Mountain Sick

For some reason I am mountain sick today. I love looking out my window and seeing the city and Lake Michigan, but some days I crave the mountains. For those of you who don't know, I lived in Colorado for 6 months in 2010 while interning for USA Triathlon. It was a dream.

I decided to go through some of my old Colorado pictures today. Bad idea! It made me miss it even more. I figured I'd share my flashback with you too!

Snowshoeing in Estes Park. Little did I know, my husband would propose to me here 3 months later:)

The incline. It's 1 mile of stairs straight up the side of a mountain. I am in love with it!

After completing the incline.

Hiking with Liz. She's training for the next summer Oympics.

Well, I'm done taking a journey down memory lane. I miss the serenity, the beauty, and most of all the killer workouts I had in those mountains. God has blessed me. 

Green Chile Turkey Burgers

Can you believe the Olympics are over? The last two weeks of my life have been consumed in the lives and successes of the athletes. As some of you may know, I had the chance to live part of the “Olympic Dream” in the spring of 2010 while interning for USA Triathlon. I lived at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, and I cannot even begin to tell you what kind of experience I had. I ate with the Olympians,  I trained at their facilities, and I stared at the mountains everyday. It was a dream come true, and a place that will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Because of this experience, I found myself crying a lot during the Olympics. Not out of sadness, but out of pure passion. Yes, you can call me crazy, but the Olympic Movement is the most powerful thing. It brings  people together from all around the world who don’t share the same language, culture, or beliefs, yet they can communicate through sport. That right there is inspirational. Although the Olympics are over, I encourage you to watch some of the Paralympics, starting August 29^th and truly see what the human body is capable of.

You too can make your body do extraordinary things by fueling it properly. In order to keep you fueling strong this week, I have created a new turkey burger inspired by one of the ingredients I grew to love in Colorado – green chiles. For those of you who are wary of turkey burgers, don’t be afraid, these are extremely flavorful and not dry at all! Also, don’t be afraid of the heat of the green chiles. I have a very sensitive palate when it comes to spicy foods, and I can assure you that these are mild. You can of course make them spicy by purchasing “hot green chiles" or adding 1 jalapeno.

This turkey burger is a great source of fuel because it provides the perfect amount of protein to build and repair muscle. Give it a try, and let me know what you think.

Green Chile Turkey Burger

Makes 4-6 Burgers

Ingredients

1 lb. ground turkey
2 cans (4 oz) mild green chiles (one for in the burger and another for topping)
1 Garlic Clove
2 T Chopped Cilantro
1 tsp Cumin
1 T Chili Powder
¼ tsp Garlic Powder
¼ tsp Black Pepper
¼ tsp Salt
1 Package of thin sandwich buns

Get Cooking

1. Chop 1 can of green chiles and 1 garlic clove in food processor. (Be careful not to puree this mix) If you do not have a food processor, you can mince the garlic on your own and keep the chiles as they are because they are chopped rather thin already.

2.  In a large bowl mix the turkey, chile mix, cilantro, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. 
3. Divide your meat into equal portions. I prefer to make 6 smaller burgers out of the mixture, but if you prefer larger ones you can make four. 

4. Grill the burgers about 5-7 minutes on each side, depending on how hot your grill or grill pan is.

5. Top your completed burgers with 1 T of green chilies and extra cilantro if you desire, and start fueling strong.