A Tale of Two Burgers

Once upon a time there was a girl (HINT - that's me). And one day many moons ago, she decided to revamp her life. She was tired of eating meals that consisted entirely of double stuffed oreos, jars of Nutella, and bad-tasting dining hall macaroni and cheese. So she started eating fruits and vegetables (GASP) and running (let's hear it for 11.15 miles today in 1:34:18 - 7.09 mph). She also started cooking and "healthifying" recipes so that she could still enjoy her old favorite foods without feeling like a lump of bone marrow afterwards. One of the many things she did along this vein was to switch out beef for extra lean turkey. And thus she was able to still enjoy burgers and lived happily ever after. Right?

WRONG. What really happened next was that she went to Trader Joe's and happened upon a package of 96/4 extra lean ground beef! And THEN she made these beef and gorgonzola burgers from Bon Appetit's Fast/Easy/Fresh. And it was only after that, while sitting down to a juicy cheese-stuffed burger that was hot off the George Foreman Grill, that she was able to live happily ever after. In a castle. By the sea. (Or a dorm by the Charles River).

Beef and Gorgonzola Burgers
Serves 4, adapted from Bon Appetit's Fast/Easy/Fresh

1.2 lb extra lean ground beef (I know it's a weird amount, but that's how much came in the package)
4 oz gorgonzola
1 bunch arugula
1 tomato
4 english muffins/rolls/whatever you have on hand

Split the beef into 4 patties. Split each patty in half (so now you have 8 small patties). Cut the gorgonola into 4 chunks. Place one chunk on top of each small patty. Place a non-cheesed patty on top of these, sealing the edges so that you have what looks like a regular hamburger stuffed with a chunk of gorgonzola in the middle. Grill.

Take whatever carbohydrate you are using and cut it in half. Place some arugula and sliced tomato onto each half. Top it off with a burger and enjoy!

And now, seeing as how I am still me, I couldn't leave you with just a burger recipe. Maybe some of you out there are still more strictly committed to not clogging your arteries. Maybe you are a vegetarian. Either way there's something here for everyone. From the instant I saw these chickpea pumpkin burgers on Lisa's Kitchen (a great vegetarian blog) I knew I would have to make them imminently. That was many months ago, but I finally got around to it and boy were they worth it! They were kind of like the cajun chickpea patties I blogged about not so long ago, but a bit sweeter from pumpkin which was really nice. In the end, I think I would choose these over the ones I made earlier.

Chickpea Pumpkin Burgers
Serves 2, adapted from Lisa's Kitchen

1/2 cup dry chickpeas
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp coriander
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
1 jalapeno pepper
1/8 cup egg beaters - it was easier than halving an egg
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup bread crumbs

I soaked the chickpeas overnight and then made them in the crockpot on high for 2 hours. They were perfect. I may never go back to canned.

Put the pumpkin, chickpeas, spices, onion, garlic, jalapeno, and egg into a food processor and process until smooth. Stir in the flour and breadcrumbs. Stir in salt and pepper to taste.
Make on a grill (I used the George Foreman) or bake or fry them. Whatever floats your boat.
Rejoice in the fact that it's officially summer and burger season.