Grilled vegetable burger

Short post today as I have too many other things to cook!

Grilled vegetable burger
adapted from Donna Hay Magazine
change amounts to suit serving size

eggplant slices (I bought some pre-grilled from a deli)
tomatoes (I used semi dried tomatoes)
haloumi
onion, sliced
olive oil
baby spinach
burger buns
1tbs harissa paste
4tbs mayonnaise

Heat oil in pan and cook sliced onion over medium heat until caramelised put semi dried tomatoes and eggplant sliced in pan to warm up. Set aside. Brush haloumi with olive oil and fry in pan until golden, should only take a few minutes.
Meanwhile, brush split burger buns with oil and place under griller until browned on top.
Mix harissa paste and mayonnaise together until combined, spread over burger buns. Top one bun with baby spinach, grilled eggplant, semi dried tomatoes, haloumi and caramelised onions then top with other half of bun. Serve with extra baby spinach drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

ease: 5/5.
prep time: 20mins to do onions and assemble burger (if you grill your eggplant and roast your tomatoes it may take longer).
total: 20mins.

taste: 4.5/5. Super tasty, Ryan even loved it despite the lack of meat. Great flavours.

would I make it again: Yes.

Cheeseburger

I have a non-alcoholic induced hangover - I think I shall call it the loud-music-and-screaming-to-talk hangover.

This morning, the sunshine streaming through my window was like a laser pointer to my eyes, a split second later came the numb pain, mostly localised the the front of my brain and eye sockets. My nose also had a tingle, hopefully of the allergy variety rather than the cold-and-flu. Although I did not drink any dubious substances, I did overdose just a little on chocolate. I had eaten two more of my chocolate puddings during the day (I made six, and there are only two of us so I must eat my share) and in the evening I binged on chocolates, tim tams and Laurent cakes filled with all types of, you guessed it, chocolate. I must add that last night was the celebration of my gorgeous sister-in-law's 26th birthday. After the junk fest we spent the night at a bar, where the loud music and screaming took place.

It has probably been at least 3 years since my husband and I last went to a club/bar, so my noise tolerance had reverted back to my pre-club years. As we had wonderful company, the night was wonderful and worth today's repercussions.

Because I don't drink alcohol I've never had the craving for 'greasy' food after a big night out, hubby on the other hand had a drink or too (with absolutely no repercussions) so I thought I'd make him a burger (they're not that greasy when home made but comforting none the less). The fact that I'd be spending less than 10 minutes in the kitchen was also wunderbar.
ease: 5/5.
prep time: 2mins (to get patties on, do all other prep while they cook).
cooking time: 8 mins.
total: 10mins.

taste: 3/5. Hubby liked it, however as I have made him quite a few hamburgers before, he didn't like these more than this deluxe cheeseburger for instance.
It is perfect for when you want minmum mess and dinner ready in pretty much 10mins.

would I make it again: No, I have time to cook so I can spare it on something he likes more.

recipe: Cheeseburger

Deluxe Cheeseburger

Another day, another burger recipe. Beef is once again the main ingredient, but this time it comes in the form of a patty with caramelised onions and blue cheese dressing.

If you hadn't noticed I haven't been putting any effort at all into my photos. I am flat out as it is Xmas time which is the busiest time of year for me work wise. On top of that I have been renovating BOTH bathrooms which are due to be completed a week before Christmas. Once the new year has rolled around and my renovations are complete I will take more care with my photographs. I should also be receiving my new Canon EOS 5D Mark II soon as well, my first DSLR which is terribly exciting - so expect more photos (hopefully better as well).

500g beef mince
sea salt and cracked black pepper
2tsp Worcestershire sauce
4 field mushrooms, trimmed
80g butter, softened
4 burger buns, halved
olive oil, for brushing
200g Swiss cheese or cheddar slices
caramelised red onion
blue cheese dressing

Place beef, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl and mix to combine. Form four patties.
Melt some butter in saucepan and add sliced red onion, cook over low heat until onion caramelises.
Place mushrooms on baking tray. Place butter, salt and pepper and mix. Spread over mushrooms and grill for 5mins.
Brush the bun halves with oil and grill for 1min.
Heat non stick skillet with oil and cook patties for 4mins. Turn and top with cheese and cook for further 4mins.
Top buns with caramelised onions, blue cheese dressing, patties and mushrooms. Serves 4.

ease: 4.5/5. A few steps for each addition to the burger.
prep time: 25mins to caramelise onions, make patties and prep everything to grill.
cooking time: 10mins to cook patties, and grill mushrooms and buns and assemble burgers.
total: 35mins.

taste: 4/5. Boys enjoyed it. I had one minus the beef patty and it was super tasty. The tangy sweetness of the onions was gorgeous with the salty earthiness of the mushrooms and the creaminess of the bitey blue cheese dressing. I used cheddar as some of the boys don't like Swiss. Due to misreading, I added 2tbs instead of 2tsp Worcestershire sauce to the patties, don't think it made a big difference.

would I make it again: Yes. Takes a little longer to make than the other beef burger but it's still a good burger.

