Food on the Table

You may think there is no way I am going to get my picky family to eat any kind of pepper, and I thought the same thing with my picky clients until I adapted a recipe to include the Christmas ornament of vegetables – bell peppers!  Bell peppers add a brightness and crunch to any recipe, but have a distinct taste that many people do not like.  Even though you may not like them, they pack a nutritional punch and are loaded with antioxidants which are essential to any healthy diet.

Bell Peppers or sweet peppers are just that – sweet!  They are usually not spicy and quite refreshing.  They are bright, glossy and come in a variety of vivid colors.  Any food that is brightly colored is going to be a nutritional powerhouse and bell peppers are just that.  They are loaded with vitamin C and vitamin A, which are two very powerful antioxidants.  They are also one of the few foods that contain lycopene which is considered a potential agent for prevention of some types of cancers.

When choosing bell peppers, you want to choose firm, bright peppers that are free of blemishes or soft spots.  Bell peppers will keep unwashed in your crisper drawer for about a week.  Once you are ready to use, simply wash and cut around the stem discarding the seeds and stem.  From there they can be cut into strips, chunks or small dice depending on the application.  This week’s recipe hides these brightly colored jewels in a burger.  I use chicken, but you could substitute ground beef or ground turkey.  This recipe is great with thick potato slices grilled right alongside the burgers and a big, healthy green salad.  Bon Appétit!

Confetti Chicken Burgers

1 – 1 ½ pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 red bell pepper, diced small
1 green bell pepper, diced small
1 yellow or orange bell pepper, diced small
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, minced
1 tablespoon basil, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat grill to medium high heat.  Cube half of the chicken; set aside.  Puree remaining chicken, garlic, mustard, salt and pepper to taste in a food processor. Transfer to a mixing bowl.  Mix in the cubed chicken, diced vegetables and the herbs. Form mixture into patties, about 3/4-inch thick.

Rub grill grates with oil; cook patties until brown, about 2 minutes per side.  Move to lower heat and cook until crisp and heated through, about 7-10 minutes or internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Servings – 4
Cook time – 10-15 minutes
Prep time – 15 minutes

Link up your recipe for picky eaters here!

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