Chimichurri Turkey Burgers with Avocado

I have always been a sucker for condiments.  Ketchup, barbecue sauce, pickled jalapenos, tomato relish, pesto, creamed honey...if you can spread it, I can overindulge.  Where most would be happy with a tablespoon or so, it seems I always need about a quarter cup to satisfy my craving.  This is also the reason I hoard emptied food jars like a crazy person...it seems there are always more sauces like this delightful chimichurri that need to stored. 

Sausage & Sweet Potato Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich

This breakfast is brought to you by crazy delicious biscuits.  Fricking awesome biscuits that were so good at Thanksgiving, they made a second appearance at Christmas dinner and have booked a spot at New Year's, too.  Biscuits so good that they could not be confined to the dinner table, transitioning to breakfast with the simple additions of egg, turkey sausage and cheese.  Oh yes....I love me a breakfast sandwich, but especially when made with these delicious sweet potato rosemary biscuits.

Roast Vegetable Gravy - a.k.a. The Last Gravy Recipe You'll Ever Need

For better or for worse, everyone has a signature dish for which they are known.  Gourmands may be recognized for something spectacular such as tartare, artisan bread or decadent chocolates.  Others are known for frozen pizza, refrigerated crescent rolls or the ever popular blue box mac & cheese.  Be they on the high or low end of the spectrum, the hubs and I enjoy all of these food items on occasion.  As for me....well, I'm not exactly sure of where I fall on this spectrum for I am known for a holiday condiment.

Spinach Dip Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf

There are many things I love about my husband.  He considers rollerblading aerobic exercise, has read the entire Harry Potter series and sings 80's hits to our pup, substituting her name into the lyrics.  But perhaps the best part of all is the fact that he can cook.  The man makes an amazing pork roast, perfect pad thai and his lava cakes are to die for.  However, we have very different opinions when it comes to meatloaf.  Having grown up eating my mom's to-die for recipe, I have insatiable winter craving for this dish while the hubs, a natural-born Canadian, never at it growing up.  Perhaps that's why I was so giddy when he offered to make Spinach Dip Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf for me last week.  Oh joy!

Creamy Polenta with Turkey Meatballs & Basil

Polenta is the unsung hero of Italian cuisine.  So frequently overshadowed by a plethora of pastas, this delicious, gluten-free grain can be forgotten about.  Inconceivable!  But sadly true.  In fact, it had been several months since I've made a dish with polenta, and even longer since I've blogged about it.  To make up for this tragedy, I bring to you one of my favorite polenta dinners.  Ready in 20 minutes, this delicious, simple and hearty dish is one that you will look forward to making any night of the week.  

Guacamole & Egg Breakfast Pizza

Everyone loves pizza.  And with good reason.  This flat piece of bread can be tailored into everyone's favorite dish...just pick your favorite meats, veggies and cheese and voila, a delicious customized dish.  If you're at all like me, you've probably also enjoyed the glories of pizza for breakfast.  Typically, these were leftover cold slices with congealed cheese (ahh, the college glory days).  However, as a full-fledged adults with a pup to look after, the hubs and I have taken our breakfast pizza up a notch, turning it into a healthy and filling start to the day (rather than a leftover afterthought).  

Turkey Gumbo

There is one thing I look forward to every Thanksgiving even more than the turkey.  More than the pie, stuffing or even Grandma's infamous sweet potatoes.  The dish that causes me to quiver with anticipation in early October.  The reason that I cook a 10 pound turkey for only four.  That reason is leftover Turkey Gumbo.  After all the sweets, the breads, the potatoes and the dense solid foods associated with the holiday, there is nothing like a hearty, thick soup to fill in those little empty spaces in your appetite.  Especially when it helps to get rid of your leftovers.

Turkey Cranberry & Brie Panini

My mom's favorite use of leftover cranberry sauce was always in a cold sandwich the next day.  Cranberries, cream cheese and turkey makes a fabulous little sandwich.  But the temperature has dropped about 20 degrees since Thanksgiving, and a cold sandwich just isn't appetizing when there's a chance of snow.  So mom, forgive me, but I've modified your original.  Don't worry, I know you'll still love it, because it has your favorite cheese of all time - brie.

A Thanksgiving Day Recap

There are so very many things I am thankful for this year.  First is the turkey of our little family, our fabulous pup Zoe.  A quick romp in the big dog park (no wimpy small dog park, thank you very much) and a bowl of kibble filled with bird bits after dinner make for her perfect puppy holiday.  Thank you, Second Chance Rescue, for helping us adopt this little snaggle-tooth bundle of joy!

Broken Lasagna Stacks with Red Pepper & Goat Cheese

The name to this recipe is quite a mouthful.  But be thankful that it's a short as it is.  This recipe was quite the quandary to name.  With all the good stuff going into this dish, you don't want to leave anybody out.  But at the same time, to just call this a lasagna would be deceptive to all individuals reading this blog.  A compromise had to be made between the architectural and flavor aspects of this dish.  Just note that the original name was Broken Turkey & Goat Cheese Lasagna Stacks with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

Phew.  My pinky has a cramp just from typing that.

Turkey Kielbasa & White Bean Rice Bowl

On an unexpectedly chilly day in early fall, our refrigerator was unprepared to satisfy my craving for a cozy, warm dinner.  Thankfully, I have a shamefully overstocked pantry that was ripe for the plucking.  We always have canned beans, onions and rice in plentiful supply.  After a bit of digging, chopping and stirring, out came this Turkey Kielbasa & White Bean Rice Bowl.  Totally hit the cozy spot.  While the hubs and I both thought the dish was very tasty, we weren't sure it was good enough to be considered blog-able.   It was only after we ran out of leftovers two days later that the realization hit us...we loved this dish!  Though gone from our refrigerator, we were haunted my food memories for weeks.  Any recipe that is that unforgettable is one that must not only be kept, but also shared.  Truly, a case of leftovers at their finest.

Mexi-Stuffed Peppers with Cilantro Sour Cream

Peppers are on sale...hooray!  I love munching on these sweet little veggies.  They're great raw or cooked, and amazing stuffed.  Typically we go Italian with our stuffed peppers...marinara, beef and lots of garlic.  Yum.  However, we were feeling more spicy this evening, so we went south of the border for dinner inspiration.