Popper Beef Burgers

1 pound ground round
1/4 cup prepared thick and chunky salsa
4 frozen cream cheese or Cheddar cheese-stuffed jalapeno peppers
1/4 cup prepared salsa con queso
1/4 cup chopped fresh plum tomato
2 tablespoons sliced pitted ripe olives
Prepared thick and chunky salsa

Combine ground beef and 1/4 cup salsa in a large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Lightly shape into four thin patties. Place one stuffed pepper in center of each patty; wrap beef around pepper to enclose,sealing seams and forming ball. Flatten balls into patties about 4 to 5 inches across and 1 inch thick.

Place patties on grid over medium,ash covered coals. Grill,covered,15-16 minutes to medium (160 degrees F)doneness, until beef is not pink in center and juices show no pink color,turning occasionally.

Spread 1 tablespoon salsa con queso evenly over top of each burger. Sprinkle evenly with tomato and olives. Serve with salsa, as desired.

Cook’s Tip: Four slices (3/4 ounce each) Mexican-style process cheese slices may be substituted for salsa con queso; place on top of patties 1 minute before patties are done,to allow cheese to melt. Popper burgers may also be served in hamburger buns for a hand held sandwich.
Total preparation and cooking time:30 minutes
Serves: 4

This recipe was a 1999 National Beef Cookoff Recipe reprinted in Arkansas Cattle Business this month.

Sirloin Pita Salad Sandwich

The Earl of Sandwich had no idea the versatile food trend he began with the first sandwich in the 18th century. Sandwiches are usually served at our house when we don’t have time to sit around the table and enjoy a meal or when I’m just too busy to cook (my favorite excuse!). Hamburgers are known to be the all-American favorite sandwich!

Since November 3rd is declared National Sandwich Day, I’m planning to try a new sandwich recipe that I found at Dairy Makes Sense.

Sirloin Pita Salad Sandwich
For the dressing:
2 (8oz) containers of fat-free plain yogurt
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced parsley
tablespoon minced chive
1 teaspoon dried oregano
For the sandwich:
1/2 pound sirloin or rib-eye steak,trimmed
1/4 teaspoon salt
18 teaspoon pepper
4 (4 inch) whole wheat pita bread rounds,cut in half moons
2 1/2 cups mixed salad greens (such asw arugula,radiccio and baby spinach leaves)
2/3 cup crumbled Blue cheese
1/2 small red onion,sliced and separated into rings
8 cherry tomatoes,halved

Preparation:
Spoon yogurt into medium bowl and stir in garlic,parsley,chive and oregano until well blended. Set aside.
Rub both sides of steaki with salt and pepper. Heat medium,non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook steak about 6 minutes on each side (for medium) or until desired. Allow steak to rest 5 minutes befor cutting into thin slices.
Warm pita halves in toaster. Into each pita half, spoon 1/4 of the yogurt dressing,mixed salad greens,Blue cheese,onion,steak and tomato. Spoon additional yogurt dressing over top.
Serves: 4

Girl Scout One-Pot Meal

Have you ever had Girl Scout Campfire Stew?  We actually made this recipe on one of our first  Troop 150 camping trips. It’s easy to make in the kitchen  and a perfect recipe when you need something easy,quick and nutritious on a cold winter night!  Add a pan of cornbread,Girl Scout Cookies for dessert and a big tall glass of milk and it’s perfect!

Campfire Stew 

2 pounds ground beef

1 onion,peeled and cut into small squares

2 –10 3/4-ounce cans condensed vegetarian vegetable soup

Brown ground beef and onion ; drain. Add salt and pepper to beef and separate into little pieces or make little balls of it. Pour off excess fat. Add vegetable soup and enough water to prevent sticking. Cover and cook slowly  until meat is cooked through.  Serve hot. Serves 8.

