Turkey Burgers

After having this blog for about a year, one thing is clear. Everyone can cook. In fact, everyone can cook fabulous food, every night, even with full time jobs and a gym habit. Cooking fresh, creative dishes does not have to take a ton of time or talent. It just takes some vision, a willingness to try new techniques, some basic kitchen equipment and basic knowledge about which ingredients work together. This comes with a little experience. Even a beta like me can throw something together.

We've been on a diet. Hard to believe, such bacon lovers, I know. It really started as a financial decision, as we spend an insane amount of money eating out. This used to be justified by it being our hobby, if we could afford to do it, why not?- but then we realized what we could do if we just stopped. Hmmm...travel, anyone?

I really like eating out. The excitement of trying a new place and discovering something amazing. The comfort of old favorites. The lazy conversation without having to do dishes. Courses of amazing food cooked just for you and brought table side while someone else makes the drinks. Not having to clean the house. I also love to eat in for many of the same reasons, and since AC is a fabulous cook, it really shouldn't be very hard.

After about two weeks of eating in every night except once on the weekends, it is starting to pay off, in our bank accounts, and- you guessed it- on the scale. About five pounds just disappeared, despite the fact that my gym-going hasn't been consistent. I think I'll stick to this.

One thing I really like to order in restaurants is a turkey burger. Hey, they have come a long way from the "I wish I was ground beef" burger alternative to a dish all their own. Whitey's, Republic and Busters all have really good turkey burgers. The key is to get (and keep) it moist and flavorful. A dry turkey burger simply sucks. In fact, I stopped eating them after I had a bad experience.

Since the diet started, I've been craving turkey burgers. I've tried to make them before- see the bit about being dry- it was like a desert. Haven't tried since. AC doesn't really care for them, but he does know me. He bought some ground turkey and decided to conquer the task. I was skeptical. First, because he bought the 95% lean turkey. Before now I thought my failure had to do with buying too-lean turkey. Next, he didn't plan on a sauce. I have found that turkey burgers are best with a nice garlicky aioli. Finally, I doubted because he doesn't know the turkey burger like I do. I prepared for a dry disaster. Once again, I was completely wrong.

The biggest surprise: he put Mint Apple JELLY on the bread- this was his solution to the sauce doubt. I truly thought he was crazy. It was fabulous. I think it worked because he put chile peppers in the turkey, so the heat balanced the sweet perfectly. We needed some vegetable matter, so AC made snap peas. They were the perfect accompaniment. The key for the peas is something AC usually does not do well- keep it simple! Just quickly sauteed in water with olive oil and salt. Mmmmmmm...


Turkey Burgers

Makes four burgers, from start to finish, took about 40 minutes.

1 Lb 95/5 ground turkey
Salt and black pepper to taste. Recommend being a little heavy handed with the salt.
1 Tsp Basil
1 Tsp Rosemary
2 Tbsp St.Germain Elder Flower liqueur
1/2 cup Panko flakes
2 Eggs
1 Minced chile
1 Tbsp chopped scallion
1 Tbsp finely chopped sun dried tomato
4 oz Feta cheese, sliced into four pieces. 
Serve on toasted English muffin with apple mint jelly spread lightly on one side.

Mix the above ingredients together (except the feta) in a large bowl. Mixing with your hands will get the best result. Add more Panko if the mixture is too moist (ie: pooling liquid, you want it to be very moist). Form into four patties. 

Place the patties into a frying pan over medium high heat. Cover the pan and let cook for 3 minutes. Flip the patties and put feta cheese on top of each patty. Cover again and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Toast four English muffins while the burgers are cooking. Lightly spread the mint apple jelly on one half.

Place the burgers on the muffin and eat.

EASY, Perfect Snap Peas

Heat a frying pan on high, add peas and cover with enough water to lightly coat the pan. Boil off the water. Kill the heat, coat with olive oil and salt, let sit for 5 minutes in the pan.