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Black Berry BBQ Sauce

Black Berry BBQ Sauce is great way to use all the abundance of fresh berries. Fresh berries are very perishable this wonderful Black Berry BBQ Sauce can be used for so many different food applications. BBQ meats to glaze on desserts, fruits to salad dressings. Because of it’s high acidicness this sauce can be preserved in Ball Jars and keep for year or more.

Berries infused in white vinegar

Infusion of berries and vinegar:

Infusing flavors into vinegars is simple task, using 5% white vinegar is one of the very best mediums for infusing flavors. This vinegar has a neutral flavor and will absorb any aromatics. By using the cold infusion method produces the best results. It preserves natural flavors, especially if they are delicate. The process takes a little time, at least 24 hours and up to 2 months to develop a good flavor profile. This cold berry vinegar infusion is the Fundamentals for the Black Berry BBQ Sauce.

Cooking Black Berry BBQ Sauce:

Making Black Berry BBQ Sauce is all about slow boiling berry vinegar infusion with sugar and apple juice. This is where the magic takes place and transforms flavors. The process takes some time so be patient let the magic of slow cooking do it’s work. To help thicken sauce xantham gum works wonders, because it’s a thickener and emulsifier. As the Black Berry BBQ Sauce cooks the sauce becomes slowly thicker and deeper dark color. Flavors intensify building a wonderful flavor profile.

Black Berry BBQ Sauce
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Wonderful Black Berry BBQ Sauce that can be used for many different applications. Try using on grilled meats, drizzled over desserts, or as refreshing salad dressing.
Servings Prep Time
32 Ounces 10 Min
Cook Time Passive Time
3.5 Hours 12 Hours
Servings Prep Time
32 Ounces 10 Min
Cook Time Passive Time
3.5 Hours 12 Hours
Black Berry BBQ Sauce
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Wonderful Black Berry BBQ Sauce that can be used for many different applications. Try using on grilled meats, drizzled over desserts, or as refreshing salad dressing.
Servings Prep Time
32 Ounces 10 Min
Cook Time Passive Time
3.5 Hours 12 Hours
Servings Prep Time
32 Ounces 10 Min
Cook Time Passive Time
3.5 Hours 12 Hours
Ingredients
Servings: Ounces
Units:
Instructions
  1. Infuse the black berries and frozen raspberries into white vinegar. Put both types of berries into Ball Jar and adding the white vinegar. Fit lid and ring onto jar and let macerate for 12 hours. This develops the flavor profile.
    Infusion of blackberries and red raspberries into white vinegar in ball jar.
  2. Next is to make the Black Berry BBQ Sauce by pouring the macerated berries and vinegar into heavy duty sauce pan or stock pot. Then add Apple Juice and bring the berry mixture to boil.
    Combine infused berry vinegar and apple juice together in sauce pan.
  3. Mean while mix together in a bowl the sugar, xantham gum, and optional crushed chili pepper. Making sure that the sugar mixture is evenly combined.
    Combine sugar and xantham gum together in bowl
  4. Now add the combined sugar mixture to hot boiling berry liquid. Whisking hard to the dissolve the sugar into berry liquid. Continue slow boil until BBQ Sauce thickens to Nappe consistency.
    Bring berry vinegar and apple juice in sauce pan.
  5. Adjusting seasoning with salt, sugar and pepper to achieve balanced flavor profile.
  6. Pour boiling hot BBQ Sauce into sterilized ball jars, place sterilized lid and rings onto jar and seal. To insure proper seal heat in hot water bath for 10 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
    Black Berry BBQ Sauce that is sealed in Ball Jar
  7. Drizzle over grilled chicken or pork adding a perfect sweet and tangy BBQ flavor to your entree.
  8. Drizzle over air fried boneless chops to add perfect sweet and tangy BBQ flavor to your entree. Over a bed of braised broccoli rabe.
Recipe Notes

Nutrition Facts
Black Berry BBQ Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 144 Calories from Fat 1
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.1g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.01g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.02g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.003g
Sodium 64mg 3%
Potassium 95mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 35g
Protein 0.2g 0%
Vitamin A 0.3%
Vitamin C 16%
Calcium 1%
Iron 2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Garnished Spicy Air Fryer Salmon with sautéed green beans mix and Spicy Ranch Dressing
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Spicy Air fryer Salmon Filet

Garnished Spicy Air Fryer Salmon with sautéed green beans mix and Spicy Ranch Dressing
Finish garnishing Spicy Air Fryer Salmon.

Tired of same old salmon filets the Spicy Air fryer Salmon satisfies those cravings. The key to flavorful salmon filets is putting some hot spices into rub with hint of sweetness. Most of all it takes just a few minutes to cook the salmon in the Air-fryer. Yet keeping salmon filet moist and flavorful. With just a few extra ingredients, say by by to boring salmon.

It’s all about using a spicy rub:

The spicy rub for salmon filets needs these key ingredients salt, sugar, spices and herbs. Next is to make a great rub needs Salt. Why is salt the most important factor, salt gives flavor to the salmon. Salmon needs the salt which helps hold it’s moisture and still supporting it’s texture. Choosing the right salt is just as important, use kosher salt rather than plain table salt which often contains iodine. The salt releases moisture in Salmon absorbing ingredients back into salmon. Third this takes time, allowing 15 to 20 minutes to do it’s magic.

Next is using sugar to adding a little sweetness and promoting good caramelization as salmon filet Air-fries. There is two good types of sugar to use in rub, brown sugar or Sugar in The Raw. Brown sugar has more molasses profile giving a more stronger deeper flavor profile. Sugar in The Raw has natural slight molasses flavor profile. Caution don’t add too much sugar to rub, just enough to balance flavor.

Bring some Pizzazz into the spice rub:

Now adding some wow to the rub, useing aromatics is key to having a successful rub. Choosing the right spices can really break that lackluster salmon, and bring back some wow. Typical spices used is paprika, black pepper, coriander, cumin and cayenne. Trends change, chipotle pepper was big hit for years, this has a smoky light amount of heat profile. Now a new trend is sriracha hot sauce, which is red chilies and garlic profile. Sriracha is everywhere, stores stock bottles of all different types including sriracha powder. This is a good possibility to use for spicy air fryer salmon filet rub.

Going one step further with the spicy rub by following the new next trends, by using Carolina Reaper powered. Very flavorful but extremely hot chili pepper, caution in adding the right amount of Carolina Reaper powder into rub. The goal is to have just right amount of heat and flavor with some sweetness and garlic profile. Having something simular to sriracha profile but with some punch. Be sure to adjust amount of Carolina Reaper powder to your taste level. This might be only using 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon of Carolina Reaper powder to one batch of rub.

