Gazpacho

Gazpacho, a delightful summer dish sure to keep you cool during the long hot summer days! Not only is this delicious, but it's highly nutritious and full of antioxidants! 

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Set Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients
1 cucumber
2 red bell peppers
1 red onion
4 plum tomatoes
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
3 minced garlic cloves
3 cups tomato juice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil

Directions:

1. Chop the vegetables into 1 inch cubes.

2. Place the vegetables separately into a food processor and process each until they are coarsely chopped. The best way to do this, is by pulsing the processor.

3. Place the chopped vegetables into a container, and mix in the white wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, tomato juice and seasonings.

4. Mix well, and refrigerate. As it chills and set the flavor will develop and tastes even better!

5. Serve chilled.

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Cube Steaks

This recipe is by no means healthy, but, it is a delicious and filling meal! Perfect for the grill and outdoor cookouts or staying in on a rainy day. This combines the creamy deliciousness of cream cheese, to the classic melt in your mouth goodness the bacon adds.  


Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
 
Ingredients:
2 cube steaks
8 thin slices of bacon
1/2 stick of cream cheese
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup banana peppers chopped (or jalapeno's if you love the heat!)

Directions:

1. Mix the cream cheese, garlic and banana peppers in a bowl until thoroughly mixed.

2. Spread the cream cheese mix evenly over the cube steaks and roll them up.

3. Wrap each roll with the bacon slices to keep the rolls from unraveling as they cook.

4. Place them in a baking dish and cook at 350 for about an hour. The bacon should become like a shell and a light golden brown.

Turkey Meatballs

Makes about 12-14
Cook time about 25 minutes
Prep time 5 minutes

Ingredients
1 lb of ground turkey
1 egg (beaten)
1/2 cup of Italian Bread Crumbs
1 tsp of minced garlic
1 - 2 tbsp of salt (or to taste)
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp basil
2 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, mix the ground turkey with the bread crumbs, garlic, salt, pepper, basil and oregano.

2. Once all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add the beaten egg to the mixture and mix again thoroughly.

3. In a large frying pan, add the olive oil or enough to coat the bottom of the pan and turn to low to medium heat.

4. Scoop out the balls with a spoon or make them by hand to the desired size, (I usually make about 12-14 1 inch balls) and place them into the frying pan.

5. Turn the meatballs every 3-5 minutes or so, to ensure that they are evenly browned and cooked. 

Once they are ready, Enjoy! It's a healthy and tasty alternative to the traditional red meat meatball!
I usually pair this with pasta or yellow rice and it is delicious!