Day 30

Salmon Burgers with Cilantro Mayonnaise
Well, we made it. 30 Days of Burgers. We're ending this venture with the Salmon Burger with Cilantro Mayonnaise.
My biggest issue with this burger is the Salmon. I hate using canned salmon because it is such a pain to prep. I hate having to get all of those little bones out. And I did miss a few today. Oh well. The burger was good. A little dry, but good. The Mayonnaise is what made the burger though.

14 3/4 oz canned salmon, red, drained, broken into small chunks
1 medium scallion(s), finely chopped
2 1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 large egg(s), beaten
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 1/2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs, whole-wheat variety

• Preheat grill.
  
  
• To prepare burgers, place salmon in a medium bowl and mash salmon bones with the back of a fork. Add scallion, lemon zest, egg, pepper and bread crumbs; mix well. Shape salmon mixture into four 1-inch-thick patties.
  
  
• Gently place burgers in a grill basket or on a grill rack and grill at medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Flip burgers and grill until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes more.

The recipe called for Peach Salsa. Here is the recipe for that if you would choose to use it.

2 large peach(es), diced
1 small jalapeno pepper(s), cored, seeded and finely chopped (do not touch seeds with your bare hands)
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp table salt
2 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped

I chose to use a Cilantro Mayonnaise instead of Peach Salsa. I didn't have enough cilantro in my garden, so I added some basil too. I actually liked the basil flavor more than the cilantro with this.

1 clove garlic, chopped
½ cup mayo
½ cup cilantro
Dash of cayenne pepper
Squeeze of lemon juice

combine all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process until well combined and smooth.

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen. 30 Days of Burgers. We hope you enjoyed following our blog and have found some good recipes to try. I still have a few recipes that I would like to try so check back at my regular recipe blog sometime!

sources: burger and peach salsa - http://www.weightwatchers.com
cilantro mayo - http://annies-eats.com

Day 29

Turkey Burger with Zucchini
What a very yummy burger! If you didn't know the recipe, you wouldn't know there was zucchini. Great way to sneak some veggies into a diet.

Turkey Burgers with Zucchini
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 5 • Serving Size: 1 burger no bun • Points: 3 ww pts (bun extra)
Calories: 156 • Fat: 6.8 g • Protein: 18.6 g • Carb: 5.5 g • Fiber: 1.3 g

• 1.25 lbs 93% lean ground turkey
• 1 small zucchini, grated
• 1/4 cup seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 tbsp red onion, grated
• salt and fresh pepper
• oil spray

In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, zucchini, breadcrumbs, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Make 5 equal patties.

Heat a large skillet on high heat. When hot, lightly spray oil. Add burgers to the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook on one side until browned, then flip. Flip over a few times to prevent burning and to make sure the burgers are cooked all the way through.

source: http://www.skinnytaste.com

Day 28

BLT Turkey Burger
The BLTT as I called it is a Turkey Burger topped with turkey bacon, tomato and lettuce all placed on a roll. We used a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise for condiments.

Day 27

Leftovers
Pathetically on the 4th of July we didn't even cook out! We ended up going to the shore for dinner so for lunch we just had leftover burgers that we had in the fridge. I had the Oriental Burger while Jim had the Ranch burger. Nothing really picture worthy.

Day 26

Ranch Burger
Tonight we made the ranch burger by mixing 1lb of ground turkey and 1 packet of Hidden Vally Ranch mix. I thought it was eh. Not a burger that I'm dying to make again. It was topped with lettuce, tomato and a smear of ranch dressing.

Day 25

Asian Turkey Burgers
This was a uniquely odd burger. The taste was good, but I could probably do without the water chestnuts. The mayo mix was great!

Ingredients

• 2 slices whole-wheat sandwich bread, crusts removed, torn into pieces
• 12 ounces lean ground turkey breast, (see Ingredient Note)
• 1 8-ounce can sliced water chestnuts, rinsed and chopped
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, (see Ingredient Note)
• 2 scallions, trimmed and sliced
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• Sesame Mayonnaise, optional (recipe follows)

Preparation

1. Preheat grill to medium-high.
2. Place bread in a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Transfer to a large bowl. Add ground turkey, water chestnuts, hoisin, scallions, ginger, garlic and salt; mix well. (The mixture will be moist.) With dampened hands, form the mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties (see Tip).
3. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Brush the patties with sesame oil. Grill until browned and no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes per side. (An instant-read thermometer inserted in the center should register 165°F.)
4. Meanwhile, prepare Sesame Mayonnaise, if desired, to serve with the burgers.
   

