Cheap eats for the home cook

This isn't a recipe. But I only have three minutes ticking on my internet time for today and this blog entry on the NYTimes caught my eye: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/healthy-foods-for-under-1/?em.

Red Turkey Chili

Okay, this is gonna be like Jen's, but more on the red side and it's a bit more complicated -- it's a chili recipe I made up by combining a bunch of recipes that looked good. The amounts are estimates -- I just wing it, but this is basically on the recipe card I have. Oh, and you can make it vegetarian -- that's why I used to do, when I ate less meat.

Ingredients

• 3 ribs of celery
  
• 2 onions
  
• 3 carrots
  
• 3-4 cloves garlic
  
• 1-2 zucchinis
  
• 1/2 to 1 dried chipotle pepper (1/2 if you're Jen; 3-4 if you're Maryam)
  
• 4-7 plum tomatoes
  
• 1 tsp cumin
  
• 1 T chili powder
  
• 1/2 tsp coriander
  
• 1/4 tsp allspice
  
• 2 tsp oregano
  
• 1 can each: kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans
  
• 1 large can crushed or diced tomatoes
  
• 1 lb. ground turkey (or ground beef?)
  
• 1 small package frozen corn (if not you or the person you're cooking for are on the SBD)
  
• a bunch of fresh cilantro
  

The directions are pretty standard. Some preparatory steps: Drain and rinse the beans, and prepare the pepper by boiling some water and soaking it in about 1/2 to 1 cup boiling water.

Cook the turkey in a big pot (I always have to add some oil so it doesn't stick); throw in some salt and a few spices. After it's cooked, put in a separate bowl and set aside.

In the same pot, add some more oil and saute all the vegetables -- I usually start with the onions & celery, then add the carrots and garlic. Add chopped zucchini and tomatoes and all the spices last. Let it cook a bit.

Finally, add the tomatoes to the pot, chop the chipotle pepper and add it along with some or all of its soaking water to the pot. Add the frozen corn. Add the ground turkey.

Simmer for a LONG time. Add more spices if you think it needs it. When you're ready to take it off the stove, add the chopped fresh cilantro.

That's it! It makes a lot -- it'll get you through a good part of the week. Mary likes to have it with melted cheese on top. :)

White Turkey Chili, customizable

This white turkey chili is yummy and easy to put together. I don't like lots of spice in my food, so I disembowel the jalapenos before mincing them, but you could leave in the ribs and seeds for more heat. Makes enough for ~4 servings.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 large-ish jalapeno or two small ones, minced (I remove the ribs and seeds, cuz I'm a spice baby)
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 lb ground turkey (93% fat-free)
2 cans cannellini beans (15.5 oz), drained and rinsed

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.
Add onion, jalapeno, garlic, oregano and cumin to the saucepan.
Cook, stirring occasionally, till vegetables begin to soften (3-4 minutes)

Add turkey and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink (a few minutes)

While the turkey is cooking, add 1 1/2 cups of water and the beans to a large pot.
Bring the water to a boil, while mashing some of the beans against the side of the pot to release starch.

Once the turkey mix is ready (no longer pink), add that to the pot with the beans and water. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, 5-10 minutes.

Add salt and pepper as desired (note: I almost never add salt/pepper, the chili is flavorful enough on its own I find). Eat with crusty bread.