Cajun Burgers

I was at home a few weeks ago and my Dad was raging about some hamburgers he had made.  He talked about them so much that I decided I needed the recipe.  I can't really take credit for making these because my husband actually made them while I was out running errands one night, but I CAN tell you that they were FANTASTIC!!!  I expected them to be spicy because of their name, but they aren't.  They are SUPER juicy and have a definite "restaurant" taste to them.  The ingredient list is long, but you will have almost all of these things in your pantry, so don't be afraid.  I will definitely be making these the next time we have friends over to cook out!!

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Cajun Burgers

1 large green pepper, chopped

1 large onion, chopped (We didn't include this because we did the green onions and it seemed like a lot!)

6 green onions, thinly sliced

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 egg

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp dry bread crumbs

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp cream cheese, softened

1/4 tsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp seasoned salt

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp ground mustard

1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce

2 pounds ground beef

8 hamburger buns, split

condiments of your choice

In a large bowl, combine the first 16 ingredients.  Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.  Shape into eight patties.  Grill over medium heat or broil 4 inches from the heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160 degrees and juices run clear.  Serve on buns.

Seriously, how good does this look?!?  You will definitely impress your friends with this one!  Enjoy!  :)

Spicy Avocado Chicken Enchiladas

I pinned this recipe from TheNoviceChef recently and couldn't wait to try it.  I will warn you...it took TIME...like A LOT of time.  Way more than what I anticipated.  BUT, as my friend Cara would say, the juice is worth the squeeze!!  If you have some time, definitely give this one a try!

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Spicy Avocado Chicken Enchiladas

for the sauce:

1 tbsp butter

1 Serrano pepper, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp flour

1 cup chicken stock

1 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 cup medium salsa verde

1/2 cup fat free sour cream (I didn't realize this said fat free and used regular)

for the enchiladas:

3 cups chopped cooked chicken breasts (the recipe called for 4 breasts, but 3 would have been enough)

8 oz. Cabot Monterrey Jack Cheese, shredded and divided 

1 small yellow onion, chopped

3 avocados, peeled and chopped

8-10 flour tortillas 

Preheat the oven to 375.  In a medium sauce pan, melt butter over medium-high heat.  Saute serrano pepper and garlic for 1 minute.  Stir in flour, constantly stirring, and cook for 2 minutes.  Whisk in the chicken broth, cumin, salt and pepper and bring to a low boil.  Once boiling, whisk in the sour cream, salsa verde and cilantro.  Remove from heat.

Spray/grease a 9X13 baking dish.  Add 3/4 cup sauce to the bottom of the pan.  Add chicken, cheese, onion, and avocado to the center of each tortilla.

 Roll up and place seam-side down in the dish.  Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas.  top with leftover cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes or until bubbling.  Serve immediately.

 See, don't they look fantastic?!?

These really taste like you could have ordered them at a restaurant...they are SO GOOD!!!!!  Enjoy!  :)

Corn, Avocado, and Cilantro Salad

I needed a fun side for some enchiladas that I will post about soon and came across this from Martha Stewart Living.  It is crazy easy and SO good.  I will definitely be making this again very soon!

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Corn, Avocado, and Cilantro Salad

4 shucked ears of corn

1 sliced Hass avocado

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp coarse salt

(I halved this recipe.)

Heat grill to medium-high.  Grill corn, rotating often, until lightly charred, about 15 minutes.  Let cool slightly. 

 Carefully cut kernels from cob.  Gently toss avocado, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and salt.

 I served my avocado on top.  :)

How easy was that?  It took no time at all and was such a fun, yummy side.  Enjoy!  :)

Fudgy Brownie Cookies

I was looking through some recipes to make some cookies for my mom's birthday and came across these from TastyKitchen.  They are WONDERFUL!!  They are super easy and are a cross between a brownie and a cookie...they are truly the best of both worlds!

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Fudgy Brownie Cookies

1 package Fudge Brownie Mix

1-1/4 cup All-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled

2 tbsp water, or more as needed

1 cup dark chocolate chunks (I used chocolate chips)

Whisk together brownie mix, flour, and sugar.  Using a heavy spoon, stir in the eggs one at a time, followed by butter and 2 tbsp water.  If the batter appears like there is too much flour, add 1 more tbsp of water.  Batter will be very thick.  Fold in chocolate chunks.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.  

 Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a cookie sheet.  Drop heaping tbsp of dough on the cookie sheet.  You want pretty thick cookies here to get the brownie feel, about 3 inches apart.  Press down slightly.  Don't flatten completely.  Bake 8-10 minutes.  (I found baking them 7-8 minutes left them more gooey, and fudgy!)

Remove from oven, allow to cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet.  Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Mmm...these are so good!  Again, don't overcook them...if you look at the picture above and see the ones that are darker on top, they are the gooey ones and definitely the best ones!!  Enjoy!  :)

Shrimp Quesadillas with Tomato Avocado Salsa

Yummy, yummy, yummy...that about sums up this recipe from SkinnyTaste.  I LOVE all of her recipes and this one is definitely one of my faves!!  It is absolutely delicious!!!  You NEED to give this one a try!

