Turkey Burgers, Homemade Ketchup, and the Immersion Blender

Homemade Ketchup - I like to make homemade ketchup instead of buying it, because it is one of those things that has copious amounts of HFCS. It is really, REALLY hard to find ketchup that does not contain HFCS in the regular grocery store. Ketchup is really easy to make and you can store it in the fridge for up to a month! I have one of those red ketchup squirt bottles that I put it in and reuse.

• 1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 tbsp. cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tbsp. celery salt
• 1/4 tsp. paprika

Place all ingredients in a bowl. Blend with the immersion blender until smooth. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Turkey Burgers
We love burgers, especially David.  I make all sorts of burgers, but my classic turkey burgers are my favorite.  I put out an assortment of toppings so everyone can have his or her own personalized burger.  Tonight I served the burgers with homemade ketchup, tater tots (we rarely have tater tots, but they sounded good tonight) and steamed carrots. 

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 tbsp. minced onion (dried or fresh)
• 1 tbsp. herbes de provence (or a mix of thyme, marjoram, sage, and rosemary)
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese
• 4 burger buns

• A choice of toppings: sliced cheese, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced avocado, sliced onions, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, barbecue sauce, etc.

Mix the turkey in a bowl with garlic powder, onion, herbes de provence, pepper, and parmesan cheese.  Shape mixture into four patties. Grill on an indoor or outdoor grill over medium high heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until no longer pink in the middle.  If you are adding cheese, place a slice of cheese on each burger, tent with a large piece of foil, and cook until cheese is melted. Serve on buns with your choice of toppings. 

I hope that you enjoy these recipes!  Until next time, happy and HEALTHY cooking!