Mini Turkey Burgers with Sauteed Cinnamon Apples

Most of you that read my blog know how much I love to put meat and fruit together in the same dish.  I let the apples be the star in this 15 minute meal.  I used a hearty but mild ground turkey with baking spices to compliment the flavors of fresh fall apples.  Finally, I topped everything over a fresh bed of arugula with lemon and olive oil.  This is a fast, delicious meal for the whole family.  Enjoy!

Fresh ingredients make for the tastiest meals, even if you only have 15 minutes!

Ingredients (serves 2):
1lb ground turkey
1/2tsp cinnamon
1/4tsp allspice
1/4-1/2tsp cayenne
1tsp sea salt
1 large crisp apple or 2 small, diced
1tbs butter, preferably from grass fed beef
a couple pinches of cinnamon
1 tsp honey (I buy local honey to help my horrible allergies)
2 handfuls arugula or other baby green
1tbs extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 tsp honey
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, mix 1/2tsp cinnamon, 1/4tsp allspice, 1/4-1/2tsp cayenne, and 1tsp sea salt.  Sprinkle over your ground turkey and mix in with your hands.  Form into 4 balls and press down slightly to make thick, but small, burgers.
2. Meanwhile, power up your electric George Forman (Come on, I know you have one collecting dust somewhere in those cabinets!!).  Okay okay, if you don't have one you can alternatively throw these on the grill.  I put mine on an electric indoor grill for 7 minutes.  Outside they will probably only take about 3 mintues per side so watch them closely.
3. While the meat is cooking, melt butter in a large saute pan.  Add your apples and cook until crisp-tender.  Add as much cinnamon as desired and stir.  Taste and if you like a bit more sweetness add 1tsp honey to the mix and give it a good stir.
4. Okay, time to get your salad ready:  In a small bowl, whisk lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and 1tsp honey.  Pour over your arugula and toss well.
5. To serve (what you've been waiting for): Place some greens on a plate.  Top with 2 or 3 mini burgers.  Ladle a big scoop of apples over the whole thing and dig in!

Fried Egg Burger with Sauteed Baby Bellas

Burgers are fast, tasty and fill you up in a pinch.  I made mine with sauteed baby portabella mushrooms and a fried egg on top.  I left the egg yolk soft so that it could run down the burger and coat all the veggies for extra flavor.  This delicious meal took about 15 minutes to make and it was downright delicious. 

 This juicy burger is hiding under a mountain of flavor

 Ingredients (makes 3 burgers):
1lb ground beef, cut into thirds and formed into 1" thick round patties
Season salt (sugar and msg free)
2tsp macadamia nut oil
1/2tsp thyme
2 handfuls baby greens or baby spinach
12oz baby portabella mushrooms, sliced
1 tomato, sliced (I used a delicious Kumato tomato)
1tsp olive oil
2tsp stone ground mustard
2tsp red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
3 large eggs

Directions:
1. Preheat your grill to medium  high.  Season your beef with season salt.
2. Grill burgers until done to you liking, about 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat a skillet to medium.  Add 2tsp macadamia nut oil and then mushrooms and thyme.  Cook and stir occasionally until mushrooms are done.  Add a bit of salt.
4. Mix together mustard, vinegar and olive oil.  Pour over salad greens and toss.
5. When the burgers are done (or almost done) fry up your eggs:  Place a bit of oil in a nonstick pan and heat to medium.  Crack eggs in the pan and cook until starting to firm on top, covering with a lid if needed.  Flip the burgers and turn off heat.
6. To assemble:  Place salad on plate.  Top with burger, tomato, mushrooms and a fried egg on top.  Add a bit of salt and pepper and enjoy!

Bunless Portabella Mushroom Burger

I love mushrooms and burgers.  Slap some cheese on there and I'm in heaven.  This is a very tasty way to eat a burger without a bun but I must first give you a word of warning:  this gets messy.  VERY messy.

Using mushrooms in place of the bun is a creative way to eat burgers

Ingredients:
1-2lb hamburger meat, formed into 4 patties
4 slices provolone cheese
2 zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
8 portabello mushroom caps, trimmed of stem

Season Salt (I use Tastefully Simple)
Olive oil
Fresh ground sea salt

1 jalapeno pepper, sliced thin
2 tbs mayonaisse
2 tbs your favorite salsa
2 tbs ranch dressing

Directions:
1. Spray or toss zucchini slices and portabello muchroom caps with oil.  Sprinkle with sea salt.
2. Heat the grill to medium high.  Cook the zucchini and mushrooms until charred on both sides and very tender.  Set aside and cover with foil to keep warm.
3. Meanwhile, sprinkle burgers with season salt and grill over medium high until desired doneness.  Top with cheese and let melt.
4. While the burgers are cooking, mix together mayo, salsa and ranch.  Set aside.
5. Layer the burgers as follows:  Mushroom, sauce, burger, jalapeno slices, zucchini slices, sauce, mushroom.  Serve with extra zucchini on the side.  Delish!

Mushroom Sliders

I love portobello mushrooms and I also love burgers so to me there is nothing better than a spicy saucy burger with mushrooms.  This recipe is a great way to have your cake and eat it too:  who says burgers can't be part of a healthy diet?  I added fresh jalapeno's for some spice, but leave them out if you like things mild.

Who needs a bun?

Ingredients:
1lb hamburger formed into 3 patties
Season Salt
Sliced cheddar cheese
1tsp Olive Oil
Portobello mushroom caps (2 per burger)
1/4c Mayonnaise
1/4c sour cream
Fiesta Dip Mix: I used Tastefully Simple but any Mexican spice mix will do... even taco seasoning would work in a pinch
Garnish: Sliced tomatoes, red onion, and fresh jalapenos

Directions:
1, Season beef patties with season salt.  Spread oil over mushroom caps and top with sea salt and pepper.  Grill burgers and mushrooms on the grill over medium high (cooler part for mushrooms) until done, about 10 minutes.  Top burgers with cheese the last few minutes of cooking.
Note: You could also use a grill pan for the mushrooms.
2.  Meanwhile, mix together sour cream, mayo, and Mexican seasoning to taste.
3. Put together burger with a mushroom on bottom, then burger, then garnishes, then mushroom.  Top with sauce and serve some on the side too!  Make sure you have extra napkins handy because this juicy burger is a messy delight!