The Best Burger Recipes

I have a confession to make... I love burgers! I can't resist them. I love them plain, or simply with mustard. I love them loaded up with onions, pickles, lettuce, bacon, cheese...  With my love of the All American Burger how could I resist featuring some yummy burgers from Tell Me About It Tuesday in a collection for the burger lovers?

Keep reading to discover turkey burgers, slaw burgers, and burger bombs to name a few!

                                     I have never had a Slaw Burger, but I think I would like it.

                                 Turkey Burgers with Blueberries is a unique spin on the traditional burger.

                                                      Stuffed Ranch Burgers sound great!

                   Low Calorie Easy Turkey Burger Sliders would be the perfect little burgers for my son.

Bacon Cheeseburger Bombs would be ideal party food.

Giant BBQ Cheeseburger Empanadas combine 2 of my favorite things!

Hard Rock Fiesta Burgers are super delicious, who could resist?

How do you like your burgers? Leave me a comment and tell me about it.

Chocolate Almond Yogurt Parfait

My husband and my son eat a snack of yogurt every day, mid-morning. One particular day last week we had several appointments that would overlap our normal lunch time. I wanted to offer the guys a snack that satisfied their yogurt routine but added a little something extra to keep my son full for a little bit longer and hopefully avoid a hunger-induced meltdown, as well as the quick solution to the meltdown {a Happy Meal}.

Inspiration hit me. With 2 ingredients I created yogurt parfaits that my guys went wild for.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Honey Bunches of Oats Morning Energy - Chocolatey Almond Crunch
• 1/3 cup Vanilla Yogurt

• Instructions

Simply layer cereal and yogurt to create this healthy and yummy parfait!

This recipe is so simple. All you need to do is layer the cereal and the yogurt. Serve it for happy and healthy snacking. I love that each cup of Honey Bunches of Oats Morning Energy Chocolatey Almond Crunch has 6 grams of protein and 33 grams of whole grains per serving. My son liked the crunch in his yogurt and he survived the 30-minute delay in lunch meltdown free.

Mouth Watering Blueberry Recipes

Have you noticed I am sharing a ton of blueberry recipes lately? I guess you could say I have Blueberries on the Brain! How could I resist rounding up some of the yummiest recipes from the Tell Me About It Tuesday Party to share with you?

When I saw this Coconut Rice Pudding Recipe with Blueberries my heart skipped a beat, we love Rice Pudding, but the Mister hates raisins, so we can still have our treat and enjoy a little fruit too thanks to this recipe.

My son would go Gaga for these 4th of July Waffles, because he is Mister America and he LOVES the flag, and waffles, and whipped cream.

Savory Blueberry Pizza is a unique idea that combines 2 of my favorite things.

Red, White and Blue Fruit Cake looks pretty yummy! How can anyone resist this combo?

Blueberry Turkey Burgers With Blueberry Ketchup is a colorful way to enjoy a healthy meal.

Red, White and Blue Firework Kabobs would be a good way to compromise. My son would eat marshmallows day in and day out, I would prefer he eat fruit... with this cute snack we both win.

Red, White and Blue Whoopie Pies are colorful and packed with flavor.

Blueberry Egg Rolls? What else is there to say?

Sweetleaf Mango Melon Salsa Recipe

I love Salsa! It is so versatile and a great salsa can take any meal to the next step of perfection.  My husband prefers hot and spicy salsa, but I am intrigued by salsa that includes fruits. This Mango Melon Salsa was right up my alley! You will want to try this recipe for a flavor that is smooth, sweet and unique. It just screams summer!

SweetLeaf^® Mango Melon Salsa

• 1 cup diced melon(s) of choice
• 1 cup peeled and diced mango
• ½ serrano (or milder) chili, seeded and minced
• 1 Tbsp. fresh mint, chopped
• Juice of 1 fresh lime
• ½ cup diced pineapple
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
• 10 drops Lemon Drop SweetLeaf^® Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops^™
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. chili powder (to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and gently toss to combine. Refrigerate before serving.

