Turkey and Bean's Soup

This is a good hearty soup that will keep you going.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground turkey breast
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper
(I used the left over cooked turkey and onion mix from the stuffed pastry I made last night for my soup. But directions are for starting from scratch)
1 can black beans
1 can white beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 small can of chicken stock
Water
Cilantro and Chives for garnish

Sautee chopped onions and garlic in a medium saucepan until golden. Add turkey and cook thoroughly. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Add diced tomatoes and black beans with juice. Strain white beans until clean of all juice. Fill can with beans still in it with water, pour into saucepan. Add can of chicken stock and heat until lightly boiling. Chop a small amount of cilantro and add it in. Stir it all together. All to lightly boil again until steaming hot. Pour into bowl and serve topped with a sprig of fresh cilantro and fresh chopped chives. Enjoy!

Freeze all extra for a day down the road.

Celebrating 30 and a walk on Cannon Beach.

Yes, it's true. I am now thirty. For my birthday it was drinks and a very heated Catch Phrase competition. A week later, I continued my celebration in Oregon. Walking the beach, listening to the waves wash on shore, and working on getting acquainted with my book again.

Besides finding out that I need to get my wisdom teeth out, and the massive tooth pain while on vacation, 30 is going great from the start. Enjoy the photos.

Stuffed Puffed Pastry

The great thing about this dish is that you can decide what you want to put inside it. I must thank Elisabeth for cooking for me the last night I was in Innsbruck, Austria. Using the same idea, she prepared a delicious treat that gave me energy for the next leg of my journey over seas. So have fun with what you prepare. Here is the recipe I came up with for the night. (Enough for two meals if your single, or for a family of four).

 

Ingredients:

Puffed Pastry sheet (buy these in the frozen section of your grocery store)

1 lb. Ground Turkey Breast (Jeannie O is my favorite)

1 onion

2 cloves garlic

Olive oil

Fresh basil chopped

Green beans (frozen is fine)

1 can Diced tomatoes (You will only use a bit of this so have a dish to save the rest)

Salt and pepper

Cheese (I didn’t have any in my fridge but I think it would have been nice to add).

 

Place oil in a skillet and heat. Chop onions and garlic and toss into hot oil. Allow to golden. Add turkey meat. As turkey is cooking, toss in half of your freshly chopped basil. Add salt and pepper. Cook thoroughly. 

While turkey is cooking take out the thawed puffed pastry. (If you are single you will only need to use one sheet, for a family use both that come in the pastry package). Place puffed pastry on a cookie sheet and fold out to full size. (I would use parchment paper on the bottom of the cookie sheet in case the ingredients boil over).  Take remainder of basil and sprinkle over the middle section of puffed pastry providing space on the ends to fold later. Then take green beans and layer on top of basil. Spoon diced tomatoes over green beans. When turkey is fully cooked spoon turkey and onion mix over the tomatoes. (Save extra turkey and onion mix in fridge to make a delicious soup the next day). Fold in the edges of the puffed pastry and then fold sides up and pinch to make something that looks similar to a calzone.

Place wrapped pastry in a 350* F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until puffed pastry is golden brown and cooked.  Serve on a plate and enjoy. I liked it with a glass of wine, but you decide. 

Vegas with the family!

Well, I left Thursday evening with my parents to head for Vegas where my uncle lives. My sister and uncle were waiting at the airport to pick us up. On our way back to Richard's house, I had the experience of eating Popeye Chicken for the first time. Arriving at the house we talked and then had a nice little sleep. Day two was interesting it took some time to get out of the house, but once Rob (my Dad's brother, my uncle) arrived we were talking again and left the house to go to the Santa Fe Casino. No money was won by anyone, but playing Keno with Dad and Shannon was a lot of fun. Day three, the girls (Shannon, Mom, and me) headed out on our own. After a long walk, a rest, we went shopping on the strip, had a makeover done, and then gambled and had dinner at New York New York. Home late at night, we finished the night off with the guys playing pool at Richards house. Day four was the Valley of Fire, a nice drive, beautiful sceanry, and a little hike. Then it was off to the Alliente Casino for a buffett and more gambling. Day five Rob headed out, then the family palyed a bit of "Mazedia," (an Italian game we think one of our uncles made up when he came back from Italy but that the family has loved playing for ages) then just a bit of relaxing in the sun before we went back to the airport to arrive in Salt Lake City with snow (again). No money won on the trip, but we had a lot of fun all the same. Enjoy the photos. (By the way this post was written in March and I am just getting to posting it).