Smoked turkey & kale stew

I found a similar recipe on a bag of kale that got me rolling with a few adaptions. It was a HUGE bag of kale, which did not hinder me. Dan has not been a fan of the leafy, dark greens and will only eat spinach if it is raw, in a salad (which is healthier, so I will give him that). I am generally the one to tackle kale by the arms loads.

Kale is one of the healthiest food around and here are a few reasons why you need to eat more kale...

• it is full of flavinoids which gives anti-inflammatory qualities and a fab anti-oxidant
• steaming kale makes it easier for your body to reach the maximum absorbency of nutrients it has to offer
• kale is a good source of calcium as well as fiber
• it is chock full of Vitamin K, A, and C
• visit WHfoods for the scoop
  

This is how I made my stew today, feel free to adapt it to your tastes. I love it with a crusty, handmade bread and cheese.

1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup sweet brown rice, dry
2 cups french lentils, dry
4 cups sweet potato, cubed
1 bunch kale or swiss chard, coarsely chopped
1 lb smoked turkey breast, cubed
5 cups broth

saute the onions in 2 T extra virgin olive oil until just tender, add the garlic and stir until coated followed by the sweet potatoes. Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 6 minutes then add the broth. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the lentils, rice and smoked meat, cover, reduce heat to med-low, and cook until the grains are tender.
Salt and pepper to taste but remember that smoked turkey will have loads of flavor.

butternut squash lasagna meets samosas

a photo later...

I was going to make a quick lasagna for dinner tonight, short on time and needed an excuse to use some of the dozens of jars of homemade sauce we put up this summer. Thought I had a small bit of samosa filling that was from a test batch a bit ago but it turned out to be more like 3 cups of this tasty ground turkey, pea, and sweet potato filling. It was too much to have the Indian flavor lost in the tomato sauce. Yuck, what was I thinking...that Dan would not notice a bit of Indian meat in the tomato sauce? yup. So a new recipe idea began to form in my bitty mind. I have a feeling that Dan might at least try it...if I starve him.

I made a bechamel sauce and just as it neared thinning added 2 cups of squash puree (buttercup squash from the garden). I mixed 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese with a garlic seasoning mix and some shredded cheddar. I know this sounds a bit gross but the scent wafting from the oven is tempting. This may be one of my MacGyver fridge moves that will either bomb or pleasantly surprise.

So, a layer of the squash bechamel sauce in a greased pan, whole wheat lasagna, samosa with ricotta, sauce and so on. Listen, if people can find pleasure from eating Hamburger Helper then this really deserves a chance. I used real, unprocessed healthy food!

We shall see tomorrow!

cookin' for yourself when you're sick

My achy self slept in until about 10 today and whatever it is I have came on fast and strong. It seems every time this year something comes on. Last year I spent Christmas/New Years with my family wrapped in sweaters and scarves... I was crazy sick but not contagious (per my doc) so I still was able to snuggle and hug my nephews. Can never get enough snuggle time with those two cuties!

I am craving my dad's chicken noodle soup and saltines. My mom use to make us something special when my baby brother or I was ill. She would bring us a bowl of grated apple when we were blue. Don't know what it was about that but it is what I miss when I'm under the weather.

I took some of my own mushroom advice and whipped up another quick food fix. I really need some warming, soothing soup and am too beat to invest too much time. This soup took less than 10 minutes to get on the stove and simmering away. This will require you to fish around in the pantry and fridge for ingredients. That being said this is a fly by the seat of your pants recipe, just the bare bones and your own creativity.

I always have a jar of mish mash stuff. I put my rice, noodles, beans and what not in jars and whatever does not fit in the assigned jar I put into one big collective mish mash jar. This soup recipe is also packed with anti-oxidants (mushroom and tomato paste).