Hawaiian Luau Cheeseburger

Ingredients:

1 lb Anglin Beef ground beef

4 Kraft Deli Deluxe Process Bacon Cheddar Slices

4 drained canned pineapple rings

4 thin whole wheat sandwich buns

4 lettuce leaves

1/4 cup Kraft Real May Mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. Kraft Catalina Dressing

Preparation:

Heat grill to medium high heat

Shape meat into 4 (1/2-inch-thick)patties

Grill 4 to 6 minutes on each side or until done (160 degrees). Top with cheese; grill 1 min, or until melted. Meanwhile place pineapple rings and buns, cut sides down, on grill; cook 1-2 minutes or until pineapple is heated through and buns are lightly toasted, turning pineapple once.

Mix mayo and dressing; spread onto bottom halves of buns.  Fill with lettuce,cheeseburgers and pineapple.

Kraft Kitchen Tips:

Serving Suggestion: Serve with a mixed green salad and your favorite fresh fruit to round out the meal.

How to Cook On The Stove:

cook patties in large skillet on medium heat 7-9 minutes on each side or until done (160 degrees). Top with cheese;cover. Cook 1 minute or until melted. continue as directed, toasting buns and heating the pineapple slices under the broiler if desired. 

You can find this and other tasty recipes at http://www.kraftrecipes.com.

 

Fiery Beef Satay Skewers


Ingredients1-1/2 pounds boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut 1-1/2 inches thick
5-6 green onions, white part only, cut into 1-inch pieces

Marinade:1/2 cup country Dijon-style mustard
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 teaspoons bottled minced or fresh crushed garlic
1 tablespoon ground red pepper

Instructions:1. In large shallow bowl, combine marinade ingredients; whisk until blended. Remove and reserve 1/2 cup for
basting. Trim fat from beef steak; cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes. Add beef to remaining marinade in bowl;
toss to coat. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 20 minutes.

2. Remove beef from marinade; discard marinade. Alternately thread an equal amount of beef and green onion pieces onto each of four 12-inch metal skewers.

3. Place skewers on grid over medium, ash covered coals. Grill,uncovered, 10 to 12 minutes for medium rare (145 degreesF) to medium (160 degrees F) doneness, basting frequently with reserved 1/2 cup marinade and turning occasionally. Serve immediately.

Marinade time:20 minutes
Total recipe time : 20 minutes
Makes 4 servings

Sloppy Joe Bake


Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 large yellow onion,chopped (1-1/2 to 2 cups)
2 cans (14-1/2 to 16 ounces each) sloppy Joe sauce
3 cups uncooked rotini
1/2 cup water
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
Sliced green onions(optional)

Instructions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef and yellow onion; cook 8-10 minutes,breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings. Stir in sloppy Joe Sauce,rotini and water.

2. Spray 13×9-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon beef mixture into dish; cover with aluminum foil. Bake in 350 degree F oven 35-40 minutes or until pasta is tender. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese. Continue baking,uncovered,5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Total Recipe time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Makes 6 servings

You can find more great recipes at http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

Grilled Cajun Chuck Roast with Spicy Cheddar Grits


Ingredients
1 boneless beef chuck shoulder,arm or blade pot roast(about 2-1/2lbs)
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning blend
1 can (14-1/2ounces) diced tomatoes with onion,undrained
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Grits: 1 cup quick-cooking grits
1 quart water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions
1. Press Cajun seasoning evenly onto all surfaces of beef pot roast. Place two 24×18 inch pieces of heavy-duty foil on top of each other in shallow roasting pan; place beef in center of foil. Bring up all sides of foil forming a bag and so no liquid can leak out; do not seal. Combine tomatoes and flour in small bowl; pour evenly over surface of pot roast.
Seal top and sides of bag with double fold.

2. Prepare grill for indirect cooking by igniting an equal number of charcoal briquets on each side of the fire grate,leaving open space in center. When coals are medium, ash-covered (about 25 to 30 minutes), add 3-4 new briquets to each side. Place aluminum foil drip pan in center of grate between coals. Position cooking grid with handles over coals,so briquets may be added as needed.

