Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Talk about a guilt-free, fantastic meal! I couldn't believe how good this was! Packed with protein and light on the carbs!  Try it out!



Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups
1/3 cup fresh lime juice (from about 5 limes)-- (more like 2 limes)
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
2 Tbsp Thai fish sauce
2 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp canola oil ( i used olive oil)
1/2 red onion, diced
3 small shallots, thinly sliced
1 piece lemongrass (4 inches long), minced (about 1/4 cup) ( I couldnt find this so I just added a little more lemon juice)
1 Thai or Serrano chili, stemmed and thinly sliced
1 lb 99% fat-free ground turkey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated (i used iceberg)

1. In a bowl, whisk lime juice, lemon juice, fish sauce, and honey.

2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, shallots, lemongrass, and chili. Cook until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

3. Add turkey. Season with salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until meat and vegetables are cooked through, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the dressing to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add mint. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Spoon turkey mix onto lettuce leaves.

MAKES 4 SERVINGS. Per serving: 310 cal, 12 g fat (1 g sat), 26 g carbs, 800 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 32 g protein

Recipe from: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/giada-de-laurentiis-easy-recipes

Crockpot #1

        Soooo, as some of you know, Adam is in the fire academy for Oxnard Fire Department right now. (yay!). It is one grueling process, and the least I feel like I can do is get him a hot meal for dinner every night.  Buuuut, my schedule doesn't exactly allow me to be Susie Homemaker everyday. So, my solution is the fantastic little tool called the crockpot!  I have been making something different every night, so I thought I'd share some of these super easy recipes with you!


   I've been making 3 meals/week.  It's enough for dinner and lunch the next day  ( for both of us).  I prep everything on Sunday night and then all you have to do is throw it all together! (although some require just a tiny bit of cooking)


So here is the recipe for the meal I made last night....sooooo good!

From kaylynskitchen.com

CrockPot Recipe for Sweet and Spicy Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Stew with Coconut Milk

Makes 4-6 servings; recipe inspired bySweet and Spicy Asian Pork Shoulderfrom Real Simple Magazine.

Ingredients:
1 - 1 1/4 lbs. ground turkey (I used extra lean)
2 tsp. + 1 tsp. olive oil (spray the pan instead!!)
1 onion, chopped in pieces about 1/2 inch
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces about 1 inch
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/3 cup sugar
2 T brown sugar 
2-3 T Chili Garlic Sauce (I used Siracha and it was perfect!)
2 tsp. minced ginger 
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 can light coconut milk
1/2 cup green onions sliced in 1 inch pieces + more thinly sliced green onion for garnish if desired
cooked white or brown rice for serving, (I made lettuce wraps with it to save on carbs!)

Instructions:

Heat 2 tsp. olive oil( spray pan!) in a heavy frying pan and brown the ground turkey, breaking it up with the turner as it cooks.  This may take 7-8 minutes but don't rush the browning step.  Put browned meat into the CrockPot.  Saute the onions until they are soft and lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes.  Add onions to the CrockPot.  Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into pieces about 1 inch square.  Add sweet potatoes to the CrockPot.

Mix together the soy sauce, chicken stock, sugar, brown sugar, Chili Garlic Sauce, minced ginger, and minced garlic and pour over ingredients in the CrockPot.  Cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are done and starting to fall apart just a little.  (I stirred it a couple of times, but it's not essential.)

When the sweet potatoes are done, add the can of light coconut milk and the green onion pieces, turn heat to low, and cook 30 minutes more.  Serve hot, with brown or white rice and garnished with thinly sliced green onions (or make lettuce wraps!)