White Bean and Turkey Chili...

 Not very pretty I know.  Beige meat  usually isn't.  But don't let the bland color fool you.  This low fat turkey chili is delicious.  Here's the recipe from Allrecipes.com.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
• 2 (4 ounce) cans canned green chile peppers, chopped
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• ground cayenne pepper to taste
• 3 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans
• 5 cups chicken broth ( 4 cups is plenty)
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese ( I use 1 cup lite Jack cheese)

Directions

1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the onion, garlic and ground turkey and saute for 10 minutes, or until turkey is well browned. Add the chile peppers, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper to taste and saute 5 more minutes.
2. Add two cans of the beans and the chicken broth to the pot. Take the third can of beans and puree them in a blender or food processor. Add this to the pot along with the cheese. Stir well and simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt.

Simple Pleasures......

Fresh berries and fruit are in abundance at all the grocery stores. Just look at the size of these sweet blackberries and the gorgeous green color of my juicy kiwi.. This was my snack when I came home from work today.  So simple so delicious.  I love this time of year.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo.....

I'm celebrating Cinco de Mayo with south of the border dishes this week. Black bean and corn salad from Allrecipes.com is muy delicioso.

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 (15 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained
• 8 green onions, chopped
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced
• 1 (4 ounce) jar pimentos
• 3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• 1 clove minced fresh garlic 
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the black beans, corn, green onions, jalapeno peppers, bell pepper, avocado, pimentos, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and Italian dressing.  Toss, and chill until serving.

Giada Knock Off

This dessert was an unexpected success.  I was watching Giada one day and she made this delicious strawberry parfait.  Her recipe called for a cup of heavy cream, whipped,  mashed up strawberries with sugar and vanilla meringue cookies.  I loved the look of Giada's dessert, but knew whipped cream was not going to be an ingredients in my reduced calorie version.
Here is my recipe.

• 1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries ( I didn't add sugar to mine)
• 6 oz. non fat vanilla bean yogurt (Trader Joe's) you can see the vanilla beans in it!
• 1 tsp.Mascarpone cheese
• 2 fat free vanilla meringue cookies

 Mix the Mascarpone into the vanilla bean yogurt, crumble one meringue cookie into the yogurt as well. Spoon half of the strawberries in a glass, top with yogurt , more strawberries  and so on.  Crumble the last cookie on top.  Soooo good!

Chimichurri Sauce.....

 

I first had this garlicky fresh sauce at an Argentinian  Restaurant.  Although this piquant sauce is usually spooned over grilled steak or chicken, at my house we celebrate it's versatility and eat it with everything.  Today we had it as a snack with grilled French bread.  Here is my version.

Chimichurri Sauce

• 1 cup fresh Italian flat leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp. fresh oregano
• 1/2 extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• pinch of red pepper flakes

I am always amazed how a few humble ingredients can become such a tasty treat.  You will love the bright freshness in this sauce!
 

 Delicious!!!

Pulled Pork and Cole Slaw

The weather this weekend seemed to insist I make something that had to be eaten outside in the warm sunshine.  I agreed and quickly set about making pulled pork and cole slaw  Enjoy this easy to prepare but delicious pork dish.

 Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

• 4 lbs. Boneless Boston Pork Butt
• 1/2 cup of black coffee.  
• 15 oz. can low sodium beef broth
• Barbeque Sauce for the cooked pork

Place the first three ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high for at least six hours. ( barbeque sauce is for later) When it is fork tender and easy to pull apart and shred it is done.  Drain off all of the cooking liquid then take two forks and proceed to pull the the tender pork apart.   Add your favorite barbeque sauce and use as much or as little as your taste buds prefer.   We like all kinds of barbeque sauce but today we used Sweet Baby Ray's.

Low Fat Cole Slaw

• 1 cup fat-free Miracle Whip
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup carrots, shredded and then minced
• 8 cups cabbage shredded and minced
• 2 tbsp. grated onion

Combine the Miracle Whip with the sugar and mix until sugar is dissolved. Add remaining ingredients mix and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

We enjoyed our pulled pork and cole slaw with an ice cold Blue Moon Beer.

Patriot's Day....Battles of Lexington and Concord

Above is the Old North Bridge Concord Massachusetts. The start of the American Revolution War took place right here.....

Close up of the Old North Bridge

 
By Ralph Waldo Emerson
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard 'round the world.
In "Concord Hymn" on July 4, 1837


I find the Grave of the British Soldiers quite moving.   A mothers loss is always great no matter which side you are fighting for.

This gentleman is reenacting a British soldier standing guard and in honor of the fallen British soldiers. He is standing at the shore of the Concord River which flows under the Old North Bridge.

Paul Revere Statue Boston Massachusetts

Every student in Massachusetts has listen to or as had to learn some part of this historical poem. 
Here is an excerpt from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous poem .....
 
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. 

Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, "If the British march

By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm."

Patriot's Day is a Massachusetts and Maine state holiday and commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord. It is celebrated on the third Monday in April.   This holiday is not to be confused with Patriot Day which commemorates 9/11.