Lemon Dilly Turkey Burgers

I love lemon. Not so much turkey. To me, it needs a little help. Like lots of flavor infused into the meat. For summer, lemon and dill to the rescue!  These are the perfect light and tasty summery burgers. Fresh herbs, citrus, spinach and goat cheese. Totally forget they are turkey. Delightful flavor! I started out to go with a Greek burger theme. That's what I was thinking when I bought the goat cheese. But then, I started thinking lemon. And more lemon.

These little patties taste wonderful and they are pretty too.  A dollop of mayo in the meat mix keeps the lower fat turkey nice and moist. It is also an excellent carrier for the lemon oil. You have your choice here. I used my Simply Organic Lemon Oil Flavoring. (You might choose to add a drop or two of lemon essential oil, if you are one who opts to use therapeutic grade oils with foods which contain fat.) If you can't find my brand at the health food store, go for the Frontier brand. You can order it in my Amazon Store and help us out a bit.The lemon flavor makes the dish. I often don't have fresh lemons, so I keep lemon flavoring handy. Concentrated flavor with so many uses!

I used fresh dill and basil from my herb pots. You can use dried if you like. The goat cheese is super creamy, making a nice contrast of texture. You could sub feta if you prefer. One word of warning. Don't try to shape these patties by hand. The mixture is a bit wet. Just use a spoon to mound the meat mixture on the skillet. The secret is to have a nice hot skillet and to not try to flip the patties over too soon. They will be a little crumbly, so use caution or you will have a scramble. A contact grill that cooks from both sides would be an excellent option too. I just used my non stick skillet.

Lemon Dilly Turkey Burgers

1 lb ground lean turkey

4 oz goat cheese crumbles with basil and sun dried tomatoes

1/2 cup diced fresh spinach leaves

1/4 cup diced red bell pepper

3 sprigs fresh dill weed or 1/4 tsp dried

4 basil leaves or 1/4 tsp dried

1 tsp lemon pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp mayonnaise

1/2 tsp lemon flavoring (or 2 drops oil)

1 tbsp refined coconut oil

In a medium bowl, combine turkey, goat cheese, spinach leaves, red bell pepper, dill, basil, garlic powder and lemon pepper. In a very small bowl, combine mayonnaise and lemon flavoring. Stir into meat mixture. Divide the mixture into 8 mounds.  Heat coconut oil in a nonstick skillet until hot. Use a scoop to  mound the meat mixture  on the surface of the skillet, pressing the patties into shape. Let brown for 4 minutes before carefully flipping. Cook the other side and additional 4 to 5 minutes or until cooked through.  Temperature should register 160 degrees.

Serves 4:  317 calories  2 net g carb (3)

This month, I am working on ground meat recipes for the Diner News. This one will be in there, but I have lots more coming too. Beef and chicken, pork and turkey. Having been out of town, I am running behind a bit. The hubby will be getting some good experiments the next couple of weeks. Hope they all work out. He had his all you can eat ribs for Father's Day today, so he should be ready for about anything! Or he may not eat again until mid week!

Get more great recipes at the Low Carbing Among Friends Facebook Page:               https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends

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Order my original e-book or the latest version for couples and singles,  A Table for Two here

Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf

Meatloaf is a favorite. But unlike the joke in the play (movie) A Christmas Story, it doesn't have to be the same boring recipe each time. So when someone asks whats's for dinner, try this version. Very pretty and fun for the holidays with a sweet barbecue sauce made from cranberries. Yum. I love that movie. My oldest acted in the play as Flick when he was younger, so the story is near and dear to my heart. I never can make meatloaf without thinking about it! No one here replays the piggy eating scene, though. My boy just got to have his tongue stuck on the frozen light pole.

Meatloaf Base:

1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb lean ground turkey
1/2 cup diced celery
1/4 cup diced onion
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp coconut flour
1 egg
1 tsp powdered sage
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

In a large bowl, combine ground beef and turkey. When blended, add diced celery and onions, chia seed, coconut flour, egg, sage, salt and pepper. Press into a loaf pan. Bake for 30 minutes uncovered at 350 degrees.  Top with 1 cup Cranberry Barbecue Sauce and bake an additional 30 minutes, Let rest 15 minutes prior to slicing.

