Teriyaki Sliders

These are some easy to make sliders with a sweet Teriyaki twist. Yummy!  Place the sliders on some Hawaiian Rolls, add pineapple and the Homemade Teriyaki Sauce on top for some oh so delicious Teriyaki Sliders. 

These sliders would be perfect for a certain game day coming up.  What are you making for the Super Bowl? 

Teriyaki Sliders
Recipe: Alohamora
Active Time: 15-20 minutes
Inactive Time: Grilling Time
Servings: 15-18 3 inch sliders

Ingredients: 
1 - 1.5 lbs ground beef
1 egg
1/3- 1/2 c. bread crumbs/Panko 
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 tsp garlic powder

1- 2 pkgs Hawaiian Rolls
20 oz can pineapple slices or crushed
teriyaki sauce

Directions: 

1. In a medium bowl combine the first 7 ingredients until well combined.  I like to use a fork to combine all of the ingredients.  The more fat in your ground beef will allow you to have less bread crumbs in your sliders.  You don't want to add too many bread crumbs; it affects the texture of the sliders.
2. Form your sliders into flat patties about 3 inches in diameter.
3. Allow your grill to warm up, and brush your grill with oil, or a grill spray.  
4. Cook your sliders to your desired level.  I was about 6 minutes on each side, but I am a well-done kind of girl.
5. While your grill is hot grill up some pineapple slices.  It's amazing.  
6. Enjoy a slider on a Hawaiian roll, with either grilled pineapple slices or crushed pineapple, and a good drizzle of some of my homemade teriyaki sauce.  
7. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. 

Happy Teriyaki Slider eating and Game Day watching! 

4th of July Menu {Healthy}

If you are looking for a healthy fourth of July barbecue/BBQ check out these recipes.  I guarantee they are all delicious, and your family, friends, kids, and adults will enjoy them all.

All of these recipes are relatively easy and can be prepped and mostly made ahead of time so you can enjoy all of the fun. 

Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Black Bean Burgers

Absolutely delicious!

 Grilled Asparagus

The absolute best way to cook and enjoy your vegetables.  Kids LOVE these!

Strawberry Apple Chicken Salad

Yummy!

Cold Summer Bean Salad with a touch of a spicy kick

Sweet and Simple Strawberry Pie

Add some blueberries and you have a simple, delicious, and unique Red, White, and Blue dessert!

Who doesn't like Fudgesicles?  

They should make an appearance at every Fourth party. 

These cold popsicle treats made from scratch with a few ingredients is a classic summer treat!

I hope your party food is as delicious and healthy as these quick and easy menu items!

Happy Fourth of July party fun and eating!  

Be safe. 

Grilled Zucchini with Smokehouse Maple {Healthy}

Grilling in the summer is pretty much the best, and for some only, way to cook.  Actually, I'm pretty much a fan of grilling year round, and with the lack of cold weather here in Arizona we totally can. 

Grilling vegetables and fruit is just as delicious and fun to me as grilling up chicken, burgers, fish, steak, or sausage.  Plus, I feel a lot healthier having some grilled pineapple (YUMMY!) and grilled asparagus with my meal.  

We were recently cooked up some chicken apple sausage and decided to throw some of our extra zucchini (b/c doesn't everyone have loads and loads of zucchini on hand during the summer) on the grill.  

My husband was the brainiac who added the McCormick Smokehouse Maple seasoning to the zucchini that really gave it a wow factor.  Seriously, it's delicious and so simple to make.  I ended up grilling some more Smokehouse Maple Grilled Zucchini on the grill for lunch b/c I was craving it.  .  

For those of you tainted thinking every blogger gets paid to promote something, I can guarantee that in no way am I influenced by McCormick or compensated (though if they want to that'd be great, I'm looking to get a new rug or a flight to Crete ;) in any way.  

Next time your grilling, which will probably be tonight or this weekend, cook up this zucchini.  You will LOVE it!