Making Spicy Rub for salmon is a fairly simple task, combining kosher salt, sugar, and aromatic spices all together in bowl or mortar and pestel. I usually make fairly large batch of spicy rub, and keep extra in sealed jar for future uses. This cuts mise en place time down in future preparations.

Applying Spicy Rub to Salmon Filet:

First task is to prep the salmon filet, often I purchasing a side of salmon or couple of pounds of salmon filet. Some might have skin still attached to the filet. Using boning knife slip knife just under the salmon skin, with skin side of salmon facing down. Starting at tail end of filet and holding the salmon skin with left hand. Carefully slide the knife carefully towards right removing skin from salmon. Often salmon skin is slippery, try using paper towel to hold salmon skin for a better grip. Then cut salmon in size portions you like, 4 ounce, 6 ounce or 8 ounce portions are most common. This takes a little practice, but will save you lot of money, buying proportion salmon is almost double in cost.

Next place the silvery finished colored side of the salmon down on the cutting board. Now sprinkle 1 to 2 teaspoons of spicy rub onto top of each filet. Then rub spice mixture into each of salmon filets. Flip salmon over and sprinkle 2 teaspoons or more of spicy rub on the cut side of each salmon filet. Again rub spicy rub into salmon filets. Place in container and cover with plastic wrap, then refrigerate for 20 minutes.

How to Air Fry Spicy Salmon Filets:

Most air fryers have a fish setting, this is a preset function on your air fryer. My PowerXL Air Fryer has a preset function for 10 minutes at 350°F. This is a good starting point, it’s not too high temperature for the spicy rub. This is just long enough to cook the salmon to a safe temperature, about 135 to 140° internal temperature. Note the longer time in the air fryer, the fish looses more moisture, which can become dry and chewy. The goal is to have a moist and very flavor salmon filet.

Looking for another Air Fry Salmon Recipe

Garnished Spicy Air Fryer Salmon with sautéed green beans mix and Spicy Ranch Dressing
Spicy Airfryer Salmon Filet
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Enjoy spicy Salmon Filet using Airfryer with just a few key ingredients, salt, sugar, spices and aromatics. The magic is in the spice rub and benefits of using Airfryer.
Servings Prep Time
2 Portions 5 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
10 Minutes 15 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
2 Portions 5 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
10 Minutes 15 Minutes
Garnished Spicy Air Fryer Salmon with sautéed green beans mix and Spicy Ranch Dressing
Spicy Airfryer Salmon Filet
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Enjoy spicy Salmon Filet using Airfryer with just a few key ingredients, salt, sugar, spices and aromatics. The magic is in the spice rub and benefits of using Airfryer.
Servings Prep Time
2 Portions 5 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
10 Minutes 15 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
2 Portions 5 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
10 Minutes 15 Minutes
Ingredients
Salmon Filet
Hot Spicy Rub
Spicy Ranch Dressing
Servings: Portions
Units:
Instructions
Hot Spice Rub
  1. Combine together in mortar and pestle the kosher salt, Turbinado Sugar, smoked paprika, black pepper, Carolina Riper chilies powder and season salt. Mixing well with pestle until nice evenly ground mixture comes together. Taste the mixture, and adjust Carolina Riper Chilies powder to your liking.
    Grinding Spicy Salmon Rub
  2. Place well mixed hot spice rub in storage jar. Note this might make more then you need for just 2 salmon filets.
Spicy Salmon Filets
  1. Remove skin from salmon filet with boneing knife. Cut the salmon filet into 5 to 6 ounce portions.
  2. Next season both sides of salmon filets with Hot Spice Rub putting one teaspoon of rub on each side of filets.
    Sprinkling Spicy Seasoning Rub onto salmon filets.
  3. Spray each salmon filet with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I like to use EVO Sprayer each spritz is 1/4 teaspoon of oil. This controls the coverage of olive oil nicely.
    Spray Salmon Filets with olive oil using the EVO Sprayer
Airfry Spicy Salmon Filets
  1. Preset Airfryer to fish setting or 350°F, allow airfryer to warm up this only takes about 2 minutes max.
  2. Place the seasoned salmon filets with cut side down into Airfryer basket. My PowerXL holds two filets nicely. Push basket into Airfryer and adjust time to 10 minutes. Note about half way into cooking process flip salmon over carefully. Then continue cooking until timer goes off.
  3. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over top of each cooked salmon filet.
Serving Hot Spicy Salmon Filets
  1. Place carefully remove the salmon filet from the basket with fish spatula. Place salmon filet onto plate carefully
  2. Drizzle some spicy ranch dressing in decorative manner onto plate. Add green vegetable of your choice of cooked Asparagus, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Green Beans are all great choice. Also serve nice starch like Risotto, Smashed Potatoes.
    Garnished Spicy Air Fryer Salmon with sautéed green beans mix and Spicy Ranch Dressing
Spicy Ranch Dressing
  1. Combine together in small bowl, the Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, Sriracha Sauce and Carolina Reaper Chilies powder together.
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Greek Style Spinch Stuffed Chicken Breasts made in Air Fryer
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Air fryer Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts:

Greek Style Spinch Stuffed Chicken Breasts made in Air Fryer
Greek Style Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts made in Air Fryer

Greek Style Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Looking for a new Spinach Stuffed Chicken recipe using the Air Fryer? This Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast with Greek flavor is perfect choice. The Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast only takes 20 minutes in Air Fryer with moist flavorful Greek profile. Key is to use Cavenders Greek Seasoning in stuffing and on chicken breasts.