Do you have a favorite salsa recipe? I would love to have you tell me about it in a comment.

Blueberry Topped Rice Cakes

I have been on a journey to eat healthier. I frequently snack on rice cakes but they get rather boring. It is a good thing I have my pals at the Blueberry Council to keep me in yummy recipes and ideas for one of my favorite fruits.

When I saw this recipe for Blueberry Topped Rice Cakes I couldn't wait to try it. I think you are going to enjoy it if you want a flavorful, filling snack that is low in calories.

Ingredients

• ½ cup ricotta or cottage cheese
• 2 teaspoons apricot preserves
• 4 apple-cinnamon flavored rice cakes
• 1 cup thinly-sliced fresh fruit (such as apple, pear, nectarine or peach)
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, stir together ricotta and preserves
2. Spoon an equal amount on each of the rice cakes almost to the edge
3. Arrange fruit slices in circles, on top of the ricotta mixture
4. Top each with ¼ cup of the blueberries
5. Serve immediately

To find even more fantastic recipes visit the Blueberry Council website.

Blueberry Whoopie Pies

One of my favorite things about summer is fresh blueberries. My family visits a local farmer every summer to pick blueberries. We have fun picking our own fruit and we love feasting on blueberries in a variety of ways.

On our to try list this summer with our freshly harvested fruit was Blueberry Whoopie Pies! 

Ingredients

• 1 red velvet cake mix (18.25 ounces)
• ¼ cup flour
• ½ cup water
• 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1-½ cups marshmallow crème from a jar
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F
2. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper
3. In a large bowl combine cake mix, flour, water, oil and eggs
4. With an electric mixer, beat at medium speed until smooth, 2-3 minutes
5. Scoop the batter by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart, to make 24 cookies
6. Bake until puffed, 8-10 minutes
7. Let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets
8. With a spatula, remove to wire racks to cool completely
9. With a small spatula or knife, spread 1-½ teaspoons marshmallow crème onto the flat side of each cookie
10. Divide blueberries onto 12 of the cookies
11. Top with remaining cookies to make sandwiches
12. Serve immediately or store chilled in an airtight container layered between sheets of waxed paper

Number of servings (yield): 12

Thanks to my friends at the Blueberry Council for sharing this recipe!

7 Sensational Slow Cooker Recipes

Guess what my favorite small appliance is?... Yep, my Crock-Pot! I am always looking for great recipes for my crock-pot, and I found 7 that I think you are going to love!

Crockpot Lemon Rice Soup from Simplee Thrifty

No Boil Crock Pot Baked Ziti from Thrifty Jinx

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore  from Deb CB

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff from Simply Stacie

Hearty Crock Pot Beef Stew from Raking in the Savings

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese from Snappy Gourmet

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches from Chaos is Bliss

Which one do you think you will try first?

Fresh Blueberry Napoleons

If you need a yummy dessert to take to your 4th of July festivities you won't want to miss this recipe for Fresh Blueberry Napoleons. Imagine something fruity, sweet and rich that will leave your loved ones talking about your amazing baking skills... 

Ingredients

• 6 slices firm white sandwich bread, crusts removed
• 1 teaspoon butter, softened
• ¼ teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup ricotta cheese (whole or part-skim milk or cottage cheese)
• ¼ cup mascarpone or cream cheese
• ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
• 2 tablespoons apricot preserves
• 1 cup blueberries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. With a rolling pin, roll bread slices very thin
3. Cut each slice in half lengthwise
4. Lightly butter bread on one side
5. Arrange on baking sheet
6. Sprinkle wtih sugar
7. Bake until crisp and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes
8. Cool to room temperature (If making ahead, wrap tightly store at room temperature)
9. In medium bowl, with electric mixer, beat ricotta, mascarpone, confectioners’ sugar, and preserves until smooth
10. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use
11. Just before serving, place 8 toasts on work surface
12. Spread cheese filling on toasts, dividing evenly
13. Dot with berries
14. Stack 4 of the prepared toasts on remaining prepared toasts
15. Top each with a plain toast
16. Press gently to secure
17. Place each on a serving plate
18. If desired, sift confectioners’ sugar over Napoleons
19. Serve immediately

Thanks to my friends at the Blueberry Council for sharing this recipe.

