What We're Eating - A Food & Recipe Blog » burgers

Turkey + Pork = Great Burgers

Us — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:45:39 +0000

Look at that fat bacon...

For this perfect summer day were grilling up some tasty burgers. Our burgers were made with ground pork and turkey seasoned with pureed chipotle in adobo, worcestershire, salt and pepper then stuffed with extra-sharp cheddar. The grilled stuffed burgers were served on toasted onion buns with a cilantro-lime vinaigrette, grilled red onions and tomatoes, crispy thick-sliced bacon, and fresh avocado. With a burger this rich, we chose to get rid of the standard side of fries and serve grilled zucchini and squash for a more well-balanced meal.

T: Let’s review what I’ve eating in the last three days… Wednesday, lunch: california burrito. Thursday, lunch: In & Out Double Double, animal style. Thursday, supper: these stuffed burgers. Friday, lunch: another california burrito.
A: woah dogg! you’re not supposed to let on that we don’t post our meals the day we eat ‘em! let me just say: g.d. that is a ton of meat you’ve been eating t!
T: Yeah, a ton of beef. Fatty beef with cheese.
A: not all of it was beef! these burgs were made with 1 part ground turkey and 1 part ground pork! no beef present here at all!
T: nice! It tasted just as sinful and heart-clogging as all the other crap I’ve eaten lately. Good to hear it’s slightly healthier.
A: ah, who’s counting! and besides, i like to make up for the healthiness factor of turkey by pairing it with yummy things like bacon… and cheese!
T: So next week I’m going to have to eat a salad or something. To make up for the last few days.
A: ha! yeah right! like i see you eating salad for lunch! maybe for dinner, if i force it on you, but doubtful for lunch.
T: true, they don’t offer salads at my taco shop. Actually, they probably do now that I think about it, but I don’t take note of things like salads on taco shop menus. I have a very selective attention.
A: carnitas… california burritos… that pretty much covers it huh?
T: that and the brain tacos which I never plan to get again.
A: hmmm, what if i made a brains burger!?! and stuff it!
T: if anyone could make it taste good it would probably be you, but umm… I’m ok with sticking to animal muscles. I like muscles.
A: so what’d ya think of this particular ground muscle… that was stuffed with sharp cheddar and topped with bacon?
T: this burger was muy excellent. My only possible complaint, and this is a minor one, was that the tomato was a little, how shall I say, juicy, and soaked the bottom bun a bit. Before it was all said and done I was eating the burger upside down.
A: i’ll admit it. i was doing the same thing! the tomato added a great taste, but damn it if it didn’t make my bun soggy! oh well. better luck next time on that one. i really dug the flavors over all. it just tasted like a pretty normal, well made burger. nothing too fancy or gourmet, just tasty.
T: The veggies were tasty too. The grilled veggies are always a delight. What’d you rate this meal?
A: i think i’m gonna have to give it a 3.78/5. it was good. it really was tasty, but nothing too out of the ordinary or exciting. i enjoyed all the pork that went into it and thought the veggies were grrreat! i’m a fool for some grilled red onions on a burg. your thoughts?
T: yeah, love the onion on there. I give the burger a 4.4/5. It was really one of the better burgers that I’ve had over the course of my lifetime… but comparing it with some of the previous burgers that you’ve made it wasn’t quite up to their level of awesomeness. This is a case where if you had just created mediocre burgers all along, I would be jumping up and down about this one, but now I’ve come to expect the best burger ever every time. Lesson, kids?
A: pretend that mediocrity is your best then hit ‘em with greatness when they aren’t looking!
T: exactly. Just wait. I’ve been mediocre my entire life. When I’m like 65 I’m going to show you what’s up. It’ll be great.

Recipes in this post:

Chipotle Pork and Turkey Burgers

Turkey Burger Stuffed w/ Crispy Bacon & Caraway Havarti

Us — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 17:57:36 +0000

Great Gobbling Gobblers

Tonight we’re eating grilled turkey burgers stuffed with caraway havarti, applewood smoked bacon, and chopped parsley. The burger was served on a grilled onion bun and dressed with mache, sauteed cabbage deglazed with red wine vinegar, and a dijon vinaigrette. For a healthy alternative to the standard french fry we had grilled broccoli tossed with a lemon vinaigrette.