Serves 8:  228 calories  5 net g carb

Cranberry Barbecue Sauce:

12 oz cranberries

1 cup water

1 cup chicken stock

1/4 diced onion

1/3 cup granulated erythritol/stevia blend

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

3 tbsp wine vinegar

2 tbsp Sriracha sauce

2 tsp ginger powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp tarragon

1 tsp mustard

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp oregano

Combine berries, water and stock in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Boil until berries pop. Stir in all remaining ingredients and simmer to the desired thickness.  Add additional sweetener if desired.

Serve with meatballs, chunks of sausages, basted on baked chicken, topping a meatloaf or spread on  leftover slices of turkey or ham.

16 servings: 24 calories 4 net g carb

My daughter-in-law tasted this cranberry sauce and really liked it. I used half on the meatloaf and half as a glaze for meatballs. Both are tasty. It can also be poured over some cream cheese and served as a dip.  Put it in a jar and give it as a hostess gift. Be sure to grab some bags of fresh cranberries while they are plentiful now. They freeze so well, you can enjoy them for months!

Cranberry Turkey Patties

More for Cranberry Week. Today is a fun little turkey patty that will give you a jumpstart on the fall flavor profile we all love. At least my guys do. My middle son, Pearson, joined us for dinner on this one and gave me a big hug to thank me for dinner. He eats from a bachelor's kitchen other days!

This is another recipe I have developed using the unsweetened dry cranberries from Honestly Cranberry. Those little bags may not weigh much, but they go a long way! The tart flavor really comes through in these patties. I don't think a sweetened berry would be right. These are just so good with the unsweetened goodness. It is not overpowering, and works really well with the thyme and sage. My family laughed that it tastes like Thanksgiving dinner. The thyme, sage and cranberries are so reminiscent of a good stuffing.  I promise you, these patties are a lot less work! Don't know that I will convince my guys to give up our traditional bird, though. I would be willing.

Cranberry Turkey Patties

1 lb lean ground turkey
1/2 small onion, diced
1 rib celery, diced
1/4 cup dried sliced cranberries
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp powdered sage
2 tbsp water

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well. Form into 4 patties and cook over medium heat on a sprayed non stick skillet about 3 minutes on each side. Add water and continue cooking until centers are no longer pink. 

Serves 4:  175 calories   3 net g carb

If you want to get a head start on fall favorites, head on over to Honestly Cranberry and order a couple of bags. I had tried to dehydrate my own cranberries from fresh, but they were like puffed little balls. These are better. And no, I did not get paid to say that...I only got to sample some product for you guys--and my guys.  Honestly Cranberry

Tomorrow I will have my final installment of Cranberry Week. I have a great new Dieter's Drink made with unsweetened cranberry juice and my favorite secret ingredient.

Get more great  low carb recipes at Low Carbing Among Friends.

 https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends

 Order any of our great cookbooks at  http://amongfriends.us/24-7-LCD.php

Order my original e-book or the latest version for couples and singles, A Table for Two here. 

Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs

Flavor. That is what is important here. Wow. These little turkey meatballs have that going on! Normally, super lean ground turkey is dry and flavorless. Not so with this recipe. Each little meatball is simple--but the glaze. Oh my, that glaze will make you happy dance. And the meatballs are moist--a zucchini and chia seeds see to that. yum.

Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs

1 lb lean turkey (93 or 99% fat free)
1 small shredded zucchini
1 tbsp coconut flour
1 tsp chia seeds
1/2 tsp salt

Teriyaki glaze:
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp cooking sherry
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sriracha
1 tsp erythritol/stevia blend sweetener
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp powdered ginger
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/4 tsp stevia
1/4 tsp orange extract
1/4 tsp pineapple flavoring
1/4 tsp glucomannan or xanthan gum

Garnish: 1/2 tsp sesame seeds, green onion


Place turkey in a medium bowl. Shred the zucchini over the top. Sprinkle on the coconut flour, chia seeds and salt. Combine.  Spray a non-stick skillet with coconut oil spray. Use a small scoop to make meatballs and place them directly in the pan. You may need to use two skillets or brown them in two batches.  

While turkey is browning, make sauce. In a bullet blender cup, combine all ingredients. Process until smooth.

When the meatballs are browned on all sides, pour glaze over. Lower heat to a low simmer and cook an additional 5-10 minutes until sauce is very thick. Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and or green onion.

