Ranch Burgers

we've been summer grillin' at our house and it's yum yum every time!  my husband found our most recent recipe for burgers- ranch burgers!  they're really easy, and really yummy too!  (even if you're not a ranch lover- because dallin definitely isn't)

2lbs ground beef

1 packet of hidden valley ranch
1 egg
3/4 cup bread crumbs
onion (didn't use this)

combine everything and form into a patty!  then, make your husband grill them because you don't know how to use a grill. :)

toppings include:

spinach, avocado slices, mayo, mustard, ketchup. (and BBQ sauce if you're dallin)
we also use a healthier alternative for the buns.  i know they don't look all that wonderful, but they really taste fabulous!  dallin was a little weary, but even he likes them... and if he likes them, most likely you will too.  (he likes to toast his too).  they're called sandwich thins and they are found by the bagels (at least in my store they are).

now eat up!

Green Smoothies.

our new late night treat is green smoothies.  so far i have found two variations that we enjoy (well, dallin only enjoys the chocolate one).

1-
handful of spinach
ground flax seeds
1 banana (frozen)
chocolate almond milk

2-
handful of spinach
ground flax seeds
1 banana (frozen)
blueberries, strawberries, raspberries (or whatever you want)
vanilla almond milk





put everything in blender, blend and enjoy.  (i use a magic bullet, and i've heard the spinach doesn't blend in a regular blender- so keep that in mind)

shredded wheat bars

because, lets face it-- who doesn't need a healthy treat idea?

3 cups (crushed) shredded wheat
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut-butter (crunchy is better)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
raisons (or semi-sweet chocolate chips if you're a choco-holic like me)

mix honey, peanut-butter, and brown sugar.  melt in microwave for 1- 1.5 minutes. blend well.  add shredded wheat and mix until coated evenly.  add chocolate chips or raisons and mix again.  press into a greased 8-inch baking dish.  cool in refrigerator.  cut into square bars and enjoy.

BBQ Pasta

We aren't huge fans of marinara sauce in our home, so this pasta is perfect! Especially because my husband is obsessed with BBQ sauce.  (We once had a debate about if it was normal (and in my case, HUMANE) to eat BBQ sauce on pot-stickers. Unfortunately I think I lost that battle after taking a poll on facebook, but I'm still sticking to the fact that it's absolutely disgusting and a major insult to the asian culture!) ANYWAY!  This pasta is good!  It sounds a little iffy- I know, but just trust me on this one.  The smell of it cooking in the oven is quite divine as well!

26oz Marinara sauce (I'm pretty sure mine was 24oz)
1.5- 2.5 BBQ sauce (I used slightly more)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. Penne Pasta (I used 70% wheat pasta, 30% white)
shredded mozzarella cheese
chicken

Cook and shred chicken.  Combine Marinara and BBQ sauce, and then the minced garlic.  Add cooked noodles, and then the shredded chicken.  Pour into 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20minutes.