2009 August « Wine Lover’s Cooking Diary

My “Go-To” Turkey Burgers

August 30, 2009 at 7:30 pm | In Grilling, Turkey | 2 Comments

I am so behind on posting things – ahh! I have 5 or 6 recipes that I need to post so I’ll try to get a couple up today.

I love turkey burgers grilled out – YUM. No one else in my house is a huge fan for some strange reason but I make them for myself very often. They are great even warmed up for lunch the next day. This is my “go to” recipe. These are so easy but they are SO full of flavor and oh so yummy. Enjoy!

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Ingredients (this makes enough for about 6 burgers)

1 pound ground turkey
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon seasoned bread crumbs
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon finely diced onion
2/3 egg whites, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
1/3 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

In a large bowl, mix ground turkey, seasoned bread crumbs, onion, egg whites, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Form into 12 patties.

Cook the patties in a medium skillet over medium heat, turning once, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C).

Mrs. Pig Rating: I love these. These taste so good that I normally make more than I need so I can have them for lunch. Serve them up on a wheat bun and you have a healthy yummy lunch!

Holy Yummy Cinnamon Coffee Cake

August 14, 2009 at 12:51 am | In Breakfast, Cakes, Cinnamon, Dessert, nuts | 1 Comment

Let me go ahead and say if you have some aversion to using box cake mixes (Nikki) then quit reading how. However, if you are like me and sometimes you just don’t care as long as the final product is yummy, then keep reading my friend…you will NOT be disappointed.

I had this recipe saved for awhile from allrecipes.com - I love anything with cinnamon and vanilla flavors and I thought this would be great to take to the office and also for any type of brunch (I’m thinking Christmas breakfast this year Mom?!). It is an easy recipe and it makes the house smell absolutely heavenly while it’s cooking. You can use either a bundt pan or a 9×13. I chose a bundt pan because, well, they are fun to use sometimes Sheridan and I whipped this up last weekend and she was disappointed at first when I told her what we were making…she of course was under the impression that it had coffee in it which she wanted no part of. HA

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant butterscotch pudding mix (I used two packages of vanilla instead of using butterscotch…personal preference)

4 eggs

1 cup water

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional…you could use raisins, etc as well).

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan, or a 10 inch Bundt cake pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together the cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, and butterscotch pudding mix. Add the eggs, oil and water, mix until well blended. In another bowl, stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts. Pour half of the batter into the pan, spread evenly. Sprinkle with half of the nut mixture. Cover with the rest of the batter, and sprinkle with the rest of the nut mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn the oven down to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and bake for an additional 35 to 40 minutes.

Mrs. Pig Rating: This is a wonderful cake – it’s easy, it smells good while cooking, and oh man does it taste AWESOME! Especially warm out of the oven.

Little Pig Ratings: The little pigs loved this one! Once they found out there was no coffee involved…

Mrs. Pig Co-Workers: Absolutely loved this one! In fact my boss has already requested this as his birthday cake for next week! That should tell you something.

Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies & Operation Baking GALS Round 11

August 8, 2009 at 3:27 pm | In Cookies, Dessert, Operation Baking Gals, chocolate, peanut butter | 1 Comment

Last weekend I baked for round 11 of Operation Baking GALS. My friend Kate was team leadering for her best friend’s hubby who is in GTMO so it was an easy choice as to what team I wanted to join this month. I love baking each month for the troops…my problem is that once I read all of the fantastic stories, I want to bake for every single one of the soldiers and I can’t do that!!! Not enough time and money for that but it’s tough to pick. They are all amazing people.

This round I baked chocolate chip cookie bars again as they seemed to ship well and stay moist. I also decided to make these peanut butter chip chocolate cookies that I’ve been dying to make. They were easy and boy they did NOT disappoint! I hope that they ship well!

Remember, if you would like to join and bake for the troops during any one of the rounds, it’s easy. Bake a box of goodies and ship it! They really enjoy it. Go to the Baking GALS site and sign up!

Happy Birthday to Me!

August 3, 2009 at 12:22 am | In Banana, Cakes, Dessert, Fun | 1 Comment

Well…a little late happy birthday to myself, but better late than never right? My 28th birthday was last Tuesday and it honestly was one of the best birthdays that I have had. I was able to spend plenty of time with my family and close friends and that made it very special. But let’s be honest, I love food so the food always makes it good too!

We went to my parents house for a birthday dinner and my mom made me my favorite cake that she makes me every year – banana cake! Sheridan decorated it when we arrived at mom’s house and it was made and decorated with a lot of love. I adore the old candies that go on cakes so mom bought me some of those. YUM

Then on my actual birthday, unfortunately I was at work but my good friend Lindsay had our favorite bakery (Piece of Cake) make me the most awesome cake – I was in awe and didn’t even want to cut it!!! I’m kind of a purse freak and I love my Louis Vuitton so she had this made for me: