• Posts Tagged ‘recipes’

    Cilantro Chicken Burgers Get Me Every Time

    by  • May 1, 2013 • Burger Board

    Burger8_CilantroChicken1
    Although my posts have been slightly sporadic lately, the activity certainly has not slowed down one bit. We’re eating burgers, dancing up a storm and making crafts along the way. This latest burger, the chicken cilantro burger, in the burger series was devoured a couple weeks ago, but I’m going to do my best to describe just how tasty it was.

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    I found a few recipes online that inspired me to make this refreshing burger. Here are three that served me well: 1, 2, 3. Served with some blue corn tortilla chips and semi-homemade salsa, it was the perfect weeknight meal.

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    I was just using those recipes as inspiration, and my final mix was ground chicken meat, fresh cilantro, onion, red bell pepper, lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper. I would have thrown in some jalapeño too, but I didn’t have any on hand so I added some crushed red pepper to give them some heat.

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    I used our typical gluten-free Udi’s buns and topped the burgers with lettuce, some pepper jack cheese and some “easy guac.” Easy guac is some smashed up avocado with lime juice and garlic. Easy peasy guac.

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    Like I said, these were a great dinner and I could definitely see the Mr. and I making them again soon. They’re perfect for summer months when you’re craving a burger, but want something with a fresher taste.

    Buffalo Turkey Burgers Get Me Every Time

    by  • April 4, 2013 • Burger Board, Recipes

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    After Burger #6, I knew I needed a winner for number 7. And. This. Is. It. The Buffalo Turkey Burger. It’s topped with blue cheese. It’s topped with broccoli slaw. It’s the perfect way to get this Burger Project back on track.

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    You guys already know of my love of Buffalo sauce. And this burger is the perfect vessel for that hard-to-resist Buffalo flavor.

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    I paired the burger with some fresh celery and carrots, to add to the whole Buffalo-wing-in-a-burger experience.

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    Basically, for the recipe, I added Buffalo sauce and little red cayenne pepper to some ground turkey. If you’re looking for a more thorough recipe, there’s a great one over on Skinny Taste, which just so happens to be one of my favorite food blogs.

     

    Sloppy Joe Burgers Get Me Every Time

    by  • March 26, 2013 • Burger Board, Cooked It

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    OK. In the interest of full disclosure and honesty and truth in blogging, etc. Right up front. I’m going to tell you that this was a burger fail. Excellent in concept, poor execution. The idea was, a sloppy joe, but way less sloppy, like a burger. Hence, Sloppy Joe Burger.

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    Things started out looking good. Don’t you think? I did. You’re probably wondering why there is ketchup on them, right? Well. I decided to make my own sloppy joe seasoning, instead of using a packet. (I think know this is where things started to go wrong.) The recipe I found called for adding a cup of ketchup as you browned the ground meat. So, I squirted some on before I flipped the little guys.

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    They looked delightful. I was so ready to have a delicious dinner. So, I placed a patty on my gluten-free bun, threw some chips on the plate and took a bite. It was… interesting. As were the next few bites.

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    I couldn’t figure out what was “wrong” while I was eating the bun too. I took a little bite of just the burger and discovered the problem. Too much garlic was it? (is there such a thing?) Or maybe too much smoked paprika? Or too much ketchup? Maybe I should have started with a packet of sloppy joe seasoning.

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    I even spared Mr. GMET from trying these bad boys out. The leftover burger snuck it’s way into another dish where I could balance the overuse of so many spices. And the recipe? You’re not getting it from me. Or anyone for that matter. Because it didn’t work.

    Better luck next time, I suppose.

     

    Tilapia Burgers Get Me Every Time

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Burger Board, Cooked It, Recipes

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    Today, because it’s Friday. Because it’s Lent. Because I left you hanging all week. Today, I thought I’d share this tasty non-traditional burger I whipped up last week. Burger number 5 of 20 is a Tilapia (Fish Cake) Burger with chipotle ranch dressing. And, it’s gluten-free!

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    I started off with this recipe from Martha Stewart, but quickly realized it would need some tweaking. For instance, saltine crackers aren’t gluten free. I’m not a fan of horseradish. And I didn’t need to make tons of small fish cakes, just two big ones.

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    The tweaking paid off. These were the perfect Friday night meal for us. And Mr. Gets Me Every Time said he would eat these again—even before the Chicken Parm Burgers. Coming from a man who loves Italian food and isn’t really into seafood, this came as a pleasant surprise to me. We had a salad with these tasty burgers and it was a great Friday night in.

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    Here’s my version of the recipe:

    BURGERS:
    3 tilapia filets
    olive oil
    5 tbsp (gluten-free) breadcrumbs
    1 tsp lemon juice
    1 heaping spoonful of mayonnaise
    A few shakes of parsley
    Pinches of: salt, pepper, crushed red pepper

    CHIPOTLE RANCH:
    Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
    Hidden Valley Ranch dressing

    

    Most of the directions are the same as Martha’s. 
    

