The New Backyard Barbeque

Here in Atlanta, it is getting HOT. Toasty if you will. More than a little muggy. HOT. The last thing we want to do is fire up the oven for hours upon hours. For Sunday dinner last weekend, I made a few things that could just as easily be made on the grill as in the oven and on the stove. Unfortunately, since I as of yet do not have a grill, my family had to suffer the heat! I did turn my A/C on, just for them :) For all of you out there blessed with a grill...gas or charcoal...these recipes are the perfect compliment to a steamy Southern evening!


Inside-Out Chili-Cheese Turkey Burgers - about 12 Servings
(it's a mouthful!)

2 1/2 lbs ground Turkey
2 tbs ground Cumin
1 tbs dried Thyme
1/4 cup Chili Powder
2 Tbs Ketchup
2 tsp hot sauce, Tapatio preferably
1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 cup Oats or Oat Flour (as a binder)
1 whole Egg
12 squares of Cheddar Cheese (small enough to fit within the burger patty)

Combine all of the ingredients, except the cheese, and form into thin patties. Top each patty with a square of cheese. Divide up the remaining turkeyburger meat and make a smaller, thinner patty to cover the cheese. Hence, Inside-Out Chili-Cheese Turkey Burgers! Two things turkey burgers are usually lacking are flavor and juiciness. Done and done.


Charred Corn Relish

8 ears Corn
1 large Green Bell Pepper
1 Tbs Granulated Garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tbs Silver Tequila
1/4 chopped Cilantro

If you are using a grill, place the corn cobs and halved bell pepper directly on the grate. You want them lightly charred, but not overly cooked. This is a fresh tasting relish, so plenty of texture is a great thing! If you are using the stove, skip this step and cut the kernels off the cob raw. In a large skillet, lightly saute the corn and chopped bell pepper (if skipping step one, cook quickly on high to achieve the char) Season with the garlic, salt and pepper. Turn the heat up to high and pour in the tequila (not from the bottle, fire hazard!) Let the tequila sizzle away until no liquid remains. Remove from heat and toss in the cilantro.


Broccoli Salad

3-4 crowns Broccoli
6 strips Bacon, crispy and crumbled
1/2 cup roasted Sunflower Seed Kernels
1/2 cup diced Red Onion
1 cup quartered Red Grapes
1 cup Mayonnaise
3 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar
1 tsp Garlic Salt
1 tsp Sugar

Combine the first five ingredients until well mixed. Whisk together the remaining ingredients to form a dressing. (remember to taste! What is salty enough, sweet enough, garlicky enough is up to you!) Toss the broccoli mix with the dressing and let sit for at least half an hour to let the flavors meld. Very refreshing!


Orange Cream Cake

This is definitely semi-homemade! What can I say? I got a little lazy ;)

1 box White Cake Mix + required ingredients (eggs, oil...)
1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
2 whole Oranges, peeled and segmented
1 tub Cool Whip or 4 cups fresh Whipped Cream

Prepare the cake mix according to the directions EXCEPT substitute the orange juice in for the water. So much better than an orange "flavored" cake mix! After the cake has cooled, top each layer (or if a sheet cake, the one layer) with the orange segments (crush them slightly to allow the juice to soak into the cake). Reserve a few for a garnish. Gently top the cake layers with cool whip and stack. Don't worry about making it look perfect. Make it look tasty! The more you can see the more you want to eat it!