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Shrimp Quesadillas with Tomato Avocado Salsa

1 medium tomato, diced

1 hass avocado, diced

1 lime, juice of

1 tbsp cilantro, chopped

1 tbsp red onion, finely minced

16 large shrimp, cleaned and deveined

cumin to taste

garlic powder to taste

salt and pepper to taste

cooking spray

4 scallions, chopped

6 oz. Cabot's 75% light Vermont Cheddar, shredded (I could only find 50% light)

8 tortillas (I think she used whole wheat, but I used the homemade ones from Kroger...SO GOOD!)

In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, avocado, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper.

 Season shrimp with salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic powder.  Lightly spray hot skillet on medium heat with cooking spray, add shrimp and scallions.  Cook 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp is cooked through.  Remove from heat and cut shrimp in half lengthwise, set aside.

 Heat skillet on medium heat and lightly spray with oil.  Add tortilla, top with cheese, 8 shrimp halves, and tomato avocado salsa.  When the cheese is melted and the bottom of the tortilla is golden brown, place the other tortilla on top.  Put a plate on top and flip it over onto the plate.  Then slide the other side onto the skillet.  Cook another minute and remove with spatula.

 Cut into wedges and serve immediately.

Seriously, these are nothing short of amazing.  You will feel like you are in your favorite Mexican food restaurant.  Enjoy!  :)

Chicken Fried Rice

This recipe was originally just a side dish, but I turned it into a meal by adding chicken.  I love fried rice, but have never made it.  I have two recipes I've been wanting to try and this one was first.  It was really simple and tasted great.  If you are looking for an easy, one dish meal, this is it!

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Chicken Fried Rice

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil or vegetable oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon cooking oil

1/2 cup thinly bias-sliced celery (I skipped this because I'm not a fan)

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

2 cups cooked white rice

1/2 cup shredded carrot 

1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1/4 cup sliced green onions

2 chicken breasts cooked and cubed (You could also do shrimp or tofu)

In a small bowl combine eggs and the 1 teaspoon soy sauce.  Set aside.  Pour the sesame oil into a nonstick skillet.  Preheat over medium heat.  Add egg mixture and garlic.  Stir gently but continuously until mixture resembles small pieces of cooked egg surrounded by liquid egg.  Stop stirring.  Cook 30 to 60 seconds more until egg mixture is set and shiny.  Slide egg mixture onto a cutting board; roll up.  Cut into 1/2 inch slices.  Set aside.  (I botched this a little...mine didn't roll exactly...I have a picture below.  Just visualize eating at Benihana and try to make the eggs look like that!)

Pour the cooking oil into the skillet.  Preheat over medium-high heat.  Add celery; cook and stir 1 minute.  Add mushrooms; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes more.  Add rice, carrot, and peas to the skillet.  Add the 2 tablespoons soy sauce.

 If you are adding chicken, shrimp, or tofu, go ahead and add it now also.  Cook and stir for 4 minutes or until heated through.

 This is what my eggs looked like...not exactly to the description, but they worked!  :)

 Add eggs and green onion;  cook and stir until heated through.

That's it!  Really good, easy dinner.  Enjoy!  :)

Monkey Bread Rolls

I got this recipe out of a magazine a few weeks ago and was so excited to try it!  I LOVE monkey bread and thought this would be a fun take on it.  It was!!  These were so easy to make and so good!!  Definitely give them a try.

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Monkey Bread Rolls

1/2 of a 34.5 ounce package frozen cinnamon sweet roll dough (6 rolls) - I could not find this in our frozen food section, so I just used a can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls and they worked perfectly

1/3 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup caramel-flavor ice cream topping

1 tablespoon maple-flavor syrup

Place frozen rolls about 2 inches apart on a large greased baking sheet.  Cover with plastic wrap.  Refrigerate overnight to let dough thaw and begin to rise.  (I didn't do any of this because I used the refrigerated cinnamon rolls...MUCH easier!)

Preheat oven to 350.  Generously grease twelve muffin cups.  Divide pecans evenly among muffin cups; set aside.  Cut each roll into four pieces.  Dip each roll piece in melted butter, then roll in sugar.  Place two dough pieces into each muffin cup.  Drizzle rolls with any remaining butter; sprinkle with any remaining sugar.  In a small bowl stir together ice cream topping and syrup; drizzle over rolls.  (If you use the canned rolls, you will have some leftover.  I think I will buy two cans next time and put 3 pieces in each muffin cup...there is definitely room and I think it would have made for a more gooey center.)

 Bake for about 20 minutes or until rolls are golden brown.  (Check them early...I think mine could have been taken out before 20 minutes was up.) Cool in muffin cups for 1 minute.  Invert onto a large platter.  Cool slightly.  Serve Warm.

YUMMY!!  How good do these look??  They were delish!  Please don't let the directions scare you...these are really easy...it just takes a bit of explaining!  Enjoy!  :)