A Can of Chickpeas and a Pound of Turkey

These two ingredients had been hanging out in our kitchen for the past three weeks with no real plan for the future. Don't worry... the ground turkey was chillin' in our freezer, not collecting e-coli in the pantry!
So I went on a google hunt for recipes involving these forgotten soldiers. Voila! I found a serious contender on one of my favorite cooking blogs, Oishii Food.
Spicy Turkey and Chickpea Burgers sounded intriguing and perfect, considering the afore mentioned ingredients.
I made a few substitutions based on what we already had on hand: Cilantro, some ripe avocado and fabulous Parmesan-Garlic rolls.
The result was a wonderful mix of flavors and textures that the Mr. and I loved! This recipe is definitely one to keep in rotation.

Cheers!
MM

Spicy Turkey & Chickpea Burgers
(Adapted from Clean Eating)Serves 4 (or 2 with leftover patties)

1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 green onions, white and green parts, chopped1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
a handful of fresh parsley, chopped (We used fresh cilantro)
2 TBS. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 lb. ground turkey (We used a full pound)
2 TBS. olive oil

*In a food processor, combine the first 9 ingredients (through Worcestershire sauce). Pulse until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
*Transfer chickpea mixture to a large bowl and add the ground turkey. Mix together until well combined, then form patties (we made a total of 7 patties, about 3 inches wide and 1-1/2 inch thick).
*Add some olive oil to a frying pan (a few times around the pan). Heat over medium high heat. *When hot, fry the patties, about 4-6 minutes on each side depending on thickness of patties. You may have to cook them in 2 batches.
*While patties are cooking, toast your rolls.
*Assemble burgers on rolls with the spinach leaves, red onion, mayo and/or mustard. Add tomato if in season!

**Thank you Oishii Food for this great recipe!

Why, Hello Ginger! Nice to Meet You...

I've always enjoyed the taste of fresh ginger: the tangy spice mixed with the sugary sweetness is such a sensory experience. But I have never felt confident enough to try my hand at cooking with the root.

When I found this recipe for Ginger Scallops I thought it sounded easy enough for a first timer. So, I picked up my very first nugget of fresh ginger, hit our favorite local seafood haunt and headed home to dazzle the Mr. with my new found skillz.
What a hit! We paired the scallops with a side of organic, long grain brown rice with fresh green onions and some whole green beans. To die for. The scallops literally melted in my mouth and the butter-based sauce provided just enough moisture to create a creamy rice bed. Try this recipe today!

Cheers!
MM

Ginger Scallops (from Just Cook This!)
Ingredients:
1 pound large fresh scallops, about 12
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons ginger, finely chopped
2 tablespoons green onion, finely chopped
Olive oil
Kosher salt & Fresh ground pepper to taste

Mix butter, ginger and green onion in a small bowl.
Place saute pan on heat and add 1 tablespoon oil (I used sesame oil)
When almost smoking, add half of the scallops and sear on both sides until nicely browned, about 1-2 minutes a side (Our scallops were a bit large and cooked for 2-3 minutes)
When almost finished, put half the ginger butter in the pan and toss scallops until all coated.
Cook remaining scallops the same way. Serve immediately.

Ta Da!

So, after ahem months of neglecting my new venture in blogging, I decided that part of my neglect was based on a lack of subject matter. Not that I live a boring life... at least not all the time. But I doubt very much that my faithful readers really need a recounting of every weekend conversation with the Mr. and every detail of the goings on at my office. These topics do not a fun blog make.

So, I've decided to revamp this little jewel and focus on my other passion: Cooking! I have discovered a long buried urge to create masterpieces in my kitchen. Since I work nights, my only real opportunity to forage into culinary creativity is on the weekends. Hence the new name... The Weekend Chef.

I hope you will find useful recipes and the anecdotes of my own attempts to master them. I am always open to suggestions from YOU... and will take on any challenges you want to throw my way.