ABC Pancakes with Krusteaz

Thanks to Krusteaz for hooking us up with yummy mixes!

My 4 year old is going through a phase... the phase of "I don't like it..." He refuses to eat everything from yogurt to chicken, to crackers and fruits, he doesn't like anything except pancakes. So I make a ton of pancakes these days.

I have been making my sons food of choice into a fun learning experience, because face it, food should be fun to prepare and eat.

Krusteaz was kind enough to send us Honey Wheat Pancake Mix. {This stuff is so good! No wonder the kid wants to only eat pancakes!} and I got busy in the kitchen making pancakes for Roo that offered him a yummy breakfast and a chance to practice his ABC's.

I followed the directions on the package and created a batter.

Using a squeeze bottle I wrote letters on the hot griddle.

 After about 30 seconds I added a scoop of batter to the top of each letter and allowed them to cook as normal.

This created letter pancakes for the kids.

My son really liked telling us about the letter he was eating, this included letter sounds, who has a name that starts with a letter and son on.

Breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner too, Krusteaz pancake mixes make a delicious option for my family. My son is a huge fan! I am too because I can make a huge batch and freeze them for a quick breakfast during the week to the delight of my family.

Cheesy Roasted Baby Potatoes

I am a proud partner with Tasteful Selections Potatoes. 

In March I had the opportunity to visit with the Tasteful Selections family in Bakersfield. To witness their passion for potatoes sparked something in me. Potatoes are awesome. I am a big fan of the tuber, but it seems as if this tasty dinner addition doesn't get much play from me. That is about to change! I am thrilled to continue working with my favorite baby potato company, to have the chance to share easy and yummy potato recipes with you, and to find ways to introduce my children to new dishes.

Tonight was one of those nights that I just didn't really want to cook... but my stomach insisted that I get in the kitchen and whip up something that I could serve for dinner.

Crab cakes are my favorite food... I could eat them rain or shine, morning or night, every day! I whipped up a small batch of crab cakes but needed a side to accompany our salads. I had Organic Honey Gold Tasteful Selection Potatoes in my refrigerator, so I opted to whip up something fantastically yummy and I can't wait to share this very simple recipe with you!

This recipe makes 2 servings of cheesy potatoes.

Ingredients

7 baby honey gold organic potatoes

1 tablespoon of EVOO

1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon of garlic and herb seasoning

1/3 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

*note*

I made this dish in a wok, because I have one and I like to use it as much as I can. You can also just use a skillet on the stove top.

Instructions

Cut your Tasteful Selections honey gold potatoes into quarters

Heat Wok to 300 degrees {or skillet to medium high heat}

Add 1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the Wok

Add quartered potatoes, fresh black pepper and garlic herb seasoning to the wok and stir.

Allow your potatoes to cook for about 3 minutes then stir. You want to keep stirring every few minutes to insure your potatoes are crisped evenly on all sides.

When your potatoes are golden brown and slightly crispy reduce the heat to about 250 degrees, add 1/3 cup of cheese and stir

Allow your cheese to melt completely then serve to the delight of your family. Who doesn't love crispy potatoes and lots of cheese?! 

What is your favorite way to enjoy potatoes? Tell me all about it!

NatureSweet Cherubs Greek Salad

My friends over at NatureSweet asked me if I would like to share a recipe with my readers, just in time for spring. Of course I jumped at the chance!