Serves 4:  161 calories   2 net g carb

Of course, you don't need to use a lean ground turkey as I did. It happened to be on sale, and I am experimenting with alternating very low calorie days among my normal diet. This way, it is a very low calorie and low carb entree. Some veggies or salad on the side, and I can enjoy a super flavorful meal.

Get more great  low carb recipes at Low Carbing Among Friends.

 https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends

 Order any of our great cookbooks at  http://amongfriends.us/24-7-LCD.php

Order my original e-book 

or the latest version for couples and singles, A Table for Two here. 

Turkey Sausage Meatza

My family loves pizza. It is tough to choose toppings. I like onions, peppers and mushrooms. Boys don't like the onions. Hubby doesn't like the mushrooms. We all agree on pepperoni and sausage. Except maybe the daughter-in-law. She just doesn't want greasy. This one really is not, just delicious.

Sausage. That is the "crust" here. Yes, the concept of the "Meatza" has been around a while. I have no idea the genius that came up with this one. For my Man Food edition of the Diner News last April, I featured this version. I used turkey sausage as the base so it was not swimming in fat.  Great flavor, especially when combined with the pepperoni, cheese, peppers, onions, etc. Served this to my husband, so I left off the mushrooms. Such is the sacrifice a wife makes.

This sure beats any pizza cravings, and fills you up too. Add a salad and you are good to go.

 Turkey Sausage Meatza

1 lb turkey sausage

1/3 cup low sugar spaghetti sauce

1/2 chopped bell pepper

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

24 slices pepperoni

Line a pizza pan with parchment paper. Press turkey sausage into the pan, forming a crust. Bake at 400 for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and drain liquid from pan. Return to oven for another 5 minutes. Remove and drain juices again. Top with spaghetti sauce, pepper and onion. Sprinkle cheese over all and top with pepperoni. Bake 10-15 minutes.

Serves 4: 

341 calories 

5 g carbs

Turkey does not make a lot of scary grease on the baking sheet, but it does make a fair amount of juices. I drain those off a couple of times so it browns rather than steams in its own juices. This is yummy stuff and much easier than some low carb crusts I have tried. I even like it as leftovers. It was great in my lunch the next week.

Now that the school is closed, I may not be taking my lunch any longer. I do have an opportunity to share my menu planning and recipe development skills with a Diabetes education program, so I will still be busy. I am sure you will hear more about that as we get rolling. And you might have noticed that I have more time to be sharing at the Low Carbing Among Friends Facebook Page. Be sure to visit that often for more great recipes.

              https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbingAmongFriends

 Order any of our great cookbooks at  http://amongfriends.us/24-7-LCD.php

Order my original e-book or the latest version for couples and singles,   

  A Table for Two here.  

Cranberry Stuffed Turkey Meatballs-Thanksgiving in One Bite!

 

I saw the idea for these special Thanksgiving themed meatballs on Pinterest via the Family Feedbag blog. I loved the idea, but ummm, not the carbs. So I took out the bread, and made a sugarfree cranberry sauce. These are fun, and they were a hit with my guys. I made a big enough batch to have some for the appetizer course for the Thanksgiving potluck we are hosting tomorrow for our Lifegroup from church. John is charcoal roasting two turkey breasts. Mmm. I will have these heated and ready for munching while we all gather. It sounds like we will have lots of goodies for tomorrow. It should be fun.

Cranberry Stuffed Turkey Meatballs

2 pounds ground turkey

12 oz bag of fresh cranberries

1 cup finely ground Walnuts

1/2 small onion, finely diced

1 egg

2 tbsp butter

1 tsp dried sage

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 cup erythritol or alternative sweetener

1 cup water

Grind walnuts in a bullet blender. Melt butter in a skillet. Add diced onion and saute until translucent. Stir the walnuts into the butter and onions. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

In a medium bowl, combine ground turkey, egg, sage, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir in the nut and onion mixture until thoroughly incorporated. Form the meat into one inch balls using hands or a scoop. Push one fresh cranberry into the center of the meat and roll the meat around the berry. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat forming meatballs until all the mixture is used. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

While meatballs are baking, make the cranberry sauce. Combine water and erythritol until boiling. Add remaining cranberries. Cook over medium heat until berries pop. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool.

When meatballs are cooked through, remove to a serving place and spoon cranberry sauce lightly over the tops.