Cheers!
MM

No, I'm Not Pregnant!

For realz. It seems to be the big question on many peoples minds... when are we going to get me knocked up?!? Family members. Friends. Co-workers. Perfect strangers who stop me while grocery shopping. Argggggg! Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to have babies someday in the near future. But it gets old when people expect an announcement on a daily basis.

Today I went to get my hairs did and my stylist tells me that one of his other clients asked the no-no question... "Do you think Mrs. is preggers?" My stylist asked the woman why she wanted to know and she said she just had a "feeling" that I was. This immediately starts the paranoid slew of thoughts that plague most people who make their living as a talking head... "Do I look heavier?" "Did me suit fit funny?" "Did I make a joke about having a baby?", etc. When my stylist pressed the woman about her "feeling," she replied, "She just has this glow going on." Huh. So this Sherlock watched one newscast, notices an extra gleam about me and logically deduces it must be a bun in the oven!

This is one of the many reasons I can't wait to be preggy. So then people can stop wondering already!
Cheers,
MM

Adventures in Homemaking

Busy and productive weekend! Well, after a rather languid and snuggly Saturday morning, that is. I spent my afternoon shopping for all things domesticity. Michael's for Fall garland and a fake pumpkin, Target for baby gifts and cards, Macy's to pick out a new (FREE) Crock pot and some fabulous pans. Grocery store and local fish shop rounded out the list.

So Sunday rolls around and I just HAVE to try out the shiny new Rival 6 qt. Crock pot (with attached hinged lid and digital programming). So sleek, so large... so many possibilitiesBut I settled on comfort food: namely, chicken and dumplings. I found this recipe through my Saturday morning Googling. After reading the reviews and jotting down a few words of advice, I exchanged the water for a carton of chicken stock, added a can of corn along with the biscuits after 4 hours of cooking on High. I let the biscuits simmer in the liquid on Low for another 1.5 hours. The results= Delish!

I also whipped up a huge pot of chili using the amazing red cast iron pot from our wedding registry... and the biscuits mentioned in my previous post. The MR. was in Heaven! Everything turned out just dandy and we will be feasting for the rest of the dreary work-week.

I heartily recommend all of the recipes from this weekend!

Cheers!

MM

Chilly= Chili!

So as a girl who spent her formative years in the deserts of Arizona... I truly appreciate the crisp Fall weather the Midwest offers. Even if it is inundated with drenching rain and scary pale skin. Since we officially reached Fall with our temperatures dropping into the 50's, I feel it's time to tie on the apron and get cracking on some chili this weekend.

This makes me especially excited as I FINALLY get to use my red Martha dutch oven pot... a wedding gift from my gal pal Liz. ((((((SO EXCITED))))))

I searched the webz for a new recipe to culminate this momentous occasion and found this little ditty. I think I will also attempt these bad boys as the perfect side item. My husband doesn't know what's about to hit him this Football Sunday!

Cheers,

MM

I, The New Marshall in Town, Do Solemnly Promise...

Alright, if one starts a blog then one should keep up with said blog. This is the rule I apply to others so I better darn well start living by my own rules! From here on out I will do my best to post daily, even if it is just a quick, fun update or tidbit. So, to catch everyone up on the last, oh, 5 months of our lives:

-Mr. Marsh is studying for a licensing exam. It is currently the bane of my existence... but the end of the road is near. Hopefully we can begin more home projects once he is finished.

-We travelled to Idaho for Mr. Marsh's sister's wedding. It was beautiful! I fell in love with the surroundings and met a wonderful group of people. Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Young!

-We also visited one of Mr. M's clients in Mississippi and experienced Southern football first hand. What an experience! The South really knows how to throw a party!

-My mom is coming to visit in mid-October and I can't wait! It's been 5 months since I last saw her. I have all sorts of fun things planned : )

-We are throwing a Halloween party and I am coming up with some fabulous ideas to make this event bigger and better than ever.

Cheers everyone!

MM