Greek Style Spinch Stuffed Chicken Breasts made in Air Fryer
Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts
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Greek style spinach filling stuffed into chicken breasts that only takes 20 minutes in the Air Fryer to make.
Servings Prep Time
2 Portions 15 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
2 Portions 15 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Greek Style Spinch Stuffed Chicken Breasts made in Air Fryer
Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts
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Greek style spinach filling stuffed into chicken breasts that only takes 20 minutes in the Air Fryer to make.
Servings Prep Time
2 Portions 15 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
2 Portions 15 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Ingredients
Greek Spinach Stuffing
Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Servings: Portions
Units:
Instructions
Greek Spinach Stuffing Mixture:
  1. Sauté onions with mince garlic and olive oil in skillet until fragrant. This should take about 1 to 2 minutes over medium heat.
    Sauté onions with garlic and olive oil
  2. Next sauté the onions, garlic, spinach, Greek seasoning, oregano, salt and pepper with some olive oil in the same skillet. This should take about 3 to 5 minutes to cook, until the excess moisture is evaporate off the filling.
  3. Combine cooked spinach mixture with, Manchego cheese, Feta Cheese in mixing bowl. Adding some extra Greek Seasoning and Oregano, with salt and pepper to taste. Mix this filling with spatula until combined.
    Combine cooked spinach mixture with cheeses and Greek seasoning, salt and pepper.
Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts
  1. First Butterfly boneless skinless chicken breast using sharp knife, folding chicken breast open with cut side up. Next sprinkle with Greek Seasoning, Oregano, Salt and Pepper.
    Butterfly boneless chicken breasts and sprinkle with Greek Seasoning, Oregano, Salt and Pepper.
  2. Flattening seasoned chicken breasts with plastic wrap and meat mallet. Use the flat side of mallet by pounding chicken until even thickness.
    Flattening seasoned chicken breasts with plastic wrap and meat mallet. Use the flat side of mallet by pounding chicken until even thickness.
  3. Stuff each flattened seasoned chicken breast with Greek Spinach Stuffing mixture. Then carefully fold the chicken breast up covering all the stuffing.
    Stuff each flattened seasoned chicken breast with Greek Spinach Stuffing mixture. Then carefully fold the chicken breast up covering all the stuffing.
  4. Rolled Stuffed chicken breast, sprinkle with Greek Seasoning, Oregano, Kosher Salt and Black Pepper. Spray with Olive Oil using EVO Sprayer to get an even coating of Olive Oil over all the chicken.
    Rolled Stuffed chicken breast, sprinkle with Greek Seasoning, Oregano, Kosher Salt and Black Pepper. Spray with Olive Oil using EVO Sprayer to get an even coating of Olive Oil over all the chicken.
  5. Placed the Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts carefully into basket of the Air Fryer. Set the Air Fryer to chicken setting. Using the PowerXL default setting 20 minutes at 350°F.
    Placed the Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts carefully into basket of the Air Fryer. Set the Air Fryer to chicken setting. Using the PowerXL default setting 20 minutes at 350°F.
  6. Air Fried Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast coming out of Air Fryer. See that wonderful golden brown color, that’s still in the Air Fryer basket.
    Air Fried Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast coming out of Air Fryer. See that wonderful golden brown color, that’s still in the Air Fryer basket.
  7. After air frying spinach stuffed chicken breasts, be sure to check the internal temperature. The thermometer should read 170°F. Be sure to stick the probe right in center of the stuffed chicken to make sure the filling reaches 170°F.
    After air frying spinach stuffed chicken breasts, be sure to check the internal temperature. The thermometer should read 170°F. Be sure to stick the probe right in center of the stuffed chicken to make sure the filling reaches 170°F.
  8. Allow the Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast to rest 5 minutes. Next cut each of breast in half on a diagonal. Place cut chicken breast onto plate in attractive manner. Try using Ranch Dressing as sauce smeared onto plate. Finally place your choice of cooked vegetables onto plate. Garnish with Manchego Cheese and Enjoy.
    Greek Style Spinch Stuffed Chicken Breasts made in Air Fryer
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Italian Tomato Sauce
formats

Canning Italian Tomato Sauce

Italian Tomato Sauce
Canned Italian Tomato Sauce cooling on wire rack

Tomato Season is here what to do with all those wonderful San Marzano Tomatoes that are ripe. Canning Italian Tomato Sauce is perfect solution to bumper crop of tomatoes. The San Marzano tomatoes are the best flavor for making Italian Sauce. 

Washed San Marzano Tomatoes

Start first Mise en place 

Mise en place is important part of canning process. Always have work space sanitized, and sterilize jars, lids and rims for canning. Be sure to wash all canning equipment, canner or large stock pot. Most efficient method is to get water boiling to sterilize jars, lids and rims. This takes some time to get up to boil and sterilize. While sterilize processing mise en place ingredients for sauce. The most time consuming process is blanching tomatoes and peeling skins off tomatoes. 

Peeling the skins off San Marzano Tomatoes

Getting Processing done quickly 

Processing the tomatoes after the skins are removed can be done quickly with aid of VitaMix Blender. Running the VitaMix Blender on low 5 speed setting works very well. Blend for short periods of time, just enough to chop tomatoes into slightly chunky sauce. Running VitaMix on too high of speed too long will turn into smooth puree.  A smooth puree is fine if your making that type of sauce. My preference is having some texture to Italian Sauce. Blend tomatoes in small batches filling the blender container 1/2 full gives plenty of head room to process. Running the bender only 35 to 45 seconds making gallon sauce goes quickly.

A food processor works too but it is messy and having to deal with a sharp blade everytime you dump batch into stock pot. The extra hassle of using food processor takes more time then it’s worth.

  • Processing Tomatoes on speed 5
  • Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes


