Green Curry Chicken Burgers

Serves 4

A few months ago, my boyfriend and I came up with the idea of a Thai-inspired burger. We discussed all of the different ingredients we could throw together, and got really excited about it, but didn't try to execute the experiment until tonight. There are a million different things you could do with this burger, and it would be fantastic! Next time, I may use red curry paste instead of green, and possibly add a little fish sauce (mine was expired tonight, so I wasn't able to use it). This is a super moist & flavorful burger, and a fun meal since you get to create your own mixture of toppings at the end! I hope you dig this recipe as much as we did!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. organic ground chicken
• 1 tbsp. chopped sweet red pepper
• 1 tsp. green curry paste
• 1/4 tsp. lemongrass paste or chopped lemongrass
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce (or Tamari)
• Peanut oil, about 2 tbsp.
• Bean sprouts
• Fresh cilantro leaves
• Sweet red pepper, sliced
• Sweet onion, sliced
• Sriracha pepper sauce
• Vegenaise or mayonnaise
• Seeded hamburger buns

Directions:

In a bowl, mix together ground chicken, chopped sweet red pepper, green curry paste, lemongrass, egg yolk, and soy sauce. With your hands, shape the mixture into 4 patties.

Heat a large skillet on medium heat till well heated, about 4-5 minutes. Add the peanut oil. Gently place chicken patties in the hot oil. Cook over medium heat until a yummy brown crust forms, about 3-4 minutes on each side. Reduce the heat to low, and partially cover the skillet, allowing the steam to escape. Cook for another 8-10 minutes longer, turning once, until the internal temperature reads 160 degrees.

While your burgers are cooking, nicely arrange the bean sprouts, cilantro, sliced sweet pepper, and sliced sweet onion on a plate. In a small bowl, mix together a couple of spoonfuls of vegenaise or mayonnaise, and add desired amount of Sriracha pepper sauce for flavor & heat.

Serve the burgers on the seeded hamburger buns, and allow your guests to dress their burger themselves from the plate of fresh veggies & Sriracha mayo. This burger goes perfectly with my Tangy Thai Nectarine Salad! Enjoy! ♥

Tangy Thai Nectarine Salad

Serves 2-4

This is such an easy salad, yet so delicious and refreshing! I was inspired by the nectarines I purchased the other day, but still hadn't eaten. They smelled soooo good this afternoon, and since I had already decided to experiment with a Thai-style chicken burger for dinner, I came up with a Thai-inspired salad to toss these perfectly ripened nectarines in. I will absolutely make this recipe again...and again...and, yeah. ;)

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg Romaine hearts
• 1 ripe nectarine, sliced
• A handful of Sing Buri cashews, chopped (you can also use regular roasted cashews or peanuts)
• Fresh cilantro leaves
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp. Tamari or soy sauce
• 1 tsp. light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
• Juice of 1 lime

Directions:

Arrange Romaine hearts on a pretty plate. Place nectarine slices on top of the Romaine. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro leaves & Sing Buri nut blend. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a bowl to make the dressing. Pour over salad just before serving. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes if desired. Goes really well with my Green Curry Chicken Burgers! :)

Mountain Getaway

I'm in North Carolina, staying at Shawn's grandpa's cabin in the Appalachian Mountains. We're taking a much needed breather for inspiration & relaxation! :) Tonight's dinner: PBJ with Cape Cod potato chips, and red wine served in mason jars! Why? We got stuck driving up the mountain, and after getting un-stuck, had to leave our car at the bottom of the mountain & hike up to the cabin - in 12 degree weather! ;) We decided it would be a lot less stressful to just stay put & eat the back-up food we bought, drink some wine, and write some music! I'll get back to recipes & such when I return home next week... Until then - xoxoxo!

Anjelah Johnson - Nail Salon

I'm not cooking tonight. I'm going to have cheap Mexican food with my best ladies, and we're going to see Anjelah Johnson's live comedy show! Thought I'd post one of my favorites of her videos before I run out the door! :)

Curried Harissa Cauliflower

In the mood for a delicious, easy dinner on the healthier side? This side dish is it. My friend, Barbara (whom I mentioned in an earlier post - she gave me the Harissa olive oil from The Olive Oil Store), told me about a yummy cauliflower dish that she makes frequently. I decided to add a couple of ingredients and try it out myself. I LOVE spicy food, and LOVE curry, so really this dish was the main focal point - the shrimp & salad I made along with it were an afterthought. The cauliflower came out beautifully!

Ingredients:

• 1 med. head cauliflower, separated and cut into even pieces (the size of the smallest florets)
• 1 large (or 2 small) clove garlic, lightly chopped
• 1 large shallot, sliced
• 2 tbsp. Harissa olive oil* (or 2 tbsp. regular olive oil with a few drops of chili oil)
• Organic curry powder (about 1/8 tsp.)
• Sea salt & freshly cracked black pepper

Directions:

Preheat broiler on high - about 10 minutes. Arrange cauliflower florets, garlic, and shallot onto a foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle with Harissa olive oil, and dust with curry powder. Sprinkle with sea salt & black pepper. Broil on high for 18 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve while hot.

Blood Orange Cashew Salad

Ingredients:

• A 5 oz. package of baby arugula
• 1 blood orange, peeled, quartered, and separated
• Sahale Snacks brand "Sing Buri Cashews" nut blend

Dressing:

• 1/8 cup Blood Orange infused olive oil* (or good regular olive oil)
• 1 tbsp. Serrano Honey Balsamic vinegar* (or regular Balsamic vinegar)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Squeeze of 1 lemon wedge
• Sea salt & freshly cracked black pepper

Directions:

Mix all salad ingredients in a pretty bowl, set aside. Mix together dressing ingredients, and toss into salad when ready to serve. Easy!

Note:

*You can purchase these infused olive oils & Balsamics at The Olive Oil Store, Jacksonville, FL.

Effortless Broiled Shrimp

These shrimp were so simple & juicy. I recommend buying the freshest, most plump shrimp you can find... if they were previously frozen, I don't recommend making them this way. When shrimp have been frozen, the shell sticks & it very difficult to remove if you cook them without peeling them first. Last minute (literally), I decided to whip up a quick dipping sauce for the shrimp. I used a couple tablespoons of vegenaise, a squeeze of a lemon wedge, and a good amount of Sriracha pepper sauce... mixed it up & it was ready! Hope you enjoy this meal as much as we did. :)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 lb. fresh, never frozen, plump shrimp with shell & tail still attached (remove legs)
• 1 tsp. Balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil for drizzling
• Sea salt & freshly cracked black pepper
• Flaky salt for finishing

Directions:

Turn broiler on high, and let preheat - about 10 minutes. Wash shrimp. Lightly coat broiling pan with cooking spray. Line shrimp (with skins & tails on) onto the broiling pan. Drizzle with olive oil and Balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with sea salt & black pepper. Broil for 2 minutes. Remove from oven, turn shrimp over, and sprinkle with more sea salt & black pepper. Broil for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and place shrimp on a platter. Finish with flaky salt. Serve with your favorite shrimp dipping sauce or the sauce I described above. Enjoy!!!