Turkey is Your New Summer BBQ Go-To 

There’s nothing like coming together as a family around the table, especially in the summer when everyone is feeling just a little more relaxed than usual. And while you'd think appetites were strongest in colder weather months when we're all drooling for comfort foods roast in the oven and holiday dinners, there's something about summer that makes us want fresh, local foods like no other season.  

We know as parents that keeping everyone happy - including ourselves - is made easiest when the dinner we’re serving there is easy, breezy, and delicious. One great way to keep all bums in seats around the dinner table for more than 10 frantic minutes is by creating meals that take some participation. Dinners you "build yourself" come to mind, like fajitas, tacos, and build-your-own-pizzas, or even mini salad bars on hot humid nights. A selection of salad greens, veggie toppings, grated cheese and nuts and some lean turkey slices for a protein kick are a wonderful – and cool – way to fill bellies without heating up kitchens.  

We love dinners where everyone feels welcome and relaxed. So we really love the idea of a fiesta dinner party, perfect for any night of the week, either as a nightly sit down with our own kids, or as a more festive but spontaneous get together with family or friends. And because we want to keep our families not only well fed, but well-nourished with nutrient rich, protein packed food grown close to home, we’re adding turkey to our summer fiesta BBQ. Here’s how you can pull off what we think will become your new family go-to summer BBQ get-together. 

Turkey Fajitas with Grilled Corn and Charred Fruit Salsa 

Shopping list, for a family fiesta for four:  

Directions

• Cut peppers in half, and seed. Peel and quarter the onion, then brush husked corn cobs with mayo (Oh yes; this is delish). 
• Brush turkey breast with oil and season generously with salt and pepper. 
• Grill the turkey for about 5 - 7 minutes (we used charcoal, because that extra flavour goes a long way). 
• Flip the turkey over to its other side, then add all veggies to the grill.  
• When the peppers are blistering, pull them off and slice, keeping warm. Repeat with the onions. 
• Rotate the corn while it’s cooking to ensure evenness, and pull from grill when it’s ready. Top with chopped cilantro, crumbled feta, and a spritz of lime. 
• When the turkey is fully cooked (use a meat thermometer to ensure your turkey is cooked), squeeze a lemon over it for extra flavour (optional), then pull off the grill and slice into strips. 
• Recruit your kids to grate cheese, scoop sour cream, chop cilantro (or any other toppings your family loves), and warm up the tortillas. 
• While the grill is hot, add halved peaches and sliced pineapple; chopped up this will make an excellent fruit salsa on the side with a squeeze of lime juice and sprinkle of chopped cilantro; alternatively, just grill the fruits and sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon sugar for a tasty, and easy, no bake dessert. 
• Serve with your favourite sparkling water or cerveza, and enjoy your turkey fiesta fajitas around your outdoor table. Piñata optional.  

Bonus! 

If you find you have leftover goodness from the grill, repurpose them the next day for a lunchtime quesadilla (with cheese, and chopped up turkey and peppers) - perfect even for little hands that love eating finger foods - or even turn them into toppings for your family’s favourite nachos. Bake blue corn tortilla chips with layered Monterrey Jack cheese, turkey, peppers, onion, and salsa, and serve with highly dip-able guacamole for an easy and low key dinner. 

IMAGES SOURCE: COURTESY OF LEISSE WILCOX