Sesame Mayonnaise

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  

Preparation

Combine mayonnaise, yogurt, soy sauce and oil in a small bowl; whisk until blended.

source: eatingwell.com

Day 24

Gobble Gobble
Tonight I made a little creation in the kitchen, the gobble gobble. I took 1lb of ground turkey and added about 1/2 box of boxed stuffing mix (such as Stove Top). Mix that together with about 1/4 c or less of water. Form into 4 patties and grill until done. Once grilled add to roll (I used a whole wheat dinner roll tonight) along with some cranberry sauce. It's Thanksgiving in a burger. This burger was uniquely good.

Day 23

Buffalo Blue Cheese Chicken BurgersI think I died and went to heaven. This was absolutely delish!

A few things about the burger. According to the recipe, it should serve 4 burgers. I managed 7 decent size burgers. Now I did use 1.25 lbs of meat so technically I should have 5 burgers, but I think the added ingredients make it more? Not sure.

Speaking of meat. In my attempt yesterday of doing a quick shopping trip with 2 little ones all while trying to beat a nasty storm that was heading our way, I accidentally picked up ground turkey and not ground chicken. The ground turkey tasted just fine!

Like I said earlier, I did use more than 1lb of meat. Next time I will probably add a little more of the Buffalo sauce (and probably more bread crumbs too for consistency). I did mix this together last night and let it sit in the fridge as suggested.

Normally I'm not a fan of blue cheese; however I did like it in this burger. It gives the burger a nice creamy texture and with the buffalo sauce, you cannot taste the actual cheese flavor.
So if you're a buffalo chicken wing fan I highly suggest trying this one!

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1 extra large egg
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped (optional)
• 1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce
• 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted

Directions

1. Mix together the chicken, bread crumbs, blue cheese, egg, onion, and wing sauce in a mixing bowl until evenly combined. Form into 4 patties and place between sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap. Place into an airtight container and refrigerate overnight for best results.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate.
3. Cook the patties on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 3 minutes per side. Serve on toasted buns with condiments of your choice.

source: allrecipes.com

Day 22

Campbell's French Onion Soup Burger
We've had this burger a few times so far this year. The soup keeps the burger nice and juicy. For a roll we use a Pillsbury Dinner Biscuit. If you don't mind a dinner full of sodium, this burger is for you!

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef (we used ground turkey)
  
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can Campbell's® Condensed French Onion Soup
• 4 slices American cheese (we skip the cheese on this one)
  
• 4 round hard rolls

Directions

1. Shape the beef into 4 (1/2-inch) thick burgers.
2. Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook until they're well browned on both sides. Remove the burgers and set aside. Pour off any fat.
3. Stir in the soup. Heat to a boil. Return the burgers to the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the burgers are cooked through. Top with cheese and continue cooking until the cheese melts. Serve burgers in rolls with soup mixture for dipping.

source: http://www.campbellskitchen.com/

Day 21

Kraut burger

We were invited over for dinner last night at family's house so I took the night off from the grill. I made the kraut burger. Very simple - take a cheeseburger, add some sauerkraut, ketchup and mustard.

Day 20

Inside out Burger
I didn't go by a specific recipe to make these. If you google 'inside out burger' you'll find quite a few variations.
For our Inside Out Burger I just took some ground turkey, added a few breadcrumbs and a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce and formed 4 thin patties. I had some shredded mozzarella to use up so that was the cheese we used. Place a little pile in the middle of 2 of the burgers. Take the other 2 patties, place on top and seal the edges so cheese doesn't drip out while it's cooking.
It was really good! The added bonus is you don't have to worry about the cheese melting off before you take it off the grill.

Day 19

Garlic & Herb Burger
I was on my own for dinner so I kept the burger simple. Grilled up a frozen burger patty and added American cheese and cheese. I received a sample of the new Kraft Garlic & Herb Mayo. Jim took a leftover taco burger and added the Kraft Chipotle Mayo. He loved his. Mine tasted great, but I felt like I had to brush my teeth afterwards because there was a strong garlic flavor.