Italian Tomato Sauce
Canning Italian Tomato Sauce
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Canning Italian Tomato Sauce recipe has a far better flavor profile by using San Marzano tomatoes. This recipe uses fresh tomatoes, sweet onions, sweet peppers, herbs, and lots of garlic with hint of pepper flakes. The Italian Tomato Sauce can be used in so many creative foods, from casseroles, meat sauces or in favorite spaghetti. Enjoy.
Servings Prep Time
4 Quarts 45 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 Hour 2 1/2 Hours
Servings Prep Time
4 Quarts 45 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 Hour 2 1/2 Hours
Italian Tomato Sauce
Canning Italian Tomato Sauce
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Canning Italian Tomato Sauce recipe has a far better flavor profile by using San Marzano tomatoes. This recipe uses fresh tomatoes, sweet onions, sweet peppers, herbs, and lots of garlic with hint of pepper flakes. The Italian Tomato Sauce can be used in so many creative foods, from casseroles, meat sauces or in favorite spaghetti. Enjoy.
Servings Prep Time
4 Quarts 45 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 Hour 2 1/2 Hours
Servings Prep Time
4 Quarts 45 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 Hour 2 1/2 Hours
Ingredients
Servings: Quarts
Units:
Instructions
Mise en place ingredients
  1. Core and blanch tomatoes in boiling water for 30 to 45 seconds. Shock in ice water bath, then peel skins off tomatoes. Set aside
  2. Place peeled tomatoes in VitaMix or food processer. Blend for 45 to 60 seconds on speed 5 or low. The tomatoes should be slightly textured not perfectly smooth.
  3. Peel and chopped onions finely. Set aside. Peel and mince garlic cloves, I use a large bulb of garlic per batch which produces very nice garlic flavor profile. Set aside
  4. Remove the stem and seeds from sweet mini peppers, then chop finely. Set aside.
Cooking Italian Tomato Sauce
  1. Heat olive oil in 8 quart stock pot with minced garlic until fragrant. Then add the chopped onions and peppers cook for 2 to 4 minutes until fragrant and softened. This should take about 5 minutes total cooking time.
  2. Next add the processed tomatoes to cooked aromatics, cook over medium heat caution not to burn sauce. Add the tomato paste and stir well. The next step is to add the dry herbs and Stir often. Cook the Italian Sauce for hour to get best flavor.
Safe Canning Process
  1. Wash all jars, lids and rings for canning. Bring large stock pot or canner with jars and lids and rings covered with water to boil. Boil jars, lids and rings for 10 minutes.
  2. Remove jars carefully with lifter draining all excess water off jar onto wire rack. Remove lids and rings onto paper towels.
  3. Fill each canning jar with hot Italian Tomato Sauce to 1/2 inch of the top of the jar. It's important to leave 1/2 air space to create a vacuum. Fill each jar using funnel to help keep jar clean. Note add 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid for quart jar or 1/4 teaspoon citric acid for pint jar of tomato sauce.
  4. Wipe each jar rim with paper towel dipped in white vinegar. This is to clean the top of each jar to achieve proper seal.
  5. Place on top of each jar lid and fasten down each lid with ring. Twisting ring until just snug.
  6. Place each jar in large stock pot or canner with water to just cover top of each jar. Bring water to boil for 15 minutes. Remove jars using jar lifter and place on wire rack to cool. Listen carefully for lids to click this means achieved proper seal.
  7. Check visualy for properly sealed jars the dimple on top of each jar should be depressed inwards. If not properly sealed the jar will have to be refrigerated and used within 2 weeks time. Or clean jar rim and reseal with new lid and go through water bath process again.
    Italian Tomato Sauce
  8. Make a label for each jar of sauce and place on jar with tape or glue stick. Store Canned Italian Tomato Sauce in dry cool area with minimal light. These should be good for up to 2 years in dark area.
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Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa

Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa recipe utilizing fresh tomatoes, chilies from garden. This recipe used my Brandywine Tomatoes picked ripe from garden. Brandywine tomatoes are wonderful extra large heirloom tomatoes full of flavor and sweetness.  Complementing tomato salsa flavors with green onion, garlic, cilantro and sweet mini peppers.

Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa core ingredients with quart of Salsa

Getting the flavor profile perfect!

Achieving a perfect flavor that is enjoyable takes some adjusting. Salsa needs balancing of acidity from the tomatoes with peppers, garlic, onion and cilantro that is not simple task. My favorite trick of trade is using Chili vinegar, it adds acidic and some extra kick to salsa. If needed a little olive oil gives a more rounded end notes. I age my chili vinegar for at least a year this tops off heat from chilies giving more depth to chili vinegar taste. 

If the salsa is too fluid in consistency try using xantham gum, mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon xantham gum to 1 quart salsa. This thicken sauce right up so when used on tortilla chip you can walk 2 feet and not drip on yourself. Xantham gum doesn’t need to be cooked it thickens naturally. 

 

Hot Chili Vinegar aged for 2 years.
Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa
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Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa recipe utilizing fresh tomatoes, chilies from garden. This recipe used my Brandywine Tomatoes picked ripe from garden.
Servings Prep Time
1 Quart 20 Minutes
Passive Time
60 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
1 Quart 20 Minutes
Passive Time
60 Minutes
Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa
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Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa recipe utilizing fresh tomatoes, chilies from garden. This recipe used my Brandywine Tomatoes picked ripe from garden.
Servings Prep Time
1 Quart 20 Minutes
Passive Time
60 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
1 Quart 20 Minutes
Passive Time
60 Minutes
Ingredients
Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa Mixture
Tortillas Chips
Servings: Quart
Units:
Instructions
Garden Fresh Tomato Salsa
  1. Peel tomatoes and finely chop, place chopped tomatoes into mixing bowl. Trim green onions and rainse in cold water, drain and fine chop green onions. Place green onions into mixing bowl with tomatoes. Rainse peppers and remove stem and seeds. Finely chop peppers and place in mixing bowl with tomato mixture. Mince garlic cloves finely and place in mixing bowl with tomato mixture.
  2. Mix the tomato mixture well with spatula. Add minced chile peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil and minced cilantro to tomato mixture. Stir these seasoning well to incorporate flavors.
  3. Adjust flavor profile of the tomato salsa with fresh lime juice, sugar and chili vinegar or cider vinegar. If the mixture is very liquidity add 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum to mixture and stir well this will thick sauce quickly. If you like spicy hot salsa add chopped chilies to your liking.
  4. Store in Ball canning quart jar in refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Fresh Flour Tortillas
  1. Cut 6 inch flour tortillas into 1/6 wedges. Spray with oil using EVO sprayer with 2 to 4 sprays of oil.
  2. Place in Air Fryer set at 400°f for 8 to 10 minutes. Give tortillas a shake mid way into air frying. This brown tortillas evenly.
  3. Serve baked chips with bowl of garden fresh salsa. One serving is about 12 chips.
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Texas Chili Chef Dave Style presentation in a bowl
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Texas Chili Chef Daves Style

Texas Chili Chef Dave Style presentation in a bowl

Texas Chili Chef Dave Style presentation

Texas Chili Chef Dave Style

This recipe is a new and improved version of my Classic Texas Chili, that I made for so many years teaching at Kirkwood. Many of students remember the heat level and running to walk-in refrigerator to get some milk to put out the fire. This is the recipe that’s improved and better with lots of extra heat too. Time to fine the fire extinguisher, grab a bottle of antacids and gallon of milk, it’s Texas Chili Chef Dave’s Style Time!

All about using the right chilies

Cooking dried chilies, garlic weighted down with plate.

Cooking dried chilies, garlic weighted down with plate.