Course Type: Side Salad

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Short Summary: A classic Mediterranean favorite

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg Fresh Express® Spring Mix
• 2 Tbsp pitted black olives, sliced
• 1 cup NatureSweet® Cherubs® Tomatoes
• 1/2 cup red onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 4 whole pepperoncinis
• Your favorite balsamic or tarragon vinaigrette dressing

Instructions:

1. Place Fresh Express® Spring Mix into a large salad bowl.
2. Top with olives, NatureSweet® Cherubs® Tomatoes and onions. Add cheese and pepperoncinis. Drizzle dressing over salad.

Stay tuned, I will be developing a recipe that is perfect for spring and summer eating featuring my favorite little tomatoes!

Easy Banana Pancakes

We love Post cereal in my home. We are thrilled to have the chance to share another recipe on their behalf with you!

Easy Banana Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 Tbsp. oil
• 1 cup pancake and waffle mix
• 1 cup Great Grains Banana Nut Crunch Cereal
• 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar

Directions

1. Beat egg with milk and oil in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add pancake mix; beat until well blended. Stir in cereal. Let stand 5 minutes.
2. Ladle batter onto hot griddle or into hot skillet, using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on tops, then turn over to brown other sides.
3. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Grape-Nuts Crunchy Curried Hummus

If you like hummus you are going to love this recipe inspired by my friends at Post!

Grape-Nuts Crunchy Curried Hummus


Ingredients

2 cans (15 ounce each) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 garlic clove
1 Tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds*
2 tablespoons tahini
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons olive oil (recommend Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Gundry MD, click here to learn more about the product)
1/3 cup Grape Nuts Cereal
Cauliflower florets and carrot sticks

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor add chickpeas, garlic, curry powder, cumin seeds, tahini, water, lemon juice and salt. Pulse to combine. With the motor running, stream in olive oil and process until smooth.
Remove from food processor and place in serving bowl. Fold in Grape-Nuts cereal. Top with a light drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle with additional Grape-Nuts cereal for added crunch. Serve with cauliflower florets and carrot sticks.

*Note: To toast cumin seeds, place seeds in a dry pan over medium heat. Toast until golden brown and fragrant.

If you like Hummus, you have to try this awesome recipe. It is flavorful and perfect for parties! I would love to hear about your favorite hummus recipe if you have one!

How To Make Paw Print Cupcakes

My best friend, my original baby, my dog, turned 10 a few weeks ago! To celebrate the day we got both of the dogs their favorite treats! A plain burger from Wendy's and a kiddie sized vanilla frosty... {Don't judge... my kids feed them everything and this is simply the favorite people food among my dogs...} but I couldn't stop there. I am a mom of furry babies and human ones too! My kids get really psyched for a birthday! The dogs are no exception!

This year, my 5-year-old declared that we should "invite everyone over!" to celebrate this awesome day, the birthday of one of our dogs...

Considering half of the everyone he wanted to invite are several hours away from our house, I asked him if we could compromise and have a little party with just us. He looked skeptical... he asked, "What about balloons and presents mom?" I said "Well, Fritz {dog} doesn't really like toys anymore, he is kind of like... a grandpa among dogs. He likes to eat burgers and ice cream on his birthday."

My 5 year old frowned. He said "Can there be cake? No? Maybe grandma should come, she can bring cookies..." I laughed at this. Gotta give the kid credit, he wants a treat too! 

We could have made homemade cupcakes, but you know, I have kids! Time for cupcakes was not planned on that day. I turned to a box mix and a can of icing... no special recipe to mention here. 

But, I do have an idea for decorating any kind of cupcakes! This easy (and cheap!) decoration idea might just leave a paw print on the hearts and tummies of everyone you share one with!

You will need per 12 cupcakes:

36 Junior Mints (you will need 3 per cupcake)

12 mini York Peppermint Patties 

Directions:

Bake Cupcakes according to the package.