Day 18

Taco Burger Wrap
Tonight I thought I would get somewhat creative. We're a family who loves tacos, so I made the Taco Burger wrap. I used the recipe for the Taco Burger to make the burger. Instead of making the burger round, I made it in more of a rectangle. After the burger cooked on the grill I added it to the wrap that was already prepped with a layer of sour cream, salsa, avocado, and lettuce. I then sprinkled some shredded Mexican cheese and fresh chopped cilantro from our garden. This was the best of both worlds, a taco and a burger!

Day 17

Aloha Burger
Tonight we used a beef burger to make the Aloha Burger. We loved this burger, so nice and juicy! I didn't have teriyaki sauce so I used a BBQ sauce. I'm not a fan of swiss cheese so I just used some American cheese. Also after looking at the recipe again I realized I forgot the bacon, onion and lettuce. Oh well. This was still a successful burger. So in reality - this isn't the recipe I used, just where I got the idea.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 3/4 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1 small can pineapple slices
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 4 lettuce leaves
• 4 buns
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• 4 strips bacon, fully cooked
• 1 tablespoon butter

Preparation:

Drain pineapple juice in a bowl. Add teriyaki sauce and mix. Place pineapple slices and 3 tablespoons of pineapple teriyaki mixture in a resealable plastic bag. Turn to coat and set aside. Shape hamburger into 4 patties and spoon remaining pineapple teriyaki sauce over top. Preheat grill. Butter buns. Place burger patties on hot grill and grill until done. Place buns on grill cut side down to toast lightly. Remove pineapple slices from bag and place on grill and cook until slightly browned and warmed through. Assemble burgers with patty, pineapple slices, lettuce, onion slices, Swiss cheese and bacon.

source: http://bbq.about.com

Day 16

Avocado Burger
We took leftover turkey burgers from the night before and added an avocado puree and lettuce. It was then placed on an Arnold's Sandwich Thin for a bun. Pretty good!

Day 15

Turkey Burger
Tonight we chose one of our 'go-to' burgers and made a turkey burger. I added some flax seed and Worcestershire sauce in with the ground turkey before forming them into patties. The burger was then topped off ketchup, mustard and lettuce, all placed on a whole wheat sesame roll.

Day 14

Five Guys
For Father's Day we ordered Jim's favorite burger from Five Guys Burgers and Fries. He ordered the little cheeseburger with mayo, ketchup, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and grilled onions. I chose the little cheeseburger with mayo, ketchup, pickles, lettuce and grilled onions. So delicious!

Day 13

Soda Burger
Tonight we tried another new recipe, the Soda Burger. We used ground turkey rather than ground beef and had issues with the burger holding together while on the grill. Next time I will probably add more saltine crackers to the mix to hopefully remedy that situation. Other than that this was very good! I never would have thought to add soda to my hamburger mix.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup soda-flavored carbonated beverage, divided
• 1/2 cup crushed saltine crackers
• 6 tablespoons French salad dressing, divided
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef

Directions:

• Preheat grill on high heat. Lightly oil the grate.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the egg, 1/4 cup of soda, crackers, 2 tablespoons of French dressing, and Parmesan cheese.
• Crumble in the ground beef, and mix well.
• Form into 6 balls, and pat into 3/4 inch patties.
• Pour the remaining soda and dressing into a small bowl, and mix well.
• Grill burgers for about 3 minutes per side. Brush with the dressing and soda, then grill for 8 to 10 more minutes, basting occasionally.

source: http://www.cheese-burger.net

Day 12

Tuna Burger
Tonight we tried a tuna burger. If you like tuna, then this a "burger" for you. It was incredibly easy to make and tasted delicious. Jim even went back for seconds.

Ingredients:

6 ½ oz Canned Tuna (drained).
1 cup of Dry Bread Crumbs.
1 x Egg, slightly beaten.
½ cup of Minced Celery.
½ cup of Salad Dressing.
¼ cup of Onion, minced.
Leaf Lettuce.
4 x Hamburger Buns, toasted.
Tomato slices.

Preparation Instructions:

1. Mash canned tuna in a bowl.
2. Stir in the bread crumbs, celery, salad dressing, egg and onion.
3. Use the mixture to create 4 burgers.
4. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes on either side until cooked through.
5. Serve the burgers in the buns with the lettuce and tomato slices

source: http://www.tunarecipes.net

Day 11

Tastefully Simple Spinach & Herb burger
I had some leftover Tastefully Simple Spinach & Herb dip that I used for tonight's burger. We took a grilled cheeseburger and placed it on a hamburger roll, topped with lettuce, tomato and onion. We then smeared a nice size spoonful of the dip on the roll and enjoyed.

