Today's word is: Dedication.

I am dedicated to keeping this blog updated. I began it as a passion project because I love cooking, and I don't want to let it fall by the wayside. But, six nights a week for the next three weeks will be spent pursuing my first love - theatre. It's going to get harder and harder to find time to cook, but I'm determined to do it. Hence me starting these burgers at 9:00 last night.


I have made a lot of burgers in my time. But this, my friends, is by far the BEST burger I have ever made. Believe me. You're going to savor every bite. Your breath may not be the friendliest of odors afterwards, and I definitely wouldn't make this for a date night, but it's a damn good burger.


The Meal: Blue Turkey Burgers with Caramelized Onions

The Ingredients: 1 package lean ground turkey breast (20 oz.)

                               Generous handful fresh parsley, chopped

                               2 cloves garlic, minced

                               2 tbsp. kosher salt

                               Extra virgin olive oil

                               Ground black pepper

                               Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

                               4 oz. blue cheese crumbles

                               1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

                               Loaf Italian bread, cut into 1/2 thick slices

                               Large sweet onion

                               Baby spinach

You have to be very careful when buying ground turkey. It can have just as much, sometimes more, fat than hamburger. I don't eat read meat, and lean ground turkey can be expensive - $7 for a 20 oz. package when it's not on sale. So, I always stock up and freeze it when it's on sale. I used extra lean ground turkey here, which is 99% fat free. So, I shouldn't feel quite so guilty for adding all that blue cheese, should I? That's how I justify it, anyway.

The Directions: Preheat small frying pan on low with olive oil, about one turn of the pan. Chop onion into large strips and add to pan with 2 tsp. kosher salt. The trick with caramelized onions is low and slow - you don't want to scorch them. You're drawing the sugars out slowly and letting them brown - or caramelize. Get it? This should take about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and remove when they turn a lovely caramel color.

Put ground turkey, parsley, 1 tsp. kosher salt, garlic, black pepper, red pepper flakes, blue cheese, and Worcestershire sauce in large mixing bowl. If using extra lean ground turkey, add a small drizzle of olive oil just to help everything stick together. Mix until combined well, but be careful not to over-mix. Form into patties (should be 5 with the added volume of the cheese) and place a well in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent swelling during cooking. 

I would prefer to use a cast iron grill pan for these, but alas - I don't have one. (*hint*mybirthdayisinthreemonths*wink*startpreparingnow*nudge*) So, I just used a large frying pan. You need a small bit of, if any, olive oil to cook these in. Cook on medium-high heat for about 6 minutes on each side, so that a nice crust forms on the outside. 

Place the sliced bread on a baking sheet and drizzle each slice on one side with olive oil. Place in broiler for 3-4 minutes to brown. Use olive only on one side so that the other side is available to soak up the juices from the burger and onions.

Really, my friends - you NEED to make these burgers. I threw in some spinach for a pretty green color and to feel less guilty about eating a burger at 9:00 pm. 

And in my expert amateur opinion, sandwiches should be messy. My experience is: the messier, the tastier. Working in a cafe for a year brought me that knowledge. So, let it get sloppy. You're eating with your hands, for Pete's sake!

I'll be singing and dancing all weekend, and hopefully will get some cooking done in there somewhere. Enjoy!