Turkey Chili For a Cold Day or Game Day!

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One pot meals are a family favorite for saving time yet creating something delicious without too much fuss. I’ve been using the same go-to turkey chili recipe for a couple of years now. I’ve made some changes along the way and my family eats it up every time.

Turkey Chili

Adapted from Nancy Fox Skinny Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 package of ground turkey (16 oz. or 1 pound)

2 cloves fresh garlic, crushed

1 T chili powder

1/4 t. cayenne pepper

1/4 t. ground black pepper

1/2 t. ground sea salt

1/2 t. cumin

1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes

1 can (15 oz.) black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans (un-drained)

1/2 bunch cilantro (rinsed and finely chopped)

Prep:

1) Measure out seasonings (chili powder, cayenne, black pepper, sea salt, and cumin) set aside.

2) Crush two cloves of fresh garlic and set aside.

3) Open canned tomatoes, and beans, set aside.

4) Drain and rinse black beans only.

Method:

1) In a soup pot or French Oven, cook ground turkey until cooked thru, use spatula to break up large chunks.

2) Drain cooked turkey in colander to remove excess fat then return to pot.

3) Add  crushed garlic to turkey and stir until you smell the garlic.

4) Add crushed tomatoes, beans, and seasonings.

5) Bring to a boil them simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring often.

6) Meanwhile, wash and chop fresh cilantro. This is your secret ingredient and will be added just before serving.

When ready to serve stir cilantro into chili. Serve over fresh spinach, top with crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese if desired.

This recipe calls for a combination of fresh and canned ingredients. Here are the seasonings, tomatoes, beans, and secret ingredient (fresh cilantro) pictured below. I use Publix Greenwise Organic canned beans and tomatoes.

Ground turkey is the meat of choice here. I like the brand Plainville Farms available at Publix. Plainville Farms turkey is “humanely raised  on family farms in a stress free environment.”  Turkeys are vegetarian fed, never administered antibiotics, or given hormones (it is illegal by Federal Law to give poultry hormones). It costs about the same as regular ground turkey, in fact, it was on sale for $2.99 a couple of weeks ago so I tossed one in the freezer for later use.

Here is the chili with the finished touch of cilantro added. So delicious!! I hope your family will enjoy this recipe and make it a part of your go-to recipe catalog.

Be well,

Pam

Buy, Cook, & Eat Local Food

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Buying food from local farmers is making a comeback! It is a great thing to discover local food that’s grown or raised right where you live.

Bedner’s is a large local farm that has two growing seasons during the year. They offer produce year round, so not all produce is local 100% of the time, but this time of year there are several local produce picks available. Read more →

Color Your Plate Healthy

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How are you doing with your New Year’s resolution?

Every year millions of Americans make resolutions on January 1st. Many of them have something to do with improving health and wellness. But by February 1st a majority of those resolutions have gone right out the window.

Since 1980 the American Dietetic Associate has been providing a gentle springtime reminder by celebrating National Nutrition Month in March. Each year there is a theme to help us eat better and be healthier. This year’s theme is “Eat Right with Color.”

So how does it work?

Think back to your last meal. How many colors were on your plate? If you answered 4 or 5, then congrats! You are eating right with color.

If you answered 1 or 2, then let’s talk:

Mother Nature has a habit of putting lots of healthy vitamins and minerals into foods that grow in the dirt, but did you know she took the trouble to color-code them for our convenience?

  • green foods contain antioxidants and nutrients that promote healthy vision
  • orange and deep yellow foods also help promote healthy vision, plus they contain vitamins that boost your immune system
  • purple and blue foods contain antioxidants that provide anti-aging benefits, plus they help with memory, and urinary tract health
  • red foods are good for heart health, vision, and your immune system
  • some white, tan, and brown foods have nutrients that promote heart health
  • bonus: each of these colors also help reduce your risk of cancer!

Of course, these aren’t the only benefits to eating a more colorful, plant-based diet. These kinds of foods also provide a good source of fiber, a boost in mental function, and tons of other feel-good perks.

So load up those plates with color and let’s celebrate good nutrition all year long!

How are you going to eat more colors this month?

Article courtesy of Integrative Nutrition