She's Back.

Happy Wednesday all! 

Yay! Let me just say, take that food poisoning! I am back and ready to spring into action. It literally killed me not being able to post over the weekend and yesterday because I was chained to my bed. That food poisoning is a super bummer...not a winning feeling at all. Anyway, like I said, let's get this party started again, shall we? 

Yesterday was my first day back from cooking and if you think I was going to make anything including black beans or scrambled eggs, you are dead wrong. Seriously, I may not even be able to think about them for a loooong time. Fast-food Mexican restaurants are out of the question for me for a while. I knew I should have stuck to my guns on eating fast-food, but I was in the presence of good company, so can you blame me? It was the right thing to do at the time...EPIC. FAIL. Never. Again. 

So, like I said...yesterday I was back to being my parent's personal chef! I wanted to whip something up that was fresh, quick, and healthy. My parents are on this health kick. Although, I do tend to see my mom with her hand in an occasional bag of hot Cheetos, or kettle corn, and my dad sipping on a Dr. Pepper...you have to have some balance in life, right? Right! My solution...

Parmesan Turkey Burgers with Roasted Garlic-Citrus Aioli

I just love me some roasted garlic...it's like eating candy.

This was my first homemade aioli and I knocked it out of the park!

 So creamy, with savory roasted garlic, and little studs of orange zest 

To kick up the health factor...a whole-wheat bun, sliced tomato, and romaine.

That is my kind of burger.

Parmesan Turkey Burgers with Roasted Garlic-Citrus Aioli:

For the Parmesan Turkey Burgers:

Ingredients:

extra-virgin olive oil

1 lb. ground turkey (I used 99% fat-free)

1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper, to season

2 whole wheat hamburger buns (can use gluten-free buns)

fresh sliced tomato and romaine lettuce, optional (use any garnish that you like)

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey and Parmesan using your hands.

2. Form the mixture into 2 (or 4 if feeding more) round patties.

3. Heat a non-stick skillet with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

4. Season both sides of each turkey patty with a pinch of salt and pepper.

5. Place both turkey patties in the skillet, cook for 8-10 minutes on both sides, or until the top of the burger is firm to the touch.

6. Set the burgers aside.

7. Split each hamburger bun in half and add to the pan to lightly char, for 1-2 minutes, or until slightly brown on the edges.

For the Roasted Garlic-Citrus Aioli:

Ingredients:

1 head of garlic

salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 c. plus 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil

2 large egg yolks, at room temperature

1/2 c. grapeseed oil

sea salt, to taste

juice of 1 small blood orange 

juice of 1/2 a lemon

zest of 1 small blood orange

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. For the roasted garlic: Pre-heat the oven to 400 F. Slice off the head of the garlic to expose the garlic cloves. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil over the garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap the garlic in aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour, or until the garlic cloves are soft when pressed. 

2. Set aside to cool. Mash 4 cloves, save the rest of the cloves for another use. Maybe some roasted garlic bread?

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks. 

4. Gradually whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil, then the grapeseed oil; beginning with small drizzles, then whisking in a thin stream until the mayo is very thick.

5. Whisk in a pinch of salt. Whisk in the blood orange juice, and lemon juice, a little at a time.

6. Whisk in the blood orange zest and roasted garlic. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Spread on the turkey burger or dip the burger in the mayo!

Serves 2 (or 4 depending on the size of your patties).

MANGIA!!!