P Double B Turkey Burgers

Burgers, burgers, burgers.  I am sure that my boys would eat burgers, burgers, burgers a few times a week!  Don't get me wrong, I too love a good burger, but not all.the.time.  I like variety!  After all, it's the spice of life, isn't it? ;-) 

With the frequency of grilling slowing down now that the weather is changing, I thought it timely to try a little variation on our usual burger.  And, since it's Thanksgiving (Canadian), I figured also a good time to try a little turkey, maybe inspire some folks to try somthing a little different!

This time I came up with what we've called the "P Double B Turkey Burger"...read on to see what the P and B's are!

1 lb ground turkey
1/3 cup panko/dried bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 cup basil (fresh) - chopped
3 slices bacon, cooked (crispy)
1/3 cup parmesan cheese (fresh, grated)
Pepper - to taste

Cook your bacon, remove from pan, pat with paper towel and allow to cool.

In a large bowl, mix the turkey, panko, egg, basil, parmesan and pepper.  Use your hands, get in there and mix it good!  Crumble the bacon and mix into the turkey mixture.  Form patties. 

Preheat your grill.  When you are ready to put your patties on the grill, be sure to oil them with a little olive oil (on each side).  Grill, and serve!

VERDICT:
These were a nice change from beef!  I am a beef fan, but every once in a while it's nice to shake things up.  We could really taste all the flavours - the parmesan, the basil, and of course, the bacon! (P...double B). 

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Spaghetti Squash Casserole

My Dad will be so pleased...I made squash for dinner.  Or maybe he won't be once he reads the verdict below.  I guess we'll see!  My Dad is a big squash fan...and everytime it was prepared when we were growing up, we (me, my brother, and I am pretty sure my Mom) all turned our noses.  Ewww, squash.  I painted all squash the same.  If I didn't like one, I didn't like any of them.    But then I grew up, and occasionally at a restaurant one of the vegetable sides would be a squash of some sort.  Sometimes it was spaghetti squash.  And I sometimes tried it.  And I discovered that I like it. Fast forward a few moons and I'm reading through my pile of cookbooks and I come across a recipe for "Spaghetti Squash Casserole"...hmmm...sounds promising.  I think I'll try it.  And we did...here is the recipe:

Spaghetti Squash Casserole - from Taste of Home

1 medium spaghetti squash
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, washed and sliced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350F.

Slice the squash in hal lengthwise; remove and discard the seeds.  Place squash cut-side down in a baking dish.  Bake for 45-60 minutes or until easily pierced.

Increase oven temperature to 375F.

Melt butter in a skillet.  Add in onion, garlic, mushrooms, herbs and seasonings.  Saute until the onion is translucent.  Add in the tomatoes and cook off most of the liquid.  Set aside.

When the squash is cool enough to handle, use a fork to separate into strands.  Combine the squash, tomato mixture, cottage cheese, mozzarella, parsley and crumbs.  Pour into a greased 2 quart casserole.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Bake, uncovered at 375 for 40 minutes or until heated through and the top has started to brown.

VERDICT:
Wow, this was so good.  My husband's first reaction was "mmmmm" and he then proceeded to have three servings!  He even took leftovers to work and I think he shared a little there.  We gave some of the plain (baked) spaghetti squash to the baby, he wasn't a fan.  Our oldest son, well, we had to tell him that the spaghetti squash was noodles...which he found acceptable and he cleaned his plate.  My husband is already asking me to make this again!