Allow to cool completely.

Frost the cupcakes.

Place the York Peppermint Miniatures
near the bottom edge of the cupcake.

Add 3 Junior Mints
to the top of the York Peppermint Patty to make the toes.

Now you have a delicious and minty addition to your cupcakes! This is my favorite cupcake decorating tip! It is so easy to make and they are fun! 

Please do not feed these Paw Print Cupcakes to your dog! Yes, I know I made these for the dogs birthday and I told you that the dog got his favorite people food treats for his birthday- but I truly do not like my dogs to eat a lot of people food. I know, I am a sweet mom and all but I seriously, between friends, I NAG at my kids every day about feeding the dogs. Also, your dog should never have chocolate as a treat. It is very dangerous for the health of any dog!

I hope you liked hearing about my best friends birthday and I hope that you liked our special cupcakes!

You might also enjoy this Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake Recipe!

Easy Cheesy Chicken Tacos {$7 Dinner Series}

My favorite meals to prepare for my family are easy, economical and packed full of veggies. The less time I spend cooking and cleaning up the better. I would much rather play with my kids or read them a story after dinner than spend an hour cleaning up! I would also prefer to have time to listen to my son talk about his school day over cooking!

This recipe for Easy Cheesy Chicken Tacos meets all of my criteria for a great meal! This is so easy to make and you can create this recipe for about $7 with smart shopping!

To begin here is a run down of what I purchased to create this dinner for my family and how much each ingredient cost.

Tyson 2/5 pound bag of frozen chicken breast, sale price of $4.99. I used 1/2 of the package  for a total of $2.49
1 jar of Meijer brand salsa, sale price of $1.00
1 pacakge of Meijer brand soft flour tortillas $1.49
1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese 1.00
2 ounces of cream cheese .33 (a 6 oz package was .99)
1/2 an onion  ( sale price of 67 cents for a small sweet onion) .33
1/2 a green pepper .50



For a total of $7.14

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup of cooked chicken breast
1 jar of salsa
1 package of tortillas
1/2 cup of shredded  cheese
1/3 package of cream cheese
1/2 an onion
1/2 a green pepper


Directions 
Cook your chicken in a pan of boiling water when it has reached the recommended internal temperature, remove it from heat, allow to cool to a temperature you can work with and cut it into small chunks.

Cut your onion and green pepper into small chunks

Add salsa, cream cheese, shredded cheese, chicken and chopped veggies to a medium size pan, over medium heat, allow the cream cheese and shredded cheese to melt, stirring several times. Once the cheese is melted you can serve this on soft tortillas for an easy meal your family will love.

Garnish with Sour cream or hot sauce if desired.

I often serve this with a side of Spanish Rice, or a light salad. The best part is this is one meal my entire family loves!


You might also enjoy this Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe from my $7 Dinner Series.

Blueberry Turkey Burgers with Blueberry Ketchup

I love blueberries! They are pretty, sweet and a summertime treat. Every summer my family visits a little blueberry patch on the outskirts of town and we pick blueberries then feast on them in every way imaginable.

My friends at the Blueberry Council shared this fun recipe with me, and I didn't hesitate to squeal with delight at the idea of sharing it with you.

Blueberry Turkey Burgers with Blueberry Ketchup

Ingredients:

1 pound ground turkey

3/4 cup fresh or frozen (unthawed) blueberries

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 tablespoon minced lemongrass (optional)*

1 teaspoon coarse black pepper

2 tablespoons soy sauce

4 poppy seed hamburger buns

Lettuce and sliced red onion, optional

Blueberry Ketchup (recipe follows)

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine turkey, blueberries, ginger, lemongrass and black pepper; mix well.

Form mixture into 4 patties.

Brush soy sauce on both sides of burgers.

In an oiled skillet over medium-high heat, grill patties until cooked thoroughly, about 4 minutes each side.

