Healthy Alternative to the "Burger & Fries"

Healthy eating does not equate to BORING FLAVORLESS EATING! Choosing healthier options are just as delicious as any

other food item, the difference is this path agrees and works with your body. Doesn't a path of natural ingredients that you can pronounce and visually see sound the way to go?

My favorite food is burgers! Fun fact: before I had my daughter (before 2012) I did not eat red meat for about 3 years! I had stuck to poultry and fish primarily. During my pregnancy (2011) I had begun to crave a burger out of now where, seriously how does that happen! While working as a server, delivering burgers to customers soon became mouth watering. Soon I had been told by my doctor my body was in need of the iron red meat provides. When I had heard my body was craving a certain micro-nutrient (during this time I was not a full on nutrition loving individual) I decided to give red meat a try and now am hooked on burgers for life....the good....and the bad.

To this day I continue to crave burgers, especially during or around my menstrual cycle or after an evening having a some beers. Every week I have a burger, whether its homemade (which is MUCH healthier) or out to eat at a "we are known for our burgers" kind of joint.

Sidenote: IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD MAD MIKES YOU HAVE NOT LIVED!

For all of you burger lovers who are wanting a healthier alternative to a burger and fry kind of night, lets get into it. The common problem with cooking with lean meat (for instance I use 95% Lean in this recipe) is it usually falls apart due to the lack of fat. Haven't you noticed how beautifully a 80% Lean beef patty stays perfect throughout....that's the fat helping. I'll save my body for the loaded fatty greasy goodness for out to eat occasions here and there, but in MY HOME I stick to the lean lean.

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Zucchini & Onion Open Faced Burger

with Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:

• 1lb 95% Lean Beef

• Half shredded zucchini

• Half sliced onion

• Panko Bread Crumbs

• 1 Whole Egg

• Seasonings desired

• Oil of choice

• Dave's Killer Bread

• Arugula or Spinach

• 2-3 Sweet Potatoes (depends on their size)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Slice sweet potatoes in french fry like style and add to mixing bowl

3. Add 2tbsp oil of choice (I love grapeseed oil or coconut oil)

4. Add some Sea Salt, Pepper, Cinnamon, and Cayenne (bring on some heat with sweetness!) Do these seasonings as desired by you!

5. Mix fries together in bowl and spread on a stone or pan (be sure to have plenty of room between the fries as this will help them cook quickly and have more crunch), use up to two if needed! Place in oven for 30min.

6. Onto burgers....use the same large bowl you did for fries

7. Place 1lb lean meat, 1 whole egg, 1/4c bread crumbs, up to 1c (add 1/2c first to see how meat is holding together, I ended up using about 3/4ths of cup) of shredded zucchini, salt, and additional seasonings in bowl.

8. Mix everything with your hands! GET IN THERE, GET MESSY! Once all combined within one another make into a large ball, cover bowl, and place in fridge for 15min.

9. Heat pan with olive oil on medium high heat and take the burger bowl out of fridge.

10. The beef mixture should appear to be held together better than you had previously seen it.

11. Create hand sized balls in hand and then flatten out, place in heated pan, and push one knuckle in center of burger (only slightly, not need to burn your knuckle!)

12. Do this until all burgers are thoroughly cooked through. About 6 minutes/side.

13. **Be sure to have a plate nearby to place the done burgers on and quickly cover with foil! This will help burgers to retain their heat, juices, and flavor!**

14. The sweet potato fries should be done by the time you are completed with the patties! Spread some sea salt on top and spread around

How I set up my presentation:

Toasted one Dave's Killer Bread (Powerseed) --> spread Peach Pepper Jam (by Stonewall Kitchen) --> topped with handful of arugula-->topped with burger-->topped with onion slices--->topped with remaining shredded zucchini.

I added very little oil to a small pan then added remainder of shredded zucchini. Added spicy seasonings to give it more of a kick!

Have a Happy Forkin' Weekend!

-Summer