Onion & Mushroom Burgers

Posted on July 25, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys! Loved all the feedback on yesterday’s Zucchini Bread Pancakes! I still have a fridge full of those little buggers…so who knows, maybe you’ll see a zucchini bread recipe pop up here pretty soon?

So, the other day, I promised you guys a recipe for some pretty delicious-looking “birthday burgers,” didn’t I?

I can’t ever seem to take the easy plain Jane approach to cooking anymore. It seems like the more I learn, the more I feel I need to “challenge” myself. Not that these burgers were a challenge, but rather a bit more exciting than a slab of ground beef thrown on a bun and definitely tasty!

Onion & Mushroom Burgers: (makes 5 patties)

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large portobello mushroom cap, gills removed and diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1-2 Tablespoons worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pound grass-fed finished beef
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 Tablespoon McCormick Montreal Seasoning (low sodium)
  • garlic powder to taste*
1. Heat a non-stick skillet to medium-high heat, add oil and saute mushroom and onions until tender (3-4 minutes).
2. Add worcestershire sauce to the skillet with the veggies and stir until most of the sauce     is absorbed.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes.
4. Combine sauteed veggies, beef, egg, oats, and seasonings in a medium-sized bowl, roll up your sleeves, take off your rings and prepare to get dirrrrrrty! (The only true way to make homemade hamburgers is of course with your hands).
5. Careful not to have too much fun schmooshing your mixture (over-mixing can lead to patties that fall apart).
6. Shape mixture into 5 patties about the size of your hand.
7. Slap the burgers on the grill (indirect heat) and cook for about 5-7 minutes per side.
8. Top with cheese in the last couple of minutes of cooking if desired**

*Even though there is garlic already in the seasoning mix, I’m of the mindset that you can NEVER have too much garlic…well, unless you find yourself courting someone of the vampiric persuasion that is.

**Since I was serving the cheesy potato salad, we went au-natural with our burger patties but I think they would be fantastic with a slice of Swiss! There’s just something about the combination of mushrooms and Swiss cheese! Mmm!

Ready for some grill lovin’!

Money shot!

Served alongside…

Warm Baked Potato Salad

And cool and refreshing fruit salad!

Haha! We had the SAME exact thing for Mother’s Day only I changed up the burgs! Hey, my mama knows what she likes! 😉

All plated up!

I used some nice hearty multigrain ciabatta rolls in lieu of soft burger buns. They were the perfect texture to compliment the warm smoothness of the burgers.

The onions and mushrooms gave these burgers a gourmet feel and with the salty spicy flair from the Montreal seasoning, they were absolutely mouth watering! Seriously folks, next time you’re grilling, you’ve got to try these!

What would you request for YOUR birthday dinner?

 

 

 

 

Posted in Entree | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Zucchini Bread Pancakes

Posted on July 24, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

Hey peeps! I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend! Glad to see I didn’t scare you guys away with my family and our “craziness”! Life’s just too short to be serious all the time!

Am I right or am I right?

So along with my mom’s delicious birthday dinner, my sister whipped up a loaf of zucchini bread for dessert. And I have to say it was the BEST zucchini bread I’ve tasted in a LONG time! She started with a recipe from one of mom’s older than dirt cookbooks…

[source]

Oh, well look at that! It’s even considered a “collectible”! Haha!

Good “taste”…yes. Good “health”…no!

I couldn’t help but smile and feel a bit of pride as I heard this coming from the kitchen:

“TWO AND A HALF CUPS OF SUGAR?! I’m not using THAT!”

She ended up making about half a dozen substitutions to the original recipe, but you couldn’t even tell it wasn’t the full fat, full sugar version in the end! Luckily, I was able to talk my way into scoring a few slices to take home with me after dinner…I’m pretty sure it had something to do with my new found British accent! 😉

Oh this pic doesn’t even do it justice!

You guys know how I feel about the word moi….ew, no I just can’t do it! Anyway, you know what I’m talking about…this stuff is like a cross between pudding and bread!

Yeah, that moi… humid! 😉

Of course it HAD to be included in yesterday’s breakfast!

Plain Greek yogurt (promise it’s under there somewhere), leftover fruit salad, a crumbled zucchini bread slice and a glob of almond butter with cinnamon

Mmmmm!

It goes without saying that I woke up this morning with a deep dark craving for more of that tantalizing zucchini bread…

It HAD to be done!

HAPPY PANCAKE SUNDAY!!

I don’t mean to toot my own horn or anything, but I have to say that these are probably the BEST pancakes I’ve made yet!

And look at how wonderfully fluffy they are!

Toot! Toot!

😉

Don’t you…

want to…

just dive right in?

Zucchini Bread Pancakes: (serves 2)

  • 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon raw sugar (or less depending on your taste)
  • 1 egg, whisked
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 cup shredded (un-peeled) zucchini

1. Pre-heat a non-stick skillet to medium heat. Coat with cooking spray.
2. Combine flour through sugar in a medium-sized bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the rest of the ingredients.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined (careful not to             over-stir).
5. Allow batter to rest for 5-10 minutes*
6. Scoop batter into skillet (1/4 cup per pancake) and cook approximately 3-5 minutes           per side.

*Allowing the batter to rest makes a WORLD of a difference! The second batch I cooked up were about 1/2 inch thicker than the first! Score!

This breakfast definitely packs a healthy punch!

But surprisingly, it doesn’t taste “healthified” at all!

Scouts honor! 😉

Just promise me that you’ll top them with REAL maple syrup!

And then prepare to swoon!

Why yes, I do have a spare bedroom available…just bring one of these and your rent is free!

What’s the last recipe that you “healthified”?

 

Posted in Breakfast, Pancake Sunday | Tagged , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Happy Birthday to My Mum!

Posted on July 23, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

What makes for a great birthday celebration?

Delicious eats?

New recipes?
(coming soon!)

Mom’s “swoon of approval” ?

Family time?

Lots of laughs?

(We’re such a serious family!) 😉

And lastly, wine that causes my mom and me to start talking in British accents?

(I totally bought this for the label!)

I’m gonna go with D.) All of the above!

😉

What is your favorite birthday memory?
Mine would have to be my 12th birthday…back in the day of the “beanie baby craze”! I had about 6 of my best friends and we spent the entire night (my poor mama) giggling, playing games, being loud, and eating a delicious spread of foods and snacks! And somewhere during the night, the beanie babies morphed into grenades and the living room became a warzone! Haha!

Posted in Entree, Holiday | Tagged , , | 18 Comments