As I was cutting open a papaya the other day, I decided to save the seeds. After a little research, I discovered that the seeds can be used as a meat tenderizer and aid in digestion. In this recipe, use the seeds for the marinade and the flesh for the salsa. Mexican papayas are almost at the start of peak season (June - September) so this recipe is perfect for a summer meal.

After eating salad every night for dinner for the past 2 years, we were starting to get tired of the same toppings. This is one of my solutions to our salad monotony. For this recipe, I used the chicken thighs that I poached while making chicken stock. My favorite way to serve this chicken is on a bed of salad greens with walnuts or pecans added for some extra crunch.

Turkey tenderloins are an easy food to prepare. Just add some seasoning and bake for an hour. They can be served with steamed or roasted vegetables or on top of salad.

This balanced meal provides plenty of fat, protein, and vegetables. Serve in a bowl or on top of brown rice if you eat grains. With or without the rice, this is a great way to prepare chicken. Add or exclude the habanero pepper, depending on your tolerance for spice.

These are a great alternative to burgers because they have great flavor and aren’t served on a bun. Be sure to use grass-fed ground beef with at least 15% fat. A 90/10 ratio will not have enough fat for frying or flavor. Serve with raw or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.

This stew is a great meal for cold fall or winter days. It can also be prepared without potatoes which will lower the total carbohydrates. Instead of potatoes, add celery and onions. Serve with steamed green vegetables or a salad for a complete meal. This stew is a good source of B vitamins, Vitamin A, and Vitamin K.

This is a great alternative to traditional lasagna that has far fewer carbs and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and provides a nice balance of carbs, protein, and fat. Instead of pasta, this lasagna uses cabbage, either chopped or layered. The recipe was translated and adapted from the recipe called Baked Cabbage (Fırında Lahana) on the Turkish blog, ellerimesaglik.com.

This is my husband’s recipe for a healthier, dairy free alternative to eggplant moussaka. Rather than frying the eggplant, steaming requires no oil but still results in tender eggplant. This is a dairy-free, gluten-free recipe that can be included in a variety of diets and lifestyles with only minimal changes.

This food is one of the most popular grilled meats in Turkey. These beef patties are full of flavor and a great source of protein. This is my husband’s recipe for cızbız (sizzling) köfte. Serve next to salad for a well-balanced meal.

This is my husband’s recipe for grilled turkey breasts. These are pretty easy to prepare, although they do take some time to grill. These are great served with roasted or steamed vegetables, or as a topping for salad. We use a charcoal grill, so cooking time may vary based on the grill and temperature.

Although the main ingredient in this recipe is orange juice, the chicken will take more of the soy sauce flavor. This marinade, which I tried based on a suggestion from a coworker, is enough for 1 pound of chicken. Here is my version of his orange-soy marinade.

This marinade is a Turkish recipe that I learned from a friend’s mother. The ingredients listed are enough for marinating one pound of chicken. This is a great way to prepare chicken for sautéing or grilling. The chicken tastes best after allowing it to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.