Black Bean Turkey Chili

I just threw this one together with what I had around and it turned out wonderful.  The spice was perfect, but make sure you test your jalapeños before adding them.

1 lb. ground turkey
1 1/2 jalapeño chilis, diced
1 1/2 red peppers, chopped
1 medium vidalia onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, diced
12 Campari tomatoes, cut in eighths
1 can black beans
2 T chili powder
1/2 t salt
dash pepper

grated cheese
chopped green onion


Brown turkey.  Add peppers, onion and garlic and cook until tender.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 60 to 90 minutes until flavors are blended.  Top each serving with a spoonful of cheese and green onion.

Easy Crab Cakes

These crab cakes are quick and easy.  Make sure you use fresh bread crumbs.  Just put a few pieces of bread in the blender.

½ lb. lump crab meat
¼ C red pepper, seeded and diced
½ jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
3 T low fat mayonnaise
2 t old bay seasoning
2 C fresh bread crumbs
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 T olive oil






Remove shell pieces from crab meat, if necessary.  Mix together crab, peppers, mayonnaise and seasoning.  Add ½ C of the bread crumbs or as much as needed to bind crab mixture.  Shape into 6 cakes.  Chill for at least 1 hour.  Dip cakes into egg and then bread crumbs.  Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Cook crab cakes on each side until golden.  Serve warm with spicy mayonnaise.

Spicy Mayonnaise

½ C low fat mayonnaise
3 T chili sauce
1 t lime juice

Caramelized Onion, Bacon and Cheese Dip

4 C vidalia onion (or other sweet onion), chopped
1 T olive oil
1 T butter
3 slices bacon
2 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded
2 green onions, chopped
½ C fat-free sour cream
1/3 C low fat mayonnaise
1/4 t salt
black pepper

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and butter.  When butter is melted, add onion and sauté 5 for minutes, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low; cook 45-60 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.

Reserve 2 tablespoons cheese. Combine remaining cheese, caramelized onion and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.  Transfer the mixture to a 1-quart glass or ceramic baking dish coated lightly with cooking spray. Top with reserved cheese. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

Serve with toasted bread or crackers.

Summer Pesto Salad

1/2 lb. orecchiette pasta

1/2 lb. fresh mozzarella (small balls)

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

2 T. olive oil

2 T prepared pesto

12-14 fresh basil leaves, cut

salt and pepper

Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions.  Drain pasta, but do not rinse. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Saute cherry tomatoes for about 30 seconds. Add pasta and pesto. Stir and cook another minute. Add the mozzarella and fresh basil and remove from the heat.

Can be served warm or chilled.  Makes 2 servings.

Pesto

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese

Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese. Can be frozen up to 3 months.

The Ruby Slipper

We had breakfast at the Ruby Slipper twice.  Both times we had to wait, but it was worth it.  They have a few tables outside and we were able to sit outside the first time.






For one breakfast, I had the special.  It had two eggs, toast and crab cakes (instead of bacon).  It wasn't offered the second time we ate there so I was glad I had it the first time.  The next time we both had the Banana's Foster French Toast with bacon.  This is more of a dessert.  We asked the waitress if it was good and she said "its really popular" so probably more of a touristy meal, but good all the same.


We never had breakfast anywhere else while we were in New Orleans.  Why bother!  Every other morning, we skipped breakfast and went right to lunch.

http://www.therubyslippercafe.net/