A: mmm. burgers are my weakness. man, i’m so american.
T: Carnitas are my weakness. I’m so mexican.
A: heheh i share a weakness for carnitas, but i’m just never around them. burgers, on the other hand, i can find everywhere! and make easily!
T: If all burgers were more like the stuffed burgers you make, I’d be much more passionate about them. I love getting a couple of bites into a patty and having cheese and other goodies burst out. Mmm. These burgers tonight were a great example of that. Melted cheese and bacon is a good thing to find in the middle of a burger patty. Especially when it’s a turkey burger, which I’m afraid might get a little dry without the goods in the middle.
A: true dat. in my demented mind, i think that turkey burgers are great to fill with all the heavy things like cheese and bacon. you’re saving yourself some cholesterol by using turkey so you can add the other goods without feeling too bad…. plus, when their stuffed and properly seasoned, i really don’t think there’s much flavor difference between it and beef.
T: no, not too much of a difference. Beef burgers are more moist (aka greasy), and to a certain extent they taste better because of that. But a good stuffed turkey burger is hard to beat.
A: so what did you think of the sauteed red cabbage as a topping? weird or good?
T: I thought it was great. It went really well with the rest of the burger… and the bun. Not to mention it was gorgeous and refreshingly different.
A: agreed. but not so different that it made me want the burger dressed differently. you know, i still shudder at the thought of pickled beets on burgers! i know i shouldn’t make the assumption that it’s nasty without trying it, but i just don’t know. beets are so…. sweet!
T: I have not come to term with beets yet. I’ve only had em a couple of times, though… maybe there’s still a chance of liking em. Well, what do you rate the meal tonight?
A: i’m gonna give it a 4.25/5. it was quite tasty. I particularly like the grilled broccoli. it was crisp and smokey. not something i’ve eaten a lot of, but i dug it. you?
T: I give it a 4.4/5. It was good, although not up to the level of some of your other stuffed burgers. The cabbage was nice and tangy… very tasty. The broccoli… good but not my fave. I really like the taste of roasted broccoli… but the grilled broccoli tasted a little too grilly for me.
A: yeah, it was definitely grilly… but i tend to like grilly. just add a smokey flavor to damn near anything and i’m happy. hmmmm… except maybe ice cream… or cake. especially if it’s that nasty liquid smoke flavoring. that would be pretty nasty.
T: ya think, crackhead?

Recipes in this post:

Many Mini Comfort Foods

Us — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:30:35 +0000

Cheese Sliders aka Mini Cheeseburgers

Tonight was comfort food party night! The menu consisted of savory roasted asparagus soup garnished with crumbled feta and a roasted asparagus spear; sliders made with 2oz griddled burgers, melted cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, a slice of dill pickle, mustard, and ketchup on a toasted whole wheat Hawaiian roll; and finally southwestern macaroni and cheese made with a bechamel-based sharp cheddar and havarti cheese sauce, roasted red peppers, fresh jalapeÃ±o, chorizo, and cilantro – served up in dainty little parmigiano reggiano cups. The hors d’oeuvres were all washed down with a nice crown and coke(zero)…very light on the coke.

Macaroni and Cheese BitesA: mmm… there’s something fun about small-ified foods.
T: I agree. You can just grab one for a bite, or you can eat 50 of them for 50 bites.
A: too true. fifty bites might be a bit overboard though. i got full off of just a few of these bites!
T: I did too… I guess the burgers were really more than a bite, though. But much more smallified than a standard burger. Smallified. College worked for me. Not.
A: yeah. we did go to LSU. where we learned things like “smallified”.
T: yeah, things like how to find your keys when you wake up on a stranger’s patio with a black eye and no keys.
A: hehehe oh aaron. what a funny dude. okay! refocus. so, i’m definitely digging on those cute little sliders… le petit hamburger.

Shots of roasted asparagus soupT: they were really tastier than I expected them to be. They had a wonderful sweetness, and yet the sweetness did not overwhelm the savory flavors at all.
A: and the tartness of the pickles. I just have a deep love for burgers. in a perfect world cholesterol wouldn’t exist and i would eat burgers every day. or at least once a week!
T: What did you think about the other hors d’oeuvres?
A: i actually thought they were both really tasty. i pulled all the different dishes from the sidebar poll and made the top three savory comfort foods… in mini versions. it’s really a fantastic idea for an event that Brigitte at Dispensing Happiness made up.
T: it certainly is. So what do you rate these puppies?
A: well, i give the roasted asparagus soup a 4.2/5. It was tasty and i could see myself eating WAY more than a shot full of it (which is a good thing since we’ve a huge ass pot of it). The burgers: i give them a 4.6/5. they were mini, they were greasy, and doggonit i liked them! as far as the mac and cheese was concerned, hey! it’s mac and cheese. what’s not to like. i particularly like the cute little parmesan vessels they came in and the jalapeno accent on top. I give them a 4.44/5.

A happy drinkT: yeah those little parmesan vessels were incredibly cool. I absolutely loved the burgers and the mac n cheese. The soup was good, but not my favorite thing ever. I give the burgers a 4.6/5. They were super-duper. I give the mac n’ cheese a 4.7/5. I need to have many more bites of it since I’ve only had one thus far. I give the soup a 4.
A: i kind of figured that it wouldn’t be the ultimate soup for you…knowing that brothy chicken based soups are your key to comfort soup. I was particularly inspired to make a roasted veggie soup from nicole’s recent post about roasted cauliflower soup. mmm. Overall i’d have to say it was a pretty successful comfort food hors d’oeuvres party. more sliders anyone?!?
T: more mac n’ cheese, pleese.

