Wednesday, February 29, 2012

New Look!

In case you didn't notice, the blog has a new look!

I thought it needed a little updating and a switch to a simpler, more modern color scheme and less clutter throughout definitely did the trick! :)

Hope you like it! If you do, spread the love or leave me some love!

XoXo,

Jen

The Incredible Turkey Burger

For quite some time now, the hubby and I have tried to cut down on the amount of red meat we put into our systems. Every once in a while we will indulge, but we have noticed how differently our bodies feel after we do have a big juicy steak.  We feel much more sluggish, and I for one can practically feel my body trying to break down the red meat and it seems to be working so hard. So we have substituted eating regular burgers and ground meat for ground turkey and turkey burgers. Surprisingly, it is very good. While on the drier side, if you season properly and cook it pretty much as you would cook the meat, it can be very flavorful and extremely enjoyable.

I almost prefer these turkey burgers to any burger that I could eat elsewhere. Almost.

It's a fairly easy recipe and one that doesn't require a whole lot of thought or effort. I put them on a sandwich thin and topped with ketchup. I've also eaten the patty alone with sweet potato fries, or with just a salad (to keep it on the light side).  If you have the ingredients (which you should), you could probably make these for tomorrow's dinner.
And I certainly hope you do!

Enjoy!


Delicious Turkey Burgers

Yield: 4 burgers


Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1 tbsp + 1 tsp Italian-style breadcrumbs
1 shallot, finely diced
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (you can also use dried parsley, just double it)
1 clove garlic, peeled & minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp dried rosemary
2 tbsp Feta cheese

Directions
1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients. Form into 4 patties.
2. Cook the patties in a medium skillet over medium heat, turning once, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Serve as desired & enjoy!


xoxo,

Jen

Friday, February 3, 2012

Better than a Bedtime Story...


A couple of years back, I started drinking a lot of tea. I love tea, because I don't have to add much to it. I have tried teas in as many flavors as I can find (some I have liked, others I've loved, and others - well, let's just say I won't be trying again). I've also read that tea has many health benefits. I'm not going to get into that, but I do know that I feel better when I drink tea than when I drink loads of coffee, especially since I don't add milk or sugar or anything like that to it. It's great for helping me digest my food, and since it has to be drunk slowly, actually makes me stop, relax, and enjoy it. 

Moving on... in the last few years, as dress levels have risen, workloads have gotten heavier, and life in general has happened, I had a hard time sleeping soundly. That has never been a problem for me, but apparently something triggered it.  Someone suggested Tilo (which every good Cuban has in their cupboard), but I had tried it before and wasn't a fan. So I started shopping around, trying different things. One thing that helped was eating earlier. But then I came across Celestial Seasonings and their Sleepytime Teas.  They have several different flavors, including one that is great for when you have a sore throat. 

Hubby and I have a new evening ritual. We boil some water, steep some tea bags, add in a little honey, and drink our tea slowly and calmly before heading to bed. By the time we crawl under the covers, we are relaxed, sleepy, and pushing everything out of our minds. The nights that we do this, we sleep soundly and we sleep all night, without tossing and turning and waking up every hour.  

So if you usually have trouble sleeping, give this a try! Hopefully it will help you as much as it has helped me!

Xoxo, 
Jen

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Motivation... Lacking.

So lately, I have been feeling a little, shall we say, blah. Hubby and I are on a little healthy kick and trying to eat way better than we usually do, which means my meals are a bit more limited. I've been semi-creative with some of my meals, but not really nearly enough that I want to photograph and post them. Most of them are loaded with garlic and paprika, salt-free, and generally boring-looking as they are eaten with only lettuce and tomatoes. And while I did have a few recipes in the reserves, it's just no fun to post pumpkin recipes after Thanksgiving, or eggnog cupcake recipes after Christmas. So I guess those will have to wait until next year. ;)

I do, however, have some bargain blast posts I've been meaning to write, and another couple topics have been ruminating in my head. Once I get the hang of these healthy recipes and get a little more creative with them, then I will definitely add them into the mix. For now, I'd like to apologize for the lack in motivation that has plagued me for the last several months. It has affected a few areas, but my poor blog seems to be suffering most. I will hopefully be back regularly to entertain you with more recipes, photos, and delightful things I've found in my everyday.

If you have any suggestions for topics or think that you have a really great topic and would like to guest blog, let me know! Email me at Jenise.subervi@gmail.com.

For now, I leave you with a few photos from a recent trip to North Carolina.

Xoxo,

Jen

Starting off the trip with a toast to friends and fun. 


Roasting Marshmallows in the Fireplace. Yummmmm

Best BBQ Food... Incredible