Only in SA

Chocolate Chili ( my favorite chili )

Prep 20 min | Cook 2-3 hours | Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 medium onions, diced (about 2 cups)
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 teaspoons)
2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon salt
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1 can (14.5 ounces) fire-roasted, chopped tomatoes
1 can (14.5 ounces) beef broth
1 cup water

Directions:

1. Heat a large, deep pot over medium-high heat, then add the coconut oil. When the oil is melted, add onions, stir with a wooden spoon and cook until they’re translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and as soon as it’s fragrant, about 30 seconds, crumble the ground meat into the pan with your hands, mixing with the wooden spoon to combine. Continue to cook the meat, stirring often, until it’s no longer pink.

2. In a small bowl, crush the oregano between your palms to release its flavor, then add the chili powder, cumin, cocoa, allspice, and salt. Combine with a fork, then add to the pot, stirring like you mean it. Add tomato paste and stir until combined, about 2 minutes.

3. Add the tomatoes with their juice, beef broth, and water to the pot. Stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so the chili enjoys a gentle simmer. Simmer uncovered for at least two hours. Do not skimp on the simmer! Serve in deep bowls with big spoons.

Variations:
Try a meat combo by mixing ground beef with ground turkey, pork, or bison.
Make a double batch and freeze half so you have chili-on-demand.
Top with sliced olives, diced onions, and/or avocado slices.

Crazy Good Coffee Pot Roast

?

• 1 5-6 lb beef roast (I used a chuck roast)
• 1 large onion, sliced thin
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
• sea salt, pepper, marjoram
• 1/2 cup (or so) strong brewed coffee
• 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1.  Slice your onion and smash your garlic.  Place in the bottom of your crockpot.

2.  Generously (but not too generously) sprinkle your roast with salt, pepper and marjoram.  Be sure to rub the spices into the meat on both sides.  Place roast on top of onions and garlic.

3.  Brew your coffee and pour over the top of roast.  Add vinegar as well.

4.  Cook on low for 10 hours or so.  I cooked it on low all night and then switched it to warm all day long (until dinner time).

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Ingredients 

• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Stir all ingredients together.

Lemon Dill Pesto( great for Seafood)

gluten-free | dairy-free | sugar-free | vegan | egg-free | soy-free

recipe type: Condiment

serves: 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 bunch / handful fresh dill, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup walnuts
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ – ½ cup oil
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Add the walnuts and garlic to a food processor and pulse until you have a sandy texture, about 5 pulses.
2. Add the dill, lemon juice and zest, and the salt and pepper. Turn the food processor on, removing the pusher. Slowly pour the oil through the open hole in the lid until you have the consistency you’re looking for.

Herbed Turkey Burgers with Zucchini Buns

serves: 2

Ingredients

• 8 – 10 oz ground organic, lean turkey meat
• 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 thick slices of zucchini (or eggplant, summer squash, etc.)
• Olive oil spray
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Toppings: sliced tomato, avocado, cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayo, hot sauce, etc.

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the turkey meat, oregano and garlic cloves, and mix with your hands until fully combined. Form into two patties and set aside.
2. Heat a grill pan (or outdoor grill) to medium high heat.
3. Spray the zucchini on both sides and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Add the zucchini to the grill pan, cooking 2 – 3 minutes per side until you have nice grill marks and the zucchini still holds its shape.
5. Add the turkey burgers to the grill, cooking 3 – 5 minutes per side, until cooked.
6. Serve between zucchini slices and add your preferred toppings.
7. Enjoy!

Notes

gluten-free | dairy-free | sugar-free | egg-free | nut-free | soy-free

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DUAL CONTACT GRILLING TIMES

VEGETABLES	DUAL CONTACT GRILLING TIMES
ASPARAGUS	Marinate if desired. Grill for 2 - 4 minutes.
BELL PEPPERS	Halve peppers, remove seeds and membranes. Marinate if desired. Grill for 4 - 5 minutes.
EGGPLANT	Slice 1/2 to 1" thick. Grill for 4 - 5 minutes.
LEEKS	Rinse thoroughly and slice. Rinse again to remove any dirt of sand between layers and dry with paper towel. Grill for 2 - 3 minutes.
MUSHROOMS	Remove stems and grill whole, or slice 1/2" thick. Grill for 2 - 4 minutes.
NEW POTATOES	Scrub well and slice in half. You can precook these in the microwave for 3 - 4 minutes or in boiling salted water for 6 - 8 minutes. Grill for 5 - 6 minutes until browned and tender.
POTATO SLICES	Scrub well and slice 1/2" thick. You can precook these in the microwave for 3 - 4 minutes or in boiling salted water for 8 - 10 minutes. Grill for 7 - 10 minutes until browned and tender.
SUMMER SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI	Cut into 1/2 - 1" thick slices. Marinate if desired. Grill for 3 - 4 minutes.
TOMATOES	Cut into 1" thick slices. Grill for 1 - 2 minutes until tender.