Start off by choosing the best chilies which for practical purposes dried chilies work best. It’s better to use a good variety of dry chilies. Choosing good red chili like Guajillo or New Mexican Red Chilies, both are mild less then 1000 Scoville units of heat. Next is choosing a more complex flavor chili like Ancho Chili and Padilla chili adding slight smoky profile. Finally adding some good chilies that have lots of heat, like my super hot chili seasoning. The super hot chili seasoning is infused with some of my hottest varieties of chilies that grown in garden. These chilies are cooked with garlic and water until softened about 20 to 30 minutes weighted down with plate. Be sure to save all cooking liquids from chilies. This is chili stock that will be used throughout cooking process.

Making the Texas Gravy for chili

Blending chilies and garlic with chili stock.

Blending chilies and garlic with chili stock.

Texas Chili is all about having wonderful hot bright red chili gravy for chili. Don’t even think about putting in tomatoes! In Texas Chili it’s all about chilies and meat. To make this gravy you place all softened chilies with stems removed into blender. My preference is VitaMix, start on low speed with small amount of the cooking liquid. Blend into purée seeds and all. Adding more chili stock as needed to make wonderful red sauce. Taste the chili red sauce adjust flavors with salt, super hot chili seasoning and sugar. This is all a matter of personal taste preference. I love it super Hot where my wife likes it milder.

Where’s the BEEF!

Diced Beef Round cooking in cast iron pot.

Diced Beef Round cooking in cast iron pot.

Texas Chili has lots diced beef, some chopped onions and minced garlic. I like to use bottom round or sirloin tip diced into 1/2 inch pieces.

Cooking beef cubes in heavy cast iron pot has excellent even uniform heat. When meat is nice and brown, add onions, spices and herbs. Continue cooking to build layers of flavors.

 

Simmering low and slow

Long and slow simmering Texas Chili Chef Dave’s Syle

Long and slow simmering Texas Chili Chef Dave’s Syle

Combining the red chili gravy with the browned seasoned beef, then simmering long and slowly. Developing flavors, tenderizing the beef and building some heat. If needed adding extra chili stock as Texas Chili thickens. After a good two to three hours of slow cooking adjust seasonings with, cumin, garlic, salt, pepper and super hot chili seasoning to taste.

Topping of your choices

Time to build bowl of Texas Chili Chef Dave’s Style filling bowl of piping hot Texas Chili and topping chili with, some cheese, tortillas chips, chopped cilantro. Of course many more possibilities, like sour cream, guacamole, olives, chilies and of course hot sauces. That’s the fun of enjoying chili and putting out he fire with some beers. Fond memories wonderful eats, time to make

 

 

 

Texas Chili Chef Dave Style presentation in a bowl

Texas Chili Chef Daves Style

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So hot it came out of both ends!
Servings Prep Time
8 people 45 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 1/2 hours 2 hours

Servings Prep Time
8 people 45 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 1/2 hours 2 hours

Texas Chili Chef Dave Style presentation in a bowl

Texas Chili Chef Daves Style

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So hot it came out of both ends!
Servings Prep Time
8 people 45 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 1/2 hours 2 hours

Servings Prep Time
8 people 45 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 1/2 hours 2 hours

Ingredients


Servings: people

Units:

Instructions
Chili Sauce
  1. Trim the beef of all gristle and excess fat, then cut into medium dice, about 1/2" cubes. Season with some salt and pepper. Set aside covered on ice.

  2. Heat canola oil in heavy duty stock pot or cast iron dutch oven with garlic, continue cooking garlic until skins loosen. Remove garlic onto side plate and take skins off. Add to hot oil pasilla chili, ancho chili and guajillo chili with tongs toss in the hot oil until toasted. They will puff up a little and have nice chili aroma. Note do not burn chilies. Remove from hot oil and place on plate to cool. Save oil to make the Texas Chili

  3. Place the toasted chilies, garlic in saucepan cover with water and weight down chilis with plate. Cook chilies and garlic for 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
    Cooking dried chilies, garlic weighted down with plate.

  4. Remove the chiles and garlic from cooking liquid, but do not discard cooking liquid. Take the stems off chilies.

  5. Place the chilies, garlic and cup of chili cooking liquid in blender, (VitaMix) Process on low speed then turn up to high, adding extra cooking liquid if needed to blend into red puree.
    Blending chilies and garlic with chili stock.

Cooking Texas Chili
  1. In Dutch Oven heat oil left from toasting chilies and garlic add the diced beef when oil is hot, brown meat well. Add the cumin, oregano and onions and saute for 5 minutes until onions are tender.
    Diced Beef Round cooking in cast iron pot.

  2. Add red chili puree, to beef mixture, and some Code Red fire in the hole pepper, if needed some extra cooking liquid bring to boil then reduce to simmer. Cook Texas Chili for 2 1/2 hours adding extra cooking liquid if needed.
    Long and slow simmering Texas Chili Chef Dave’s Syle

  3. Taste Texas Chili, adjust with Super Hot Chili Seasoning, salt, pepper, sugar, garlic, oregano and cumin. This Texas Chili should be hot enough to eat bowl make you sweat. For some grab quart milk. Toppings, shred cheese, sour cream and chopped green onions and cilantro.

  4. Time to build bowl of Texas Chili Chef Dave’s Style filling bowl of piping hot Texas Chili and topping chili with, some cheese, tortillas chips, chopped cilantro.

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Plated Baked Tomatoes that was cooked in Air Fryer
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Air Fryer Baked Tomatoes

Air Fryer Baked Tomatoes

Plated Baked Tomatoes that was cooked in Air Fryer

Baked Tomato Halves cooked with Air Fryer

Classic baked tomato simplified  into Air Fryer Baked Tomatoes that can be done quickly and easy. This recipe brings back fond memories of my trip to Australia where baked tomatoes so popular that they even served them for breakfast. I got hooked on them and fell in love with simple but very testy delights. This recipe only takes minutes to prepare. By using the Air Fryer makes baking of tomatoes quick and easy, by not having to fire up big oven and waiting 15 minutes to heat up.

The classic making Baked Tomatoes on a sheet tray, is in 375 degrees oven for about 25 minutes until tender.

