Fajita Burgers

This has been a regular meal of ours for a few years now. I first found the recipe in a Rachel Ray cookbook, and made some healthy improvements. Rachel called for the addition of sour cream, seasoned salt, and she pan fried these chicken patties. We got rid of all of these and kept a really flavorful burger. We've served these to company, and each time they have gone over really well. I think adding fresh cilantro to my "guacamole" would be really good, and a bit of lime juice or zest. But, needless to say, we'll keep making and eating these for a while!

Recipe: Serves 6

1 package ground chicken (turkey works too, but chicken is far better)
2 tsp chipotle chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 medium avocado
1 C. salsa
1 package fajita size tortillas

-Mix chili powder, garlic powder & cumin into the ground chicken

-Form into 6 small patties. Place in a 9x13 baking pan or jelly roll (There will be some oil/juice run off, so use a pan with sides so they don't spill onto your oven!). Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

-While your chicken burgers are cooking, slice up your avocado into small pieces. Then mix in with the 1 C. salsa to make your "guacamole".

-Serve burgers and guacamole on a tortilla. Wrap it up like a burrito (fold in on all sides).

-Enjoy!!!

Pumpkin Pasta

Even if it might be 80 degrees outside, it is fall! This is one of my favorite comfort foods. It sounds interesting, and looks interesting, but let me assure you that it is wonderful. We saw this recipe in a Rachel Ray cook book, titled Pumpkin Cauliflower Pasta. I like pasta, squash, and cauliflower, so I thought "why not". There are a decent number of flavors going on here, and it tastes like it would be more difficult to make than it really is.

Over time, we've changed the herbs/spices we use and the portions of ingredients. The recipe calls for chicken broth. We've tried both vegetable broth and water, but they just don't add near as much flavor, so chicken broth it is. I've used both parmesan and feta cheeses, and a combo of both (depending on what is in the fridge). The original recipe calls for heavy cream. We started by using skim milk instead, and lately we've just been leaving that out all together. The pumpkin puree really makes a nice texture for the sauce.

I know we've served this to guests before, and I'm sure we'll serve it to more people for years to come.

8 oz whole wheat pasta
1/2 C. pumpkin puree
1/4 C. parmesan cheese
1 C. Chicken broth or liquid of choice
1 head of cauliflower cut into florets, or 1 16 oz bag of frozen cauliflower, thawed (but the florets in the bags tend to be a bit too big)
2 tsp sage
1/2 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
salt and pepper to taste
3 cloves garlic
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

-Bring water a to a boil. Cook pasta as directed

-While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium high. Add garlic, rosemary, thyme. Cook for about 2 minutes.

-Add cauliflower. Stir to coat with oil. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.

-Once pasta is cooked, drain & return to stock pot. The cauliflower should be done soon. Once the cauliflower is done, pour into the pasta. Add pumpkin puree, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground pepper, salt and parmesan. Stir to combine. Serve warm.

-Enjoy!