turkey joe's + cucumber & tomato salad

have I given you all the full force of how much I love rookie cookie? she is the best. I used her advice and made "turkey joes". that's what I call them anyway. I served it along with a yummy cucumber and tomato salad. I used some heirloom tomatoes, persian cucumbers, a splash of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rice wine vinegar and sprinkled on kosher salt and pepper and some sliced fresh mint. it was pretty much heaven.

turkey joe's

1 pound extra-lean ground turkey

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, minced (seeds and ribs removed)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 (15 ounce) can small red beans or pinto beans, preferably low sodium drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon molasses
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon mustard powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
8 whole-wheat burger buns

Brown the meat and the onion in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, breaking up the meat into crumbles as it cooks. Add the garlic, jalapeno, and red pepper and cook 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes more. Toast buns and place a half-cup scoop of the mixture onto each bun and serve.

from Rookie Cookie blog (slightly adapted)