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Menu Plan for the week of May 17, 2013:  Tuesday's Recipes

Spicy Barbecue Burgers
Warm Brown Rice and Spinach Salad

Cooking time:  25 minutes for menu      Cooking schedule: see below for instructions

     We have our burgers without buns - because we can't get buns but also because we prefer to have a more substantial side dish.... Like this rice and spinach.

Spicy Barbecued Burgers                                         Preparation and cooking time: 20 minutes
        Slightly spicy burgers, topped with a ketchup based sauce.  Serve with or without buns, pickles and onions. They have enough flavor to stand alone.  If cooking on the barbecue grill, a grill basket or mat makes it easier.

12oz (350gr) ground beef
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
4oz (125gr) chopped green chiles (or jalapeños' if you prefer)
2 tbs ketchup, divided
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce

Put beef, chili powder, garlic powder, chilies and 1 tbs ketchup into a large bowl and mix well.  Shape into 3 - 4 patties.   Cook on barbecue grill for 4 - 8 minutes per side, or until done to your liking. 
Mix 1 tbs ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.  After you turn the burgers, baste with ketchup sauce.  Serve.
Or sauté in a nonstick skillet for the same amount of time, depending on how you like them done.

Warm Brown Rice and Spinach Salad       Preparation and cooking time: 25 minutes
     I'm a big fan of spinach, but not of the usual, over-cooked version.  I like it best either raw or only slightly wilted. This salad has sautéed peppers and onions for more robust flavor.  

1/2 cup quick cooking brown rice
1 cup chicken stock or whatever your rice calls for
3oz (90gr) spinach
1/3 cup (2oz, 60gr) cherry tomatoes
1/2 green or red bell pepper  
1 small onion
2 tsp olive oil
2 tbs sherry vinegar
1 tbs good olive oil

Cook rice in chicken stock.  
Pick through spinach, discarding any damaged leaves.  Wash and spin dry with salad spinner.  Put spinach into a large bowl and set aside. Cut cherry tomatoes in half.
Slice pepper and onion.  Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a medium skillet.  Add onion and sauté until starting to brown.  Add pepper and sauté until tender and onions are nicely browned.  Add vinegar, salad olive oil, cooked rice and stir to combine.  Put rice mixture on top of spinach and stir well.  The heat will wilt the spinach very slightly. Add the tomatoes, stir gently and serve.

Cooking schedule: 25 minutes Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives, large nonstick skillet, large bowl, medium bowl, small saucepan with lid, barbecue grill with basket or large skillet Start to cook rice Light / turn on barbecue grill Make burgers, set aside Slice onion, sauté Slice pepper

Prepare spinach, but in large bowl, set aside Start to cook burgers Add peppers to onions, sauté Cut cherry tomatoes Mind the rice Turn burgers When rice is done - add vinegar, oil to skillet Add rice to skillet, stir Add rice mixture to spinach, stir Add cherry tomatoes to rice/spinach Remove burgers, serve

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By Katie Zeller

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