The ground walnuts add to the tender texture of these meatballs, and also add the stuffing flavor. Well, maybe the herbs do that too, but hey, it is the whole package. If you are not a fan of cranberry sauce, don't think this recipe will win you over. The cranberry flavor is in there! The unsweetened berry pops with a tart blast, only to be all mixed in with the sweetness of the prepared sauce. I happen to be one that loves the blend of sweet and savory, so this dish does it for me. If you have avowed cranberry haters, make a few meatballs without the cranberry center. They are still very tasty with just the herb mix. That should please everyone! You might have some cranberry sauce left over, so take advantage of the ideas I have in the Low Carbing Among Friends Book. My recipes in there transform plain cranberry sauce into entirely new sauces flavored with balsamic vinegar or jalapenos. Who wouldn't love that?

Turkey Crusted Crockpot Breakfast

This recipe is a combination of several things I love. For one, I love my slow cookers. Yes, I love them so much that I own three. Even in my tiny kitchen. Three. One standard crock. So well used that I have worn the glazing off the bowl, making it a bear to clean. I even had to repaint the outside because it was so beat up. Can't hide it away though. It stays on the cabinet all the time. It has earned that spot.

I also have a dual crock slow cooker. That was a "suggested" birthday gift from my attentive and always thoughtful middle son, Pearson. Gotta love him. Not only is it great for holidays and potlucks because it hold a lot of food, it is also wonderful for those on special diets. I can make a batch of chili--regular cheapo black beans for non dieters. Expensive black soy beans for us. No wasting pricey specialty ingredients on those who will be downing Twinkies later. Of course, it is also wonderful for cooking two separate foods at once, as long as the timing is the same. Meat on one side, veggies on the other. That way, not everything has to have that dreaded crockpot stew characteristic. You know what I mean.

Lastly, I have a cheap little crockpot. It doesn't hold much, and that is the charm. It is just the right size for hot dips Mmmm..queso. It is also perfect for meals for two. Mine hold two chicken breasts and sauce. When my niece got married, I gave her a small crockpot with recipes just for two. How romantic. I hope she is still using it now that her family has 4. She seems to be repeating my pattern by spitting out adorable baby boys. I love having boys.

You may be wondering what happened to that recipe.  Just one more reminder that the Diner Newsletter for August will be devoted to slow cooking. If you aren't a subscriber, now is the time to order. Perhaps that is why I am singing these praises today. In a hot kitchen, slow cookers are a huge benefit. In a busy life, they are huge blessings.Okay, enough for crockpot appreciation day.

My other favorite things in this breakfast casserole are red bell pepper. Red is my favorite color so I love these even more. The milder sweetness of the flavor, though has always been a favorite. It shines through in this recipe. I also am a big fan of low fat ground turkey. I found a dollar off coupon at Walmart for this hormone free natural turkey, so I tried it. For this recipe, I think it is important to make sure you have a low fat grind. With no pre-browning, you don't want a greasy or wet dish, and you certainly don't want the turkey crust to shrink! A turkey crust? Really? Really. Super easy. Just mix the spices into the turkey in the crock, then use a spoon for form a crust. Worked like a charm for me.

Turkey Crusted Crockpot Breakfast


1 pound lean ground turkey
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp sage
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash
1 chopped red bell pepper
1/2 chopped onion
6 eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese


Place the raw turkey into the pot. Stir in the garlic, onion, sage, fennel and Mrs. Dash. Stir to blend. Using the back of the spoon, spread this turkey mixture evenly over the bottom of the crock and up the side about 2 inches.Chop the vegetables and layer them over the turkey.


In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Stir in the cottage cheese, salt and pepper. Pour this over the turkey and vegetables. Top with shredded cheese. Bake overnight on low. Makes 6-8 servings.


If you prefer, you can use low fat turkey sausage as the crust. This was easy to put together, though. I am going to have another crockpot breakfast in the newsletter as well. That one has Southwestern flavors. I hate that most breakfast casseroles call for bread. It takes a little creativity, but the crockpots can serve up really tasty morning meals that are ready when we are.

Asian Sesame Turkey Burgers

Here is the recipe for the Asian themed turkey burgers we had yesterday. I just robbed my herb garden and the condiment shelf in the fridge, but you may have to head to the store to duplicate the exact taste. It is truly a layering of flavors. Not difficult to put together, just a bit unusual perhaps.

One odd ingredient is the Wasabi Sake Mustard. I got mine at Target, their Archer Farms brand. Alone, I am not a fan. It packs a punch for sure. Great in the burger, but not so popular as a dip or sandwich spread around here. Another ingredient to check the shelves for...red curry paste. Mine is made by Thai Kitchen. Just a little bit is necessary, but the flavor is there.