Day 10

Salsa Burger
This was one of the original burgers that James and I made when we first started dating 7.5 years ago. A burger patty grilled, topped with a heaping spoon of salsa. American cheese placed on top to melt. We added a few leaves of lettuce before placing in a bun. Last night we used a pre-made burger, but previous years we've also mixed a little salsa in with ground beef/turkey prior to forming into pattes. Delicious as usual and you get some veggies with this burger!

Day 9

The Carrot Slider

Jim was skeptical when he heard we were having a Carrot burger for dinner. I think he told me that he had the grill and a real burger ready for stand by about 5 times in 20 minutes.

We have mixed reviews for the Carrot Slider. The biggest issue is that most of them fell apart while cooking. I think the carrots should have been cut into smaller pieces (now looking at the recipe I notice it says diced not chopped like I thought. That will teach me to multi-task), so if I would have done that maybe they would have stayed together more. The taste was ok. We weren't sure what condiments to use so we did a few different varieties. I used ranch dressing. Jim used ketchup and mayo. Both tasted fine. This reminded me of my stuffing that I make at Thanksgiving since I use onion, carrots and celery in that. The burgers were made them into sliders since I picked up slider rolls at the store the other day.

and the ones that fell apart.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups diced carrots
• 2 cups crushed cornflakes
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Hamburger buns

Directions

1. Place carrots in a saucepan with a small amount of water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until tender; drain. In a bowl, combine carrots, cornflakes, eggs, celery, onion, salt, sugar and pepper; mix well. Form into six patties. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook patties for 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Serve on buns if desired.

source: allrecipes.com

Day 8

Cheeseburger Deluxe on an English Muffin
After a tiring day we decided to keep it easy tonight and try a new recipe tomorrow so we threw together a cheeseburger deluxe. Toppings are american cheese, lettuce, dill pickle chips, tomato and onion. (I opted to not have the last 2). A combination of ketchup and mayonnaise was then added. Instead of a traditional roll, we used an English Muffin. It was tasty, but I got preoccupied and the burgers cooked a little too long on the grill so it was extra well done.

Day 7

The Italian Burger
Jim did the grilling tonight. We tried a new recipe, the Italian Burger. The burger was full of flavor. For a twist, I think it would be a great base for a pizza burger. I loved being able to use some fresh basil from our garden.

The recipe:

• Approximately 1 pound ground beef (we used ground turkey)
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves (or 1 teaspoon fresh finely chopped basil)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Optional

• Mozzarella or Provolone

Instructions

1. Preheat barbecue grill to medium heat.
2. Mix herbs, seasonings, and butter into the ground beef until it is evenly blended.
3. Divide into four portions and form each portion into a firm patty.
4. Cook over medium heat on the barbecue until cooked to appropriate temperature (160 degrees for medium).
5. If desired, top with slices of cheese when the burgers are almost done cooking for cheeseburgers.

Makes 4 good sized burgers. Serve on hamburger buns or on sliced italian bread .

Day 6

Pizza Burger
I don't think I've ever had a pizza burger before, so this was something new for me. Jim and I had differing opinions on this one. He was ready to fire up the grill to make more. I on the other hand thought it was just ok. Maybe I might like it better if the meat was a juicy beef and not turkey, or if I used a plain sauce rather than a sauce with garlic flavoring. There was just something about it that didn't have me craving for more.

Tonight we didn't follow a recipe. We just took a turkey burger (leftover from last night), added sauce and a pile of shredded mozzarella cheese. We then put it in the toaster oven until warm and the cheese was melted. Place on a bun and enjoy!

Day 5

The Elvis Burger
Last year Cheeburger Cheeburger arrived in our area. One of their toppings is peanut butter. I always wondered what peanut butter would taste like on a burger, but didn't want to be disappointed by not liking my meal when I ordered out. So during our challenge I thought that this would be the perfect time to experiment. During a google search I found the Elvis Burger.