Plated Baked Tomatoes that was cooked in Air Fryer
Baked Tomatoes
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Servings Prep Time
4 Servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 Servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Plated Baked Tomatoes that was cooked in Air Fryer
Baked Tomatoes
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Servings Prep Time
4 Servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 Servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Ingredients
Crumb Topping
Servings: Servings
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Instructions
  1. Core and cut each tomato lengthwise. Next season each of the tomatoes with kosher salt, black pepper, Herbes de Provence, and garlic powder. Sprinkle with some balsamic vinegar over each of the tomatoes halves.
    Tomato halves seasoned with garlic powder, Herbes de Provence, kosher salt, pepper,
  2. Make the crumb topping by mixing together the Panko bread crumbs, paprika and shredded Parmesan Cheese in a bowl. Then sprinkle over each of the seasoned tomato halves with the crumb topping mixture.
    Tomato halves that's has a sprinkled Topping mixture over each one.
  3. Using EVO sprayer coat even mist of oil over each of the crumb topped tomatoes halves. Note vegetable spray will work as substitute, like PAM spray.
  4. Place tomatoes in the air fryer basket or on greased sheet pan. Set air fryer to 370 degrees and bake for 15 minutes or until tomato is tender. If using oven bake 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until tender.
  5. Serve baked tomatoes with fish, chicken and beef entrees.
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Plated Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets with Baked Tomatoes and Asparagus
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Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets

Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets

Plated Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets with Baked Tomatoes and Asparagus

Plated Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets with Baked Tomatoes and Asparagus

Potato Crusted Fish Filets using Air Fryer accomplishes quick and easy way to prepare fish filets with manual use of oil. Baking fish filets takes time and heating up oven and the kitchen. Using the Air Fryer to fry bake fish accomplishes quick and crunchy top crust with moist tender and delicious fish filets.

Choosing the right fish filets to Air Fry is all the preferred taste. If you are on a budget Pollock Fish Filets are very inexpensive about $4.00 a pound. That’s 4 servings of Fish at $1.00 is a great value. Cod Filets are around $7.00 to $8.00 a pound almost double the cost. Tilapia Filets are around $7.00 a pound again this depend on if you buy fresh or frozen. Remember sometimes what seems a good value could end up not being very good quality.

Pollock Fish Filets

Pollock Fish Filets

For this test I choose Pollock Filets surprising they tasted very good for price. The key to having good tasting fish is preseason filets. Just using simple good quality lemon pepper will do wonders. I use my own lemon pepper seasoning called Citrus Blast sprinkled on each filet of fish.

Encrusting the fish filets with mashed potatoes is next step. Potato mixture enriched with egg yolks and hint of nutmeg and dill. This keeps the a fish filets from over cooking and maintains it’s moisture.

Potato Filling coating the fish filets.

Potato Filling coating the fish filets.

A quick and easy way to make potato mixture is to use dry instant potato flakes, salted boiling water, dill weed, nutmeg and fortified with egg yolk. This sounds like a lot on ingredients to put into potato mixture, but it’s very important to build potato mixtures flavor profile.

Let the mixture cool and spread a even half inch coating of this mixture onto seasoned fish filets.

The final step is to put a crunchy crumb topping over potato crusted fish filets. This step gives Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets to super crunchy texture. It’s a simple extra task but well worth the extra step process. The crumb topping contains primary Panko bread crumbs.

Plated Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets with Baked Tomatoes and Asparagus
Potato Crusted Fish Filets
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Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets recipe has super crunchy air fried fish filets. They have a topping crisp with a moist creamy potato filling that’s covering fish filets.
Servings Prep Time
2 Servings 15 Minutes
Cook Time
10 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
2 Servings 15 Minutes
Cook Time
10 Minutes
Plated Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets with Baked Tomatoes and Asparagus
Potato Crusted Fish Filets
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Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets recipe has super crunchy air fried fish filets. They have a topping crisp with a moist creamy potato filling that’s covering fish filets.
Servings Prep Time
2 Servings 15 Minutes
Cook Time
10 Minutes
Servings Prep Time
2 Servings 15 Minutes
Cook Time
10 Minutes
Ingredients
Fish Filet Prep
Potato Filling
Crunchy topping
Servings: Servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Portion fish filets into 4 ounce filets, note the fish filet pieces if they are small can be placed together to from one fish filet. Next sprinkle the tops and bottoms of each filet with lemon pepper seasonings and dill weed. Place the seasoned fish filets on greased sheet pan.
    Pollock Fish Filets
  2. To make the potato filling bring water to boil in pan. Mean while as water coming to boil mix potato flakes, dill weed, onion powder, garlic powder together in mixing bowl.
  3. Pour the boiling water over the top of the seasoned potato flake. Stir potato mixture until mashed potato filling mixture is formed. Add the egg yolks and stir until all the yolk is evenly mixed into mashed potato filling. Cool seasoned potato filling mixture for 5 to 10 minutes.
    Pouring boiling hot water over potato filling ingredients
  4. Spread a even coating of the seasoned potato filling covers each fish filet about 1/2 inch thick. My favorite way to cover filets using pastry bag fitted with wide decorator tip filled with potato mixture.
    Potato Filling coating the fish filets.
  5. Combine in small bowl panko breading, paprika, parmesan cheese mixing ingredients well. Next sprinkle the Crunchy topping over top of each potato filling covered fish filet.
    Breading ingredients mixed in a small bowl.
  6. Spray canola oil over top of the Crunchy Topped Fish filets. I recommend using the EVO Sprayer filled with canola oil. Each pump of sprayer is 1/4 tsp of oil. This way you can control the amount of oil evenly sprayed onto Fish filets. About 2 pumps of spray per fish filet works very well.
    Spray canola oil onto fish filets.
  7. Carefully lift the fish filets with fish spatula or off-set spatula off the tray into the Air Fryer basket. Set the Air Fryer to as hot as it can go 400°f. Air Fry for 10 to 12 minutes the top crunchy topping of the fish filets should be golden brown. A alternate method of cooking fish filets is in 375°F convection oven on greased sheet tray for 20 minutes or until golden brown color.
    Air Fried Potato Crusted Fish Filets finished cooking.
  8. Plating the Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets onto warm plate with baked tomatoes and asparagus spears.
    Plated Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets with Baked Tomatoes and Asparagus
Recipe Notes

A wonderful baked tomato is perfect accompaniment to Potato Crusted Fish Filets. Cut Roma Tomatoes in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder and Herbs Provence.

Seasoned Tomato Halves with kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder and Herbs Provence.

Then sprinkle seasoned bread crumbs mixture over top. Panko Breading works perfectly this can be same breading mixture used to coat the tops of Air Fryer Potato Crusted Fish Filets.  Using EVO oil sprayer pumping 2 to 4 sprays of canola oil to just coat top of each tomato. Note each spray only uses quarter teaspoon of oil. Bake on sheet tray for 25 to 30 minutes at 400°F. The tops of tomatoes should be golden brown with soft center, a knife should go through center easy.

