Depression-busting Recipe for us Nerds

If the tight times are getting you down, I have a recipe I like to put together that just fills me with energy, confidence, and good humor. I’m hesitant to add recipes to my blog, but since I’m a nerd, I thought I’d share it. A recipe is, after all, a Use Case of a sort, with Pre-conditions being Ingredients, Post-conditions being satisfaction and nourishment, and the Normal Flow being the cooking preparation steps. The product of this recipe also blends nicely with Object-Oriented programming concepts, as the base “class” can be extended nicely to produce other super meals.

Cliff’s Turkey-Spinach Base Class

Ingredients (Pre-conditions):

1. 2-4 TB Oil (I use Tutino’s which is a blend of extra virgin and canola, which gives you the “healthy,” but also a higher smoking point)
2. 10 oz. (1 box) frozen chopped spinach
3. 16 oz. (1 lb tube) frozen pure ground turkey (I use Louis Rich)
4. 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
5. 2 TB garam masala (you can get this at Indian grocery stores, which will open your eyes to another world of good eats!)
6. red chili powder (to taste)
7. salt (to taste)
8. sugar, just a pinch

Preparation (Normal Flow):

1. Put the oil in a non-stick pan on med- to med-high heat
2. Add chopped onion and a pinch of sugar, dash of salt, toss for 2-3 minutes
3. Add turkey, use a spatula or something to break it up nicely
4. While the turkey browns (you can toss and turn it frequently), microwave the frozen spinach, then use a colander and a big spoon (or your hand) to press the water out (make as much effort as you feel like)
5. Add the spinach to the pan and mix well.
6. Add chili powder and garam masala
7. Continue to mix and add salt to taste
8. Let it cook until turkey is well browned and you are salivating profusely

Enjoy

I usually eat the mixture straight in a small bowl with some crackers, but it’s also good in a lightly mayo’d pita.

Alternate Flow

public class TurkeySpinachOmelette : TurkeySpinach

I love the ease of Egg-Beaters, but if you want to beat 3 eggs, be my guest. Otherwise, I wake up in the morning, throw my TurkeySpinach Base Class in a slightly-oiled pan and pour the Egg Beaters on. Instant power breakfast in less than 3 minutes.

public class TurkeySpinachBurger : TurkeySpinach

I’ve never tried it, but I’m certain adding an egg to the mixture and forming some patties would be spectacular.

Your ideas?!

Please, I’m no chef, so if you have any ideas or corrections, let me know! But I guarantee this stuff will take the frumpy frown off your face! Combined with a little cardio workout, you’ll definitely set yourself in a positive direction.