Hamburgers using My Flavour Enhancers*

Hamburgers are synonymous with BBQ, camping and summer at the trailer for my family. I like to make my own hamburger patties. I can control the ingredients and seasonings that are in my burgers. The flavour enhancers that I made add that extra punch and moisture to the burgers. Think of the package soup mix from the past without the added chemicals or salt. These burgers can be made ahead and frozen for the next BBQ.

We had these hamburgers over the Victoria Day weekend. My DH grilled them over very hot charcoal on a beautiful evening. The hamburgers were moist, and very tasty. 😀

Hamburgers Using My Flavour Enhancers*

Serves 4-6 approx. 7 burgers
Charcoal Hamburgers at the campsite!

Charcoal Hamburgers at the Campsite!

Mise En Place

  • 7.6 oz extra lean ground turkey

    Mise En Place

    Mise En Place

  • 5.6 oz mild Italian ground sausage
  • 1 lb. medium ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1 slice of bread, torn and soaked in milk
  • 5 tbsp. mushroom, flavour enhancer*
  • 4 tbsp. onion, flavour enhancer*
  • ¼ tsp of each salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp. toasted onion spice**
  • 1 pkge. of hamburger buns

 

In large bowl, mix egg with both flavour enhancers and toasted onion spice. Add turkey, Italian sausage and beef.

Squeeze excess milk from the soaked bread and then add the bread into the meat mixture. Discard leftover milk.

Mix just until combined. Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger (6 oz. patty) and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb.

It is very important to push a ½ inch indent into the center of the patty–this is what prevents the patty from becoming a dome. 😉

(Make-ahead: Layer between waxed paper in airtight container; refrigerate for up to 24 hours or freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in refrigerator.)

Season both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.

 

 

Heat a gas grill to high or heat coals in a charcoal grill until they glow bright orange and ash over. Brush the burgers with the oil. Grill the burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, about 3-5 minutes. Close lid and grill. Turning once; flip over the burgers. Cook burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side, 4 minutes for medium rare or until digital thermometer inserted sideways into centre reads 160°F (71°C), approx. 12-14 minutes.

Add cheese, if using, to the tops of the burgers during the last-minute of cooking and top with a basting cover, close the grill cover, or tent the burgers with aluminum foil to melt the cheese.

Charcoal Hamburgers at the Trailer

Charcoal Hamburgers at the Trailer

Sandwich on toasted hamburger buns.

Assemble the burgers and serve with tomato, avocado, lettuce or your choice of toppings!

*Link to Flavour Enhancers for Future Recipes | the 5 o’clock rush

** This toasted onion spice blend contains garlic, dry onion flakes, vegetable bouillon, sea salt and Worcestershire flavourings. I have a huge assortment of spices at my disposal. A spice can instantly change the flavour of a dish from Tex Mex to Persian. I’m always picking up different spices and blends from Homesense or Zehrs. 

 

Pictures From Weekends at the Trailer

Smoky Chicken Enchiladas

Take a trip to Mexico with an added a twist to your family’s typical taco night. These are delicious Smoky Chicken Enchiladas with ingredients that you can easily find in the international section of the supermarket. Serve with fresh sautéed vegetables, sour cream, and guacamole.

Smoky Chicken Enchiladas

Serves 4-6
Smoky Chicken Enchiladas with sauteed veggies

Smoky Chicken Enchiladas with sautéed veggies

Smoky Flavour this way

Spring Vegetable Frittata

My Nanie would always make a delicious asparagus egg dish for her brunches. It was very thin and served cold. Since asparagus is in season in Ontario and I was in need for a quick dinner for last night a frittata was a great option. I used what I had on hand to fill my frittata.

Spring Vegetable Frittata

Serves 4-6
Spring Vegetable Frittata

Spring Vegetable Frittata

Continue to the Recipe

Panko Pork Medallions with Savoury Apple and Pineapple Sauce

After a wonderful long weekend in Canada, it was off to the grocery store to plan some upcoming dinners. The plan for last nights dinner was to be Butter Chicken but that was immediately scratched with the chaos and delays in getting the necessary preparation done to really make this happen.

The back up plan came quickly into play. Pork Tenderloin.

I usually roast the entire tenderloin in the oven but short on time, I decided to prepare medallions.

Will the family be eating Butter Chicken tonight? Probably not…..Time to reinvent my 5 o’clock rush for tonight. I used most of the Butter Chicken ingredients last night. Well, except the chicken! 😉

Panko Pork Medallions with Savoury Apple and Pineapple Sauce

Serves 4
Panko Crusted Pork Tenderloin

Panko Crusted Pork Tenderloin

Continue to recipe

Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Last night, my DD reminded me that it was her day for Muffin Wednesday. Say what? Baking really?!

I feel a little back story is necessary. Way back in culinary school, I thought that I might put my art school background to good use and take the path to become a pastry chef. I enrolled in some extracurricular night classes, specializing in cake decorating. What I soon discovered was that I was too picky or type “A” to become a pastry chef. Trust me, my cakes would be beyond perfect but I would never hit the due date and many brides would be very annoyed. I also realized that measuring or weighing the ingredients was sooooo tedious. And that is because baking is really just Chemistry, so I stuck to the chef path at school. 😉

Back to the Muffin Wednesday issue. I hit the web to search for a muffin recipe that could use my extremely over ripe bananas and I wouldn’t have to make a late run out to the grocery store. I found a great recipe and of course I tweaked it.

I must toot my own horn. The muffins turned out awesome; they are moist, with an overdose of chocolate and border on a cupcake without the frosting. 😀

Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Yield 24 muffins Bake 17-19 minutes
Adapted from One Bowl Dark Chocolate Banana Muffins – Fork Knife Swoon.
Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Continue to the Recipe for Chocolatey Goodness