That curry paste has the lemongrass flavor too, but I upped mine with some fresh Lemon Balm from my herb garden. That made the burgers pretty. If you don't happen to have any of that, substitute some cilantro or parsley and maybe add a few squeezes of lemon juice and a touch of zest.

I know it sounds complicated, but it really is not! Pearson said it was the best turkey burger yet. Gotta love that review. Man approved. Yeah.

Asian Sesame Turkey Burgers

This is one of the recipes included in my new cookbook project, Low Carbing Among Friends.

This recipe is available in the book, along with over 60 additional 24/7 Low Carb Diner recipes. By ordering the book, you get more than 300 favorite gluten free recipes from four other well known low carb cooking experts…Jennifer Eloff of Splendid Low Carbing cookbook fame, Kent Altena, the Atkins Diet Geek and You Tube star, nutritionist and author Maria Emmerich of Maria’s Nutritious and Delicious Journal, and popular blogger and food stylist, Carolyn Ketchum of All Day I Dream About Food. Unlike any other cookbook you may own, this one is a compilation of mini cookbooks featuring the talents of these well known low carbers. Think of it as a “best of” project.

Low Carbing Among Friends also features recipes from numerous other talented low carbing friends and recommendations from the medical community who recognize the health benefits of low carb, gluten free living. To preorder your copy, visit http://www.amongfriends.us The official release date is 11/11/11, so pre-order now for a discount.

We like these so much, I plan to multiply the recipe to make a Freezer Favorite meal. The next time ground turkey goes on sale, a big batch of these is going into the freezer for sure. The meat mixture would be great as meatballs too. What an awesome appetizer that would be!

Turkey, Feta and Spinach Burgers

I don't really do gourmet. These are pretty enough and tasty enough, but they are just too easy to put together to be gourmet. I could see them at a trendy restaurant, but they seemed just right here at our little home Diner! I usually pass over the ground turkey. It is not full of flavor, and I think I ate enough of that during my low fat days to do me for a lifetime. But that mild flavor is just exactly what this burger needs so those other flavors shine through. So good!

Turkey, Feta and Spinach Burgers

This is one of the recipes included in my new cookbook project, Low Carbing Among Friends.

This recipe is available in the book, along with over 60 additional 24/7 Low Carb Diner recipes. By ordering the book, you get more than 300 favorite gluten free recipes from four other well known low carb cooking experts…Jennifer Eloff of Splendid Low Carbing cookbook fame, Kent Altena, the Atkins Diet Geek and You Tube star, nutritionist and author Maria Emmerich of Maria’s Nutritious and Delicious Journal, and popular blogger and food stylist, Carolyn Ketchum of All Day I Dream About Food. Unlike any other cookbook you may own, this one is a compilation of mini cookbooks featuring the talents of these well known low carbers. Think of it as a “best of” project.

Low Carbing Among Friends also features recipes from numerous other talented low carbing friends and recommendations from the medical community who recognize the health benefits of low carb, gluten free living. To preorder your copy, visit http://www.amongfriends.us The official release date is 11/11/11, so pre-order now for a discount.

These were dinner last night. I wanted to blog them then, but Blogger was not cooperating! So here they are tonight. I served them with some garlic coconut flour biscuits as gourmet burgers. I am sure wishing we had leftovers!

Bacon Flowers

These are going to be wonderful to serve for Easter Brunch. The newsletter was devoted to breakfast this month, and while these did not make it in, they should have. I just ran out of hours to fit it all in!

These tantalizing little bites taste incredible. They are a little more work than the usual breakfast cups, but the eye appeal is all there. The secret is the turkey bacon. I have never been too impressed with it personally, but I am pretty sure it is crucial to the success of this recipe. It doesn't shrink and curl, or put out too much grease. That is key. Even better, it leaves these cute--even though, preformed--little scalloped edges that look like flower petals. I didn't even have to try! Also, I precooked the egg mixture a bit so it wouldn't just run under the bacon. That is important too.

Bacon Flowers

This is one of the recipes included in my new cookbook project, Low Carbing Among Friends.

