Turkey Satay Burgers

by Leslie

Last week we had some amazing weather here.  I think most people have been having the same.  Sunny skies, light breezes, and high temps.  I've gotta say, I love it, but doesn't it feel weird?  I mean, it is March, after all.  Not May or June.  I'm dealing with it okay, though.  I suppose I'll tolerate it.  Maybe I'll fly a kite, go on a walk, and clean off the grill.  That way, I can make these delicious burgers.

I found this recipe when I was a freshman in college.  That means I was eating Easy Mac out of a plastic bowl and washing it down with a large glass of Tang.  I wasn't exactly doing a lot of cooking on my own (especially any that required anything but a hot pot).  But, I do remember seeing this recipe and thinking it sounded amazing.  So I cut it out and lodged it in between the pages of some book I was reading.  I happened upon it a few years later (when I actually owned my own dishes) and made them.

I hate to admit that I have no idea what magazine the recipe came from, so, if any of you recognize it, let me know!

The key to these turkey burgers is the amazing mix of flavors--green onion, peanut butter, and lemon make them truly mouthwatering.

Green onion, anyone?  Raw turkey, anyone?

You melt the peanut butter ever-so-slightly so it combines easily with the meat mixture.

My husband loves these turkey burgers.  I suggest you follow Kevin McAllistar's advice and "Give 'em a whirl".  

Toodle-oo!

Turkey Satay Burgers

Print this recipe!

Serves 6

6 T. peanut butter
1 ¾ lbs. ground turkey
6 scallions, minced
6 T. minced cilantro
6 T. dry, unseasoned breadcrumbs
1 T. lemon zest (optional)
3 tsp. lemon juice
2 T. minced pickled jalapenos (optional)
½ tsp. black pepper
¼ tsp. salt
2 T. oil

1)  Place peanut butter in a small bowl over a pot of boiling water.  Stir peanut butter until slightly liquified. This could also be done in the microwave.
2)  Remove from heat and add to turkey.  Mix well to distribute the peanut butter evenly.
3)  Add other ingredients to turkey mixture (except oil) and mix lightly.  Don’t overwork that bird!
4)  Form into 6 patties.  Fry in the oil or grill--about 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

Spring Blooms

by Erin

Who knew that spring could actually spring up on the first day of spring?  Who knew that it could pop up before the first day of spring?  Surely not me.  But then, I'll surely take it!  We've been enjoying the beautiful new blossoms popping up in our yard.  Take a walk with me. . .

On the north side of our house we have a beautiful forsythia.

Forsythia

What's even more fun is that it is right next to the window, which means we can see it from our dining room.  Lovely.  Let's move into the backyard, shall we?

How about our beautiful pear tree?

ornamental pear tree

 

And nothing says that spring has sprung like these little sweeties, huh? 

 

I hope you are enjoying these beautiful days.  I'm sorry this isn't longer, but I've got to get outside!

Getting out of a rut.

by Leslie

Do you have those days where you can't seem to get anything accomplished?  I do.  I feel uninspired and tired and wish that something would give me a good kick to get me going.  Sometimes those days turn into weeks and I am left feeling like I've been walking in place, making no progress.  When times like that come, it's rare that any outside source is going to suddenly jump into my life and make me spark into action.  Sometimes I have to try to do it myself.

Today I'm going to share with you some of the things that help me move through a rut and make me happy.  There is nothing more satisfying than GETTING SOMETHING DONE!

1.  Find some cheer

Today I swapped out my winter penguin window art and opted for something a little cheerier.  I mean, who can resist a smiling snail?


2.  Freshen up a bit

I decided it was high time I dusted my living room, so I opened a coke and went to it.  In doing so, I purged a few magazines and threw out random knick knacks that were cluttering all our horizontal spaces.  Now everything looks so much fresher and neater.


3.  Get something done right

I don't mind doing laundry, but I hate folding it and putting it away.  Today, I decided to fold all our clothes as neatly as possible and put them in their correct places.  It feels good and I love looking at neat and uniform piles of sweet smelling t-shirts.  I guess this one doesn't have to apply to just laundry--cleaning your bathroom, vacuuming the floor, throwing out clothes that don't fit you anymore--FEELS goooood.


4.  Get your nature on

Few things feel better than a leisurely walk.  I have a trail nearby my house and it is always good to take time to walk, listen to music, and step away from the technology that always tempts me at home.

