Supreme Turkey Burgers with blood orange picante

I  love turkey burgers, but turkey alone makes for a very dry, tasteless creation.   After trial and error, I found a great combination that adds so much flavor, you won't believe you are eating  turkey.  I waslucky enough to go to  my favorite place, Galucci's and Italian deli in Cleveland for the additives, but you can find the same ingredients at any grocery store.

Here is what I used:

1 pound ground turkey (I get a breast and have the butcher grind it for me whenever possible; if that is not possible, Jenni O is a decent substitute.)
4 chopped kalamata olives
3 large green olives chopped
1/4 cup chopped pickled eggplant
1/4 cup chopped roasted red, yellow and/or orange peppers
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 shallot chopped
1/4 cup finely diced poblano
3 pickled jalapeno slices
salt and pepper
fresh parsley and basil to taste

Shape into patties and cook in heated non stick skillet until done.

For picante:
1/4 cup finely diced sweet onion or shallot
1/4 cup finely diced poblano pepper
1//4 cup chopped seeds removed tomato
Juice from one blood  orange

Mix ingredients and heat in same  skillet you cooked your turkey burgers.  Heat until the juice evaporates.  Add to the top of the turkey burgers.

This is another recipe where you add whatever tastes good to you and will add flavor.  Try it and let me know what you think.

Fabulous Grape Nut Date Bread

I love the taste of Grape Nuts, but get bored just eating them with milk.  After exploring a little, I found a recipe for Grape Nut Date bread.  Of course, I adapted to my own tastes, substituting white flour with spelt flour, the white sugar for evaporated cane sugar and adding almonds for more texture.  I love using dates.  I use them in place of sugar in recipes whenever I can.   I love this bread, and if you like a crusty, nutty, grainy bread, you will too.

Here is  what I used:
2 cups scalded milk~~I used coconut milk, helps with texture and flavor
1 cup Grape Nut cereal
3 cups sifted flour~~I used 1 cup. white whole wheat flour and 2 cups spelt flour, but you can easily use whole wheat or unbleached all purpose if you like
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar (I used organic cane sugar, but you can use raw sugar, agave, honey, anything but white sugar)
1 egg, well beaten
3 tablespoon melted butter
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped almonds (you can use walnuts, or any other nut you like)

Pour hot milk over Grape Nuts; cool.  In separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.  Sift twice.

Add beaten egg,  melted butter, dates and nuts to cooled Grape Nut mixture.  Mix.  Add dry ingredients, stirring just enough to moisten all ingredients.  Use wooden spoon for this not hand  mixer.  Turn into a greased and floured 9x5x3 loaf pan.  Let stand for 20 minutes at room temperature, then bake 350 F for 1 hour 20 minutes until the bread is golden brown and crispy outside and dry on toothpick inside

 Try it and let me know what you think.

Homemade granola

Homemade granola is so easy but most importantly, you can control what goes into it.  I have experimented with several different recipes, chosing and deleting ingredients to make it my own.  Don't be afraid to do the same.

Here's what I did:
Preheat over 350F

In small saucepan add:

3 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil (the recipe called for vegetable oil, but I never use that)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup organic pure maple syrup (the recipe called for 1/4 cup white sugar; try never to use that)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chinese five spice
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger (I would have used fresh grated ginger, but ran out)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla, almond extract,  orange or lemon extract, whatever you like, but just pick one

You can add or delete any of the spices to your own taste

Heat ingredients just until mixed, not necessary to boil; set  aside

In separate bowl mix
3 cups oats (not the quick cooking stuff)
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pistachios
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup dried cherries, cranberries, blueberries, what ever you want
1/4 cup almonds

Put pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, walnuts and almonds in a heated, dry pan and toast for just a couple minutes, then add to oats.

Add whatever dried fruit you want. Actually, you can add whatever you like to it.  That is the beauty of homemade granola.

Pour liquid over dry ingredients, and thoroughly mix until all dry ingredients are coated.

Put piece of parchment papaer on a cookie sheet and spread mixture on top.  Bake 10  minutes, take out of oven and stir mixture, return to oven.  Continue to cook and stir in 10 minute intervals for 30 minutes, or until granola is toasted brown.

Remove and  let cool 10 minutes.  Break up as you desire.  I left a few bigger pieces.

It is really delicious.  Let me know if you try it.

Chicken Avacado Sauce over Homemade Angel Hair pasta

 If you like guacamole you will love this dish.  Creamy and flavorful. Check it out.

Ingredients
Small shallot finely diced
2 garlic cloves finely diced
1/2 poblano pepper finely diced
2 tblsp olive oil

Saute above ingredients until soft

Add
1 c. cooked chicken (I  used skinless boneless thighs, but you can use whatever.  You could also use raw adn cook it with veggies.)
1/2 cup sliced grape or  cherry tomatoes

Heat ingredients through.

Mix in separate bowl
1 ripe avacado smashed
1 tblsp diced shallots
2 tblsp. fresh or pickled jalapeno
juice of one lime

Add above mixture to chicken and veggies with 1/2 c. chicken stock (homemade or store bought)

Mix all ingredients together

Cook store bought or homemade pasta to al dente stage
Add to sauce and cook another minute or two

Plate and serve with sliced grape tomatoes on top and sprinkle of parmagiano reggiano cheese.

Excellent, so creamy and delicious.