MEAT	DUAL CONTACT GRILLING TIMES
BONELESS STEAK	Marinate if desired. Steak should be 1/2 - 1" thick. Grill for 4 - 7 minutes for medium rare, 6 - 9 minutes for medium.
CHICKEN BREASTS	Use only boneless products. Chicken breasts can be cooked as is, or pounded for quicker cooking time. Grill until thoroughly done, about 4 - 6 minutes.
FISH FILLETS	Cook until fillets flake easily when tested with a fork. Grill for 2 - 3 minutes per 1/2" of thickness.
FISH STEAKS	Tuna, salmon, halibut, swordfish steaks should be 1/2 - 1" thick. Marinate before cooking if desired. Grill for 2 - 3 minutes for each 1/2" thickness.
GROUND BEEF PATTIES	Patties should be 1/2 - 3/4" thick. Grill until thoroughly cooked. Cook for 5 - 8 minutes.
HAM STEAK	Precooked ham steaks should be grilled until heated through, 3 - 5 minutes.
HOTDOGS AND SAUSAGES	For precooked products, cook until heated through, 2 - 3 minutes. For raw products, first precook in skillet until almost done, then finish cooking on grill 4 - 6 minutes until thoroughly cooked.
LAMB CHOPS	Chops should be boneless, 1/2 - 1" thick. Grill for 6 - 8 minutes.
PORK CHOPS	Use only boneless products, 1/2 - 3/4" thick. Grill until only slightly pink in center, about 6 - 8 minutes.
PORK TENDERLOIN	Cut boneless tenderloin in half lengthwise. Cook for 6 - 9 minutes.
SHRIMP	Grill until shrimp turn pink and are springy to the touch. Cook for 2-1/2 - 4 minutes.

Sweet Potato Chips

1 to 2 medium sweet potatoes

3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil

Sea Salt to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Using a mandolin, slice sweet potatoes into even slices.  You don’t want the slices to be too thin, so be carefully while slicing. 

Place sweet potato slices into a large bowl and toss with olive oil.  Season with sea salt to taste. 

Place slices on a baking sheet and bake 30 to 40 minutes, flipping the potatoes half way through baking to make sure both sides are cooked.  Towards the last 10 minutes of baking you will need to watch the chips to make sure they don’t brown/burn.  I prefer mine a little more brown, but the goal is to have them golden.

Remove pan from oven and allow the chips to cool on a wire rack until they are cool and chip like.  And enjoy!

Portabella Sandwich Stack

4 Portabella Caps

2 tablespoons Coconut Oil

1 boneless, skinless chicken cutlet, cooked (and cut into two pieces)

2 slices of tomato

1/2 cup fresh spinach leaves

2 slices cooked turkey bacon, or bacon of choice

3 tablespoons guacomole

Instructions:

Scoop out the gills and stem gently from the underside of the mushrooms.

Heat coconut oil in a skillet and cook mushrooms for about 3-5 minutes on each side or until the mushrooms turn golden brown on the top and become tender.

Remove the mushrooms from the pan.  On one mushroom, pile on cooked chicken, turkey bacon, tomato, spinach, and 1 ½ tbsp guacamole.  Top with the other mushroom.  Repeat with other mushrooms.  Then cut in half or eat whole, and enjoy!

 Makes 2 sandwich stacks.

Cooking Oils

So Many Oils, So Little Time

Not all oils are created equal. In fact, no one oil can be used for all things; instead, each has its distinct place in the kitchen. Keep these basic categories in mind when you're cooking:

For baking: Coconut, palm, canola and high oleic safflower and sunflower oil work best.

For frying: Because they stand up well to the heat, avocado, peanut, palm and sesame oil are ideal for frying.

For sautéing: Many oils are great for sautéing, including avocado, canola, coconut, grapeseed, olive, sesame and high oleic safflower and sunflower oils.