5.  Sit down and finish a book

Since starting work at a public library, I am at no loss for great books to read.  I have read more books this year than I probably did in all of 2011.  I love reading a book from start to finish and I love wanting to get home so I can sit down and see what happens next.  I joined a book club in February, and although we have only read one book so far, I think it will be good for me.  Now I am reading those "best sellers" as well as other things I pick up off the shelf, giving me a sense that I can better recommend books to people.

So, there's my two cents.  This is what I've done today to make myself feel a little more productive and a little more happy.  So, now I'm going to sit down and take a chunk out of this book!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

By: Laura

I'm sure many folks have been waiting with anticipation for another quick weeknight meal idea.  If you missed the last post I did on Chicken Fetticine, be sure to check that out too.  Here is the newest quick week night meal: Chicken Tortilla Soup (thank you Penzey's Spices for another great recipe!)  Seriously, it's fast stuff with little to no prep either.  Just throw some canned goods in the crock pot and go (for 8-10 hours or less if need be).  Let me give you the details below.

Start by adding all your canned goods including: diced peeled tomatoes with green chilies, enchilada sauce, black beans, and chicken broth.  Add frozen corn, one chicken breast, cumin, chili powder and mexican oregano. (P.S. I got a wrist cramp from all this can opening, but it was worth it!)

Finally, add some cut up corn tortillas, onion, and garlic.  (Just so you know,  I used Penzey's minced garlic and onion powder to make things even easier and it still turned out great.)

Slow cook that soup for 2 to 10 hours depending on your cooking method (see below) and you've got yourself a delicious soup people!  Add garnishes of sour cream, cheese, chips, cilantro and lime wedges if you'd like.  

That's all there is to it.  Come home to a house smelling like your favorite Mexican dish without all the usual prep and clean up.  And even though you spent no time on the soup, your family will rave about it.  So get to it and start your fiesta tonight!

NOTE: This recipe is versatile in that you can also make in vegetarian by cutting out the chicken and adding more beans as well as substituting vegetable broth for the chicken broth and you've got a great vegetarian option. 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Recipe - Penzey's Spices

1   boneless, skinless chicken breast (6-8 ounces)

2  15 oz. cans diced peeled tomatoes with green chilies 

    (you can use tomatoes without chilies, just add a 4 oz can of mild green chilies.)

1  28 oz can enchilada sauce (red or green)

2  cups frozen corn

2  15 oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1  medium onion chopped

2  cloves garlic (1/2 t. Penzey's minced garlic)

2  cups chicken broth

1 1/2 t. ground cumin

1 1/2 t. medium chili powder

1 1/2 t. mexican oregano

3 corn tortillas roughly chopped or torn into 1 inch pieces

2 TB. fresh cilantro, chopped 

1-2 TB lime juice

Place everything except cilantro and lime juice in a slow cooker or heavy covered soup kettle.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours in the slow cooker, or on low on the stove top for 2 hours.  Remove the chicken and shred with two forks; return to the pot with the cilantro and lime juice.  Serve with optional garnishes.  

The Little Things

by Erin

Max and I worked on our new abode in a frenzy when we moved in.  We had a good milemarker in that we were hosting Thanksgiving for both of our families, so we had to get it liveable by then.  After Thanksgiving Max and I vowed not to take on any more big projects for a month or two.  That has now slid into about three months, and there is only the slightest mentioning of what we want to accomplish next.  In the mean time we've been keeping things tidy but lived in, and we have doing little things here and there to keep up the "momentum." 

On a whim we put up various photos, pieces of art work, cards, and what not up on to the hallway wall for a Royal Tenenbaum style hallway wall.

Wall of fun!

This had me looking forward to walking through the hallway for at least a couple of weeks (who am I kidding, I still love it).  I love to stop to look at everything since they are some of the pictures and precious pieces that we have kept over the years.  I dig the random and crookedness of it of it all, and I'm pretty confident the wall goodies will keep growing and changing through the years.

Another little item that we put up were these cutie spice racks that I found with my grandma at a resale shop in York, Nebraska several years ago.

vintage spice rack

Our favorite spices got the prime spot in the metal shelves right over the stove.  And they are placed next to this sweet little lamp I got at the same shop on the same day.  Score!

vintage spice rack and lamp

It is amazing how exciting it is to walk into a room with something new up.  So maybe this post will inspire you to hang that print you've got sitting there or maybe swap out some old photos for a new (or vise versa)!  Enjoy

Upcoming: You can also see that another 'little' thing that will soon be revealed are the kitchen curtains.  I've got to get those hemmed before I show 'em off.  In the mean time, you can look forward to a kitchen reveal and cafe curtain tutorial from Test-Nester, Erin.