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Tag: summer food

Memorial Day Recipes: Moroccan Style Lamb Burgers with Harissa Sauce

Lamb Burgers2

  • 1½ pounds ground lean lamb
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large shallot, grated
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
  • 4 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons harissa sauce

Put the lamb in a mixing bowl and add the paprika, salt, cumin, garlic, shallot, parsley, cilantro and harissa. Mix well and divide into 8 patties. Keep aside.

Grill the patties on high for 4 to 5 minutes on each side.

Lamb Burgers

Sun Dried Tomatoes Mayonnaise

  • ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes (in oil), chopped
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Juice of half a lemon

Mix the sun dried tomatoes, mayonnaise, cilantro, parsley, salt and lemon juice into a small bowl. Mix well and refrigerate till serving.

Sundried Tomatoes and Herb Mayo

To Assemble

  • 2 large tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • Baby arugula
  • 2 baguettes, sliced and cut into 4 pieces each

Place a burger into a sliced piece of baguette. Spread some mayonnaise and add a tomato, some onion and arugula.

Lamb Burgers1

Italian Style Burgers

Italian Burgers I loved eating and making these burgers. Summer is almost done and I feel like grilling and eating all sorts of fresh produce. I had been busy all day Friday and we didn’t have any plans for dinner. We got home around five and I decided to grill burgers, roast some potato wedges and make a salad- simple summertime meal.

I still had to go and buy some ground beef. Usually I prefer turkey meat due to health reason but I decided to go look for grass fed ground beef. Before going shopping, I peeled and cooked the potatoes. I chopped basil, thyme and rosemary for the burgers. I minced garlic and grated a shallot. Once I got the meat and rolls, I simply added the chopped ingredients and that was it- I was done. My husband had asked me to purchase the ready to grill patties but I can’t get myself to do that. I have no idea what is in there.. especially the meat quality. I prefer to make my own- especially since it doesn’t take very long at all.

We grilled the burgers and ate a delicious, simple summer meal… I can’t believe it is almost done. Make this recipe this weekend…
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Nectarine and Tomato Salad

Nectarine and Tomato Salad I was in the kitchen listening to the radio the other day- which, by the way is my favorite thing to do- when I heard someone talk about summer tomatoes. They were saying how good the crop is this year because of the hot hot weather. I realized it to be true as I thought about the bumper tomato crop I have been harvesting from my backyard. The tomatoes have been unbelievable. I mostly grown cherry tomatoes- I love them. They are super versatile and delicious.

Anyway, the radio person suggested a peach and tomato salad- and that is where I got my inspiration.  It is so simple that I am almost embarrassed to post it as a recipe.

The key ingredient is balsamic glaze. You can buy it at a specialty store- I bought my from Italy but you can make your own as well. It is as simple as cooking regular balsamic vinegar down on a medium heat until it cooks down to a syrupy consistency. That is all this salad has- salt, really good olive oil and thyme.

It is very delicious- the combination of tomatoes and nectarines is unbelievable. Before summer is over- try this super simple salad…

  • 2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1 to 2 nectarines cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic glaze
  • 2 teaspoon fresh thyme

Add the cherry tomatoes and nectarines into a medium bowl. Add the salt and olive oil. Let them sit for at least an hour. Add the fresh thyme and balsamic glaze and serve.