A Practical Guide To Healthy Living

Ahhh, the weather was SO beautiful in Boston on Friday night.  Breezy, not too hot, low humidity – it screamed out for another dinner on the patio.  D. came home early and fired up the charcoal grill, and L. and I got to work in the kitchen. 

That’s where the breakthrough comes in.  Those of you who know me off-blog know that I’ve cooked with L. since she was 2.  It was mostly a labor of love for me – often frustrating, but I kept at it.  She loved “helping” me out in the kitchen, and I was hopeful that someday, it’d start to pay off and we could work together and enjoy each other’s company while cooking at the same time.  After years of waiting (my baby turns 7 in a week) I’m pleased to report that L’s turned a corner in the kitchen – she is now a bona fide sous chef.  Yes, that’s right; she’s now not only willing, but actually helpful in the kitchen! That’s her up there, chopping scallions. 

The other night she suggested we make fettuccine carbonara – and she actually separated eggs all by herself. 

I did other stuff while she prepped, stirred, measured and combined . . . amazing and fun for both of us.  And the results were delicious.

Anyway, back to the Friday night burgers.  These were a snap to throw together and very tasty, unlike some turkey burgers.  Fire up the grill or fry ‘em up in a pan – either way they’ll take you under 30 minutes.  Enjoy!

California Turkey Burgers (adapted from Fitness Magazine)

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix with hands, being careful not to overwork the mixture.  Shape into 6 patties and cook until cooked through the middle, about 5 min. each side.

Serve with:

Serves 6.

© 2010, Semi-Sweet. All rights reserved.

We’re in!  We’ve moved, and are madly rushing about, trying to settle ourselves.  The first hurdle to tackle was unpacking and organizing the kitchen, of course – this family’s had too much takeout.  I’m pleased to announce that mama’s kitchen is open for business, and man, this new kitchen rocks, folks.  I’m a lucky, lucky woman.  I have great space, great tools and lots of inspiration.  Not sure how often I’ll be posting now that we’re here, but I can assure you, it’ll be more often than it has been this summer.  I’m so happy to be back!

Today’s recipe is vegetarian, quick, easy and just might help you use up some of that produce that your garden or CSA is dishing out.  The original recipe is meant to be served cold, and indeed, this is great leftover, but I made this as a warm salad.  Feel free to add more veggies as you please.  Any way you toss it, it’s got a great mix of flavors that’ll prevent a weeknight dinner slump.

Quinoa and Spinach Salad With Chickpeas and Smoked Paprika (adapted from Bon Appetit)

Pour the chicken broth into a medium saucepan and add the quinoa.  Bring the broth to a boil, then reduce heat and cover.  Simmer until the liquid is absorbed, about 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the spinach, chickpeas, tomatoes, mint and feta in a big bowl.  Add the quinoa and toss gently to wilt the spinach and blend the ingredients.

Combine the vinegar, smoked paprika and olive oil in a glass jar with a lid, cover and shake until combined.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.  Taste for seasoning and adjust salt and pepper as needed. 

Serves 6.

© 2010, Semi-Sweet. All rights reserved.