Quinoa Sweet Potato Burgers for CBC's Weekend Morning Show

I�m preparing these quinoa burgers now for tomorrow�s CBC Weekend Morning Show segment.  They are coming along nicely and the Tamarack Quinoa works perfectly with this recipe.  http://www.tamarackfarms.ca/

Quinoa Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers (adapted from Bonappetit, January 2016)

1 small sweet potato
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
1 portobello mushroom (or 5-8 crimini mushrooms)
� small zucchini
1 small shallot, finely chopped
� teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup cooked quinoa (from about � uncooked) (Tamarack Farms available at St. Norbert�s Farmer's Market and Downtown Hydro Market)
� cup dried breadcrumbs (panko)
1� teaspoons fresh lemon juice
4 Pretzel or Sourdough Brioche (Available at Old Church Bakery at St. Norbert�s Farmer�s Market

Guacamole, tomato chutney, sprouts, etc.

Wash and prick sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place on a paper towel in the microwave for 3-5 minutes, until soft, depending on the microwave.  Fastest and easiest method and won�t heat up your kitchen with the oven.

Remove the skin from the sweet potato and mash the flesh with a fork.  Set aside.

Grate zucchini and mushrooms.  Heat a small skillet with olive oil and cook shallot with pepper flakes until translucent.  Add zucchini and mushrooms and cook until moisture has been released.  Transfer to a bowl with cooked quinoa (1 1/2 cups water : 1 cup quinoa, boil, stir and simmer for 15 minutes).  Season and mix with salt and pepper.  Let cool.

Add breadcrumbs (panko), lemon juice and about 1/4 cup of mashed sweet potato, adding more as a binder as needed.

Divide mixture into 4 portions and form into patties.  Heat 2 tbs oil in a medium skillet on medium heat and cook 2 patties at a time, until golden brown.

Serve burgers with Old Church Bakery pretzel buns or Sourdough Brioche with your favourite toppings, guacamole, tomato chutney, etc.

Enjoy!

Victoria Day Weekend Market Opening for CBC's Weekend Morning Show

This morning I had the great pleasure of presenting these dishes for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod.  We are marking the great items available at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market with Wildfire Farms Grassfed Beef, Nature's Farm eggs and other items available.


Mini K�fte two ways  Moroccan and Turkish

Moroccan
1 lb ground beef (or lamb), Beef today from Wildfire Farms, available at the opening today of St. Norbert�s Farmer�s Market
1-2 tbs Ras el Hanout (available at the opening of St. Norbert�s Farmer�s Market)
pinch salt
1 egg
Optional:  Finely chopped preserved lemon peel, recipe follows

Mix ingredients well together and form into patties or oblongs (K�fte shaped)

Grill over high heat until desired cooked state.  Let rest and serve with your favourite condiments such as Dijon mustard, caramelized onions, tomato chutney, soft egg, cheese, etc.  Served today with yoghurt tahini sauce.

Turkish
1 lb ground beef
1-2 tbs Turkish Baharat
pinch salt
1 egg

Mix ingredients well together and form into patties or oblongs (K�fte shaped)

Grill over high heat until desired cooked state.  Let rest and serve with your favourite condiments such as Dijon mustard, caramelized onions, tomato chutney, soft egg, cheese, etc.

Enjoy!

Also served today with homemade pita bread.  See link for very easy recipe.  http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/pitabread

Preserved Lemons

1 clean sealing jar
4-6 lemons
kosher or sea salt (`1/2 cup)
Juice of 3 lemons

Cut lemons open but not through and stuff with salt.  Press into jar and fill with remaining salt and cover with lemon juice.  Place in sunny place for 3-7 days and then refrigerate.  Use lemon peel in many dishes and liquid for dressings.


Yoghurt tahini sauce

1/2 cup good plain yoghurt
1 clove garlic, minced
3 heaping tbs tahini
2 tsp lemon or lime juice
pinch salt

Mix all ingredients together. The tahini will cause the sauce to thicken quickly. Use on grilled Pide or Naan or as a crudit� dip.


Enjoy!

