Gluten Verboten

Arrrrrrgh! Me blog is the spoil of the grad school invasion!

Enough of that.

the view from my seat at the desk

The dust has once again settled after the semester. It was so serious that I had to do the deep clean the week after finals. Besides dust, dog hair, and wadded up pieces of papers, I had the flu. Yes, the real flu. I had a flu shot, per work requirements. I contracted this nasty disease after a patient coughed in my face while I was doing her physical exam during clinical. Sharing, in this case, is not caring. I was innocently sitting in class on Thursday after giving our final group presentation for research (the day after my health assessment final), when my body started aching. By the time I got home, I had a fever, severe chills, sore throat, headache, and could count the hairs on my head.

All I wanted the day following the onset of the plague was soup. And my favorite blanket. And my dog.  The problem was I didn't really feel like eating. Eventually, I threw some things in the old standby crock pot and tried to re-make our healthy award-winning chili from the chili cookoff at work.  Once I got to the end, I realized I didn't have any chili powder. So when you go to make this heart-warming, stomach-filling stuff, my recommendation is to check the spice cabinet first.

Some Really Good Turkey Chili

1 package of ground turkey meat (about 1 pound)
1 big can + 1 little can of crushed tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
1 cup water
1 16-ounce can dark red kidney beans
1 16-ounce can garbanzo beans
1 16-ounce can pinto beans
1-2 cloves of garlic (deending on how you are feeling)
2 tablespoons of chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
EVOO

1. Heat about 1 tablespoon EVOO in a large pot over medium heat. Add the turkey to the pot and cook until the turkey is brown. Break up the turkey as it cooks with a wooden spoon. Stir in the onion and cook it until its tender (but not limp).

2. Pour water into the pot. Add in the tomatoes, beans, garlic, and spices. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for thirty minutes. -OR- Bring to a boil, plop in a crock pot, and cook on low until you can't resist the amazing smell anymore.