Tonight we used ground turkey to make the burger and it tasted great with peanut butter! A nice smooth flavor. The banana was overpowering. I think if we make this again I will slice 1 banana, carmelize it and just put a few pieces on the sandwich. I also tried to form the patties in more of a square shape since we were using bread. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground pork or turkey
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 ripe bananas
1T heart-healthy butter
2t brown sugar
8 slices thick sandwich bread (gluten-free, if need be)
bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat a pan on medium heat. Cut bananas in half and slice lengthwise. Add the butter to the pan to coat it. Place bananas, flat side down, in the pan and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Cook for 2 minutes and flip. Stir the bananas to get the remaining brown sugar and butter in the pan, and let cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until bananas are caramelized on both sides.

2. Form 4 patties from the ground meat, season with salt and pepper. Grill until well done or cook in a pan on medium heat, covered, for 2-3 minutes per side.

3. Spread 1T of peanut butter on a slice of bread, toasted first if preferred. Place burger on top, pile on 2 slices of banana and any additional toppings. Top with remaining slice of bread and consume. Yea, after one bite you’ll be all shook up.

found at: http://www.peanutbutterboy.com

Day 4

LIPTON ONION BURGERS
I'll be the first to admit that this picture doesn't make the burger look too appetizing, but it sure is! After taking a nibble of my sons while cutting his up, I decided to go sans bun and just eat it on the plate with a side of veggies and potatoes (Thank you Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers). This was a new recipe for us and we'll definitely be adding it to our list of favorites! This was a nice juicy burger with lots of flavor, not completely over powering with an onion flavor. It kind of reminded me of a salisbury steak. It would taste great with a side of mashed potatoes and veggies.

The recipe:

1 envelope Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Onion Soup Mix
2 lbs. lean ground beef
1/2 cup water

1.	Combine all ingredients in large bowl; shape into 8 patties.
2.	Grill or broil until done.

Also terrific with Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Beefy Onion, Onion Mushroom or Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix.

from: http://www.recipesecrets.com

Day 3

Tonight we tried out a new recipe.

Easy Taco Burger

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 1/2 oz. Taco Seasoning, store bought
• 2 teaspoons of hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 jack cheese slices

Method:

• This couldn’t be any easier. Combine the beef, taco seasoning, hot sauce and black pepper in a large bowl and mix well.
• Allow the mixture to rest for at least 2 hours to let the taco flavor infuse into the meat. Shape into 4 patties with your hands ready to cook.
• Broil/Grill/Fry each burger for 4-5 minutes on each side or until the meat is fully cooked. Serve on regular buns with salsa and sour cream.

The verdict:
We will definitely be making this again! It's called Easy taco burgers and it sure is easy to make! I did make some alterations to the recipe - I used 1 oz Taco Seasoning since that is how much 1 packet is. Instead of jack cheese slices, I used a big pinch of shredded Mexican taco cheese. And I also added about 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro since I had some in my garden. We found the flavor to be great and it did taste like a taco, only without the mess. The 3 year old didn't like the sour cream/salsa mix, but he did eat the burger with ketchup. To him, everything tastes good with ketchup.

recipe from: http://www.cheese-burger.net

Day 2

Tonight we just had a classic burger made with 80-20 ground beef on a whole wheat kaiser roll. The burger was topped with pickles, Heinz Ketchup and Gulden's Spicy Brown mustard. James opted to add a ring of onion to his. This is a burger that you really can't go wrong with.

Day 1

Black Bean Rice Burgers
The recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 6 tablespoons salsa, divided
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 4 lettuce leaves
• 4 slices reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
• 4 hamburger buns, split

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mash beans with a fork. Add the rice, onion, egg and 2 tablespoons salsa; mix well. Drop by 1/2 cupfuls into a large nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Flatten to 1/2-in. thickness. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until firm and browned.
2. In a small bowl, combine sour cream and remaining salsa. Place a lettuce leaf, burger, sour cream mixture and slice of cheese on bun.

The verdict:
A new recipe for our family. Easy to make. The only real difficulty was flipping the burgers, but that became easier when I switched to a bigger spatula. Next time I will pair the burger with a different roll. Tonight we used a whole wheat roll, but I think Arnold's Sandwich Thin would be a better match since there would be less roll taste. We used a spicy salsa, which gave the burger a nice little kick. This "burger" is very economical and a great alternative to a real meat burger. Even my almost 3 year old who normally won't eat a hamburger had a few bites of this Black Bean and Rice Burger. This recipe is a keeper and we'll try it again.

recipe found at: allrecipes.com

30 Days of Burgers

We're on a mission to create 30 varieties of burgers in the next 30 days. Join us in our adventure.