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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

More than two posts ago, I promised you all that I would write about a healthy recipe I made for my dieting mother when she came to visit me. Years ago, when I was on my diet, I made a turkey chili for her in my slow cooker that was so good that I didn't miss the fatty food! Somehow, I'd lost that recipe and tried many times to recreate the recipe but to no avail.

So, before my mother came to visit this time around, I asked her what she wanted me to cook for her. She immediately replied, "I want that turkey chili you made for me a long time ago." (Yes, it was that good.) I told her for the umpteenth time that I had lost that recipe, and she told me that I needed to try to find it again before she came to visit. She is demanding! haha
So, I turned to one of my favorite sites for recipes, allrecipes.com. I found a recipe called "Laura's Quick Slow Cooker Turkey Chili". It is considered to be quick because of the use of canned beans as opposed to soaking dry beans and slow because of the use of the slow cooker (duh). I added a few extra spices to ensure success because I didn't want my mother to complain. I now think the chili was the real reason she came to visit me hmmm.

Since I knew she was leaving Sunday afternoon, I started preparing the chili Saturday night so that she could have something to eat at home (my mom doesn't like to and doesn't know how to cook very well. Sorry, mom!) Anyway, I asked her to chop the veggies for the chili. Then, I put together everything else while I made her flour tortillas and the cheesecake for my Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake. I was busy in the kitchen, and this was all happening late at night! I set the slow cooker to low for 8 hours, and at 10am the next morning, the chili was ready.
I prepared a bowl of chili for my mom and sat across the table opposite her all while waiting intently for her response. She loved it! She absolutely loved it! I asked her if it was comparable to the other chili I'd made for her many years ago, and she said that it was very close. She also said that I was missing her favorite cornbread (because I didn't make enough for her already haha).

This chili is very good; it really is. Also, if you add enough cheese to it, it could be a good dip for nacho chips. You can make this dish extremely healthy and flavorful or very unhealthy and flavorful. What a win-win situation that is! Don't forget to make the cornbread!

Laura's Quick Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili
very loosely adapted from allrecipes

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2-3 stalks of celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 pinch ground allspice
salt to taste
1 pound ground turkey
cumin to taste
Lawry's Seasoning Salt to taste
pepper to taste
2 (10.75 ounce) cans low-sodium tomato soup (I used one can low-sodium tomato soup and one box of Pomì chopped tomatoes)
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained
Worcestershire Sauce (optional)
Hot sauce (optional)
Small block of favorite type of cheese, grated (optional) (I used cheddar and monterey jack)

Heat the oil in a skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Season ground turkey with cumin, Lawry's Seasoning Salt and pepper (all to taste). Place the veggies in the skillet, and add all the seasonings (from the chili powder to the salt to taste). Next, place the seasoned, ground turkey in the skillet over the veggies, and cook until evenly brown; drain.

Coat the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray, and mix in turkey, cooked veggies, tomato soup, kidney beans, and black beans. Season with additional chili powder, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper, allspice and salt ONLY if you feel something's missing. You could also add Worcestershire or hot sauce for an added boost of flavor and heat.

Cover, and cook 8 hours on Low or 4 hours on High.

21 comments:

  1. How ironic, Memoria, that the very day you post this recipe is the same day that I polished off the last of the chili that I took home with me from your famous kitchen! It is/was so yummy and nutritious.

    I absolutely love the photos! The stacked white bowls filled with delicious chili and cheese sprinkled on top and you know the spoon adds a special touch.

    Thank you, sweetheart, for making it for me, and for sending the recipe for the world to share.

    P.S.I may not be the best cook, but you have to admit I am a pretty good vegetable chopper--gotta love me, right? After all, I'm the mama :o)

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  2. Hi! I buy chili every week from this place near my job, and I keep telling myself I would save money by making it at home. And then I find your blog, and this post! I'm so excited to make it - and i'll probably add extra cheese and use it as a dip as you suggested!

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  3. I own a slow cooker and can always use another recipe! thanks.

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  4. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I must try this recipe in my slow cooker. Sounds delish.

