bbkshop's Blog

Our family has recently made the switch from ground beef to ground turkey. With ground beef more than $2 a pound, we had basically quit eating hamburger for quite some time. On a recent trip to the grocery store I noticed that ground turkey was HALF the price of ground beef, about $1 a pound. I decided to give it a try, and our family loved the ground turkey. Honestly, you can't even tell the difference in taste, and it is very low fat. There is almost no fat to remove from your pan. Here are some recipes our family adapted to our tastes:

Turkey Chili

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 lb. ground turkey
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1-2 tbsp. chili powder
1 28-oz. can of crushed tomatoes
1 15-oz. can of black beans, drained
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 can corn (optional)

In a large soup pan, cook onion, pepper, celery, and turkey in oil until turkey is cooked through. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, beans, and oregano, and stir well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add corn and simmer for 10 more minutes. Serves 6.

Turkey Lasagna

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 lb. ground turkey
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 cup onions, chopped
1 (14 1/2-oz.) can tomatoes, chopped, reserve liquid
1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
2 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
8 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 (12-oz.) carton cottage or Ricotta cheese
3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

In a large skillet, cook onion, garlic, and turkey in oil until turkey is cooked through. Add tomatoes with liquid, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cook lasagna noodles according to directions on package.

Lightly grease 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Spoon 1/3 sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Top with 4 lasagna noodles. Spoon cottage or Ricotta cheese over noodles. Sprinkle 2 cups mozzarella cheese on top of cottage cheese. Spoon 1/3 sauce over cheese, top with remaining noodles, and then spoon remaining sauce over noodles. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Serves 8.

Turkey Burgers

1 lb. fresh ground turkey
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/2 cup onion finely chopped
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 lemon, juice of
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. soy sauce

Combine turkey, bread crumbs, and onion in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Using hands, work sauce into turkey mixture. Form into 6 patties and fry or grill. Serves 6.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com

Wild Watercress soup is a delicious and nutritious recipe with the leaves available in spring and early summer. Watercress is rich in Vitamins A and C, iron, iodine and phosphorus. Watercress has been used as part of a holistic response to cancer of the lungs, larynx, oesophagus, prostate, bladder, uterus, stomach and intestines. It can be used in the treatment of:

skin problems
bronchitis
winter colds or flu
liver or kidney fatigue
sinusitis

However there are dangers: watercress may cause cystitis in some people and its medicinal use is not advised for those who have a delicate stomach or suffer from acidosis or heartburn. Excessive or prolonged use may lead to kidney problems. Some doctors advise against its use during pregnancy. Wild watercress often grows in streams inhabited by water snails which carry liver fluke. There is also the possibility of bacterial infection. Eating wild watercress in a raw state is not advised for this reason. Cooking the leaves for a short period removes the dangers. Also make sure that the watercourse feeding the stream in which the watercress grows is free from industrial or agricultural pollution.

Ingredients for watercress soup: Pick the watercress from clean water areas by pinching out the tops of the plants. Uprooting them will destroy this resource for everyone. Gather a good handful for each person who will be sharing this delicious spring treat. Other ingredients for a soup for 4 people are:

2 large potatoes
generous knob of butter
dash of olive oil (to prevent butter burning)
stock cube (chicken or vegetable)
salt and freshly ground pepper
single cream

Instructions:
1. Cube the potatoes and cook them gently in the oil and butter until they are starting to soften
2. Add boiling water and dissolve the stock cube. Simmer for 10-15 minutes
3. Coarsely chop the watercress and add to the mix for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally
4. Liquidise and add in some single cream to taste. Add Salt and pepper to taste
5. Use some purchased raw watercress leaves and pepper to garnish

This nutritious soup is warming when hot and a refreshing summer soup when served cold. Watercress is part of the Nasturtium family whose peppery leaves are well known for their nutraceutical value. In addition to containing high vitamin C contents and antioxidant Beta-carotene, it contains vitamin E and is a natural antibiotic. It is sometimes used in complementary medicine to speed up the body's detoxification processes.

Thanks to Dr A. Dracea, J. Lust, R. Phillips

From an ebook called ‘Wild Food’ underway at simonthescribe. If you wish to republish this article (with this resource box intact) you will find excellent quality pictures to accompany it at http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/wildwatercresssoup.html

Ingredients:
4 6 oz. fresh Ahi tuna steaks, about 3/4-inch thick vegetable oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1-2 Tbsp. fresh lime or lemon juice
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1-2 Tbsp. prepared wasabi

Brush tuna steaks on both sides with the oil and season with salt and pepper.
Combine the butter, onion, lime juice, soy sauce and wasabi in a small pan.
Heat a heavy, nonstick frying pan over high heat. Place the tuna in the pan and sear until crispy and brown. Turn over and sear the other side. Be careful not to overcook the tuna. It’s best rare to medium rare. While the tuna is cooking, heat the butter mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and emulsified. Serve the tuna immediately, drenched with the sauce.

Slow Roasted Herb and Spice Cured Pork Shoulder

Ingredients:
1 4-5 lb. boneless, skinless pork shoulder, not rolled or tied
2 Tbsp. coriander seeds
1 Tbsp. whole black peppercorns
12 whole cloves
1 Tbsp. sea salt
2 bay leaves, crumbled
2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves, coarsely chopped
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

With a sharp knife, score the pork fat in a cross-hatch pattern. Combine the coriander seeds, peppercorns and cloves in a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. Grind coarsely and combine with the salt, bay leaves, rosemary and garlic. Spread half the mixture in the bottom of a glass or non-corrodible pan and place the pork on top. Cover with the remaining mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 250?F. Wash the pork and pat dry. Place fat side up in a baking pan and bake for 6 hours - that’s right, 6 hours. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
The carb count is actually negligible because the spices are washed off.

Mia LaCron is the founder of low-carb-diet-blog.info - http://www.low-carb-diet-blog.info - devoted to helping individuals eat a low carb diet.