Spring Has Sprung!

Why is it that the weekends can never come fast enough, then when they finally arrive, they speed by like they’re in a hurry to pass us by? This week will be particularly slow, since Spring Break starts next Monday!

I slept in like a CHAMP today! I didn’t get out of bed until almost 10 a.m. and was pleasantly surprised when I stepped outside to go to the grocery store. It was sunny and about 60 degrees! The breeze was warm, the sun was warm, there was green grass poking through the dry, brown grass, and there were buds on the trees! SPRING has finally decided to make an appearance in Chicagoland! I was undecided about what to make for dinner, but once I saw the weather, my mind was made up! Burgers, oven fries, and fresh cole slaw was the ONLY thing I could think about! When I first started this blog, I wrote about Pseudo-Summer, when the weather got unnaturally warm in November and I recreated a favorite summer meal. Today, I decided to celebrate the coming of Spring with a similar meal.

Easy Delicious Burgers

Ingredients

1 lb. 93% lean ground beef

1 tsp. Worschestshire sauce

1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce

1 egg

2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 c. Panko breadcrumbs

Directions

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, and form mixture into 4 patties. Heat a large frying pan (or grill, weather permitting) and cook the burgers to your desired doneness.

Yup. Thats it. I served ours on Arnold’s Bread Thins with a thick slice of tomato, ketchup, and melted 2% sharp cheddar cheese. I also made some baked oven fries, and some of the best cole slaw I’ve ever had!

I’ve been reading about Kath’s Slaw all over the blogosphere, and I decided I had to try it once and for all. Since I’m in the midwest, I couldn’t find Carolina mustard-based BBQ sauce, or Country Bob’s sauce… so I bought some GOOD barbecue sauce, used some dijon mustard, and some red wine vinegar instead. I’m not sure if it’s even close to what it’s “supposed” to taste like, but it was FANTASTIC! I love the way that the toasted pecans complemented the smokiness of the BBQ sauce. I’m sure it’ll just get better over the next couple days.

Just for the heck of it, to make this a 3-photo post, here’s the photo of my complete dinner:

Now, here comes my challenge. I’m not hungry. At all. This plate was definitely just enough food for me, but there’s still a burger, more potatoes, and slaw in the kitchen calling my name! There are worse things in the world than eating more cole slaw, but if I don’t NEED it, I’m not going to eat it. There. I said it on the blog, so it must be fulfilled!

I think I’ll head into the kitchen to try and make something for BSI this week, being hosted by the lovely Laura at Hey, What’s For Dinner Mom. I have a ton of strawberries that I really should do something with! I don’t know that I’ll be able to think of anything though… my creativity with cooking sweet stuff has really waned.

**UPDATE** BSI ENTRY CREATED!!

I made Strawberry Banana Oat Cake!

Ingredients

1.5 c. fresh strawberries, sliced

1 egg plus 2 whites

1 c. rolled oats

2 tsp. sweetener

1 banana, cut into small pieces

sprinkle of cinnamon

1/4 c. fat free milk

2 Tbsp. sliced almonds

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 375*. Place the strawberries in the bottom of a baking dish. In a bowl, mix the remaining ingredients except almonds. Using an immersion blender, mix until smooth and pour over the strawberries. Stir gently, and top with almonds. Bake until done, about 45 min. Makes 2 hefty servings.

QOTD: What is your favorite way to spend a weekend? Would you rather be super busy with tons of plans, or is a weekend with no plans more up your alley?

xoxo,