80 --- Thai Barbecue Elk Meatballs

So... I FORGOT to take a picture of these meatballs! But, they were so good I need to post this recipe anyways. They look like what you think they look like. Yummy barbecue meatballs.

Another adventure with elk! The best part about elk meatballs is the leanness. They do not turn out greasy at all! I used my Spicy BBQ Sauce, but you could use your own if you desire.




Thai Barbecue Elk Meatballs
Makes 24 -2" meatballs

1 lb elk burger

2 egg whites

1 cup rolled oats

2 Tbsp thai chili sauce

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp salt



Some Like it Spicy BBQ Sauce
Makes 2 cups


1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup Thai chile sauce

3 Tbsp cup spiced rum

3 Tbsp cup soy sauce

1 1/2 Tbsp ketchup

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 large garlic clove, pressed and finely minced

1 1/2 tsp ground dry mustard

In a medium saucepan, saute garlic until slightly browned. Add remaining ingredients over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally. Continue to simmer for ~ 20 minutes, until mixture thickens.


Meatballs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all meatball ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix with clean hands. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow flavors to mix.


Prepare a 13x9" baking dish with cooking spray. Roll meat into 2" balls and place in dish. Cover with BBQ sauce and bake for ~30-35 minutes, turning halfway through.

Nutrition Info per 1 meatball with sauce: 67 calories, 2 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 6 g protein, 5 g carbohydrates

80- - - Barbeque Chicken Tacos with Apple Kraut Slaw

This is a fun twist on a taco!

The apples in this coleslaw offset the tang of the sauerkraut for a perfect flavor! I recommend making the coleslaw just before serving the meal so that the apples do not have a chance to turn brown.

Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable with good antioxidant capacity! However, studies have shown that when cabbage is overcooked (boiled), it loses most of it's cancer-fighting properties! Therefore, I recommend raw cabbage or lightly steamed cabbage as part of your diet!

Sauerkraut is shredded cabbage that has been fermented with lactic acid bacteria. It retains a lot of vitamin C from the cabbage due to the acidic environment! It also contains lactobacilli, a healthful bacteria.

Barbeque Chicken Tacos with Apple Kraut Slaw

Barbeque Chicken
Serves 6

20 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts (if frozen, thaw prior)
1/2 cup barbeque sauce of choice (see previous post for some ideas)
1/2 cup apple juice

Place chicken breasts in a slow cooker and cover with barbeque sauce and apple juice. Cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours. Shred prior to serving and return to slow cooker with juice for additional 15-20 minutes.


Apple Kraut Slaw
Serves 6

1 -16-oz can sauerkraut, drained
1 1/2 cups packaged shredded cabbage mix for coleslaw
1 apple of your choice, cored, and sliced into thin strips
1/2 small red onion, cut into thin strips
3 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp canola oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Combine sauerkraut, cabbage, apple, onion, and parsley in a medium bowl, set aside.

Whisk oil, white wine vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and celery seed, in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until hot and sugar is dissolved. Pour over sauerkraut mixture. Serve immediately.

Tacos
12 - 10"tortillas
1/2 cup barbeque sauce of choice
Shredded chicken
Apple Kraut Slaw

Place ~2 oz shredded chicken into a tortilla. Top with 1 Tbsp barbeque sauce and 1/4 cup coleslaw. Enjoy!!

Nutrition info per 1 taco with 2 oz chicken, 1/4 cup kraut: 232 calories, 5 g fat, 16 g protein, 28 g carbohydrates, 2.5 g fiber

80- - - BBQ Sauce x 3

As promised-- here is homemade barbecue sauce! I am labeling these as 80 because they ARE homemade, and we know every single ingredient that goes into them. No high fructose corn syrup, no preservatives, controlled sodium levels. They do contain sugar and a little butter, but for the amount that is typically consumed (2-3 Tbsp) does not typically cause the calories, sugar, or fat to add up.

I made THREE different sauces, because I really didn't know what I was doing. DISCOVERY: barbecue sauce is so easy to make! Don't buy sauce ever again. Make your own and truly MAKE IT YOUR OWN. Make a signature product!

Some Like it Smokey (middle spoon)
Makes ~ 3 cups

1 cup yellow mustard
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp liquid smoke or hickory flavoring

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until brought to a low boil. Reduce heat to a simmer for 30 minutes. Cool slightly prior to refrigerating.

Some Like it Tangy (top spoon)
Makes 2 cups

1 cup yellow mustard
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp cayenne

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and simmer over a low heat for 30 minutes.

Some Like it Spicy (bottom spoon)
Makes 3 cups

3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup Thai chile sauce
1/2 cup spiced rum
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp ketchup
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, pressed and finely minced
2 tsp ground dry mustard

In a medium saucepan, saute garlic until slightly browned. Add remaining ingredients over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally. Cool and refrigerate until ready to use.