This recipe is available in the book, along with over 60 additional 24/7 Low Carb Diner recipes. By ordering the book, you get more than 300 favorite gluten free recipes from four other well known low carb cooking experts…Jennifer Eloff of Splendid Low Carbing cookbook fame, Kent Altena, the Atkins Diet Geek and You Tube star, nutritionist and author Maria Emmerich of Maria’s Nutritious and Delicious Journal, and popular blogger and food stylist, Carolyn Ketchum of All Day I Dream About Food. Unlike any other cookbook you may own, this one is a compilation of mini cookbooks featuring the talents of these well known low carbers. Think of it as a “best of” project.

Low Carbing Among Friends also features recipes from numerous other talented low carbing friends and recommendations from the medical community who recognize the health benefits of low carb, gluten free living. To preorder your copy, visit http://www.amongfriends.us The official release date is 11/11/11, so pre-order now for a discount.

I got a phone call and just about burned mine, so watch them closely. I am not completely sure about the oven time since I was talking, and had not yet set a timer. Oh well, that is real life! I know the hubby is going to be jealous over this one. He was out the door this morning before I had a chance to try them. I sent him off with a Strawberry Cheesecake shake. I will have to hide a few flowers for him before the guys and I gobble them all up. They taste great at room temperature too, and would be fantastic appetizers for a party. I will do these again.

Turkey Day

So yesterday wasn't really Thanksgiving, but it was Turkey Day none the less. Our homeschool group held a Thanksgiving Feast out at a local park and my hubby offered to bring the bird. He loves to use his charcoal roaster to make turkey. It is smokey tasting, but not too smokey since it is roasted, not actually smoked. Yummy stuff.

For this recipe, just grab a thawed out bird, plop it in the roaster basket, and then into the Smoke Cube. That is an outdoor roaster with vertical charcoal chutes. The bird, or roast cooks from all four sides at the same time. It cooks in about the same amount of time as a traditional turkey. We got ours as a gift, but it came from Wal-Mart last year. Not sure if they still sell them.

We just have a few leftovers, so we bought two more turkeys for the real Thanksgiving day. One herb roasted and another charcoal roasted. That ought to please everyone!

Swiss Beefkey Request

I had planned a Build It Buffet Night for tacos and fajitas, but my biggest boy requested one of his old favorites. Because I had purchased both lean ground beef and turkey this week in planning to make some Minute Beef packages, I had plenty on hand. You saw this meat combo in my Oklahoma Barnyard Burgers a couple of nights ago, but this is my original combo. Beefkey. Part beef part turkey. It has a great texture and flavor too.

It is pretty similar to loose beef sandwiches. Those always made the think of the old Rosanne shows. Never liked that show much, but remember the food that they featured when they owned their own restaurant sounded interesting. To me, this tastes like Arby's roast beef. The texture is nothing alike but the flavor is.

When my friend and fellow Diner, NeeCee, told me she liked 'em, but the juice ran down her arm, I knew I needed to remind everyone to use a really lean beef for these unless you want to drain the fat from the crock. I like the juice, but not running down my arm! Take note and then give this a try.

It is a true fix and forget kind of dish. Just add in a mixture of ground beef and ground turkey. The ratio is up to you, the amount is too. The recipe is in the e-book, but I can tell you, I just add beef bouillon cubes or crystals and onion powder or dried minced onion to taste. When the meat is all tender, just stir it all together and mash with a potato masher or a nifty little Pampered Chef tool for blending ground meats. I use mine all the time. Today, I loaded the crock pot late, and I had thawed meats, so I just cooked on high for 3 1/2 hours. Often, I put bricks of frozen meat in and cook them on low all day. Either way works fine. Very forgiving.


We low carbers eat ours plain with the cheese melted on top and a side serving of veggies. Carby types will appreciate a toasted bun--garlic bread is the ultimate, but we just won't got there, now will we? Sorry the photo tonight is not great. My camera batteries died on me with only one shot and no flash. So you get what you get. I was not about to wait to eat until I could charge batteries.

Oklahoma Barnyard Burgers

Another burger. Yes ma'am! This one raids the whole barnyard! It will have you mooing, oinking, gobbling and even clucking. The patty is a blend of ground chuck and lean ground turkey. Add in crumbled bacon and an egg to hold it all together, and you have a pretty amazing burger.

This one is smokey and tender and very flavorful. It is a shame to put any toppings on at all. And of course a bun is just an insult.


