Open Face Sandwich Board

Hi all– My buddy Janet came over for lunch today so we could plan a project we’re working on together.  so instead of making her a sandwich (a little dull), I set out all the fixings on a board so we could pile up our own open face sandwiches (more fun).  And we had mini ice cream cones from the market for dessert– only 110 calories each ((but I wont’ tell you how many we ate!!).

It isn’t really a “recipe”– just an idea!

OPEN FACE SANDWICH BOARD
Thick sliced sour dough loaf
Sliced turkey
Sliced ham
Colby Jack cheese
Fresh mozzarella
Sliced avocado
Arugula
Orange marmelade
Seedy mustard
Mint
Sea salt
Fresh apricots (for munching, not sandwiches)

Find an ample board or platter and start arranging!  Good bread and whatever options you can find in your kitchen to pile on top!  It’s that simple.

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Turkey Spinach Burgers

Hi there–We have the custom around here to eat Monday night dinner in front of the t.v. — watching “Next Food Network Star” that we recorded on Sunday evening.  Are you watching too??  Who do you think will win it??  We have our favorites!!

So tonight with our serving of t.v., we dug into these Turkey Spinach Burgers, hot from the stove.  They have a whole cup of spinach in each burger and the onions, cumin, garlic and lots of salt & pepper flavor the turkey just fine.  I think you’d like them as much as we did.

TURKEY SPINACH BURGERS
4 cups spinach, chopped, stems removed
4 green onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground turkey
1 tsp. cumin
salt & freshly ground pepper
2-3 tab. olive oil
4 hamburger buns
fixings: tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, mayo, ketchup…

Put the chopped spinach, sliced green onion, minced garlic, turkey and cumin into a mixing bowl. Squish it all together with your hands (or with a fork it you want to be tidy).  Form 4 hamburger patties.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.  Put the hamburgers into the skillet.  Liberally salt & pepper the 4 patties as they cook, about 4 minutes on each side on medium high heat.  (Resist the temptation to squish them flatter with your spatula).

Serve them up hot on buns with all the fixings!

Turkey Alfredo

Hey there–  I’m thankful for the person who first thought to team up butter, garlic and parmesan and load it onto pasta.  They were brilliant!  I love this simple little dish that helpfully used up the left over cooked turkey stashed in the freezer.  You could used chicken just as well.  I’ve been enjoying the leftovers all week for lunch at school…

TURKEY ALFREDO
8 oz. pasta –whatever is your favorite
2 cups cooked turkey, cut in chunks
8 to 10 crimini mushrooms, cut in nice little chunks
2 tab. olive oil
1/4 cup butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2  cups whole milk*
1/2 cup parmesan reggiano cheese
salt to taste (about 1/4 tsp.)

Put the water on to boil and cook up the pasta.   Then sear the mushrooms in the oil.  Remove them from the pan and wipe it clean.  Then melt the butter in the pan along with the garlic.  When it’s starts to simmer, stir in the flour to make a paste.  Then gradually mix in the milk, stirring all the while.  When it thickens into a creamy sauce, add in the cheese and turkey.  That’s it!  So much flavor for so little work.

Serve it up with a crispy salad and a sturdy chunk of good bread.  Dinner.

*We only had nonfat on hand and it worked just fine (although I’m sure whole milk could have/would have been creamier).

Turkey Meatballs

Hi friends– Larry is doing to the dishes (just one of the reasons I love that guy), so I can sit and write up this yummy Turkey Meatball recipe for you.  These little cuties are tender and savory– really quite delicious.  We had them over pasta tonight with a simple sauce of small cut tomatoes, onion, garlic…  But I was thinking they would make super meatball sandwiches together with some grilled peppers and onions.  Next time.

TURKEY MEATBALLS
1 pound ground turkey
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup bread crumbs
dash pepper
1/3 cup roasted red peppers, finely chopped
1/4 cup onion, minced

Mix all these ingredients well.  Scoop out by small spoonfulls and shape them into cute little meatballs.  Set them out on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray and bake them up at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes (depends on how well done you like them).  Serve them up with your favorite pasta sauce over your favorite pasta and dig in!