Turkey Burgers with Gouda, Pears & Sweet Potato Chips

I've been stalking all of you, bet you didn't know that.  Sorry I haven't been commenting much, I have these adorable new accessories, bracelets if you would like to call them that on my wrists. I've had Carpal Tunnel for years but it's really aggravated at the moment.  

So if you see crazy comments on your blogs like mmmm, or hmmm - just smile and nod.  Although, I am getting pretty adept at the two finger typing tango.

What fun is a burger without some fries, or in this case some chips.  I figured I needed to be a little bit good to make up for the Nutella Sweet Rolls I paraded in front of you the other day.

I don't own a deep fryer, but all you need to make some chips is a heavy pot and a thermometer. Fill the pot about half way full with vegetable or canola oil and turn the heat on to medium-high until the oil reaches 350 degrees F.  When you put in the potatoes the temp will drop and that's okay.

I peeled four sweet potatoes and sliced them 1/8" thick using my mandoline, a knife will work just fine, just be sure and make them thin. 

Drop small amounts of the potatoes in the hot oil for a couple of minutes, remove and place the chips on a baking sheet with a couple of paper towels.  While they were hot, I sprinkled them with a mixture of salt and a little bit of ground sage.

Turkey Burgers with Gouda & Pear

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1 small shallot minced, about 1/4 cup
1/2 tsp. ground sage
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 pears, cut in half, cored and cut int0 1/4" slice
Small wedge of Gouda cheese
2 tablespoons butter, softened
4 whole wheat hamburger buns

Preheat grill.

Combine ground turkey, shallot, sage, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix until combined.  Divide meat into 4 - 6 oz.  portions and place on hot grill. turn after 4 minutes and cook 4 minutes more. 

After the burgers are flipped place slices of pear on grill, flipping after a two minutes.

A minute or two prior to the meat being finished cooking put cheese slices on top of burgers and let cheese melt.  Then place your grilled pears on top of the warm cheese.

Spread softened butter on buns and place on grill for a minute or two until edges start to brown. 

Serves 4.

I must say these came out pretty tasty, the juicy turkey, the creamy cheese and the sweet pears were a really great combo.

I promised Tina - Flourtrader I would share a photo of the projects that have been keeping me so busy, other than food.  I found a chest at a local antique store and refinished it for my daughter's room.  It was beige; I sanded it and gave it a gloss black finish with white pin striping.  Not bad for $60 bucks, huh. 

Maybe I should mention this finish took 4 coats of paint, with sanding each coat in between, hmm, wonder why my wrists are aching.

My daughter also decided she had outgrown the mural I had painted on her walls and that she needed a new color scheme, she chose teal and white.  I have to say, I don't do white when it comes to painting; but I was more than pleased with the outcome.  

Last but not least, I'm sending a little love to Monet from Anecdotes and Apple Cores.  I'm reposting the Baked Mostaccioli in a Skillet for Monet I made for her.  Kate - Kate's Kitchen and Lizzy - That Skinny Chick Can Bake a.k.a. Lucky Lizzy were kind enough to assemble a book for Monet with this recipe and so many others and forward it to her.  Thank you so much ladies for all your hard work it is truly appreciated.

For now it's back to the pool side for me, while I nurse my wrists and my cocktail for a little longer. 

Enjoy,

Gina