Oklahoma Barnyard Burgers

1 pound ground turkey
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 2.8 ounce package of real bacon crumbles
1 onion, very finely diced
3 teaspoons liquid smoke
3 Tablespoons low sugar barbecue sauce, plus more for basting
1 Tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Blend all ingredients together. The meat mixture will be rather wet. Use a 1/2 cup measuring cup to scoop meat into a Foreman grill or skillet. Form into patty shapes on the cooking surface. Cook until done through. If using a skillet, let the meat set up until firm before flipping. After the last flip, or just before removing the patties from the grill, brush with additional barbecue sauce. Makes 12-13 patties.

The chia seeds help bind the meat mixture together and add some nutrition, but the burgers will work without them. I served ours tonight with some Nana's Coleslaw with a Kick. For toppings, some smoked cheese would be awesome-- just used regular slices that I had on hand.

I just had to name this burger in honor of my home state, with all of our heritage of ranchers. I was in Big Lots today. I almost always check out the cheap recipe books while I am there. Today, I picked up one from the Food Network that had recipes from regional restaurants. Always interested to see if they group Oklahoma in the South, the Southwest or the Plains states, I looked us up. Yep. The table of contents had 50 entries all right, but no Oklahoma. The District of Columbia had a section, but not my state. What the heck? Even Martha Stewart eats here in my home town. If the book wasn't already so dated, I would stage a protest. But--I guess since this book was on clearance at Big Lots, that speaks for itself. Yes, I am sneering now.

Sloppy Toms

These (if made into sammies) or this (if served solo) are/is a man pleaser, for sure. Just an old fashioned sloppy joe recipe made with ground turkey. Super quick if you make use precooked meat, such as the Minute Beef. But sometimes we prefer turkey, with its milder taste and softer texture. I don't usually make that ahead of time. Even from the frozen package, this doesn't take long to cook up. Tonight's recipe is paired with some Nana's Coleslaw with a Kick. The carby boy had bread with his, but who really needs it? The recipes are in the e-book.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas
and outside my door
was the biggest blizzard,
like ne'er seen before.

The dinner was cooked,
most low carb to boot,
but the roads were unpassable
regardless of route.

One guest dared to venture,
but got stranded afar,
Triple A to the rescue
had to dig out his car.

So the family alone
shared the great Christmas feast.
Thanks to the blizzard,
there was a seat for our beast.

Yes, that about sums up our Christmas Eve. Odd one for us. I am so glad we went to a church service on Wednesday evening. Knowing the storm was approaching, I think everyone had the same idea. It was packed. Beautiful service though, and a great reminder that Christmas is not about the presents and the food. The gift of Jesus is what we should be thinking of.

Not knowing what the weather was going to really do, I continued all my plans for our Christmas Eve candlelight dinner. All day, instead of getting snow, we kept getting plummeted strong winds and tiny ice pellets. Little drummer boys busy on the windows all day long. About 4 p.m. it turned to a beautiful snow. Beautiful except that I was worried about my loved ones driving in blizzard level winds. My boys were told to leave work early, so my mama's heart didn't have to fret about their safety. My hubby made it home despite our bald front tires. But our guests were not so fortunate. My mom, who lives in a hilly area, didn't try. Our family friend, who happens to be a former demolition derby racer, got run off the road by a stupid driver. We don't get too much snow here, and we all tend to be either too confident or too scared. Dangerous combination. Poor John, he had to wait for a tow truck.

So we set the table without the leaves, and made a more intimate dinner. I had made a turkey breast, squash casserole, spinach strawberry salad, steamed veggies in ginger butter, and cranberry sauce. We toasted with diet gingerale, complete with a frozen strawberry. Beautiful, and a great sub for wine or champagne. Those were the low carb dinner items. I also added some rolls and gravy. For dessert, we had lots of choices. I made chocolate pots de creme in dessert shots, and chocolate dipped strawberries. For the carby guests, I made an ice cream pie and a brownie truffle. The truffle was low sugar...I knew my hubby would insist on having some of that too. I made it with sugarfree pudding and a sugarfree cream cheese sauce. The brownies, however were from a box, so I can't really claim that it is low carb by any means, just better than it could have been. I really thought the chocolate pots de creme were wonderful, and all I needed. Several recipes are on Linda's site. I used this one, and used a blend of sweeteners to avoid the bitterness problems. If you like dark chocolate this is good. It tastes like truffles in a glass. Sorry no photo, I got busy.

