Smokey Buffalo Burgers with Roasted Poblanos & Avocado

I have a working theory that it is impossible to leave Costco without twice as many items as were on your list. You may walk in with the good intention of only purchasing almonds, greek yogurt, and a roast chicken, but inevitably chewing gum, toilet paper, and an 10 pound block of cheese end up in that oversized cart. The solution is simple: If you're going to impulse buy in bulk, be sure you get the good stuff...such as lean and mean ground buffalo.

Chimichurri Turkey Burgers with Avocado

I have always been a sucker for condiments.  Ketchup, barbecue sauce, pickled jalapenos, tomato relish, pesto, creamed honey...if you can spread it, I can overindulge.  Where most would be happy with a tablespoon or so, it seems I always need about a quarter cup to satisfy my craving.  This is also the reason I hoard emptied food jars like a crazy person...it seems there are always more sauces like this delightful chimichurri that need to stored. 

BLAT! Burgers

BLAT!  That's what my husband yelled right after I told him we here having bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato burgers for dinner one evening.  No, we do not live in a Batman comic strip...this is just a typical evening conversation in our kitchen (be lucky he didn't rap it for this would be a very different post).  Needless to say, the name was catchy and stuck - POW! - to this recipe.  BLAT! Burgers are now the handy sidekick in our most daring, death-defying and debauched action movie nights.

Roast Tomato, Onion & Smoked Gouda Burgers

There are times in life that call for a burger.  Football games, cornhole parties, random Thursdays, backyard games of badminton with a court spray painted onto the grass...are all a little better with a big beefy patty.  For events such as these, the original with lettuce, tomato and ketchup will definitely suffice.  But there are occasions that call for a supremely stepped up burger.  For the hubs and I, our favorite of these occasions is great bottle of red wine.  And my-oh-my, do I have a delicious burger for your next big-bodied red.

Weeknight Slender Joes

I don't know about you, but I have a terrible habit of squandering my free time.  Take an evening such as this, for example.  After working all day, bathing the pups, cooking dinner and designing a belated 2013 photo calendar, I am blogging rather than watching Alias on Netlix (*sigh*....c'est de ma faute).  It seems I never have time for free time.  So in honor of this recipe, I am limiting my blogging time to 15 minutes....starting now.  Meaning that within the next 14 and a half minutes, I'm going to present to you a recipe that will take you 15 minutes to make.  With me still?  And as an added bonus, it's so healthy that you can help yourself to seconds.  Boo-yah.

Spinach Dip Salmon Burger

I'm still trying to get over my recent recipe of Hot & Skinny Spinach Dip.  So far, no luck.  If you've given it a try and find yourself in the same predicament, I empathize completely.  So in lieu of the classic chip, baguette or sliced vegetable, allow yourself to consider this delicious, creamy and healthy burger option that will blow you away.  Spread over a salmon burger and you will find an entirely new and delicious way to enjoy a cheesy dip.

Smoked Almond Basil Pesto

The first time I'd tried pesto, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.  Whoever first thought of creaming basil, garlic, pine nuts and Parmesan is a genius.  Well done you...your life was well spent.  Though traditional pesto is phenomenal, it is also incredibly versatile.  This is one of the things I love the most about pesto - its playfulness.  You can dress it up or down in any way you like.  Swap the nuts, sub another type of cheese, play with your greens.  Just process the heck out of it and smear onto your favorite carb, protein or fruit.  You will be happy.

Blue Cheese & Peach Burgers

I know, I know, this is a ridiculous post-Mazatlan post.  But after a week of seafood, spice and sangria, a beefy burger sounded quite bueno.  Hence, the peach & blue cheese burger was born.  Featuring our favorite recurring star, charred kale.  Es verdad.

Tennessee Whiskey Burgers with Drunken Mushrooms

One of my favorite things about summer is cooking outside.  You can enjoy the sunshine and warm weather outdoors while cooking up some fresh flavor.  Just open a beer, sit back and enjoy the sun.  Plus, I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to not turn on the oven in our teeny tiny apartment.  It feels like you're turning the whole house to 450 degrees on a hot day, and then the hubs, pup and I are all miserable for the rest of the night.  So barbecue meal this is!

Dinner in 10 - Rosemary Salmon Burgers with Blackberries & Provolone

Monday nights is volleyball night in the Craig household!  We head on down to the local sand volleyball bar and get our game on.  And I'm not gonna lie, our four's team is pretty rockin'.  It's all about the fundies, baby (or fundamentals for you fancy people out there).

Running around in the sand is always great, especially when its 80 degrees out.  But after we get home, the last thing I want to do is put together a complicated meal.  Good, yes....complex, no.  So we busted out the salmon burgers and made a delicious little meal.