Friday, June 29, 2007

What's for Dinner?

I think I need some good week-end food.

Danish Burgers with Herb Caper Sauce and a Mod Salad Recipe
courtesy of Rachael Ray


2 pounds ground chicken
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning, a palm full
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
5 button mushrooms, stems removed, finely chopped
1/4 pound Havarti with dill cheese, cut into 1/4-inch dice*
Salt and pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling, plus a couple tablespoons
1 cup sour cream
3 to 4 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped or snipped with kitchen scissors
3 to 4 tablespoons capers, drained - run your knife through them once
1 seedless cucumber, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, then sliced into half moons
1 small red onion, peeled and sliced
3 plum tomatoes, seeded then thinly sliced
1 pound sack washed baby spinach
2 to 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
4 crusty poppy seed rolls or other burger buns of choice
2 large radishes, thinly sliced
1 sack gourmet potato chips, such as Terra Chips Onion and Herb Yukon Gold or Blue Potato chips

Combine ground chicken, poultry seasoning, chopped shallots, Dijon mustard, chopped mushroom, diced Havarti, salt and pepper, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Mix thoroughly. Score the meat with your hand marking 4 equal portions. Form each portion into large 1-inch thick patties.
Preheat a non stick skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the patties and place them in the hot skillet. Cook 6 minutes per side until the patties are firm to the touch and cooked through.

While the burgers are cooking prepare the herb caper sauce and mod salad. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, chopped dill and capers then season with salt and pepper.

In a salad bowl combine the cucumbers, half of the red onion, plum tomatoes and 3/4 sack of baby spinach. Dress the salad with white wine vinegar, salt and pepper then drizzle with a couple tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil to coat the salad lightly and evenly. Toss to combine and adjust salt and pepper, to your taste.

Split the rolls or buns. Place the burgers on the bun bottoms. Top with sliced radishes, baby spinach and a heaping spoonful of herb-caper dressing slathered across the bun tops. Add remaining sauce into the salad and combine to give your salad a creamy finish. Fancy chips finish the plate.

* TIDBIT
The colder the semi-soft Havarti with dill cheese is the easier it will be to dice it. Pop the cheese in the freezer while you prep everything else. Because of the fat content of the cheese, just 10 minutes in a deep freeze makes the dicing a real breeze!

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