Soups on before the tea kettle boils recipe
add all these goodies to the pot and bring to a simmer

• 6 cups broth
• 2 carrots, grated (who wants to chop when you are so sick)
• 1 cup bulking stuff : lentils, orzo, rice, sweet potato, yada yada
• 1 tsp celery salt (too beat up to chop celery)
• 2 T tomato paste
• sqeeze of lemon jucie (secret ingredient)

Between nose blows I can get whiffs of this soup and it smells fab.

phat turkey meatballs to rock your spaghetti

Everybody has a recipe for meatballs but mine is the best bar none... well, for a turkey meatball recipe that is. This recipe is superior because it is my father's recipe, they are baked not fried, freeze well, don't need eggs (enough poultry has been harmed in the process already) and they are quite tasty.

Listen, if you are not getting your oatmeal to start the day then get it to finish the day. Instead of soaking dried bread in milk/buttermilk and using it in a meatball recipe, I incorporate oatmeal. This is either my mom or my dad's genius idea. I don't waste the money on eggs to bind... use ground flax seed. Yea, it sounds weird but it works well and is another great excuse to sneak a bit of fiber and omega 3's into your diet!

I usually pick up a big batch of ground turkey at Costco and make meatballs galore to freeze. Use them in soups and not just with pasta. They are also great to have on hand for last minute guests. Again, this is a bare bones recipe so add what you like, skip what you don't. Either way these balls with rock your next party!! (that being said, did you pick up the new flight of the concords cd?)

• 3 - 2 ½ lbs ground turkey
• 1 ½ cups onion, finely chopped or grated
• 2 carrots, grated
• ¼ cup garlic, chopped
• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup bell pepper, finely diced
• ¾ cup rolled oats
• ¼ cup flax seeds, ground
• ¼ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup grated parmesan or pecorino cheese
• Wine?
• 2 T soy/tamari sauce
• 1T freshly ground pepper
• 1T oregano, dried
• 1 tsp thyme, dried
• Dash of red pepper flakes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare the baking sheet with aluminum foil and a light coating of cooking spray (from a can or your own olive oil pump sprayer) and space the balls with at least an inch between each other. Bake until they are roasted to a deep golden brown. Check every10 minutes and agitate them so they bake evenly.

father's fab chicken & phoebe's polenta

Here is yet another tomato recipe that is a favorite of mine, my father's chicken recipe. This recipe is easy to prepare and always pleases. On my last visit to spend time with family my dad made this recipe but used a new secret ingredient. As per usual, use this recipe as a guideline and add more or less of some ingredients and substitute others.

I reheated the chicken last night and wanted to whip up a "fresh" side, polenta. Not just any creamy polenta would do for this rich chicken so I added a few things I had on hand. I could have eaten this as dessert. Corn causes inflammation and I have been cutting it out of my diet but on rare occasions I have to give in.

father's fab chicken

• 4 chicken breasts, bone in & skin removed (use boneless but it is more moist when bone in)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 small can tomato sauce
• 1 large onion (2 cups), chunked as you would like it in a stew
• 3 carrots, chunked about 1"
• 2 sweet potatoes, cubed (peel or unpeeled)
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tsp oregano, dried
• 1/2 tsp pepper flakes (optional) I like the heat it adds
• splash of soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp Chinese five spice (if you don't have add a pinch of cinnamon and ginger)
• 1/4 c olive oil and lemon juice vinaigrette (I had some freshly prepared and left over so I tried it & liked it)

preheat the oven to 350. prepare a baking dish by coating lightly with olive oil. mix the diced tomato with the sauce and oregano, pepper flakes, Chinese five spice and soy sauce.

place the chicken breast in the pan and coat with the vinaigrette, top with the minced garlic and a freshly ground pepper. evenly spread the carrots, onion, garlic and sweet potato in the pan and pour the sauce on top. cover and bake for 30 minutes then uncover for the remaining 30 minutes.

polenta so tasty I'd like it for dessert too

1 large garlic clove, minced

2 tsp olive oil

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp butter

1/2 cup manchego cheese (this is what I had on hand, if you have cheese on hand you probably like it ... add it)

3 cups broth

1 1/2 cup corn meal

in a small saucepan over medium heat add garlic and olive oil, only for a minute, then add the broth and oregano and bring to boil. gradually whisk in the corn meal until it is creamy. Stir frequently and cook for 10 minutes on low heat. so creamy good!!!