So as always it's been a while since my last post and as usual I have some lame reason... actually this time it's because I have been trying to make a New Me.
The season ended for me in late May and I had been telling Meredith that I was going to quit smoking as soon as it was over. She, for good reason, didn't believe me but this time I was serious! I had begun waking up in the morning wheezing and coughing. On my last visit to the doctor he just laid it all out: "Quit smoking, eat right, work out and take care of yourself."
They all say that right? It was me, the inside me that finally couldn't take it anymore. I had NO idea why I was smoking and had been for 17 years. So I got a script to a popular quit smoking drug and it WORKED! It worked for me though and I am in no way implying it will work for everybody but if you smoke do WHATEVER it takes to quit. I have been quit now for almost 2 months with NO SLIP UPS. So I will just pat myself on the back and keep going.
The other things the doctor suggested have been tough but doable. I have really cut back on the red meat, butter, fat and sugar. It's not easy but I have found that it is probably a little easier for me as a chef than most. For instance, I made a turkey and bison meatloaf that was fantastic. This meatloaf was just an
exercise in how to substitute good things for fatty things. The bison is WAY better for you than beef and it gives you that familiar flavor without the issues.
I also went out and got EA Active for the WII and Meredith and I are working out at home but I swear she is seeing much better results than me! She has cut 7 pounds to my 5! Since she was tiny to begin with she shows definition better than me. All in all though, this "game" is great because you don't have to leave the house.
Turkey Bison Loaf
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1.5 # lean ground turkey
1# ground bison (easier to find than you might think)
1 egg + 1 egg white beaten
1 cup panko bread crumbs
5 dashes worcestershire sauce + or -
1/2 white onion diced and sauteed till translucent
2 sprigs fresh thyme stemmed and minced
1 clove fresh garlic minced (optional)
1 sprig rosemary stemmed and minced
kosher salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper to taste
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HEAT OVEN TO 400 degrees
1. MIX all with hands or other utensil
2. Form into loaf ( I love that word)
3. Place on oiled cookie sheet
4. put in oven and cook till the center internal temperature reaches 160 degrees
(look turkey must reach 165 degrees but at 160 you will get carry over temperature to 165 allowing us to retain moisture - however the surgeon general suggests that eating raw undercooked meat poultry and shellfish may cause health issues...)
5. remove from heat and allow to rest for @ 5 minutes
I serve this with mushroom sauce:
1 pack cremini mushrooms sliced
1/2 white onion diced medium
1 can of beef stock or your own if you had the time
1 sprig rosemary
salt and pepper to taste
Wondra Flour - sift enough into the sauce to thicken until it lightly coats the back of a sauce spoon
enough blended oil to brown the mushrooms and onions
1. brown the shrooms in the blended oil on med hi heat
2. add onions and brown
3. add stock and whole rosemary
4. reduce and season
5. add Wondra and follow what it says above...
eat and repeat...
Please note that I highly suggest adding to or taking away or making better this or any recipe. Modifying recipes is what leads every chef to greatness.
Notice the lack of butter, beef, regular flour etc..... Of course a salad would be better for you but eventually you have to eat something with some substance or you will come crashing down on your diet.
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