For dipping, dressings and marinades: When it comes to making dressings and marinades, or finding oil that's perfect to serve alongside crusty bread for dipping, you're looking for terrific flavor. For this purpose look to flax, olive, peanut, toasted sesame or walnut oil.

Oil 101

We know there are a lot of oils on our shelves! Here are a handful of our favorites, along with quick details on how they're made and the best ways to serve them:

Avocado Oil: Pressed from avocadoes, this smooth, nutty oil is more than 50% monounsaturated, making it a heart-nourishing choice. Use it in salad dressings or to sauté fish, chicken, sweet potatoes or plantains.

Canola Oil: Canola is actually a cousin to cabbage and Brussels sprouts. In fact, it's a variety of rapeseed that's part of the mustard family, which includes those above-mentioned veggies. It's beneficial for heart health thanks to its fatty acid profile and omega-3 and low saturated fat contents and perfect for light cooking, sauces and desserts like homemade mayo or tender cakes.

Coconut Oil: Pressed from the fruit of the coconut palm tree, coconut oil is ideal for light fair and subtly flavored dishes. This oil is particularly mouth-watering to use for making popcorn and hash browns.

Corn Oil: Most corn oil is extracted only from the germ of the corn kernel and is golden yellow in color; unrefined oil will have a darker color and richer corn taste. Use in salad dressings and dips with stronger flavors like peppers or garlic.

Grapeseed Oil: Grapeseed oil is extracted from the seeds of grapes, a byproduct of the wine-making industry. Use it on salads and raw veggies or in dips, sauces and salsas. Mix grapeseed oil with garlic and basil, then drizzle it on toasted bread.

Olive Oil: A mainstay of the Mediterranean diet and one of the oldest known culinary oils, olive oil contains predominately heart-friendly monounsaturated fat. Extra virgin olive oil results from the first cold-pressing of olives while mild "pure" olive oil is a blend of refined olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. Drizzle over hummus or grilled vegetables.

Peanut Oil: Peanut oil comes from where you'd expect…peanuts! It's relatively high monounsaturated content makes it heart-healthy. Peanut oil is superior for frying, light sautéing and stir-fries.

Sesame Oil: The seed of the sesame plant provides sesame oil, which has a high antioxidant content. Unrefined sesame oil is great as a key flavor component in sauces or dressings. Use refined sesame oil for high heat applications like frying and toasted sesame oil for stir fries and Asian sauces and dips. (Still need a little convincing? 

How To: Storing and Heating Oil

Where should I store oil in my kitchen? Unfortunately, oils aren't like wine; they don't improve with age. Heat and light can damage oils, particularly polyunsaturated ones, so keep them in the refrigerator to avoid rancidity. For the record, you'll know your oil is rancid if it takes on a characteristic bad taste and smell, in which case you should toss it and buy fresh oil.

Why does my olive oil get cloudy when it's cold? Some oils, olive oil among them, become cloudy or solidified when refrigerated. Not to worry; it doesn't affect their quality at all. A few minutes at room temperature and things will be back to normal.

I hear people refer to a "smoke point" when they talk about cooking with oil. What's that? Heating oils beyond their smoke point — the temperature at which the oil begins to smoke, generating toxic fumes and harmful free radicals — is never a good idea. Always discard oil that's reached its smoke point, along with any food with which it had contact. Unsure of an oil's smoke point? Most labels on bottles of oil will give you the correct temperature.

Taco Seasoning

*Note: I quadruple the recipe and store it in an airtight container in my spice cabinet so I don’t have to assemble the mix each time I need taco seasoning. I also frequently sub in smoked paprika for the regular paprika to give it a different, well, smoky flavor.

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all spices together until well combined. Use immediately or store in an airtight container in your spice cabinet and use as needed.

How to Keep Produce Fresh

 

There's a proper way to store fresh produce, and as I am about to launch into a new work-out routine and a healthier diet, I thought I would finally determine the proper ways to store it all.  I read up on it... I googled all over the place, and this is what I found.
Updated: In addition to researching this post, I tried many of these techniques myself and they worked great. 

It kind of comes down to which fruits and vegetables give off the natural gas, ethelyne. 
Ethelyne can affect the other fruits and veggies that they are stored next to.  (That's the premise of the Debbie Meyer Green Bags.)  You don't need to buy special bags, but you do need to know which produce doesn't play nicely with others.

