SouthWest Turkey Meatloaf in Pepper Rings

I love the spring!  Singing birds, gentle breezes, the smell of fresh cut grass.  OhhhHhhHhhhHH!  It makes me happy.  Spring is my favorite season, there is nothing about it I do not love.  Oh wait, did I mention I do NOT love when on May 2nd, I wake up to 3 inches of snow?  HALT that love train. 

Spring and Summer usually also means lighter food.  I don't know about you all, but, I just am not as hungry in the summer.  To many fun things to be doing and the heat, oh LAWDY the heat.  You may not think Nebraska is humid, however, I am hear to tell you, it is more humid than anywhere I have lived.  Although after my experience last summer with Georgia humidity, I will never complain again.  See, I didn't complain, I just mentioned it was humid.   Seriously though, it is definitely time for some lighter options, health wise, and weather wise. 

We are ground turkey and chicken lovin' people.  My husband almost never knows when I substitute it for ground beef.  Even if he did notice, he wouldn't mind.  We love turkey burgers and chicken burgers too!  I have been making these little meatloaf stuffed pepper rings for a long time, I just decided it was a good time to share them, since my editor (my husband) informed me I needed too.  HA   I made these in the oven, but they can easily go on your grill.  I think they would make a great wee bit fancier option to a burger too!  I have this thing with cooked peppers.  If they aren't still a little crunchy I can't eat them.  Is it wrong that I peel the burger out, add it to a toasted bun, with slices of avocado, lettuce and tomato?  Well, it is just an OPTION. 

Now, while in my family we don't groove on black beans, you could certain add some into the meat mixture.  Just please don't tell me if you did.  OK?  Or you could add some corn.  Don't tell me if you did that either.  Cilantro?  Salsa?  The options are endless, but, I guarantee the flavor is awesome, and it will be a hit, no matter how ya serve it!

1 lb ground turkey
1 egg
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
2-3 large bell peppers (any color)
1/2 cup grated cheddar, Monterrey jack,  OR pepper jack cheese

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

Get your peppers sliced.  I needed 7 rings for my mixture.  Cut them so you et 2-3 out of each pepper.  I think I even got 4 out of one pepper.  Keep the tops and very bottoms you cut off.  Cut them as thick or thin as you want them.  How thick they are determines how much mixture you need so go with it.  I know you can make it work!

Chop about 2 tbsp of bell pepper VERY fine to add to meat mixture.

In a bowl combine turkey, egg, bread crumbs, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and garlic salt.  Stir in minced bell pepper as well. 

Lay the rings out on your baking sheet and fill them with your meat mixture.  Pat them flat so they fill up the entire pepper ring.   Bake for 30 minutes.   Remove pan and sprinkle cheese on top of each one. 

Put back in the oven that you have turned OFF, to melt cheese.

 

I hope you enjoy this delicious, healthy dish, that you can make in the oven OR on the grill.  Maybe even serve it along with some Mexican Rice!!

 

Your "tis the season to lighten things up" chefwannabe

 



PS.  I had a few of these leftover a couple of days later.  I used a knife and cut them up pretty well and used them for tacos.  Holy..YUM! 

 

 

 



Grillin' and Chillin' with Fire and Flavor

Summer is here, ready or not!  Get those grills fired up and slather on some sunscreen.  Get yourself a cold one and lounge in your grilling throne while your steaks come to the perfect level of done for you, all while you just chill!

I have a product I think you are going to love.  Do you can?  Do you pickle?  Do you roast?  And I KNOW you grill!   When I heard of this company I thought to myself, "Self you aren't a HUGE fan of grilling, but this is something incredible and you owe it to your grill and your food to give it a shot".  I am a very honest person, lying about a product for me is NOT an option.  I respect my readers to much than to mislead you, and I owe more respect to a company I review to NOT be honest.  Sometimes being opinionated is a curse!  Anyway, none of this is a problem here.  These Fire and Flavor products are off the charts, awesome.   One of the best things....?  You can pronounce and KNOW every single ingredient!  Simple and natural!  This company was founded in 2003 by Gena and Davis Knox.  They have expanded to 14,000 retail stores with their products!  Incredible drive and determination I say!

So, my camera decided to not transfer some of my photos to the card but delete them off my camera, I will give you such a descriptive interpretation you will swear you can taste it.  You might even sweat as if you were out grilling and might need to grab a cold beer to satisfy your summer thirst!


First off I tried the Sweet Ancho Chile (seasoning for oven roasted fries).
Shut the front door.  These are so good, don't let the fear of heat get to you, they aren't spicy hot!  I squeezed a little lime juice over the top before serving as well, and shaaaa-ZAM!  This seasoning, seasons 5 LBS of potatoes!!!  (sweet or regular).  This is my ONLY wish with this product.  That they had a ziploc closure on the packaging.  5lbs is alot of potatoes MOST people won't be making that many for one meal and even though I just popped mine into Ziploc I do wish they had their own little closure thing.  By the way did I mention I love their packaging?  I do.  For the record.  I don't see any reason you couldn't put your wedges on the grill as well.  I might par cook my potatoes in the micro for 5 minutes, but then oil, and season them up and throw them on the grill with your meat or fish!  Retails for only $3.99!

Next I tried the Crispy Icebox Dill Spices.  These were great as well! I just made one container, (thank you to my fav Chinese takeout place for these great reusable containers).  Look at the spices and flavor in there!  There are easy directions on the back of the package.  I would advise soaking your cucumbers in cold water as it suggests first, for a crispier pickle.  I like crunchy pickles so that is my opinion.  They are kind enough to give you directions for quick refrigerator pickles or shelf stable canning of the pickles.  This retails for only $3.99!