Serve on buns with lettuce, sliced red onion and blueberry ketchup.

* Peel away woody outer layer from the bottom portion of the lemongrass stalk; mince inner flesh.

Quick notes:

Yield: 4 portions

Blueberry Ketchup

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen (unthawed) blueberries

1/2 cup minced onion

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon pickled ginger (gari) or minced fresh ginger

Directions:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine blueberries, onion, vinegar, sugar, ginger and salt.

Bring to a simmer; cook about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently.

Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Remove to blender or food processor; whirl until smooth.

Refrigerate until ready to use. 

How do you like your blueberries? Tell me about your favorite way to eat blueberries in a comment, pretty please ;)

You might want to hop over and check out the recipe for Fresh Blueberry Napoleons as well 

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Peanut Butter Waffle Cake

Peanut Butter Waffle Cake is the solution to summertime baking dilemmas. You can have your cake without heating up the house with this incredibly easy recipe.

A few weeks ago my daughter and I made birthday cake waffles because we wanted to try it out. We are funny like that, we get an idea and we almost have an itch to discover what might happen as a result! We had so much fun making cake waffles that we had to do it again!

This cake begins with a white cake mix and becomes a layered, moist cake that no one can resist! Best of all, you can make this cake in just about 15 minutes from start to finish!

We knew we couldn't go wrong with peanut butter. It is the one thing our family can agree on usually! We are crazy for peanut butter chicken and of course, peanut butter pie, so peanut butter waffle cake was the natural choice for a unique dessert!

Ingredients:

1 white cake mix

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

3 whole eggs

1 cup of water

Directions:

Combine the ingredients and mix well. 

Heat your waffle iron and pour the cake batter in, preparing as you would a waffle.

Allow the cake waffles to cool, as they are, mix up the peanut butter frosting.

Ingredients for frosting:

4 cups of powdered sugar

1/2 cup of smooth peanut butter

1 to 2 tablespoons of milk or heavy cream

Directions:

Add powdered sugar, peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of milk to a mixing bowl and blend with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Add another tablespoon of milk if needed. 

After the cake waffles are cool, begin layering the waffles and the frosting. Generously top the last waffle with remaining frosting and serve.

You might also enjoy these recipes :
Overnight Oat Recipe
Peanut Butter and Jelly Pound Cake

Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad

           Delicious and easy, this recipe takes chicken salad to the next level of tasty!

We have been in a lunchtime slump for months now. I rarely think ahead and plan for lunch and am left standing before my kitchen feeling a little lost at lunch time. The number of days when Harper and I call cheese and crackers lunch is ridiculous! Yesterday, I decided to take the mid day meal back into my court and I created something on a whim that will save the meal for us time and time again!

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad couldn't be easier to make. While I made this with a whole chicken breast, you could easily save some time and swap that for some rotisserie chicken, or even a can of chicken breast if that is what you have on hand!

This recipe comes together easily. If you are using pre-cooked chicken breast, it comes together in under 5 minutes for a yummy lunch in spite of a busy day or limited culinary skills. In this recipe I used shallots because that is what I had on hand. You can use the onion of your choice. Celery might make a nice addition if you like it. I do not like celery so I didn't use it.

Ingredients for 4 sandwiches:

• 8 ounces of chicken breast, cooked and shredded or cut into small chunks.
• 4 tablespoons of mayo
• 1 tablespoon of ranch dip mix
• 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup  of bacon crumbles
• 1/4 cup of shallots or onion, finely chopped. 

Directions:

• Combine the mayo and ranch dip mix together, blending well.
• Add the onion or shallots and mix well.
• Add the chicken, bacon, and cheese and stir until well combined.
• Serve on bread, tortillas or on crackers for a tasty and easy lunch!

I think this tastes better the next day, so you might mix it up the night before and have a total treat of yummy for lunch the next day!

You will also want to peek at these Chicken Salad Recipes to Cluck For .