Turkey Jalapeño Chili

In our house, Sundays are spent around two things: family and food. With finals right around the corner, Michael and the girls spent the evening studying and finishing up papers. I spent some 'me' time in my favorite place, and made some Turkey Jalapeño Chili. We all took a break from our work, and a seat at the table to enjoy a bowl of this hearty dish.

I love this chili recipe because of how fast and easy it comes together. From start to finish, you can have a large pot of this chili ready in under 2 hours. If time permits,  I throw all the ingredients in a large pot and slow cook the soup for several hours. This allows the flavors to simmer a while longer, and fills the house with a spicy aroma.

Turkey Jalapeño Chili

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground turkey, 93% lean
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 bell peppers, red and yellow, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jalapeño, chopped
• 2 (14.5 oz.) petite diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz.) can of each: black, kidney, and pinto beans
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. teriyaki sauce
• 1.5 tbsp. barbecue sauce
• 1 C water

Directions

1. In a large pot, add olive oil, garlic, and onion over medium heat. Cook until tender, then add ground turkey.
2. Brown ground turkey, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Once turkey is cooked, add the remaining ingredients: bell pepper, beans, tomatoes, jalapeño, seasonings, and water.
4. Combine all ingredients, and bring to a boil over hight heat. 
5. Reduce heat to low, simmer until thickened. 
6. Serve warm, top with plain Greek yogurt, chives, and reduced-fat cheese.

Serves 10, per serving: 223 kcal, 5g F, 28g C, 7g Fiber, 17g P.

Turkey Marinara Penna: Fast Weeknight Dinner!

As promised, here is a long overdue recipe! A very simple, but comforting dish, that can be made any day of the week or prepped for evening meals.

Balanced pasta sauces are hard to find. Many are saturated with sugar, fats, or sodium--not to mention preservatives. Now, I'm not firmly Non-GMO, but I do enjoy good tasting food. In most cases, store bought sauce doesn't have the texture or flavor of a homemade one. In this recipe you'll find a quick and simple red sauce recipe; pair it with a lean protein of your choice, in this case I used turkey. Top some fresh-cooked pasta with the protein-packed sauce, and you have a balanced meal in less than an hour!

 

Turkey Marinara Penne

Pasta

• 1 Box Whole-wheat Penne pasta
• 1 garlic clove, whole
• Salt, dash
• 1 tsp olive oil

Turkey Marinara Sauce

• 1 lb. turkey, ground (93% Lean)
• 1 large can diced tomatoes, no salt added
• 1 small can tomato sauce
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 cup white onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 tsp salt
• 1.5 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1 tbsp basil, finely chopped
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Optional: Parmesan cheese

1. Fill a large pot with water, and place over high heat. Bring to boil before adding garlic, salt, and oil.
2. In a large skillet, add olive oil, half of the chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook until tender.
3. Add ground turkey, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned.
4. Mix in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, remaining onion, parsley, basil and Italian seasoning.
5. Simmer on low heat until sauce reduces, or thickens.
6. In the large pot, cook pasta according to box directions.
7. Drain cooked pasta, remove garlic clove, and toss in a splash of olive oil.
8. Combine sauce and pasta, serve warm.

10 Servings, Per Serving: 187 cal, 23 C, 3g Fiber, 18g P, 3g Fat.

Where I have been, and where I am going.

Hello readers! I am finally back! It has been a few months since the last post, so I want to give you all a short life/training/blog update!

First, thank you for your continued support. Although I have not had a chance to publish any new material, I have found many of you still reading and reaching out. I have been very busy these last few weeks, and I am finally finding my rhythm. As some of you may know, I started a new training position. My schedule has taken a few weeks to settle down, but I have developed a regular client base and I am finally able to squeeze in other activities into my day.

Personal Training Updates: I have gained an immense amount of experience in these last few months. I have had the opportunity to speak with, and learn from some of the best trainers in the industry. In addition, I earned my second certification (ACE)--knowledge gains. With all this development, I am finally getting to firmly establishing my private training services.  Currently, I am training a handful of individuals, and they are seeing great success.

By 2016, I will have a structured, training system ready for action. What does this mean for you? A cost-efficient, effective, immediate solution to your fitness goal(s). I have been putting in countless hours studying, working, and strategizing for the sole purpose of helping others. I am working hard to provide you all with a comprehensive, cost-effective, and affordable guide to beginning your own journey. Stay tuned!

The days have been long, and the nights have been short, but it's life. I am happy to be finally doing something I love, working towards my goal, and constantly learning from everything and everyone around me.

P.S. Recipe coming soon!