YNN

In honor of National Burger Month, I wanted to share some of the burger recipes I’ve done on Cooking at Home.

Below are links to seven recipes:

The first three are somewhat traditional beef burgers, the fourth and fifth are turkey burgers, numbers six is a black bean burger and number seven is a lentil burger.

The photo above is actually number seven - the lentil and sweet potato burger most recently seen on Healthy at Home.

Enjoy!

Summer Burger stacked with a Portobello Mushroom and Jalapeno Jack Cheese
Black and Blue Burgers
Skillet Burger with Bacon, Onion and Blue Cheese Dressing
Grilled Turkey Burgers with Spinach, Red Pepper, Black Olive and Feta Salad
Turkey red bean burgers
Black Bean Burgers
Homemade Lentil and Sweet Potato Burgers

It’s still early and the farmers market is pretty sparse when it comes to locally grown produce. There are, however, many choices when it comes to buying pre started plants and herbs that you can take home and plant in your own garden. Here are some photos of things I saw during my last trip to the market. Much more to come!

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are fast approaching. You can make a special breakfast meal for your loved one and even make it a family affair.

Remember that breakfast doesn’t have to be boring! We’ve picked out a few of our favorite breakfast fares, both traditional and not-so-everyday ideas. Let’s get cooking!

Traditional breakfast ideas

What comes to mind when you hear “breakfast?” Pancakes? French toast? Here are some ideas to take those to the next level.

French toast

When it comes to French toast, it can be taken many directions. One factor is the bread. What type do you use? Have you thought about using Challa bread? Day old Italian bread works well too.

Another way to spice up your French toast is the use of, well, spice. Try adding some cinnamon to the egg wash or flavor it with some extract. Try natural vanilla or almond extract for a bit of pizzazz.

Fresh berries are another great way to add flavor (and color!) to your morning breakfast. Try serving your French toast with some sliced peaches or fresh raspberries.

Don’t forget, there are always the traditional choices like maple syrup and whipped cream.

Pancakes

You don’t just have to serve run-of-the-mill pancakes. Try a buttermilk recipe. Want something on the healthy side? Try making whole grain buttermilk pancakes!

To add a punch of flavor to your pancakes, you can add ingredients to the batter for different flavors. Try adding berries, like blueberries or raspberries, directly to the batter. Looking for something sweet? Try white chocolate chips. Want some crunch? Use granola or your favorite nut. The possibilities are endless!

Breakfast burritos

An easy hands on breakfast the whole family can help out with is a breakfast

burrito or breakfast wrap. Made with a tortilla shell of your choice. Going healthy? Try a wheat tortilla. Prefer more flavor? Try a sun dried tomato wrap.

An adult or older child, with supervision, can prepare the ingredients of choice. Younger children can help assemble the breakfast creation.

There are no limits to the combinations that can be created. Use your favorite seasonal ingredients to add a fresh twist. Our Dan Eaton created a version of a breakfast wrap using scrambled eggs, chipotle peppers and avocado.

Egg recipes

If you’re craving eggs for your special breakfast, you don’t have to stick to the basics. Venture outside of the box and try some a different spin on this stand-by breakfast favorite.

Frittata

A frittata may sound fancy, but don’t be fooled! Your little helper can give you a hand cracking and beating those eggs, while you slice green onions, cilantro, tomatoes, and an avocado. Top it with some cream cheese or even goat cheese before sliding your pan under the broiler. Add some tortilla chips to the side, and you’re ready to chow down!

Try a variation on that recipe, with spring in mind. Fill your frittata with asparagus, onions, baby potatoes, mint, and feta cheese. You could also try bacon, leeks, potatoes, and cheddar cheese for a delicious flavor combination. These recipes are a great way to use up and leftover potatoes (or other vegetables) from last night’s dinner.

Poached eggs

Take the oil out of the equation by poaching your eggs, and serve them on top of cheddar cheese grits with asparagus, sweet onions, and poached eggs. Add some crispy bacon for a little extra indulgence.

Eggs Benedict

Treat your loved ones to a classic breakfast of eggs Benedict. If you make your own hollandaise sauce, you’ll want to keep a close watch on it as the emulsion can easily “break.” Take the sauce off the heat as soon as it thickens enough to leave open tracks at the bottom of the bowl as you’re whisking.

Baked goods and sweets

Baked goods are a great option for a sweet treat, especially if you and your helper want to get cooking in advance. There are plenty of recipes that can be made ahead of time, meaning you’ll have nothing to do but relax and enjoy your creations on the special day.

Breads

Banana bread gets even sweeter when you add chocolate and peanut butter into the mix. Try semi-sweet chocolate chips, instead of milk chocolate. For a healthier recipe, add some walnuts and swap out the butter for unsweetened applesauce.

Muffins

Muffins are another tasty option that will fill you up with the help of oatmeal and blueberriesmaple syrup, apples, and raisins. A portable breakfast that you can enjoy on-the-go.

Cakes

Cakes are a fun addition to any celebration meal, so why not give in to your sweet tooth? Lemon poppy seed sour cream cake is a perfect springtime treat. For something even sweeter, go for a lemon blueberry pound cake with brown sugar.

Doughnuts

Turn breakfast into dessert by making your own homemade buttermilk doughnuts! Be careful if you’re relying on the help of young assistants, as you’ll need to use hot oil for this recipe. Once your doughnuts are cooked, toss them into a bowl of cinnamon sugar to give them a delicious coating.

Next to show up at the local farmer’s marker, after the wild ramps the last couple of weeks, seems to be dandelion greens. Yes, the long green leaves with the jagged tooth like edges. In fact, the name dandelion comes from the French “dent-de-lion” which means “lions tooth.”

The leaves can grow up to 12 inches long, but they’re at their best soon after emerging from the ground when the leaves are still small. Most of the time however, the greens we’ll find at the market are of a larger size and benefit from sautéing, steaming or braising to help mellow the bitterness.

It’s always a good idea to give the greens a thorough rinsing in cold water and, if you’re planning on harvesting your own dandelion greens, you need to be absolutely sure the plants haven’t been exposed to any lawn chemicals and are not part of any pet stomping grounds.

Dandelion greens are quite intense on their own and work best mixed with other greens as part of a wilted salad or as part of something like greens and beans. They do well with a sweet and sour kind of dressing, maple syrup or honey with vinegar or lemon juice (and maybe a touch of mustard) and they pair especially well with bacon.

I haven’t done many recipes with dandelion greens on Cooking at Home but here are a couple of links. Feel free to experiment with your own ideas.

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/580739/recipe--cheddar-cheese-grits-with-bacon--greens-and-fried-eggs/

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/139265/recipe--pan-seared-sea-scallops-with-dandelion-greens--vidalia-onions-and-bacon/

YNN Chef Dan Eaton is out sick today. We in the Web Department wish we could be there to make him some comfort food and get him back on track! That’s what got us to thinking…who makes chicken soup for the Chef, when he can’t?

We’re sharing some of Dan’s delicious soup recipes in the links below. What is your favorite recipe for a “feel better” meal? Post your ideas and well wishes on our Cooking at Home Facebook page!