Apples - Do not wash until just before eating, keep them sealed in the plastic produce bag, in the refrigerator. They give off a lot of ethelyne gas, so don't store them next to anything else.
Avocados - Keep them at room temperature.  If you need one to ripen quickly, put it in a brown paper bag along with a banana.  If it is ripe and you need to slow the ripening process, put it in the fridge.

Bananas - They produce more ethelyne gas than any other fruit.  Keep them away from other produce,   on the counter-top, away from other produce.  Once they are ripe you can stop the ripening process by putting them in the fridge, just be sure to put them in a sealed bag.  The skin will turn black, but the fruit will be fine.
Beans (snap, string or wax) - Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.  Do not wash until just before use.
Berries - You know when you buy berries and they look like they have a dusty layer one them...? That is called bloom, and it serves as a natural preservative.  Never wash berries until just before use.  Pick through them and throw away any berries that are bruised or molding.  Store loosely in shallow containers, cover with plastic and keep them in the refrigerator.
Broccoli & Cauliflower - These need to be kept in their wrapping/packaging and kept in the fridge.  Do not wash until just before using.

Cabbage - Keep in the fridge, in a plastic bag. Do not wash until just before using
Carrots - Whole carrots?  Wash them thoroughly.  If they have green tops, cut off all but an inch.  Wrap them in a damp paper towel, seal in a plastic bag and store in the crisper drawer. 
"Baby" carrots? I just discovered that I should stop buying them... but if you still do, you can put them in a plastic container, covered in water.  Be sure to change the water every few days.  (Note: this may reduce the flavor of the "baby" carrot.)
Celery - Give it a rinse, loosely wrap it in a paper towel, then tightly wrap the entire stalk in aluminum foil and keep in the crisper.  It will keep fresh and crisp for weeks.  (I actually have had celery that I bought to make stuffing at Thanksgiving still be fresh and crunchy for Bloody Marys on New Year's Day! Amazing!)

Cherries - Store in the fridge in a plastic bag.  Do not wash until just before eating.
Citrus - Since citrus fruits have thicker skin, they are easier to store.  They'll stay fresh for about 2 weeks in the fridge, about a week on the counter.  It doesn't matter if they are near other produce.

Corn - Husks on? Store loose and uncovered in the fridge.  Husks off?  Wrap in foil and store in the crisper drawer. It will keep for 1 to 2 days.
Cucumber - Store in plastic bag in the refrigerator. Do not wash until just before use.
Eggplant - Wrap in plastic and refrigerate.
Garlic - Store at room temperature. Whole heads will last 3 to 5 weeks, but once cloves are separated, they will last about 10 days.

Grapes - Do not wash until just before eating, as they also have a bloom.  Store them in the fridge, in the plastic bags they come in, or poke holes in a plastic bag to allow for air circulation.  They say they should last up to 2 weeks.  (I have never seen them last longer than a week before getting shriveled up and gross...)
Jalapeno Peppers - Store in plastic bag, in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Kiwi Fruit - store at room temperature until ripe, then cover with plastic and refrigerate.  Will keep for about a week.
Lettuces, Leafy Greens & Spinach - Wash, wrap loosely in paper-towels, then bag it... paper towel and all.
Melons - Store at room temperature until ripe, then refrigerate. They will keep for about a week.
Mushrooms - Do not wash until just before using.  Pre-sliced? Store in the refrigerator in their original packaging. They will last for about a week. Whole?  Store loosely in a brown paper bag in the refrigerator
Onions - Store in a cool, dry place that has good air circulation.  (Store in the fridge if you don't have such a place.) They will keep for 2 to 3 months.  DO NOT STORE WITH POTATOES.  (If next to each other they spoil faster.  Who knew?)

Pears - If they aren't ripe, store them at room temperature.  Once they ripen, place them in a plastic bag and store them in the fridge.  They will keep for about a week.
Peaches, Plums, Nectarines & Apricots - Store at room temperature until ripe, then store in plastic bags in the refrigerator until ready to eat.  They will keep from 3 to 5 days.  Do not wash until ready to eat. 
Pineapple - Store at room temperature until ripe, then store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Potatoes - Store in a cool, dry, dark place that has good air circulation. They will keep for 2 to 3 months.  DO NOT STORE WITH ONIONS.  (If next to each other they spoil faster.  Who knew?)  Sweet Potatoes keep at room temperature for a week or in a cool dark place for about a month.