Beef Burger

Time crept up on me today and left me in a hurry to make something for dinner before everyone went home.

Once again I am making another burger recipe as I want to try each one before the start of summer. It also worked well as it took next to no time to make, and was wolfed down in less than half that time.
olive oil, for brushing
4 burger buns
250g eye fillet
1tbs cracked black pepper
4 dill pickles, sliced
garlic aioli
4 slices prosciutto
200g cheddar cheese slices
Preheat oven to 180C. Heat nonstick pan over high heat. Brush meat with oil and season with pepper. Cook for 1min each side, transfer to baking tray and bake for 15mins for medium rare.
Brush buns with oil, top bottom halves with cheese slices and grill for 2mins until golden.
Place prosciutto on tray and grill for 1minute until crispy.
Thinly slice the beef. Spread buns with aioli and top with beef, prosciutto and pickles. Serves 4.

ease: 5/5. Easiest burger I have made so far.
prep time: 3mins to sear meat and prep everything else.
cooking time:20mins. 15mins to cook meat in the oven and 5mins to do buns and prosciutto.
total: 23mins. Pretty quick - only around 10mins hands on cooking.

taste: 4/5. All 3 boys loved this - just meat and cheese, who knew they'd love it. I served it with some rocket in a raspberry balsamic reduction. I did not include the pickle as the boys hate pickles in their burgers.

would I make it again: Yes.

Chicken chorizo burger

Tonight I needed a quick dinner as my partner and I had tickets for Quantum of Solace (didn't like it as much as Casino Royale). As I have a slew of burger recipes, I thought I'd try another.

ease: 4/5. You have to do a few batches of cooking.
prep time: 15mins to prep everything.
cooking time: 10mins to cook chicken and chorizo.
total: 25mins.

taste: 3/5. Not bad, boys hated the chicken and chorizo combo, said it confused them.

would I make it again: No.

Pork & Pineapple Burger

Summery weather calls for summer fruits and easy to eat food - burgers seemed to fit the bill.

2 granny smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/3 cup whole egg mayonnaise
1 1/2tbs white wine vinegar
salt and pepper
300g pork fillet, trimmed and halved
olive oil, for brushing
150g pineapple, peeled and thinly sliced
4 burger buns, halved
BBQ sauce and rocket leaves, to serve

Preheat oven to 200C. Combined the mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss apples through mayonnaise. Set aside.
Brush pork with oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. Fry Pork for 2mins each side and then place on baking tray and roast for 10mins or until cooked through. Cover and set aside. Brush pineapple slices with oil and fry until browned. Brush the buns with oil and fry until browned. Slice the pork. Spread the bun halves with BBQ sauce and top with pineapple, pork, apple mixture and rocket leaves. Serves 4.

ease: 3.5/5. You need to grill a few things and also have to roast the pork as well.
prep time: 15mins to brown pork and get other ingredients cooked and ready.
cooking time: 12mins to cook pork in oven.
total: 27mins.

taste: 4.5/5. Boys liked it - dad said it would have been nicer if the pork had more seasoning.

would I make it again: Yes. It's a little fiddly but everyone liked it.

Chicken mozzarella burgers

2 chicken breasts, sliced in half
2tbs olive oil
1tbs lemon juice
salt and pepper
225g buffalo mozzarella
whole egg mayonnaise to taste
pesto to taste
shaved parmesan
mixed lettuce leaves
4 burger buns

Marinate chicken in oil, lemon and salt and pepper in a non-metallic bowl for 5mins.
Brush burger buns with oil and grill for 1min until browned. Set aside.
Grill chicken for 2mins, or fry in pan til ready.
Spread mayonnaise on one side of the bun, top with some lettuce and then chicken breasts.
Dollop some pesto and then top with mozzarella, more pesto, more lettuce and shaved parmesan. Serves 4.

ease: 4/5. You only have to cook chicken and toast bread, the rest is just assembling.
prep time: 5mins to get ingredients out and marinate chicken.
cooking time: 1omins to cook chicken in fry pan.
Total: 15mins. Super quick.
taste: 4/5. These were super tasty, I smothered mine in mayonnaise and pesto. The buffalo mozzarella was really soft (and expensive) but tastier than regular mozzarella.

would I make it again: Yes. They were really easy to make, hard to stuff up. And I was only in the kitchen for 15mins, which means even on days when you can't be arsed, this is an option.