Mediterranean Burgers

So, a lot of my recent recipes have come from a little cookbook made by Cooking Light that I got from the library. It's their Healthy Heart Eat Smart Guide. It's all about being calorie conscious, knowing your fats, decreasing sodium, and going for whole grains. What I love though, is that these recipes are doing all those things without compromising flavor. Furthermore, Zack and I have felt so good about what we've been eating!

As promised, I found a creative way to use up the ground beef that was leftover from our Beef and Beer Chili. I used it to replace the ground turkey that was called for in this recipe. I think ground turkey would have been just as great, but hey, I'm all about using leftover ingredients. Just combine panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), crumbled feta cheese, minced red onion, pesto, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, ground beef, and minced garlic.

I don't really have much experience making burger patties, and I don't really know what went wrong, but the ingredients sort of started falling apart once they hit the pan. Maybe they would have been saved if Zack was home, but I was on my own, so it turned into a crumbled mixture. After freaking out for a second, I took a taste and realized it was all good. Whatever. I had improvised (sort of). And it tasted amazing.

I was excited to make these "mediterranean burgers" because Zack and I are totally into a good gyro. There is this place down the street from us that is to die for. They are legit, man. Their meat is so perfectly combined and delicious. Spicy and rich. And their tzatziki is so tangy and fresh. I think I'm a long way from making a gyro as amazing as theirs (okay, I'll probably never make one as good as theirs), but I'm excited for a version that we can perfect at home.

I think we could have gone for a little more spice (as was also recommended by Zack), but these were pretty good. The occasion bite of feta just pops, and the pesto/breadcrumb combination is really tasty. It provides for great texture (even if you just have meat crumbles versus actual patties). We used Trader Joe's tzatziki, which was really creamy and good too. Yum.

Red Mill Burgers

Red Mill. Located in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood.

Today, Zack and I were in Seattle. What better time would there be to stop at Red Mill? I got the chicken club burger and Zack got the bacon deluxe with supposedly, the greatest onion rings ever. I'm not a huge onion ring fan, but Zack is, so that is a big deal. And I have to say, even I (the not so big of an onion ring fan) think they are alright. ;) Anyways, the greatest thing about the chicken club burger is the basil mayo. Delicious. And the bacon involved is black pepper bacon, which is incredible. And I'm salivating.

As Zack and I are sitting on bar stools mauling our burgers, I say (with a huge mouth full), "this is the greatest chicken burger I have ever had." I have been to Red Mill twice, and I recall saying the exact same thing last time I was there. Zack has been to Red Mill three times, and he confirmed that every time he has been there he has thought "this is the greatest burger I have ever had." Now we all know that we have caught ourselves saying "this is the greatest (fill in the blank here)" numerous times about numerous foods. But was it, really? Or were you just really hungry at that moment? Did the place just feel super cozy and you were feeling the love you've been looking for? Was it just exactly what you were craving? Was it just the amusing group of friends you were sharing the moment with? Maybe it was one of those things, but was it really the best? Ever?

We say, probably not. For something to truly be the greatest ever it has to be the best on numerous occasions during which you are in different situations. Whether you're craving it or not, whether you just aced the interview or got "let go," whether you are by yourself or with your friends, whether you're having a good hair day or bad hair day....you get the picture. According to this theory, it can be said that Red Mill more than likely has the greatest burgers ever. Period. (Plus it helps that they've been mentioned on the Food Network and in magazines and such other jazz. You know how it is.)

Check it out by clicking here: Red Mill Burgers

Turkey Burgers with Heirloom Tomato and Basil Salad

What to do on a pleasant summer evening? Grill. And that's what Zack did last night. I prepared the burger fixings and a lovely (if I do say so myself...) heirloom tomato salad.

It all started with a trip to the always wonderful Central Market in Mill Creek. It is a grocery shopper's dream...aside from the fact that I haven't been there enough times to know where things are. Aisle by aisle we go. I'll just say, Central Market is like a Whole Foods; so nutritious and delicious. However, it is kind of bigger and better in some ways. More diverse. There are vegetables I have never seen before. As Zack says, it is "like Whole Foods on steroids." I mean, there's practically a whole Asian market inside Central Market. And there's live seafood galore. I like to just watch the crabs pinch and crawl all over one another. It's like an aquarium. Who doesn't want to visit an aquarium, a farm, a winery, and Asia during their grocery shopping trip?


These turkey burgers were amazing. So juicy and flavorful. Ground turkey with Panko bread crumbs, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and fresh ground pepper. And that's not the end. Top the burger off with some grilled red onion underneath a lovely slice of melted provolone cheese. Wonderful, I tell you, wonderful. The heirlooms are simply special because they are heirlooms. Those colors are so inviting. We just drizzle the tomatoes with extra-virgin olive oil, then sprinkle on some fresh basil and a pinch of salt.

Now that I've got some recipes down to get this blog going, I am caught up and ready to write as I cook. P.S. There is some homemade espresso ice cream in the freezer right now...we're just waiting for it to freeze to the perfect consistency. Stay tuned. You can be sure to catch a glimpse of that ice cream here later.