3. Remove foil bag from pan and place in center of grid over drip pan. Grill,covered,2 to 2-1/2 hours or until pot roast is fork-tender. (Add 3 to 4 briquets per side every 30 minutes to maintain heat.)

4. Meanwhile prepare grits. Cook grits in water with salt according to package directions. Add 1/2 cup cheese and red pepper; stir until cheese melts;keep warm.

5. Remove foil packet to clean shallow pan. Using oven mitts,cut packet open with sharp knife. carefully fold back top of packet allowing steam to escape. Remove pot roast; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking liquid.

6. Carve pot roast into slices; serve with cooking liquid and grits. Sprinkle cheese over grits, as desired.

http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

All American Burger

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
3 tbsp. Dijon mustard,divided
4 tbsp. crushed peppercorn blend
4 slices Borden Extra Sharp Cheddar Singles Sensations
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 green onion,thinly sliced
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
4 sesame seed hamburger rolls,split
4 lettuce leaves
4 tomato slices

Preheat grill to medium (300 to 350 degrees F.). Combine ground beef and 2 tablespoons of the mustard in a large bowl; Mix well. Form into 4 patties. Coat patties with peppercorn,pressing to adhere. Place patties on grill. Grill 4 minutes per side (160 degrees F. for medium) or to desired doneness. Top each patty with 1 slice Borden Extra Sharp Cheddar Singles Sensations during the last 2 minutes of grilling; Grill until melted. Combine remaining mustard plus mayonnaise,green onion and vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside. Place rolls,cut side down, on grill. Grill until lightly toasted. Spread mayonnaise mixture on cut sides of rolls. Place burgers in rolls. Top with lettuce and tomato, and serve.

You can find an entire recipe catalog at http://www.friendsofelsie.com.

Need a Rub?

Yesterday at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Conference in Little Rock, Donette Stump from the Arkansas Beef Council presented a beef workshop. She gave us great ideas to present to children and adults about beef. If you are needing an activity for a classroom or 4-H club, you can make snack packs using foods from the food groups and teach about nutrition and beef at the same time. Ingredients we put in each bag were: cheerios,goldkist fish crackers,gummy bears and beef jerkey. You can be creative and make up your own ingredient list. Donette did admit she forgot the M & M’s–not sure what food group those belong to but all the ladies said we would just make one for chocolate!
Here’s the rub!
SPICY THREE-PEPPER RUB
4 tsp dried Oregano
4 tsp sweet paprika
4 tsp dried thyme leaves
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp ground white pepper
1 tsp ground red pepper

Combine all ingredients. Use on steaks,burgers,and roasts.

Cowboy Kabobs

Wow! Can you believe this warm weather we have enjoyed just a week after the minus twenty degrees and twenty four inches of snow? It feels like good outdoor grilling time! Even if our weather reverts to winter like temps, you can still grill or fix Cowboy Kabobs in the oven.

I found this recipe at http:// www.kraftrecipes.com and thought it would be a great one to share for a little outdoor grilling!

COWBOY KABOBS
1/3 cup A.1. Original Steak Sauce
1/3 cup KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce
2 tsp. KRAFT Prepared Horseradish
1 beef top round steak or Anglin Beef Tips (1-1/2 lb),cut into 1/2 inch wide strips
9 pearl onions
1 large red pepper,cut into 9 strips

Mix first 3 ingredients until well blended.

Thread meat onto 18 skewers; place onion or pepper strip at end of each skewer. Place kabobs in shallow glass dish. Pour steak sauce mixture over kabobs. Refrigerate 1 hour to marinate, turning occasionally.

Heat grill medium heat. Remove kabobs from marinade;discard marinade. Grill kabobs 4 to 6 min. or until meat is done,turning occasionally.

Yield: 6 servings

Kraft Kitchen Tips
Use your broiler
Broil kabobs,6 inches from heat,4 to 6 min. or until meat is done,turning occasionally.
Substitute a green pepper for the red pepper.
Note: If using wooden skewers, soak skewers in water for 30 min. before using to assemble kabobs to prevent them from burning on the grill.