Spray oil onto prepared tomato halves using EVO Oil Sprayer.

Spray oil onto prepared tomato halves using EVO Oil Sprayer.

Adding cooked asparagus spears gives Air Fry Fish and Baked Tomatoes good balance of flavors and colors. Trim asparagus spears removing excess woody bottoms. Then cut asparagus spears in half lengthwise. Cook asparagus in skillet with small amount of water along with some Herbs Provence or Penszey's Sunny Paris Seasoning. Heat to simmer for about 5 to 8 minutes covered on medium heat. The asparagus should be nice and green and tender texture.

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Turkey Quinoa Chili, Sweet Potatoes

Chili is a ultimate cold weather comfort food, this recipe for Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes has a healthy twist. The inspiration was sparked by the Linn County Heritage Agency to do demonstrations for the Lynn County Seniors Centers. The extremely cold weather triggers thoughts of the ultimate comfort food for cold weather, instantly Chili came to mind. Chili can often be loaded with excess calories that are totally empty in nutritional value. With this consideration in mind along with Weight Watchers new Freedom Style set me into motion.

Dried Red Kidney Beans soaking in water overnight.

The first thing that came to mind is the types of proteins that can be use in Chili recipes. The core part of this recipe is a vegetarian based, using dried beans or canned beans. These beans are healthy, and using the right ones have zero Weight Watchers Smart Points. Going back to basics by using dried red beans like red kidney beans would be a good starting point. Canned beans have less then desired flavor profile that’s filled with extra salt and processed flavors. Cooking dried beans is simple task, by just using water or homemade stock. Adding to the  dried red kidney beans, bay leaf, chopped onion, and chili powder will boost the flavors and keep calories down and achieving zero Weight Watcher Smart Points. Of course this takes extra time to make a batch of chili but it’s worth the extra effort to achieve the maximum flavor profile. When time is a issue or just don’t like to cook, canned beans will work. To Solve the time constraints by using  Insta pot or Power XL electric pressure cooker saves good 2 hours of cooking time. By cooking the whole vegetarian chili in the electric pressure cooker in about 30 minutes with the power of steam.

Rinsed Quinoa Lean Turkey and Taco Seasoning for meatballs.

Next consideration is in using creative healthy proteins, by adding turkey quinoa meatballs into the chili. Using lean ground turkey, in my past cooking experiences with extra lean 99% ground turkey ends up very dry tasting. But the 93% Lean turkey has just enough fat to have a nice moist flavor profile. Sadly 93% ground turkey is not Zero Points Weight, but is well worth the extra 1 point per ounce of turkey.

Remembering well using TVP in 70’s as additive and binder to extending proteins. This brought to mind the idea of using Quinoa as the extender rather then horrible TVP of 70’s. A trick learned is to soak and rinse off Quinoa with cold water. This extra step removes some of the bitter oils on the exterior of Quinoa. These combinations of the lean ground turkey and quinoa is a added great protein added source to chili. But just combining quinoa to lean ground turkey results in bland tasting combination. The simple solution is to add a package of taco seasoning to the mixture. Taco seasoning is Weight Watchers Zero Points and really boost the flavors of the turkey quinoa.

To get nice rounded mini scoops of turkey quinoa into meatballs by using a teaspoon measure. By dipping the teaspoon measure in hot water before scooping each meat ball provide easy scoops of meatball that came off the spoon without a struggle. Then browning meatballs in non-stick skillet sprayed lightly with oil over medium high heat. Be sure to shake the skillet a few times through cooking process, to produce evenly browning meatballs with little effort, in about 10 minutes.

Healthy Comfort Food

By adding extra garnishes to the chili can improve nutritional values, my first thought was using sweet potatoes shell as container for chili and add some of sweet potatoes  topping the chili. Using this technique gives the chili extra sweetness and a more hearty comforting food. The downside of this is adding calories and more Weight Watcher Smart Points. With the colder weather, the extra nutritional value of sweet potatoes, giving everyone more energy from sweet potatoes is a good trade off. The bonus is a wonderful garnished look rather then just a simple bowl of chili.

As thoughts come streaming into play, why not try using tater tots rather then sweet potatoes, less sweetness and everyone loves tater tots. The results was wonderful, not as sweet, a little more savory and oh so very tasty. The downside is extra Weight Watcher Smart Points and really no nutritional value like sweet potatoes. Still really nice way to change up chili in new ways.

So this is nutritional value for Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes  

Nutrition Facts
Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 482 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 64mg 21%
Sodium 1178mg 49%
Potassium 1107mg 32%
Total Carbohydrates 67g 22%
Dietary Fiber 14g 56%
Sugars 13g
Protein 29g 58%
Vitamin A 383%
Vitamin C 84%
Calcium 40%
Iron 37%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Time to change things up a little try something different and enjoy! Be creative experiment a little that’s the fun of cooking and enjoying.

Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes
Votes: 2
Rating: 4.5
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Turkey Quinoa Chili with healthy added sweetness from sweet potatoes.
Servings Prep Time
6 People 15 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
30 Minutes 12 Hours
Servings Prep Time
6 People 15 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
30 Minutes 12 Hours
Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes
Votes: 2
Rating: 4.5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Print Recipe
Turkey Quinoa Chili with healthy added sweetness from sweet potatoes.
Servings Prep Time
6 People 15 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
30 Minutes 12 Hours
Servings Prep Time
6 People 15 Minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
30 Minutes 12 Hours
Ingredients
Mini Turkey Quinoa Meat Balls
Vegetarian Chili
Garnish
Servings: People
Units:
Instructions
Mini Turkey Quinoa Meat Balls
  1. Soak the quinoa in cold for 15 minutes then rinse with cold water. This removes stronger off flavors of oils on exterior of quinoa.
  2. Combine in a mixing bowl the ground turkey, rinsed quinoa and taco seasoning mix. Mixing well by hand until all the ingredients are blend together. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes.
  3. Form teaspoon size scoops of turkey quinoa mixture, rolled into mini meat ball size shape. Place on tray or plate until all meatballs are formed.
  4. Heat a large skillet with small amount of oil until just to smoking point. Add the turkey quinoa meatballs and brown all sides. Turn heat off meat ball when the turkey quinoa meatballs are browned nicely.
Vegetarian Chili
  1. Sweat the onions, garlic and green peppers in electronic pressure cooker or large sauce pan, cook the vegetables until translucent. This should take about 4 minutes, setting cooker for 15 minuets cooking time.
  2. Add to the sweated vegetables the beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin powder, chicken stock, salt and pepper. Stirring well to combine all ingredients. Bring chili mixture just to boil then reduce heat until chili is simmering. Cook for 30 to 45 minutes to develop flavors.
  3. Mean while as the chili is simmering cut the sweet potatoes in half. Then bake in 350°F oven until tender. Note a pairing knife should go cleanly into baked sweet potato without resistance. Remove baked sweet potatoes and allow to cool.
  4. Scoop out the sweet potato flesh carefully not to tear a hole in bottoms of the sweet potato skins. Reserve sweet potato skins for shell to hold chili.
  5. Note if you want meat into chili add the Mini Turkey Quinoa Meatballs to chili. Continue cooking for 15 minutes longer. I like to garnish finished chili topped with meatballs around sweet potato cup.
Garnishing Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes
  1. Carefully dice sweet potatoes into bite size pieces. Then add the diced sweet potatoes as a garnishing.
  2. Place the baked sweet potato skin onto wide rim bowl, pour 1 cup of hot chili over skin, note if chili spills over no problem. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over chili. Then place a few shards of crisp Kale Chips to give extra crunchy texture and added green color. Place turkey quinoa meatballs around sweet potato.
Recipe Notes