    Pre-heat oven to 400. Coat filets with olive oil (I used my Misto) and sprinkle each side with salt and pepper. Bake fish for about 10 – 15 minutes, until roasted through.
    

    While your tilapia cools, cut up one of those peppers then mix with a few tablespoons of ranch dressing.
    

    Once the fish is cool, heat up about two tbsps of olive oil in a pan. Meanwhile, flake your fish with a fork into a bowl along with 4 tbsp breadcrumbs, the red pepper, parsley, lemon juice egg and mayo. Mix it all together carefully, then split into half and form two patties.
    

    Spread remaining breadcrumbs on flat surface and coat fish cakes with crumbs. Cook each patty over medium heat until the breadcrumbs are golden before serving on your favorite buns (ours our Udi’s Gluten Free Buns.)
    

     
    
           
     
	    
    
    
    
			
    
		
    
			
    Blue Cheese Burgers Get Me Every Time
    
						
    
				by  • March 6, 2013 • Burger Board, Recipes			
    
					
    
	
    
	    
    
        
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    We’ve got a burger. We’ve got fries. We’ve got blue cheese and caramelized onions. We’ve got really bad pictures! So, please excuse me as I quickly hurry us through this delicious burger, number 4 of 20.
    

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    This is my first attempt at a “stuffed” burger and it went pretty well. The Mr. and I both love blue cheese, so this was bound to happen. If you’re not a blue cheese fan, you could always sub something like a sharp cheddar. The trick in stuffing the burger was making sure all the cheese was sealed up in the ground meat so it didn’t come oozing out. Overall, this was successful and a trick we’ll definitely be using again.
    

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    RECIPE:
    
    No recipe from me on this one, I scoured the internet, read a few and then riffed on it to make my own. Check out these recipes from Cookstr, Relish and Fine Cooking. We added a bit of low-sodium Dale’s to the ground meat to give the beef a little more flavor. Totally optional, of course.
    

    RESULTS
    
    All the recipes say the same thing, the caramelized onions take a while, but are worth it—I couldn’t agree more. We passed the time by watching a rerun of The Big Bang Theory and smelling the french fries cook up in the oven (they’re the Alexia brand, very tasty.) Go make yourself a batch, squeeze some ketchup on the plate and enjoy.
    
           
     
	    
    
    
    
			
    
		
    
			
    Chicken Parm Burgers Get Me Every Time
    
						
    
				by  • February 21, 2013 • Burger Board			
    
					
    
	
    
	    
    
        
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    Burger number three is a little out of focus in the pictures, but it was a full-on focus on flavor for a weeknight dinner. This chicken parm burger came together for a few reason. One, ground chicken was one sale. Two, I had a hankering for some sweet, spicy marinara. And three, Mr. GetsMe adores Italian (and Italian-inspired) cuisine.
    

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    This time, for you, dear readers, I even got a mid-cooking shot, above. I turned the heat down, put on a little marinara and some mozzarella before throwing a lid on it to melt the cheese. It was all the flavors of chicken parm coming together in one pan.
    

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    Voila! A little melted mozzarella goes a long way. I used a generic marinara, but jazzed it up with some extra garlic, a little parmesan cheese and some Italian spices. Our weeknight meals tend to be a little less indulgent, so I just added a side salad and dinner was served. The verdict? These were delicious, though a little rich. The Mr. commented that it was like eating an actual plate of chicken parm.
    

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    And now, for the less than professional recipe:
    

    BURGERS:
    
    1/2 lb ground chicken
    
2 tbsp (gluten-free) breadcrumbs
    
3 tbsp marinara
    
A few shakes of Italian seasoning
    
Pinches of: salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic powder
    

    TOPPINGS:
    
marinara
    
shredded mozzarella cheese
    

    Mix, but don’t overmix, all the ingredients together. Form two patties and put a dent in the middle with your thumb. In a well-oiled skillet, over medium heat. cook the burgers 8-9 minutes on each side. Turn heat to low, top with marinara and cheese, if desired, and cover for one minute or until melted. Serve on your favorite bun (ours our Udi’s Gluten Free Buns.)
    
           
     
	    
    
    
    
			
    
		
    
			
    Jalapeño Ranch Turkey Burgers Get Me Every Time
    
						
    
				by  • February 4, 2013 • Burger Board			
    
					
    
	
    
	    
    
        
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    You guys. I’m starting to think burgers was just as good an idea as tacos. And I’m only two burgers in. I know, right? Just like tacos, burgers seem to be the perfect weeknight, throw together meal. I mean, sure… burgers can get complicated. But these latest are anything but.
    

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    Since ground turkey is the perfect vehicle for burger flavor, I think there will be many variations on the turkey burger within the 20. This one, the Jalapeño Ranch Turkey Burger, happened because I had a jalapeño and we were in the mood for something a little spicy. (I would totally add more peppers to this in the future.)
    

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    For the burgers I took half a pound of ground turkey and mixed it with a diced jalapeño and half a packet of dry ranch seasoning. They cooked for about 6-7 minutes per side in a sizzling hot frying pan. And they were delicious. I topped mine with a little ranch dressing and some pepper jack. (Not the healthiest burger, but definitely delicious.) I also whipped up a quick black bean salad with corn, salsa and cumin as a little side dish.
    

