Turkey (Not the Country) Burgers

How did it take me all these years to discover the turkey burger?  I actually visited the far away country of Turkey before I ever tasted a "turkey burger."  And they're SO good.  And SO easy to make in less than 20 minutes.  All you need is some ground turkey, various "spices" (I used sun-dried tomato, chopped spinach, basil, garlic, and chili powder), and maybe a slice of cheese (I used pepperjack).  Any bread will suffice as a "bun" (I used whole wheat mini pitas).  Easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. mix all ingredients by hand in a large bowl.  form into 1" thick patties.

I wish I had a real grill, but the best I've got is my go-to George Foreman.  It worked just as well.  I melted the cheese on the burger and toasted my pita bread in the leftover grease.

2. add a slice of cheese and toast your bread

Then I assembled my burger and let the cheese ooze out the sides of the bread.  Oh yummy!  Surprisingly lean and made entirely of organic ingredients.  My stomach and my soul thanks me profusely.

3. assemble, plate, and eat

Cheap and delicious!  I got 0.75 lbs of ground turkey for $5.99 which made 2 large patties.  I had everything else in the pantry.  A $3.00 meal?  Keep them coming!

a health-conscious spin on an american favorite

The Recipe for Happiness

a daily dose of the best medicine

It's no secret that I've been doing a lot of cooking and contemplating lately.  Which begs the question, "What does it really take to bake happiness into each and every day?"  Since I've had plenty of time to experiment with one of life's curious questions, I thought I'd share my own recipe.   This afternoon, I wrote it on my chalkboards and snapped a photo.  In case you can't quite decipher my chicken scratch, please allow me to elaborate...

"In life, add:
2 c. faith
1 c. concern for others
1/2 c. time to relax
3 tbsp. healthy meals
1 tbsp exercise
pinch of creativity
Mix ingredients well and share with those that you love.  Enjoy!"



My recipe might not win a blue ribbon in every county fair, but it's sure been a reliable rubric for making everyday meaningful.  If I can start and end each day with a simple prayer, do something for someone else (a smile to a stranger, an e-mail to an old friend, a well-timed phone call, or a volunteer project), enjoy something for me (a tv show, an ice cream cone, time to read, etc), eat healthy and home-cooked meals, get some kind of exercise (a dance class, a quick run, some cardio, or light weights), and stroke my inner creative genius in some small way (even if it's bending a paper clip into the shape of a heart) then I have had a truly successful - and happy day.



I may not have discovered this unique balance without my summer sabbatical.  Therefore, I am thankful.  I am finally beginning to understand how to maximize my own happiness.

Friday Favorites

So it's Friday!  And this weekend I'm off to Yosemite with a group of 80 from two churches in San Francisco.  The best way to make friends?  I'm hedging my charming personality with some homemade "camping cookies" (recipe here)!

ready to relax...

I'll be back on Sunday night with tales to tell of bear attacks (hope not!), non-ending hikes up steep and slippery slopes, and red wine by the campfire.  Have a great weekend (I sure plan on it) and of course, Go Irish, Beat Huskies!

A Darn Good BBQ Chicken Pizza

(I promise this will be the last food-related post for awhile!  It seems that all I can manage to write about is what I do in the kitchen...)

So here's what you'll need:

honey wheat crust, bbq, carmelized onions, chicken, mozzarella, and cilantro

My recipe for honey wheat pizza dough is so simple.  I've got it down to less than 5 minutes.  Take 1 packet of yeast and stir into 1 cup of hot (not boiling water).  Add 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 2 tbsp honey.  Add 3c of whole wheat flour, one cup at a time.  Cover with a towel and allow the dough to rise by placing it in the oven (it should be OFF, of course) for 30-45 minutes.  Separate the dough into halves or thirds.  Two halves will give you two medium sized pizzas, three thirds yields closer to three small pizzas (suitable for 1).  Freeze the leftovers for another time.

Spread the dough to 1/4" thick and bake for 6-7 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.  Remove from oven and add toppings (otherwise the weight of your toppings may prevent the crust from getting crispy).  Begin by spreading the BBQ and adding shredded mozzarella.  Then top with carmelized onions, chicken cutlets, and cilantro.  Bake at 425 degrees until cheese is melted.

this is gonna be delicious!

Bon apetit!

Everyday Italian

Two of my favorite meals (one in Oslo at Onkel Donald with Lindsay + one in Warsaw at a patisserie with Steve) in Europe this summer both involved a few basic things.  Basil, tomato, and fresh mozzarella on a baguette.  Plain, simple, light.  The caprese sandwich is almost as refreshing as the experience of foreign traveling itself.

Today I set out to replicate what I paid $20 for in Norway (and by comparison, about $6 for in Warsaw).  After my chiropractor appointment and exercise class this morning, I stopped by Whole Foods, savoring the midmorning time at the market with a non-fat hot cocoa from the downstairs cafe.  I spent at least 5 minutes picking through plum tomatoes, closely inspecting each one for color and texture.  Too soft?  Put it back.  Not ripe enough?  No go.  In the cheese aisle I bought a big cylinder of mozzarella.  And of course, I picked up a mini baguette.

here's what you'll need to make a caprese sandwich

Back at home, I had fresh basil, olive oil and a jar of pesto.  To make the sandwich, I carefully sliced one tomato into four pieces.  I selected three leaves of basil and cut the baguette in two.  I added pesto to the bottom half of the baguette, placed the basil on top and added three pieces of sliced mozarella (which was drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper).  On top went the four pieces of plum tomato and the top half of the baguette.

slicing and spreading

I could barely believe that something so delicious required so little effort.  I poured myself a glass of sangiovese and sat down to enjoy my sandwich.  Just as delicious as I remember it tasting on an August afternoon in Warsaw...

tastes as beautiful as it looks!