Grilled Zucchini w/ Smokehouse Maple
Recipe: Alohamora
Active Time: 5 minutes + 10 minutes of grilling
Inactive Time: 0
Servings: 3-4

Ingredients: 
1 medium zucchini (any size will work)
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp Smokehouse Maple seasoning (more or less depending on your preference)

Directions: 

1. Preheat your grill.  Basically, turn it on and let it heat up. 
2. Pull out about a 12-14 inch piece of aluminum/tin foil and spray the center of it with cooking spray. This spraying isn't quite necessary, but I'm a little OCD sometimes when it comes to food sticking.  If you are cooking several pieces of zucchini I would do one aluminum foil piece per zucchini your diced.   
3. Wash and cut your zucchini into approximately 1/4 inch slices.  Then cut the slices into fourths. 
4. Place the zucchini into a bowl, add your olive oil and your seasoning. Stir to combine everything. 
5. Pour the seasoned zucchini into the center of the aluminum foil, and wrap it up so you can turn it over on the grill without losing any precious zucchini.  
6. Cook the zucchini on one side for 3-5 minutes; flip it over and cook for another 3-5 minutes.  
7. Remove zucchini from the grill, pour it onto a serving dish, and enjoy!
8. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. 

Happy and healthy grilled Smokehouse Maple zucchini eating!

Steak and Mango Salsa Tacos {Healthy} {Gluten Free}

We're supposed to have our first 100 degree day this week.  It has me a bit depressed b/c that means we have at least 5 months of ridiculously hot weather.  To be honest, it isn't the warm days in June, July and August, but it's the 100+ degree temps late at night and early in the morning.  I've played soccer at 9pm at night and it was still 109... that's a bit ridiculous if you ask me.  

Tho, I think the hardest part about the heat down here is the hot days in September and October.  I'm used to, in all the other places I've lived, the temperatures cooling down come September.

Oh well, I guess we can't always have amazing weather.  We don't live in paradise or at least Hawaii. :)

With the warmer summer heat coming whether we like it or not these lite, refreshing, and flavorful Steak and Mango Salsa Lettuce Tacos you can cook on the grill are perfect.  

Steak and Mango Salsa Tacos
Recipe: Alohamora
Active Time: 30 minutes
Inactive Time: 2 hours
Servings: 4

Ingredients: 
For the Steak
1 steak, (the size or cut doesn't matter, as long as it isn't too think so you can still grill it)
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp Montreal Steak Seasoning
Salt and Pepper

For the Salsa
2 tomatoes, diced
2 mangos, diced
1 pepper, chopped
1/4 c. roasted corn (fresh roasted, or frozen roasted corn from Trader Joes)
2 Tbsp green onion

For the Tacos
romaine lettuce, washed

Directions: 

1. First you need to marinate the steak.  Place your steak in a shallow dish with edges.  Pierce both sides of your steak with a fork.  Sprinkle salt, pepper, and Montreal Steak Seasoning on both sides of the steak. Finally pour the Worcestershire sauce over the steak and place it in the refrigerator to marinate.  I like to let it marinate for at least 2 hours, but you can do it as long or as short as you desire. 
2. Grill the steak over a medium flame until it is cooked to your desire.  It took me about 25 minutes on the grill to cook it almost well done.  Depending on how you like your steak it will take you a bit longer or shorter.  A grilling tip from my grandpa: flip the burgers or the steak when you start to see blood on top.  However, that only applies to the first time you flip the meat. 
3. While your steak is grilling cut your salsa ingredients.  
4. Using a grilling pan or a pan on your grill grill your salsa for 5 minutes.  You can also cook your salsa on the stove.  
5. Cut your steak into bite size pieces. 
6. Using the lettuce, or warmed corn tortillas, make your tacos with your steak and salsa. 
7. Enjoy. 
8. Store leftovers in the fridge. 

Happy healthy Steak and Homemade Mango Salsa Taco eating!