Veggie Burgers on TODAY

Hello Blogging World!  I have been SIRIously absent, as I'm sure you've noticed.  February has been a month of highs and LOWS in our house.  It started with Carson getting the flu, BIG time: low.  Then there was my 35th birthday: high!  Err, I guess?  Then our middle child had a 6-day fever: low.  Aaaaaand, then the baby got it: low, low, low.  After that, we flew to Pebble Beach, California to watch Carson play in a golf tournament: major HIGH.  During which, I came down with a really bad cough: low (imagine me on the golf course - a very silent setting - ducking into the forest with the deer trying to suppress a coughing fit).  I think I even cracked a rib or two from all the hacking!  Low!  Valentine's Day: blegh.  Now our son, who seemed to escape all the sick, has gone down: lowwwww.  Too many lows.  Anyone else ready for spring??

But this morning, I was at the Today Show: high!!  I made two different veggie burgers and some rutabaga fries (recipes here) and it felt so great to be back in the kitchen.  Once I knock this jet lag, I plan on making all the things I've been dreaming of these past few weeks.  So come back!  Don't forget about me!  (Photos by Samantha Okazaki)   

Charge up the BBQ's! Burger time on CBC's Weekend Morning Show!

I presented this burger for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod.  Have fun with how you do your burgers.  This is topped with a soft egg, Pineapple Thoren and served on a toasted naan bread with Dijon Mustard and a yoghurt tahini sauce.

Enjoy!

 Halal Beef and Lamb Burgers (Halal Beef and ground lamb are available at Millad�s on Notre Dame)

1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground lamb
2 eggs (I loved to use Nature�s Farm eggs)
2 tbs Ras el Hanout (Available at Pollock�s Hardware Coop or through Chef Karen at the Farmer�s Market)
1/2 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients well and form into patties at desired size.  Freeze or prepare for the BBQ.  Enjoy with your favourite toppings.  Today�s will be options of yoghurt tahini sauce, pineapple chutney, Dijon mustard, and soft fried or poached egg, served on toasted Naan bread.

Enjoy!

Pineapple Thoren

1 yellow onion, chopped
1 green chill, chopped
2-3 stem curry leaves (available fresh at Dino�s Grocery Mart on Notre Dame)
1/2 cup finely chopped unsweetened coconut
1 pineapple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 tbs mustard seeds
2-3 tbs olive oil or coconut oil
1 tbs brown sugar
splash of vinegar
1/2 tsp turmeric
salt, to taste


Heat oil in pot over medium high heat and add mustard seeds.  When the seeds begin to pop, add the chopped onion, chilies, curry leaves and coconut.  Cook until onions are soft and translucent.  Add pineapple, brown sugar, vinegar, turmeric and salt.  Cook until much of the liquid has evaporated.  I often add an additional drizzle of coconut oil for taste.

Enjoy!

Flax veggie burgers on CBC's Weekend Morning Show!

It was my pleasure this morning to present the following on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with Host Terry McLeod. 

Photo of burger later today.  
Flax is so versatile and can be used in many dishes as a binder.  This dish can be made vegan or vegetarian and is gluten free.  Serve on naan, pita or corn tortillas.

Flax Veggie Burgers

1 medium onion, sliced
1 tbs olive or flax oil
1-2 cups mushrooms, sliced
2 1/2 cups cooked chick peas
1 tbs basil pesto (optional as there is parmesan and nuts)
2 1/2 cups cooked squash (any kind other than spaghetti squash)
1-2 tbs Dijon Mustard
1/2 cup salba (Chia) Seeds, ground or whole
3/4 cup milled flaxseed ( I used sprouted ground)
1 (+/-) tbs black pepper
1/4 tsp salt or 1 tsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp nutmeg
splash Mirin, to deglaze

Slowly caramelize onion until soft and brown.  Add mushrooms and cook until dried and then add salt, nutmeg, pepper.  Add Dijon near the end of cooking and then deglaze with Mirin.  Place in food processor with chick peas, squash, flax, pesto, Chia and pulse then pur�e.  Spoon onto  baking sheet with parchment or Silpat and bake in burger sized portions for 30 minutes at 350�F.    Let cool. 

Gently fry in olive oil or flax seed oil and prepare as a burger.  Top with your favourite toppings such as yoghurt garlic tahini sauce, Kimchi, caviar, Dijon mustard, Tomato Chutney, avocado, etc.

Enjoy!