Weeknight dinner-Spicy Pita Burgers

OH YES- those ARE tater-tots in the photo...and it's not my fault, it's my offices fault for starting a conversation about delicious tater tots...right before I left work for the grocery store.

We'd been looking forward to grilling, but wanted to mix it up just a bit. So after picking up a big ole bag of tater-tots I mixed up some spices and ground beef, grilled up burgers topped with some yummy provolone and grilled onions, served in whole wheat pita (along side tots).


Spicy Pita Burgers
Serves 4
1 lb ground beef
3/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
a pinch of Kosher salt
a pinch of Dried chili flakes
A dash of hot sauce
2 toasted pitas cut in half
4 slices provolone cheese
1/2 a sweet onion sliced
Spicy brown mustard & horseradish sauce

Mix the meat and spices in a bowl, form patties. Cut the onion and place in a foil pouch (made by folding a sheet of foil around the onions) Put the foil packet on then grill and put patties on the grill for about 6-8 minutes each side, flipping once. Cut the pita's in half and lightly toast them in the toaster. Top the burgers with the provolone slices once they are finished cooking (I like to put the cheese on, turn the grill off, close the lid and let sit 1 minute). Take patties and onion packet off the grill. Slice up some pickles if you want, then put a little horseradish in the pita. Put the burger into the pita, top with the grilled onion, sliced pickles and spicy brown mustard.

Tuesdays With Dorie- Peanut Butter Torte

Well this could not be more UP MY ALLEY! Of course it took me ALL friggin day to post this delicious concoction, but I did well time-wise in making it and did not stay up all night last night crushing peanuts!! After a pretty rough weekend, that I will absolutely not get into, I took a LONG nap after the Laker game on Sunday and then whipped this up, easy peasy!!




This recipe involved Peanut Butter, Cream Cheese, and Oreo Cookies. That's all I needed to know. There was also a yummy frosting included in the original recipe, but Nate wasn't into that AND I was lazy so I thought what better to top this with then a bunch of chopped up mini-Reeses peanut butter cups and chopped peanuts! This worked out famously and I have no regrets.



Thank goodness for Tuesdays With Dorie because the book we've been baking out of; Baking: From My Home To Yours, by Dorie Greenspan is an absolute MUST OWN GUIDE to BAKING GLORIOUS DESERTS!! I am so happy to be a part of this sensational group, and this weeks selection was picked by Elizabeth (what a fabulous name) of Ugg Smell Food.



She chose the Peanut Butter Torte, that is not only SUPER DELICIOUS, but also SUPER easy to throw together!! This is a desert I will no doubt be making MANY, MANY, MANY more times...I stuck straight to the recipe this go-round, but can't wait to make it again so I can play around with some of the flavors.

You can either visit Elizabeth's blog to see the recipe or as I said before and will say again BUY THIS COOKBOOK!! (it's worth it!!)




Also- go scope out the Tuesdays With Dorie Blog for every body's take on this yummy torte. The group has grown BIG TIME and it is filled with some pretty exceptionally talented and creative peeps~