This chili recipe can be made totally vegetarian by using vegetable stock for chicken stock and omitting the mini turkey meatball in recipe. In this will reduce calories of recipe and loose some protein. I made recipe with and without meatballs both are very good.

Try pouring vegetarian chili over tater tots and maybe even adds some Turkey Quinoa Meatball too.

Try garnishing with Kale Chips or thinly sliced jalapeño.

Squirt some fat free ranch dressing over chili for extra dimension to chili.

Substitute one can of red kidney beans for 1 cup of dry kidney beans. Be sure to drain and rinse the canned beans.

Nutrition Facts
Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 482 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 64mg 21%
Sodium 1178mg 49%
Potassium 1107mg 32%
Total Carbohydrates 67g 22%
Dietary Fiber 14g 56%
Sugars 13g
Protein 29g 58%
Vitamin A 383%
Vitamin C 84%
Calcium 40%
Iron 37%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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Taco Seasoning Recipe

It’s taco time; tired of having to go and buy taco season packets filled with all those additives and unknown fillers. This Taco Seasoning Recipe has come to the rescue, which can be modified to different spicy profiles. Make a good size batch of this mixture, always having this  Taco Seasoning on hand to be added to any choice of meats. My preference now is lean ground turkey keeping my Weight Watcher Smart Points down. Realistically the Taco Seasoning could be added to lean ground pork or beef with just as good results.

To make a great taco seasoning it needs to be broken down into the following key profile components. Which are main up front aromatics, spiciness, savory, thickener or binder, and adjusting the balance of flavors.

The up front aromatics to this seasoning should have a good cumin flavor profile. Also by adding a little whole coriander seed will give a sweeter and slightly citrus spicy flavor. To achieve a good peppery flavor using whole peppercorns will give extra boost to the profile.  Toasting all these whole spices in a dry skillet until fragrant, turbo charges the flavor profile.  Then freshly grinding the whole spices in a mortar and pestle will produce the best possible seasoning.

Roasting whole spices in dry skillet

Building some spiciness  into the taco seasoning profile choose a good quality chili powder. This will give this mixture a little extra punch.  If  you like a little extra kick, use some cayenne pepper which has a modernly high amount of heat. Finally by adding a smoky flavor with some chipotle powder. This will add even more punch to the spicy blend, giving it a slight smoky profile. Choosing the right mixture of a chili powder, with just the right amount of cayenne, or chipotle powder is all a matter of personal preference.

To build the savory and somewhat earthy profile, I go to the saying “when in doubt add garlic”. Garlic powder and onion powder is a perfect choice for taco seasoning. If you can find some Mexican Oregano this will really add a earthiness to the profile, this type of oregano can be found in Mexican Markets.

A thickener or binder is often added to taco seasoning to achieve right taco consistency when cooked.  Using masa harina a special corn flour, used in making corn tortillas works perfectly. This gives taco seasoning that special little flavor that’s hard to pinpoint, but makes this seasoning great.

Balancing all the flavors together needs a few key ingredients. Using kosher salt, and sugar in the raw, which is a natural unprocessed sugar. Brings all the flavors together to make a good Taco Seasoning Recipe marriage.

My suggestion in finding great quality spices that has not been sitting on grocery store shelf for a long time, is to use Penzeys Spices. For over 20 years I have been using Penzeys spices, they are expensive but well worth the price for building the best possible flavors.

Taco Burger with arugula, cherry tomatoes and southwestern sauce

One of my very favorite things to make with Taco Seasoning is Taco Burgers, made with lean ground turkey. This is a healthy great tasting burger that doesn’t taste like turkey. This is great for summer grilling, placed on a light  hamburger bun, with fresh arugula and tomatoes. Keeping the whole burger down to Weight Watcher 6 Smart Points.

Taco Seasoning Recipe
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Taco Seasoning Recipe that is easy to make, and always on hand for taco time.
Servings Prep Time
6 Tbsp 5 minutes
Cook Time
2 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 Tbsp 5 minutes
Cook Time
2 minutes
Taco Seasoning Recipe
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Taco Seasoning Recipe that is easy to make, and always on hand for taco time.
Servings Prep Time
6 Tbsp 5 minutes
Cook Time
2 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 Tbsp 5 minutes
Cook Time
2 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: Tbsp
Units:
Instructions
  1. Measure all the ingredients keeping whole spices separated from ground spices and herbs.
  2. Using a dry skillet heat cumin seed, coriander seed and black peppercorns shaking skillet often. Heat over medium high until fragrant. Do Not Burn Spices. Remove from heat immediately.
  3. Place toasted whole spices in mortar and pestle.
  4. Grind the toasted spices in mortar and pestle until almost fine texture.
  5. Add the remaining spices and herbs to ground toasted spices, mixing with mortar and pestle until combined.
  6. Finally adding to taco seasoning masa flour mixing in mortar and pestle.
  7. Mixing the all the ingredients in mortar and pestle until all is combined.
  8. Make a label with date for extra taco seasoning mixture.
  9. Use 2 -3 tbsp of Taco Seasoning for every pound of meat. When making taco meat, brown meat first in skillet. Drain excess fat off, then add taco seasoning with 1/2 cup of water. Continue cooking until meat thickens this should be about 2 minutes.
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