The dinner was more intimate, but still nice. My family appreciated my efforts. Since we had an empty seat, a funny thing happened. Our pitty, Tinker, decided that he really needed to partake of the festivities. At first, he just begged from the floor. See the paw on Dad's chair?


Couldn't put him out in a blizzard, now could I? He went on to stare at the food from the empty area. Before we knew it, he was climbing into the seat. He is well behaved, so we just let him stay. So cute. He probably did get a few bites here and there, but so did the girl dogs on the floor. He didn't get enough to suit him, however. By the end of the meal, he just laid his big old head on the plate and pouted. That will be a funny memory for us all.




Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Gobble it Up! Enchilada Soup

Still got some leftover turkey? Me too! Love it. Today, I am off for a day of shopping and a movie with my guys and my mom. I made this yummy soup this morning while I was cooking breakfast for all. It always helps to use your time wisely in the kitchen, and double up when you can. With all the Mexican Spices in this recipe, the soup does not taste at all like Thanksgiving leftovers. It is smokey, spicy and cheesy and so good.

Gobble it Up! Enchilada Soup

2 cups cooked turkey, cubed or shredded
2 14 ounce cans chicken broth
1 14 ounce jar enchilada sauce (mine has 2 carbs per quarter cup)
1/2 head of cauliflower
1 bell pepper
1/4 onion
4 ounce can green chiles
1 cup black beans or black soy beans
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon Chipotle pepper powder
1 squirt lime juice
4 ounces cream cheese

Dice or shred turkey and chop all the vegetables. Make sure the cauliflower is finely diced, so it will resemble rice. Put all ingredients except cream cheese into a large pot to simmer for an hour. Add the cream cheese, allowing it to melt into the soup base. Add hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Serves 6 at about 10-11 carbs each using black beans. Soy beans would reduce the carb count further.

This is a yummy soup for all. The carby boys will likely prefer their soup with some crushed tortilla chips, and topped with some shredded cheese, but with all this flavor, who really needs the chips?

Cranberry Jalapeno Sauce with Smoked Turkey

I love leftovers. We made two turkeys this year just so I would be sure to have extra for easy meals for a few days. It is certainly a busy few days. What with Thanksgiving food prep, shopping and birthday celebrations, who wants to do even more cooking? Not me.

To make the best use of leftovers, plan some different ways to add to the traditional flavors. The recipe I am featuring today goes way beyond the cold turkey sandwich. It uses the delicious charcoal smoked turkey my hubby prepared. It was his best ever, and definitely worth getting up early to smoke.

I teamed that flavorful smoked turkey with a Cranberry Jalapeno Sauce made from the leftover traditional cranberry sauce. Sugarfree, of course. This is not for the faint hearted, but is sooooo good if you can stand a bit of heat. Good to warm up those old bones in the November chill.

Cranberry Jalapeno Sauce

This is one of the recipes included in my new cookbook project, Low Carbing Among Friends.

This recipe is available in the book, along with over 60 additional 24/7 Low Carb Diner recipes. By ordering the book, you get more than 300 favorite gluten free recipes from four other well known low carb cooking experts…Jennifer Eloff of Splendid Low Carbing cookbook fame, Kent Altena, the Atkins Diet Geek and You Tube star, nutritionist and author Maria Emmerich of Maria’s Nutritious and Delicious Journal, and popular blogger and food stylist, Carolyn Ketchum of All Day I Dream About Food. Unlike any other cookbook you may own, this one is a compilation of mini cookbooks featuring the talents of these well known low carbers. Think of it as a “best of” project.

Low Carbing Among Friends also features recipes from numerous other talented low carbing friends and recommendations from the medical community who recognize the health benefits of low carb, gluten free living. To preorder your copy, visit http://www.amongfriends.us The official release date is 11/11/11, so pre-order now for a discount.

To make this gourmet wrap, just spread some cream cheese on a strip of Joseph's Lavash bread, cut in thirds. Top with shredded turkey. Spoon Cranberry Jalapeno Sauce over the turkey. Remember, this is spicy and a little bit goes a long way! Roll the lavash bread in a spiral, and cut the sandwich in half. Each third of a lavash serves one.

I am loving having the college boys home, even though they did have to work at their old jobs for Black Friday. Sometime this weekend, I also need to package up some home made dinners for my oldest, who has been bumming food off the neighbors in his apartment complex. I knew he would miss that cafeteria food eventually!