Beets

Oh, if anybody's got something yummy to make with beets, I'm getting some in my box this coming week and I've NEVER cooked with them so I'm clueless. Any recommendations would be great.

Turkey Chili

So the Produce is really making me cook. I had a red onion and a bell pepper and then I had ground turkey from my meat order. I threw in a can of stewed tomatoes, chili powder and some sweet baby rays BBQ sauce. I actually threw in some carrots before I remembered I was making chili and not stew. Oh, and a little bit of hot sauce. It smelled yummy and tastes yummier. I usually like adding corn too but didn't thins time.

Turkey Chili

1 lb ground turkey
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 red onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 carrots
Sweet baby rays BBQ sauce to taste
Chili powder to taste
hot sauce to taste.

Potato Leek Soup

First of all, I have to say that I'm actually pretty proud of myself that I made a Potato Leek Soup today and it came out pretty well. I looked up a couple of recipes online and combined what I liked and didn't.  -> this is a big thing for me because I don't cook. I can follow a recipe like its nobody's business, but i don't walk in and look at ingredients and just decide to make things. I always wanted to learn but I just haven't had luck. plus, it's a pain to cook for 1.

I started off with a single leek stalk and chicken broth (organic, gluten and MSG free), and 6 small-medium potatoes. I got the potatoes and leeks in my weekly organic produce delivery. Then I added in some spices that I saw in a couple of the recipes (marjoram, parsley, salt, pepper and thyme). I just made it smell good. I didn't taste it much while i was cooking actually but the house sure did smell good.

I threw everything in a pot with some margarine and let it cook on a med-low heat for a while (potatoes are soft without being smooshy). Ladle and serve. It made 4-5 servings. I'll put the other servings in the fridge and reheat as necessary, though I suppose freezing would work too.

Potato Leek Soup
2 lbs (6 small to medium) Red Potatoes (~493 calories)

3 cups chicken broth- can use vegetable broth too (30 calories) 
1 leek stalk (~54 calories)
~2-3 Tbs margarine (Smart Balance is what I used) (160-240 calories)
Salt, pepper, marjoram, thyme and parsley to taste

Throw into pot on stove on med-low heat and cook until potatoes are soft enough for your own taste.

Healthy quotient: About 817 calories for the pot, with 5 servings: ~165 per bowl.

Next on my weekend to-do list... Turkey Chili (i've got a pepper and onions that could really be used).

Call for Recipes

HERE YE! HERE YE!   

I CALL FORTH ALL OF YE TO BID ME A FAVOR... 

THE NEED: Your favorite recipes. 

Anything and everything related to stew, soup, fish, quinoa, rice dishes, crock pot-style anything... 

(especially if it is sans flour since I'm allergic).

Please send them my way. 

Kitchen's unpacked and I want to get started. I'm trying to organize some of my recipes but not everything is as easily found as it used to be.

~~~
The rest of my apartment is slowly getting into shape. I've hung 2 pictures and I have to decide on places to put the rest. I unearthed my bed and put appropriate blankets on it so I won't freeze. I also fixed some pillows. I have a bunch of clothes that need homes so that's one of my next tasks.

I ordered a small shelving unit for the bathroom so I can store extra towels and a large multiple-shelf piece for the corner of my bedroom. I can store suitcases, coats, linens, sweaters/sweatshirts and anything else I want. These two pieces will help tremendously in organization. I'd love to get an over the toilet unit but I have a towel bar in the way and I can't get it off yet.

I've also got a couple shelf organizers I need to put in cabinets. All in all, I'm close to having everything organized and put away. Not there quite yet though.