Last week did a number on the Rook Cooks' wallets, so they have all agreed to keep it cheap this round. Brian sustained his promise and delivered a surprisingly tasty inexpensive meal.
Even though the weather was hot, Brian wanted to serve something truly American. As the 4th of July quickly approached, the young Portlander explored various options that one could deem American. Since the cook did not want to bake Apple Pie and didn't feel as though Freedom Fries were in his repertoire, he decided it had to be chili, baby.
Brian explored various options during his day at work. After an hour of research, he found himself confused by the vast array of ingredients that could potentially make a chili recipe great. So, he decided to keep it basic and really focus on the true flavor of his original formula.
Brian started by sautéing the freshly chopped green bell peppers and yellow onion together in olive oil. Brian learned a new cooking lesson from the
Wikipedia page on
sautéing. Food that is sautéed is usually cooked over high heat for a relatively short period of time with the goal of browning the food while maintaining its flavor, color, and moisture. The next step was to add the 1.25 lbs of turkey meat to the concoction and wait for it to become tender. Once the optimal tenderness was attained, Brian added a man-can of whole tomatoes, chili powder, soy sauce, a little ketchup, freshly minced garlic, oregano, and the greatest seasoning of all time: Johnny's All Natural Jamaica Me Hot N' Crazy Seasoned Sea Salt.
Brian let this all-star team of ingredients simmer for 30 minutes while giving them a lil' stir every once in a while. It seemed as though every time the cook took a stir, the chili looked, smelled, and tasted better. As the half hour came to an end, Brian began to prepare the bread. He dipped it in olive oil and balsamic vinegar and let it harden up a bit in the oven. After time was up, the last ingredient made its way into the pot. Brian added kidney beans to the mix and left the pot topless. After about 10-15 minutes, the meal was ready.
Another delicious addition from this young chef that claims he is only truly happy when he thinks or talks about cooking.
"Cooking has become more than just adding nourishment to my body, like it used to be. Cooking is beautiful, mind-soothing, and always a learning experience."
-Brian A Ames
The ease of this meal received 2 out of 10 Spatulas
(1=Simple; 10=Daaaaammmnnn)
Ingredients:- One white onion
- One Green bell pepper
- 1.25 lbs. of ground turkey
- Olive oil
- One can whole tomatoes
- Johnny's Jamaica Me Hot 'N Crazy Seasoned Sea Salt
- Chili powder
- Oregano
- Minced garlic
- Soy sauce
- Ketchup, and...
- Kidney beans, of course (thanks, Mom)
As warm summer days become more frequent, the need for fresh fruit increases with it. Fresh fruit is great, but when you are faced with the daunting task of deciding its ripeness, your judgment will determine the outcome. I found a site that can make this process much easier. The Pick of The Crop Website offers a guide for the common shopper. Now you can have a simple list that will help you find the most delicious nectarines, watermelons, and apples for your family and/or friends to enjoy. The site also tells you what to do with the fruit when you get home to ensure sustained freshness.