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    (Here’s my recipe… but I am no professional cook, so maybe some googling will give you a more solid recipe!)
    

    BURGERS:
    
    1/2 lb ground turkey
    
1/2 packet Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning
    
1 jalapeño, diced
    

    TOPPINGS(optional):
    
lettuce
    
onion
    
pepper jack cheese
    
ranch dressing
    

    Mix, but don’t overmix, all the ingredients together. Form two patties and put a dent in the middle with your thumb. In a well-oiled skillet, over medium-high heat. cook the burgers 6-7 minutes on each side. Turn heat off, top with cheese, if desired, and cover for one minute or until melted. Serve on your favorite bun (ours our Udi’s Gluten Free Buns.)
    

    BLACK BEAN SALAD
    
    1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
    
1/3 cup white corn
    
3 overflowing tablespoons of salsa
    
2 tsp cumin
    

    In warm skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add all ingredients, stir well. Cook until beans are warmed through.
    
           
     
	    
    
    
    
			
    
		
    
			
    Bobby’s Perfect Burger Gets Me Every Time
    
						
    
				by  • January 23, 2013 • Burger Board			
    
					
    
	
    
	    
    
        
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    Are you ready?! Here we go. It’s time for burger numero uno in the 20 Burger Series. I’m so excited to get this tasty project going. Just like on the Taco Series, I wanted to start with what I consider a “classic.” That is, a ground beef patty with traditional fixings. 
    

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     Recipe: adapted from Bobby’s Perfect Burger via Food Network
    

    - Ground Beef (I used 90/10)
    
- Salt & pepper
    
- Canola or olive oil
    
- Hamburger Buns (gluten-free version were Udi’s)
    
+ Toppings! Lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese & ketchup
    
+ Sides! Homemade, handcut baked sweet potato fries
    

    We made ours in a pan on the stove (hey, it’s winter and we have no porch) and they were done in under ten minutes. To melt the cheese, I simply threw the lid on the pan and turned off the heat. No problemo.
    

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    Results:
    
This was a good kickoff to the 20 Burger series, but it wasn’t a show stopper. David and I both like a burger with a little more spice. So, while Bobby’s “Perfect” burger was anything but, it was a good bar that we can only raise as we create, and eat, 19 more burgers.
    

     
    
           
     
	    
    
    
    
			
    
		
    
			
    Going Gluten Free Gets Me Every Time
    
						
    
				by  • January 8, 2013 • Cooked It, Dear Diary			
    
					
    
	
    
	    
    
        
    JimmysChickenParmIf you’ve been reading along carefully the last few weeks, you probably caught this little nugget of information in my Taco Superlatives post. Or maybe you not-so-subtly learned it from this Pinterest board. But, in case you missed it, the news is out—I’ve gone gluten-free. Not because it’s a new year and I’m going all crazy healthy on you. Nope. It’s because of some tummy troubles that started last fall that I battled with no relief until giving up the glute. I’ll spare you the details of the whole ordeal, but it wasn’t comfortable, I’ll tell you that much.
    

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    After some blood work and a few doctor’s visits, I said “goodbye” to gluten and haven’t really looked back since. I just started feeling SO much better. It’s been tough adapting to some of the new tastes that go along with a gluten-free existence, but it’s been good. Plus, there are so many options to replace some of my favorite foods like mac & cheese, chocolate chip cookies and chicken parm.
    

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    For Christmas, I received a gluten-free cookbook and I cannot wait to try out some of the more complicated recipes. Our kitchen may be small, more on that soon, but our appetites are anything but. Stay tuned for all the gluten-free goodness to come.
    

    *If you’re interested in going gluten-free for health and/or weight-loss reasons, please seek the advice of a nutritionist/dietician/doctor. I am none of these and cannot offer nutritional advice for you. My doctor and I figured out what will work for me, I encourage you to do the same! *
    
           
     
	    
    
    
    
			
    
		
    
			
    Chicken Parm Meatballs Get Me Every Time
    
						
    
				by  • December 29, 2012 • Cooked It			
    
					
    
	
    
	    
    
        
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    Even though I haven’t been keeping you up-to-date on the ol’ blog, I have been keeping up with the Pinterest sphere as much as I can. Which is why, I bring you this very important post, telling you about a delicious spin on a classic Italian favorite–chicken parmigiana, or chicken parm as we call it. Check out these Chicken Parm Meatballs.
    

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    It’s like an inside out version of chicken parm made with ground chicken and oozing mozzarella. In Martha’s version, she deep-fries her meatballs. I baked mine and was quite happy with how they turned out. On top of a pile of spagetti, this was an easy spin on a comfort food I love.
    

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    From pin to pan, there you have it–Chicken Parm Meatballs. I made mine gluten-free using Aleia’s Gluten Free Bread Crumbs. Of course, you can use regular bread crumbs and fry as you wish.