Recipes in this post:

We Stuffed Them, They Stuffed Us

Us — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 00:40:17 +0000

Chaumes and Sundried Tomatoes Stuffed Turkey Burgers

For dinner we’re eating grilled turkey burgers seasoned with fresh oregano, basil, and sage. The burgers were stuffed with chaumes cheese and sundried tomatoes and served on a whole wheat bun with confit tomatoes, lemon balsamic marinated grilled mushrooms, pea shoots, and fresh pesto. Chunks of marinated grilled zucchini were plated along side the burgers.

The Ooey Gooey Insides of Our Stuffed Turkey Burgers

T: Those burgers were freaking awesome, duder.
A: well thanks, mista T! i don’t think they were my favorite, but hey! can a girl be tops every time?
T: Nope, a girl can’t be on top every time.
A: hehehe… now, woah there doggy. don’t forget grannies read this too.
T: Grannies know what i’m talking about! They’ve been around longer than any of us!
A: youse a silly man, mister. a silly man.
T: I thought these burgers were great. What didn’t you like about them?
A: i dunno. i think maybe it’s just that i burned them initially on a slightly too-hot fire and my burger just tasted burnt. at least in some spots. i also don’t know if i like the specific brand of sundried tomatoes i used in the middle.
T: you must have given me a less-burnt patty. How nice Mine didn’t taste burnt at all.
A: … i taste burning…
T: you might want to get that checked out. I also enjoyed the sundried tomatoes and everything else in/on the burger. It was great, and it got better the deeper into it I got.
A: stuffing burgers really is the secret to my burger happiness. it breaks up the heaviness of the solid chunck of meat and it gives you ooey gooey flavor all through out the meal
T: I’m with you a 100% on that one. Burger need to be stuffed. Otherwise they are ordinary. I don’t care what kind of sauce you put on top, the patty needs some innards.
A: fo sho, you know. i’ve only eaten one stuffed burger out at a restaurant and i was kind of disappointed. It was a brie stuffed burger at the Wild Note Cafe in Solana Beach. I’m a fan of the cafe for lunch, usually. good food at a moderately cheap price (although dinner can get expensive). but this burger just didn’t have any flavor. i think maybe the brie had all melted out before it even got to me.
T: That’s lame. I’ve never had a stuffed burger other than yours that I can think of. It would be interesting to have another, but I’m doing ok just having yours.
A: i would just like to find a good burger in san diego. i have yet to eat a burger here that has made me want to go back to the restaurant and eat another one. and another one. and another one.
T: I liked the burger I had at South Beach Bar and Grill (5059 Newport Ave. San Diego, CA 92107). It was a “Santa Fe” burger with a roasted ortega chile and a creamy Santa Fe sauce. It wasn’t stuffed, but I liked it. It was the best burger I’ve eaten in a restaurant here- much better than the burger I had at the famed Hodad’s.
A: yeah, maybe i went into Hodad’s with high expectations, but when we got our food, i was definately underwhelmed. i hate to say it, but my mini burger just reminded me of wendy’s. and that’s just wrong. i would like to try a burger from south beach though.
T: Yeah, and we should try Hodad’s again just to see if we were having an off day or something. Maybe the Volkswagen Bus that we were eating in (inside the restaurant) threw off our taste buds. eh?
A: uh…um… anything’s possible, right? i am willing to give it another try. i will try to erase the thought of wendy’s from my mind when we go back.
T: Well, back to your burgers. I give em a 4.6/5. They were super, so much better than most burgers out there. I’ll leave you with a little room for ratings improvement since I know you weren’t too happy with these.
A: you’re right. but i’m glad you really enjoyed them. I give these burgers a 3.8/5. They were good. they just weren’t the bomb. and frankly, they were amongst my worst burgers. i dig burgers, and the digability is what inspires me to make good ones. for this reason, when i make an average (or burnt) burger, i’m disappointed in myself and in the burger.
T: wow, that’s a lower score than I expected you to give. I think you’re being a touch hard on yourself. Hell, my burger was the bomb!
A: maybe so. i just have a long list of good burgers beneath my belt and this was just alright for me. kinda like jesus you know?
* amanda breaks in to a bad version of “jesus is just alright” *
T: enough! silence! What does that mean, anyway? Is Jesus just ok, not that great? Or is Jesus nothing but alright with him? I just don’t know.
A: i never could figure that out. i guess i never really paid much attention to the rest of the lyrics to see if they would clue me in. what it comes down to is i just don’t care, ooooohhhh yeah!
T: Mochis are just alright with me, mochis are just alright, oh yeah! And by that I mean I’m going to eat a mochi right now.
* time elapses *
T: that was a good coconut mochi.

Kwaherini mabibi na mabwana.