Next are the Fire and Flavor Cedar Grilling Planks.  These are AwWwwwsssooOmmmmMeeeE!  So easy to use and the flavor infused into my chicken like crazy!  It was smokey, woodsy, and rustic, and so moist and juicy!  I wish I had photos but I will insert a photo of the planks from the website.

They are so easy to use, you just soak them in water.  This is SO important!  Don't skimp on your time, make sure they are soaked well and make sure your grill is to the directed temp.  I cooked chicken because I wanted a good healthy and honest flavor to come through and I thought the mild chicken flavor would allow that.  Please, try these.  You can even reuse the planks, if you follow the directions on how to do so!!   Fire and Flavor also has put out these Cedar Papers.  You roll your food in them after following the directions and throw them on the fire!  They are single use, and there is a recipe right on the package for you, if you like.  I don't want to open the package so you will have to just read the directions if you get them!  There are 8 in the package.

Then there is a Salt and Vinegar Seasoning.  If you follow my blogs you will know I posted a Roasted Sunflower Seed recipe.  I did a second batch using some of this seasoning and it was incredible.  I love seasonings I can use for more than one thing!  I will be doing potatoes with them next week, my husband grew up in England, he will love them!  He keeps asking me when I am going to make them!

I really couldn't be happier with these products.  I feel they were a complete hit, and completely worth their inexpensive price.  You get so much product for the money.  They deliver in every way.  There is such a huge array of products, I urge you to go check them out on their website and do some shopping.  Father's Day is coming!  Perfect for your dad and his grilling addictions!

Here is where it gets even more exciting.  The kind folks over at Fire and Flavor send me some goodies to give away to one of my readers!  I saved out a few cool items and added a Grilling cookbook!  The rules are easy.  When you have done each of these leave me a comment here saying you have done so.  So if you do them all, you will have left me 5 comments! (5 entries)  Got it?

1. Follow here me on Blogger.
2. Follow me on Facebook
3. Follow Fire and Flavor on Facebook.
4. Follow me on Twitter.
5. Leave a comment under this blog with the product you would most like to try from their website.

This giveaway is open from the minute I broadcast this blog until 6 p.m on Sunday, June 10th.  I will use random.org to choose my winner.

Remember when you follow me on Facebook to add FoodThoughtsOfaChefWannabe to your news feed or a list so it will show up in your news feed!  I love having an interactive FB page, but with all of their new craziness, unfortunately unless you do this, I cannot reach all of you!

I can't wait for one of my lucky, faithful readers to get to try these products!  Make sure to get entered and thank you as always for reading and keeping me entertained with your funny food stories, photos and opinions on everything!

Your "Fire and Flavor lovin"chefwannabe

Chris

Chinese BBQ Chicken Skewers

Monday evening...what are your evenings usually like?  Though I am not huge on sitting in front of the TV, I do have some shows I enjoy.  Tonight, it is Disappeared, Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets *aka creepy dead voice show* and of course the Real Housewives. Yes, I am completely addicted to all the Real Housewives shows. Not Miami, that was lame. I am sucked right into all the Kardashian drama and never mind Rachel Zoe. I have had all the Food Network I can take for now. I can only see the same dish cooked so many ways before I just can't do it. I die for Anne Burrell and had tickets to see her not been 1,000.00 a piece, I would have a framed photo of her and I at the Food Bank of America Fundraiser last year. I DVR these shows, and then treat myself to watching after I accomplish certain IMPORTANT things I need to accomplish in my day. I often consider what I watch, mind rot. But I am addicted and therein lies the problem. I don't watch the news, I occasionally read it online, I don't see any reason to know every shooting, political jargon, or what celebrity is "bumpin' ugly's" with someone else's husband/wife.  But do NOT keep me from my Real Housewives shows.  Got it?

Anyway, after a trip to the Asian Market last night, I decided to get moving on some Asian inspired dishes. The first and my husbands favorite was this recipe. He is an avid fan of hoisin sauce.  These skewers would be great on a regular bbq grill if that is your "thing" as well as in the oven which is how I prepared them. You can use tenderloins of chicken for this for a shortcut, but I recommend boneless-skinless thighs. I used breasts because it is what I had but thighs would always be my first choice for this dish. Cut each one into 3 strips. This recipe made 9, I used 3 chicken breasts but with the amount of marinade, I would say you could easily use up to 5 or 6 pieces of chicken cut into strips. If you are cooking inside, make sure to line your baking sheet with foil! I would not have enjoyed scrubbing this pan! Here is what you will need:

3-6 b/s chicken thighs, or breasts each cut into 3 long strips OR use tenderloins
3 tbsp soy sauce (I use low sodium)
1/8 - 1/4 tsp ground ginger (you choose your amount)
1 cup hoisin sauce + 1/3 cup (save for basting)
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 clove of garlic minced or grated
Long wooden or metal skewers  (if wooden, soak in a cake pan of water until ready to use)

 

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  In a large Ziploc bag combine, soy sauce, ginger, hoisin, pepper, and garlic.  Add in chicken, push out air and seal bag.  Mush around for a few minutes until all chicken is coated.  Marinate at least 3 hours, overnight would be awesome. Remove from bag and skewer using a weaving method with the skewer.  Lay on foil lined cookie sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 20-25 min *maybe less for tenderloins*.  Flip halfway through and baste with remaining hoisin.  These can also be cooked on your outdoor grill.  Grill approximately 10 minutes on each side, while still basting or until cooked completely through.  

You can serve these with rice, use in lettuce cups, wraps, or over lo mein.  Or, just enjoy them alone!!!

Enjoy!! 

 

Your "chinese food lovin'" chefwannabe

Chris