Jalapeño Guacamole Burger with Cilantro Ranch Mayonnaise

Sometimes you just want a burger. I normally go for the traditional toppings but I had some avacado that needed to be used and I also like to give my husband what he wants... occasionally.  

You can put the jalapeños in the guacamole to make it a bit easier but with our kids it works better for us to leave them separate. 

Jalapeño Guacamole Burgers with Cilantro Ranch Mayo

Serves 4 

Ingredients 

1 lb ground beef shaped into 4 patties and salt and peppered

4 of these hamburger buns

This guacamole omitting the cilantro, or keep it in there :)

Jalapeño, seeded 

Lettuce

Tomatoes 

Mayo

1/2 cup mayonnaise 

1-2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

1/2 teaspoon chili powder 

1 Tablespoon prepared Ranch Dressing

Directions 

Mix together guacamole, cover and refrigerate 

In a small dish combine mayo, cilantro, chili powder, and ranch. Cover and refrigerate.

Grill burgers over medium heat about 5 minutes per side (Topping the patties with cheddar cheese after flipping). 

Build your burger with mayo on the buns, followed by, lettuce, tomato, beef, guacamole, and then jalapeños. 

Enjoy. 

Asian Beef Lettuce Wraps

I'm always trying to find different ways to use ground beef. I love chili, tacos, hamburgers, and meatloaf but I need more variety. I've been hesitant in the past to use ground beef in asain dishes because, I don't know, it just seems weird to me. Turns out these lettuce wraps are not weird at all, and delicious! Seriously, such an easy meal. Minimal effort, great flavor. 

*Side note - I really am sorry my photography skills are not very good! With two kids at my feet all day I lose my patience with trying to get the perfect picture :) 

Asian Beef Lettuce Wraps

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

2 lg carrots, peeled and grated

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 head romain or other crisp lettuce

1 lb lean ground beef

Salt and pepper

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 cup thinly sliced cabbage

2 green onions, chopped

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 teaspoon ground ginger

Dash or 2 of Tabasco sauce (I like a lot)

Juice of one lime 

2 cups cooked jasmine rice (optional)

Directions

In a small bowl stir together the carrots and vinegar and set aside. 

In another small bowl, stir together brown sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, ginger, Tabasco, and lime juice. Set aside. 

Heat a large pan over medium high heat. 

Salt and pepper the beef and add to the pan. When it's about half way done stir in the garlic and red pepper. Allow them to cook for a minute or two just to finish off cooking the beef.

Just as all the pink in the meat disappears, stir in the soy sauce mixture. 

Stir in the cabbage and cook just until it starts to wilt and soften, not very long.

Remove from heat and stir in the green onions. 

Serve while it's hot. 

Allow everyone to fill their own lettuce cups, beginning with beef, and topping it off with a small spoonful of carrots. I like mine with jasmine rice in it as well, or it can just be a side. 

Yum, enjoy!

Basic Chili

I got this recipe a few years back from a college roommate of mine (Thanks Emily!).  It's her mom's recipe, but I don't think I have it exactly how she makes it because I didn't write it down.  It is delicious and versatile.  I frequently make taco salad with this or just eat it as is with a side of corn bread and honey.  I may have once made a little something called "travelin' tacos" also.  My elementary school would serve them using a bag of Fritos with a scoop of chili inside.  From grade school on, whenever I eat Fritos I always think of that haha.  

Chili 

serves about 4

Ingredients

1 lb Ground Beef

1/2 Yellow Onion, finely chopped

1/2 Green Pepper, chopped

1/2 Red Pepper, chopped

1, 28 oz Can of Diced Tomatoes

2 Cans of Beans, rinsed and drained (kidney and/or black)

1 to 1 1/2 Tbs Chili Powder

1/2 tsp Cumin

Couple dashes of Worcestershire

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

Brown the beef over medium-high heat, adding the onions and peppers when it is about half way cooked through.  

When the meat is browned and the onions soft, pour in the tomatoes and beans.

Season with spices and worcestershire.

Simmer, covered, on low for at least 20 minutes.

Sloppy Joes

It is summer.  Even if the weather doesn't cooperate, and Memorial Day is tomorrow then it is unofficially summer.  Quick and easy meals are what I need to have more time to play outside and to keep the house from heating up to one million degrees.  I didn't feel like firing up the barbecue today so this is second to it. I grew up with these Joes and I love them.  My husband doesn't really like Sloppy Joes in general but I haven't ever really met one I didn't like.  He actually thinks I am weird for putting a nice slice of cheddar cheese on top.  Yum. Well, I actually just realized that I haven't ever tried the canned versions of this dish and I can imagine I might not like those.  These are so simple there shouldn't be any reason to have to buy that canned stuff.


Mom's Sloppy Joes

serves about 6

Ingredients

1 lb Lean Ground Beef
1 Can Stewed Tomatoes, mash or slice the bigger pieces if you'd like
2 tsp Chili Powder
1/4 Cup Ketchup
2 tsp Mustard
1 tsp Brown Sugar
Few drops Liquid Smoke (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions


Brown the hamburger.
Add the tomatoes and remaining ingredients and let it simmer on low for at least 15 min.  If you don't allow it to simmer the flavors don't really get absorbed into the meat.
That's it, you are done.  :)

Beef Stroganoff

I was surprised at how flavorful this dish was; but, if you look at the ingredients, it should be. This recipe is part of 3 or 4 other recipes combined. It is more ideal for ground chuck but I didn't have any of that on hand (if you haven't noticed yet, I'd rather use ingredients I already have) and it's cheaper! You can use any cut of beef you have on hand. I also decided to put the stroganoff on a baked potato since we had a giant bag I just bought. I've only had it on egg noodles before but this worked out great! I actually never eat the skin of my potato (I know, it's where most of the nutrients are) but I always taste a hint of dirt- yuck. Well, everyone, I have an announcement: I ate my potato skin! AND my husband did too! He never eats his either. Can you believe it? I actually liked it, all because of this delicious stroganoff.

Oh and my husband and I don't like mushrooms, so the picture shown has none. (I know, stroganoff is basically pure mushrooms but whatever) And, how do you make stroganoff look appetizing in bad lighting? Take my word for it, it's good.

Stroganoff

Ingredients

1 lb Ground Hambuger or Chuck
1 small chopped Yellow Onion
1-2 cups fresh Mushrooms-- this is a guess because I didn't use any
1 can Beef Broth (low sodium would be great)
1/3 cup White Wine
~1 cup Sour Cream
1 tsp Prepared Mustard
1/2 tsp Paprika

Directions

Brown, salt and pepper the beef on medium high heat, set aside. If you have a large amount of fat in the pan, you can discard it.
Over medium heat, add the chopped onion to the pan and cook until they become soft. If you do not have enough fat from the beef in the pan, you can add 1 Tbs butter to help keep it from sticking.
If you are using mushrooms, this would be the time to add them to the pan to saute until soft.
Pour the beef broth and wine into the pan. If you would like a thicker sauce, you can add 1 or 2 Tbs flour at this point and stir constantly. Let it boil until the liquid has decreased by half.
Turn the heat down to low and add the sour cream, paprika, and mustard.
If it is not as thick as you like it, you can simmer, uncovered for a few minutes to try to thicken it up.
Serve over cooked egg noodles, baked potato, or rice.

Enjoy!