Very Easy Turkey Black Bean Chili with Pumpkin
Seems somehow fitting that the first recipe I post is a "refrigerator surprise" type recipe. With only one day off from my day job, I get a little lazy on Thursdays. I know I should want to be out and about, running to all the places I wish I had time for the rest of the week, but sometimes, no such luck. Today is one of those days. So, since I need to eat, into the 'fridge and freezer I go. Pulled out a bunch of stuff, and this is what I came up with.
Started with some green onion, chopped garlic, cilantro, diced pumpkin and basmati rice sauteed in some coconut oil. (I adore coconut oil - flavor, nutrition, smoke point, overall yumminess). I cooked this for about five minutes over medium heat.
Added sweet onion, red and green bell peppers, black beans, parsley, ground cumin and chili powder. Saute this for another five minutes.
This is where it got interesting - added some diced honey smoked turkey breast (deli style, low sodium, all natural), chicken stock, a little bourbon and Sam Adams Belgium Ale. Yup, beer and booze. All the alcohol cooks out, leaving a fab flavor, so don't worry about feeding this to kids. Of course you can leave this out, use just chicken stock. If you like spicy food, now is the time to add some cayenne or other hot peppers. Jalapenos would work well, as would chipotle.
A can of diced tomatoes finishes it off before it's set over low heat to simmer. When the pumpkin is tender and the rice is cooked, you're ready to feast!
Finished chili, with avocado. Add some cheese and sour cream if you like, some diced tomato or pico de gallo, tortilla chips for texture.... or use this as a filling for tacos or wraps with lots of dark greens. Positively yum!
Dairy Free Banana "Ice Cream"
Yup, that's what I said. Banana ice cream without the cream, but not without the creaminess. Super simple if you have a good blender or food processor. A treat that seems far more naughty than it is.
This is all you need to make luscious soft serve banana ice cream - frozen bananas and a blender. I use three or four for a single serving. I buy the overripe ones for pennies on the dollar, and pop them right in the freezer. Peel them gently with a paring knife, whack them into chunks and pop them in the blender.
See? You don't even need little chunks. Just get it in there ASAP so nothing thaws.
Start on medium speed, breaking the banana up into small pieces, then increase the speed and let it go. You may have to stop and scrape down the sides occasionally.
All of a sudden it will start to get creamy, pureeing it perfectly.
After about 4-5 minutes, it turns into this amazingly smooth ice cream like texture.
I like to top it with cacao nibs and a little coconut. Delish!!
A couple of notes:
If you have a high powered blender like a Ninja or Vitamix, you can get this done in under three minutes with almost no scraping.
Take the completed ice cream and put it into a freezer container with a tight fitting lid. Freeze it for a few hours for a scoopable ice cream.
The add ins are endless. Chocolate, peanut butter, pineapple, cacao, coconut, dulce de leche, caramel sauce, nuts, seeds.... the list goes on forever. Do what you like, and do it often!
A couple of notes:
If you have a high powered blender like a Ninja or Vitamix, you can get this done in under three minutes with almost no scraping.
Take the completed ice cream and put it into a freezer container with a tight fitting lid. Freeze it for a few hours for a scoopable ice cream.
The add ins are endless. Chocolate, peanut butter, pineapple, cacao, coconut, dulce de leche, caramel sauce, nuts, seeds.... the list goes on forever. Do what you like, and do it often!