FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!

Add caption

Being a foodie can really come into it's own right now. There are so few, well, maybe two things fun to do at home. Food and sex. I don't anticipate having any comments or advice on the latter, except insofar as it's akin to voting: do it early and often.

But FOOD, Glorious Food. Here's the thing.

It's fun to do it together.

Discuss, prep, cook, eat. Usually husband and I sit lazily in front of TV and munch away. But since TV has taken a larger role in our lives, we've stopped eating in front. I set the table, candles and all (electric) and we sit with wine. Yes, this part is dangerous. I'm not sure I had a single night without wine since we started our mild panic. Already our Pavilions was out of our go-to Daou cabernet. I'm not sure what I'll do when we run out at home.

My friend Helena suggests we buy frozen veggies. Great idea. Frozen vegetables are picked just the right moment and flash frozen immediately, guaranteeing optimum flavor and nutrients. As for fresh, well, how long was that head of broccoli in a bin, then on a truck, then on the supermarket display? And how many people have touched it. Likely a lot. Most of what's frozen now was processed before the virus was a factor, also a plus.

I'm going to share four recipes for do-it-together fun and deliciousness.  One a day, I think. The turkey chili below is very forgiving. Any kind of beans. I like the three colors for eye appeal. Any canned tomatoes, large or small cans depending on taste. Fresh garlic is of course wonderful, chopped. A lot of it. Lots of salt. Chorizo sausages instead of what I pictured. If you have fresh tomatoes, add those, same with red peppers (not too many). If you don’t eat pork, chicken chorizo sausages are good.

This chili goes great with homemade-from-a-mix gluten-free cornbread. Add a small salad, et voila. Freeze leftovers for a surprise easy meal at a later date.

Turkey Chili

You'll need a heavy pot or Dutch oven with lid for browning and cooking.

Ingredients:

One can each:

Black beans

Kidney beans

White (cannelloni or other) beans

Chopped roasted tomatoes (any will do but these have a little more kick)

Chopped parsley (whatever is sitting wilting in your fridge)

1/2 brick of pork chorizo

1 lb. ground turkey

1 chopped onion (or combo onion and shallot)

 Garlic in tube or fresh (lots)

Salt, pepper and cayenne to taste

Olive oil for sautéing.

Instructions:

Heat oil medium hot.

Saute onions ‘til lightly browned, remove from pan, set aside.

Saute chorizo and turkey until nicely browned and crusty, chopping as you go in pan.

Add garlic and mix well, same salt and pepper.

When all that done, drain beans, and add all.

Add tomatoes.

Mix well, cover and let simmer for a while to blend flavors.