Cranberry Apple Turkey Burgers with Summer Squash Salad

This recipe is one that is very tasteful and full of flavor! Enjoy it on a hot day where the summer squash salad cools you off or on a cooler day where the spice in the turkey burger makes you feel warm and satisfied! It is a very versatile plate in that you can add or eliminate the spices you want!


Get recipe: Cranberry Apple Turkey Burgers with Summer Squash Salad

How to Make Fluffy Mashed Potatoes and Some Serving Ideas

The best cooks don’t make mashed potatoes by mashing, but by ricing and folding gently.
The secret lies in the amount of starch released when it comes to mashed potatoes. Release too much and potatoes become gummy. That’s why expert chefs prefer the following technique, which calls for ricing potatoes instead.

Begin with cold water
Put peeled, cut potatoes in a saucepot filled with cold water. (Adding cold potatoes to hot water can result in lumpiness.) Bring water to a boil over high heat. Then lower heat to medium, bringing water to a simmer. Cover; cook until tender. Drain well.
Use a ricer instead of mashing

Rather than mashing cooked potatoes, which can lead to gumminess because of the massive amounts of starch it releases, gently push them through a ricer. Ricing is less damaging and ruptures fewer cells, so less starch is released, and potatoes end up being light and fluffy.
Gently fold the ingredients
Another key to limiting the release of starch in mashed potatoes is how other ingredients are added. Again, a light touch is called for. Gently fold in, rather than press butter, warm milk and additional ingredients, using a sweeping downward and upward motion.
Mashed Potato Ideas

• Fold in a diced onion, chopped fresh sage, a grated carrot and several chopped steamed cabbage leaves.
• Fold in a bit of roasted garlic and chopped fresh rosemary.
• Substitute sour cream for half of the milk, and fold in with chopped scallions and crumbled bacon slices.
• Add some grated parmesan to top your mashed potato side dish.
• For a meaty version, you may also add crushed bacon, bits of ham, pepperoni or sausages.
• To add a spicy taste, throw in some slices of jalapeno, crushed dried red pepper, or bell peppers strips.
• If you have left over mashed potatoes, you can modify them in the morning by mixing in ground beef, eggs, onions, salt, and pepper to suite your taste then fry them as small patties.

image via Wikimedia
Recipe Suggestion
Horseradish Mashed Potato
Ingredients
3 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and halved
1 cup milk, warmed
¼ cup milk, warmed
½ cup butter, melted
3 Tbs. prepared horseradish
2 Tbs. chopped fresh chives
In a large saucepot over high heat, bring potatoes and enough water to cover to a boil; reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer 30 minutes or until tender. Drain using a potato ricer, push potatoes in batches through ricer into a large serving bowl. Fold in warmed milk, butter, horseradish and chives. Season with salt and pepper.
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Crouton Corn Cakes

This is the CCC delight. It’s crunchy and sweet at the same time, it’s also extremely inexpensive! It’s only three ingredients!

So, this is easy, and delicious. It’s a great side, it’s a little heavy due to its fried nature, but the lack of excess ingredients helps keep it doable for dieters. There’s just 1 can of corn, and some bread crumbs. Other than that you just need some oil! It goes great as a side to any dish, especially tex-mex.

Get recipe: Crouton Corn Cakes
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The Easiest Gluten Free Pizza

The secret of making fast and easy pizza and if you wish, make it free from Gluten. Spread your favorite topping on. I like tuna and sliced mushrooms, but you can choose something else. Enjoy with a good salad or coleslaw.

Get Recipe: The Easiest Gluten Free Pizza

Curried Chicken Salad

Most chicken salads are about 60 percent fat, because of the large amounts of mayonnaise that are traditionally used. Curried chicken salad comes in at a respectable 35 percent. This delightful recipe may be used as a cool main dish on a bed of lettuce or as wonderful sandwich stuffer.

Get recipe: Curried Chicken Salad

A Sensational Summer Fruit Salsa

The salsa is a healthy, easy to prepare, low-fat side dish packed with delicious and bold flavors that can go with your snack or meal. This Latin-American dish is gaining popularity even with chefs worldwide. Many variations are being created producing new and different combinations of fruits, vegetables, and spices to create salsas that create an array of flavors that awaken the senses. The salsa can be used as delicious dips and tasty toppings. With summer’s bounty of fruits and vegetables, it is the time to take advantage of what nature has in store.

Because salsas use fresh ingredients, they have a certain punch of their own.  Use oranges, pineapples, and mangoes to supply the intense yet sweet flavor.

Add some crunch.
Texture adds allure to salsa.  Add in some cool cucumbers, crisp red and green peppers, refreshing celery, zesty radishes, and nutty jicama to add a bit of crunch.

Balance with tartness.
Balance the sweetness of the fruit by using acidic ingredients, such as vinegars and tomatillos.  To invigorate and enhance the flavors of the other ingredients, add a little lime or lemond juice.

Spice it up.
Hot red peppers, smoky chipotles, onions, garlic and chili powder give salsa the zing that distinguishes it from a humdrum fruit salad.  With a little “heat,” the salsa becomes a flavorful condiment.

Serve and enjoy!
However you like it, tangy, hot, or sweet, salsa can complement almost any meal imaginable.

White Zinfandel Round Eye Steak

A light healthy and cheap steak. Great for right now!!! It’s incredible for getting in steak, and not adding many calories to your diet. The steaks are tiny portions themselves. Perfect for chopping and topping off a salad with. For that salad you can add vinegar and olive oil to the wine you used to braise the meat. Whisk them or use a food processor, adding oil slowly until there is a smooth texture, and creating a zinfandel vinaigrette!

Get recipe: White Zinfandel Round Eye Steak
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Southwestern Chicken Ramen

This one literally spices up the ramen, and makes it a bit of a southwestern soup. For all of you college kids out there, it’s time to get your grub on, and do it moderately classy!

So you’ve got a bag of frozen chicken and a George Foreman? Do you have a coffee machine for your ramen? And some hot sauce too? Than you’re ready to make this delight. This recipe calls for it to be cooked in a pot, but if you only have a coffee pot, just cook the chicken on a foreman! Enjoy this spicy treat with someone you love!

Get recipe: Southwestern Chicken Ramen

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Pot Sticker Ramen

We all ate Ramen in our college days, this is for those who are in college and want new ways to eat the Cup O Noodles! This is like a dumpling soup as the pot stickers are boiled instead of pan fried/steamed. It works well and satisfies better than the Ramen alone.

Get recipe: Pot Sticker Ramen