Summertime Burgers with Sauteed Mushrooms

It's summertime, which means backyards (YEA! We finally have one!), barbecues, and beers.  Everyone has their own variations of the burger.  Some like those uber huge burgers, loaded with everything but the kitchen sink.  I on the other hand, do not.  I like a simple, healthy burger, that's full of flavor, and can easily be made in 15-20 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 lb. All natural, organic ground beef (90%/10%)  

3/4 cup chopped onions

1 egg (organic)

1/4 cup bread crumbs (I actually used just a smidgen more)

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. oregano 

1 package fresh mushrooms - stems and pieces

1 tbsp. minced garlic

1 tbsp. olive oil

100 calorie whole wheat pits

guacamole

Steps:

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, onions, egg, bread crumbs, and spices.  Use your hands to mix until combined.  Break the mixture into four patties and wrap individually in tin foil until ready to cook.  (These will still be great to cook the next day as left-overs!)

To cook burgers:

Heat a pan on medium-high and coat with cooking spray.  Cook the burgers for about 5-7 minutes a side, with the cover on the pan.  Use a meat thermometer to test the inside (who likes over-cooked burgers anyways?!?!).

While the burgers are cooking, heat a small pan on medium heat.  Add 1 tbsp. olive oil and 1 tbsp. minced garlic.  Once hot, add in the mushrooms to saute.  These will take about 7 minutes, or until the mushrooms are mostly brown... be sure to stir often.

Toast pitas, if desired.

Build your burger... bottom bun, burger, Wholly Guacamole, sauteed mushrooms, top bun.

Be sure to pair with your favorite beer.  Lately I'm loving Magic Hat Elder Better.

What's your favorite burger topping?  What are other healthy ways you have prepared this summer essential?

~Eat Well and Be Happy~

Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki Dressing

I recently realized that all my posts thus far are vegetarian dishes.  I didn't want to lure my faithful readers into thinking I was a vegetarian, because I'm certainly not.  I just tend to cook and eat that way.  But don't get me wrong, I love going out to a nice restaurant and ordering a steak.



I had originally found this recipe in my recipe binder (yes, I have an actual binder where the recipes are categorized and in plastic sleeves) ripped out from a magazine.  Upon examining closer, I noticed it's from Family Circle 2009.  Family Circle?? Why in the world did I buy a Family Circle in 2009?? I am certainly not their main demographic.


Alas, I now have this great recipe from them. The original recipe was for just spinach-feta chicken burgers with the Tzatziki (isn't that such a fun word to say!) dressing.  I have made them before and they were delicious.  However, for this recipe I have changed the burgers up a bit, but kept the dressing pretty much the same.

Ingredients: 

Tzatziki Dressing Ingredients

Tzatziki Dressing:

1 cucumber

5-10 plum tomatoes

1 container plain 2% greek yogurt

1/4 tsp. salt

Burger Ingredients

Burgers:

1 pound ground turkey
1 package frozen chopped spinach
2-3 stems chopped scallion
1 cup (or so) shredded carrots
2/3 c. shredded mozzarella (low moisture, part skim)
1 tablespoon dried bread crumbs
Spices: Basil, Garlic, Oregano
1 egg  
4 - 100 calorie pita pockets

Tzatziki Dressing

To make the dressing:

1) Peel and thinly slice the cucumber.

2) Cut the tomatoes into fourths, and scoop out the insides (that watery/gooey/seeded part).

3) Mix the cucumbers, salt, yogurt, and tomatoes in a medium bowl.  Set to the side until ready to serve. You are probably thinking that has to be so weird to add salt to yogurt... but trust me, it's delicious!

To make the burger: 


1) Defrost the spinach in the microwave and squeeze out any excess water.


2) In a large bowl, combine: turkey, spinach, scallions, carrots, cheese, bread crumbs, egg, and spices.  When it comes to spices, I can never measure.  I don't know what it is, I always just eye-ball it.  For this I did about 2 shakes each of the basil and oregano, and about 3 shakes of the garlic powder.



3)  Using your hands, fully mix the ingredients.  Then separate into four patties.  I like to first cut it in half, then cut it in half again.  (Let's get that basic math going again... school is starting soon!)




4) Spray a large pan with cooking spray and place on medium heat.  Cook the burgers for about 12-15 minutes, flipping once.  If you have an oven therometer (and if you don't you really should have one, I live by mine!) it should read about 160 degrees in the middle of the burgers.  You can also freeze any burgers you don't use to then have another night.


5) Toast the pitas before serving, they are must better toasted!  Serve the burgers with some tzatziki dressing on top and the pitas as the buns.

BTW: I will fully admit I was rocking out to Justin Beiber (Beib's Nation as I like to call him) while I was writing this blog... what's your guilty "teenie booper" pleasure?

~Eat Well and Be Happy~