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  5. As usual, I'm gonna side with your mom.

    Can't serve chili without the cornbread!

    tsbasham

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  6. Now this would hit the spot with all the snow we've been having in the NYC area. It looks awesome..and love the new backdrop to your page - makes your gorgeous photos stand out more :) BTW, NOT looking at the chocolate mousse cheesecake..NOPE..no way! lol

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  7. Your mom sounds like so much fun! I love the idea of turkey in chili and I also frequent allrecipes from time to time - I often find great home tested recipes this way! Nice photos.

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  8. That sounds delicious and super healthy. Your mom sounds awesome and she is very lucky to have you cook for her!

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  9. I actually love anything cook slowly, somehow it kind of give you that melt in your mouth result. Weather that will beef stew, or chili like yours.

    I also love your photo, really sharp and beautiful. The other thing is, I've been admiring your template, not sure where you got it, and definitely I don't know how to do it without messing up my blog. Would you share?

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  10. tsbasham - WHATEVER!! (Yes, I "whatevered" you AND my mom. HAHA) Of course you sided with my mom!! You always do!

    mom - Yes, YOU'RE the mama, that is why I spoil you hehe. You're a very good vegetable chopper. I appreciated your help; I always do. Love you!

    Erika - I tried this chili as a dip last night, and it was fabulous. If you want, you can exclude the carrots and celery when you use it as a dip, though. I just picked out the carrots, and I didn't have enough celery in my chili for its presence to bother me. Make sure you have strong nacho chips haha. This is a very hearty chili! YUM!!

    Gala & Barbara - I love slow-cooker recipes!! I hope you try this one out!

    lisamichele - I've been looking for you!! I'm glad you stopped by. Thanks for the compliments. LOL @ cheesecake comment. Yeah, don't look. I think you'll gain weight just by looking at the first photo. Woah. Stay warm, but have fun in the snow haha. I'm so jealous, but I know how it can be almost paralyzing having so much snow every day.

    laura & msmeanie - I do have a cool mom. My friends used to always say that when I was a kid, and I didn't quite believe them until later. In fact, she is cooler than I am haha. I'm not ashamed to admit that. I hope you get to try out the chili; it really is delicious.

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  11. Elra - If you scroll to the very bottom of my page, you can see where I got this template from. It was very easy to download and to place it on here. I am still in search of a better background that is more "me" or my style. I'm not a fan of leaves and flowers, so that part sort of bothers me, but I love the dark colors and columns. Thanks for the compliment!!

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  12. I love the story, your mom sounds like she's got spunk! Chili is always a winner, this recipe looks like a Must Try :)

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  13. It sounds like your mother has demands similar to mine!! I can see why she liked this chili. It's beautiful and probably tastes even better.

    About that penne alla vodka, just use water in it's place if you make it. It won't be exactly the same, but it will be just fine.

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  14. Your mom cracks me up! She's not demanding she just knows what she likes :-)

    I love chili but I've never followed a recipe. I just throw stuff in a pot- ha ha!

    And just so you know I'm coming over to eat too so I don't have to make your recipe either. Lets start with that cheesecake eh?

    To be honest, I think that would be fun! You make dinner and I'll bring dessert :-)

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  15. I agree with Monica....you're Mom's too funny. My mom can be the same way.

    I made turkey chili (not in the slow cooker)for last Wed. and my kiddos ate it up! We topped ours with some variations of cheese, avocado, sour cream, and tortilla chips. Good stuff!
    ~ingrid

    Btw, I am sooooooo jealous that Monica and you are going to get to meet up....but in a good way! :)

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  16. The chili looks so wonderful. I made a batch last weekend but it does not compare to yours!

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  17. Una combinación perfecta, rápida y lenta. And healthy too! How nice to have you mom visit again!

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  18. Great shot! Chili is one of those dishes that can often be such a nightmare to take photos of. Not in your case though. This looks amazing!

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  19. Its cold and snowy here. I could use some.

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  20. Yummy.. I like to taste it.
    ---------------------------------------
    essay writing

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