Tomatoes - Store them in a cool, dry place.  Don't store them in plastic bags as the trapped ethylene will make them ripen more quickly. Once ripe, you can put them in the fridge to slow the ripening process, but let them come to room temperature before using them.

Zucchini - Refrigerate in a plastic bag.  Do not wash until just before using.

Sweet Potato Sausage Hash

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground pork sausage (We like Isernio’s mild italian)
• 3 sweet potatoes, grated
• 3 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tsp cinnamon (or more if it is to your liking)

Instructions

1. Brown the sausage in a large skillet.  
2. Add the coconut oil and shredded sweet potatoes to the cooked sausage.
3. Stirring often, let the potatoes cook until they are soft, about 7 minutes.  
4. Add cinnamon and serve.  

A Good Idea Burger

Portobella Mushroom flashed grilled! proceeded to create a burger by layering 1 mushroom cap, a burger patty, a HEALTHY serving of Guac, Tomatoes, and then another Mushroom Cap.

Mini Meatloaf Muffins

You can play around with the veggies and swap out different kinds 

(mushrooms, squash, cabbage, ect) to tailor these to your personal tastes.

Ingredients:

Sauce:
½ can tomato paste (No Salt Added if available)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ of a green bell pepper finely diced


Loafs:
1 lb ground meat (turkey, beef, buffalo, lamb, pork, or a combination!)
½ of a green bell pepper finely diced
½ of a red bell pepper finely diced
½ of a white (or yellow, or red) onion finely diced
½ shredded carrot
1 egg 
½ can of tomato paste (No Salt Added if available)
1 tsp garlic powder (Minced garlic works great too)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

OPTIONAL: 4 slices of nitrate-free, no sugar added bacon chopped 

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Sauce:
This part is easy. Add water to tomato paste until you get a nice consistency 
and mix all ingredients together. A nice consistency would be one similar to ketchup.

Loafs:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a big mixing bowl.
2. Fill Muffin Tins about ¾ full with meat mixture
3. Paint some of your sauce on top of your mini-loaves.
4. Put in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
5. After cooked, paint some more sauce on top of your loaves and serve.

Egg & Sweet Potato Breakfest

1. med sweet potato
2. 12 eggs
3. sea salt
4. pepper

Directions:

1. Peel and dice Sweet Potato into fairly small cubes
2. Put SP in a skillet sprayed w/ a little Pam (I usually use olive oil or coconut oil to grease my pans, )
3. Sprinkle w/ pepper and Sea Salt to taste
4. Cover and cook about 5 minutes, stirring a few times (just long enough to soften the potatoes up a little - you don't want them "mushy")
5. Distribute SP Cubes evenly between 12 deep-ish muffin pan holes
6. Beat 15 egg together 
7. Pour eggs evenly over the SP cubes in the 12 muffin pan holes
8. Place in Oven at 350 and cook about 20 minutes
9. Pull out of oven and turn pan upside down onto cooling rack
10. Let cool completely before placing in fridge 

Turkey Meatballs with Spinach

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional - adjust to your preference)
• 16 oz frozen chopped spinach (defrosted, drained, and squeezed to remove excess water)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/3 cup chicken broth
• 2 1/2 lbs lean ground turkey
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs/ gluiten free bread or cracker crumbs
• 2 large eggs

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a large baking sheet by spraying with cooking spray. I actually line my baking sheet with foil and then spray with cooking spray.
2. In a frying pan on medium heat, heat olive oil until hot. Then add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Sauté until onion is tender (about 5-6 minutes total time).
3. Add spinach to pan and combine with onion mixture. Add Worcestershire sauce and chicken broth and mix well to combine. Cook until most of the liquid has cooked out (evaporated). I don't have much liquid in my pan after I combine all these, but it will depend on how well you drained your spinach. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
4. In a large bowl, combine the turkey, bread crumbs, and egg. Add cooled onion/spinach mixture to the meat. I do all of this step with my hands, but you can use a spoon if you prefer.
5. 5. With your hands, create meatballs that are about 1 - 1 1/2 inches in diameter and place them on the baking sheet. Leave a little bit of space between each meatball. When you are done shaping your meatballs, you will probably have about 40-42 meatballs from this recipe. Don't need that many? Freeze them after baking or cut this recipe in half (but I say freeze them and then you've done the work only once and have a future meal).
6. Bake until your meatballs are cooked through with an internal temperature of 160 degrees F - which was about 20 minutes for my oven. Remove from oven and serve as desired.