Turkey Chili

As the weather starts to transition into Fall, along with the wacky weather in MA, I wanted to make a more comforting meal. I was never a huge chili fan but for some reason, I really wanted to make it.

What You Need:

1 lb. Turkey Meat (I used dark meat but you could use either)

1/2 Red Onion, chopped

Olive Oil

4 Cloves of Garlic

1 Jalapeno, diced (for an extra kick, leave the seeds in)

1 Can Red Kidney Beans, drained

1 Can Black Beans, drained

1 Large Can Diced Tomatoes

8 oz of Gluten Free Beer

Chicken Stock (as needed)

1Tablespoon Cumin Powder

2 Tablespoons of Chili Powder

1 Teaspoon of Red Pepper Powder

Salt and Pepper

Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Plain Greek Yogurt

What To Do:

In a saucepot, add a bit of olive oil to the pan with the onions. Sauté until the onions are soft.

Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add in the turkey meat, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, and 1 teaspoon of chili powder and cook until the turkey meat is no longer pink. Make sure to stir the mixture to avoid burning.

Add in the jalapeno, beans, and tomatoes. Stir and add in the cumin, chili, and red pepper.

Bring the mixture to a boil and add in the gluten free beer. Bring to a boil again and cook for 2 hours, stirring often.

If the chili is too thick, you can add in some chicken stock. Make sure you also taste the chili as it cooks. You can always add in more salt but you can’t take it out.

Top the chili with cheese and Greek yogurt. Super Tasty!

Apple and Pear Cranberry Sauce

 

I hope everyone had a relaxing and grateful Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving has been a very special one for my family and I. Last year, my aunt and uncle were in a life-threatening car accident caused by a truck running a red light. We spent the holidays in the hospital not knowing if they would make it to next year. They are both doing much better and are both home now. They will continue to make strides towards reclaiming their lives back and starting with having a traditional holiday season will help.

My Aunt and Uncle at the Turkey Trot this year!

We take the holidays VERY seriously in our house. There is no Christmas music until desert time on Thanksgiving. Everyone has their specific dishes that they have to make. (One year my mom put snow peas in the green bean casserole.  We won’t let her live that one down) My cousin and I make ridiculous turkey hands for placemats. There is a lot of yelling (We’re Italian and we talk really loud) but most of all; it’s enjoying each other’s company while eating delicious food.

This was the nicest and most appropriate one that was made

My cousins and brothers 🙂 

I made a yummy Apple and Pear Cranberry Sauce this year (someone accidently forgot the regular cranberry sauce at home). My aunt only had one bag of cranberries so I searched in the refrigerator and found a pear and some apples. I thought, why not?  It ended up being amazing and I will continue to use this recipe from now on!

What you need:

1 apple, peeled and chopped

1 pear, peeled and chopped

1 bag of whole cranberries

1/2 cup of fresh apple cider

1/2 cup orange juice

1 cup of water

1 1/2 cups of sugar

What to do:

In a saucepan, sauté the apple and pear with a splash of apple cider. In a separate saucepan, add the apple cider, orange juice, water, and sugar. On low heat, bring the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly. (You don’t want the sugar to burn). Once the apple and pear mixture is soft, add the cranberries and your liquid mixture. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 10 minutes. Let the mixture cool before putting it in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

 

My mom, aunt, grandma, and cousin 

We should not wait one day a year to express our gratitude and thankfulness for the wonderful things we have in our lives. We should start everyday by counting our blessings and expressing gratitude in everything we do. Xoxo

Turkey Tacos

I love tacos! This meal is quick, easy, and you don’t need a lot of ingredients to make it. I personally like to add vegetables into my meal. I have experimented using different veggies but my favorite is spinach and mushrooms. I also do not like using a premade mix. You can make your own taco seasoning without any of the added preservatives and junk!

(Discard the cinnamon in the picture! I meant to grab the cumin!)

What you need:

Turkey meat

Coconut Oil Spray

Spinach (chopped)

Mushrooms (chopped)

Salsa

Cheddar Cheese (shredded)

Sriracha

Greek Yogurt

For the Taco Seasoning:

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

½ tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

½ teaspoon red pepper

½ teaspoon dried garlic

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

What to do:

In a frying pan, add a tiny bit of olive oil with spinach and mushrooms. Cook until soft and set aside. Add a spray of coconut oil so the turkey won’t stick and add the turkey on top. Cook until golden brown (sometimes you might need to drain the water halfway through).  While the turkey is cooking, you can make the Taco Seasoning. Add all the ingredients and mix. When the turkey is done, add about ¼ cup salsa and a few dashes of sriracha. Then add the Taco Seasoning and cook for another couple of minutes.

I like to top my tacos with extra salsa, a dash of sriracha, crushed tortilla chips, avocado, cheese, and Greek Yogurt. Enjoy!

Sunday Dinner

I love Sunday Dinner. It is a staple in many Italian families, everyone getting together, laughing, and eating delicious food. What I have found hard with Sunday Dinner is making food that is safe for me to eat but enjoyable for everyone else. This recipe is loved by my family and approved by my grandma!

Turkey Meatballs and Sauce or Gravy

(depending on where you live)

What you need (Meatballs):

-1 lb dark turkey meat and 1 lb light turkey meat

-1/2-3/4 c gluten free bread crumbs

-1 egg

-1/4 c parmesan cheese

-2 cloves garlic, crushed

-fresh basil and parsley

-salt and pepper

-1/2 package of spinach (sautéed in olive oil and chopped)

What To Do:

-Mix all the ingredients (except the spinach). I like to mix it with my hands; it incorporates the mixture better! It shouldn’t be too dry or too moist. You want to be able to form it into a ball and have it stay together.

-After mixing the spinach in, I form into balls about the size of a small baseball. You can make them any size you want. In a skillet, drizzle some olive oil and heat it up.

-Place the meatballs in the pan and cook for about 5 minutes per side. You want them to get nice and crispy on the outside.

What you need for the Sauce:

-2 cans of San Marzano crushed red tomatoes

-1 small can of tomato paste

-2 cloves garlic crushed

-olive oil

-fresh basil and parsley

-salt and pepper

What to Do:

-In a saucepot on medium heat, add 1 tsp of olive oil and put the crushed garlic on top of the oil. Cook for a few minutes until the garlic is fragrant and soft.

-Pour in the tomatoes and tomato paste and mix in the fresh herbs. Add about 1 tsp salt and pepper. You want to let the sauce cook for a while and if you think it needs more salt, add it in slowly, let it cook and then taste. If your sauce is too bitter, you can add a carrot in to cook with it or a sprinkle of sugar.

-Let the sauce bubble and turn it to low heat. Add the meatballs in and cover with the sauce. Let it cook for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer your sauce cooks, the tastier it becomes!

Mangiamo!