes well with almost anything and therefore becomes a wonderful “go to” recipe for all occasions. Simple enough for everyday, yet elegant and special enough for a party.

I have made this for my family of 4 and for a larger party requiring 24 chicken breasts.  (For a party, you can make and roll breasts a few hours ahead and keep sealed in refrigerator until ready to grill.)

WRAPPED CHICKEN BREASTS:

4 Chicken Breasts, pounded thin with meat mallet

1/2  Red Pepper, julienne sliced

Coarse Kosher Salt

Coarse Ground Black Pepper

Olive Oil

Fresh Basil Leaves (2 per breast), washed and sliced into 3 sections

4 Bacon or Prosciutto slices

Place each chicken breast on cutting board, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with kosher salt, and ground pepper.  Add sliced basil leaves and red pepper slices.   Tightly roll up chicken breast and wrap with raw slice of bacon or prosciutto.  Secure with toothpick.

Grill over medium-low coals turning occasionally for 25-45 minutes,  (Depending upon size and thickness of chicken breast, larger rolls will take longer.)  or until chicken is done and juices run clear.  Let set 5 minutes before serving.

Appetizer Alternative:

To serve as an appetizer, grill as above, then slice each rolled breast into 3-4 slices.  Put a toothpick in each and serve a Hollandaise or Bearnaise sauce for dipping.

One of my favorite rooms in the home is the kitchen.  I love the design aspects, the cabinetry and organization options, and the endless meals prepared there.  But I think it may be the overall feel that a kitchen represents that makes it my favorite room.  You can really live in a kitchen!

Homework, flower arranging, creative projects, late night gab sessions, surfing the net, hanging out, and of course the endless baking and cooking that goes on here.  Life really happens here!

Everyone always gravitates to the kitchen at a party and kids of all ages congregate in the space, including the family pets.  That’s why I love a good kitchen.

Great kitchens come in all shapes and sizes.  They can be cozy or grand, bright or neutral, contemporary or country.  It’s more about creating a kitchen that works with your lifestyle, so the room really becomes a part of your life. 

If your kitchen falls short of being the most used room in your home, maybe a kitchen update or renovation is in order.  Yes, the most beautiful kitchen renovations can be quite pricey, yet some of the simplest changes can make your kitchen feel updated, organized or more spacious.

Minor remodeling can enlarge your space and make it work for your family and your lifestyle.  Consider consulting with a professional to make your kitchen all it can be.  Talking over the ideas and options can make it seem less daunting and more attainable.

So, whether you have the kitchen of your dreams, or are still dreaming away, here are some wonderful, personal kitchens to enjoy.  They may even inspire you to do a little cooking…  (All photos from House Beautiful)