Mmmm - dinner

So, tonight's dinner rocked. (Especially considering the last 2 nights of barely any effort sandwiches and scrambled eggs). Since red meat is out and I've been dying for a burger I made our very favorite turkey burgers. I thought we had a couple of potatoes that might be growing things so I decided to make french fries too. (Turns out we only had one potato but I just cut 'em thin!) Then we had smoothies with the frozen tropical fruit mix from Costco with pineapple juice and milk. :) The baby needs colorful fruit!

Here's some recipes that we have tested out and found worthy!

Hamburger Buns (oh yeah, I make my own buns! I started these after nap - around 3pm - to be ready by dinner)
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 (.25 oz) pkgs dry yeast (this is 4.5 tsp if you have a jar like I do)
1 cup milk
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup veg. or olive oil (extra tasty with butter if you have the extra room in your arteries and around your middle)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt

Stir together 2 cups of flour and the yeast.
In a separate bowl heat milk, water, oil, sugar and salt to lukewarm (not too hot to kill the yeast) in microwave.
Add all at once to flour mixture and beat until smooth ~3 min. (less in a mixer)
Mix in enough flour to make a soft dough, 2-3 cups. Mix well.
Dust a flat surface with flour, turn dough out onto floured surface and let rest under bowl ~10 min.
Shape dough into 12 slightly flat balls and place on greased baking sheet (cover with plastic wrap so they don't dry out) til doubled.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 12-15 min. or til brown.

(I only used 1/2 the dough and am going to use the rest for the calzone recipe following).

Turkey Burgers
1 1/2 lb. ground turkey
1 (1 oz.) pkg onion soup mix
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t garlic powder
1 1/2 T soy sauce
1 egg
(In case you don't already know - t is tsp and T is Tbsp)

Mix (will look soupy but don't fret - they are so moist!) and shape into patties. Broil or grill! MMMmmmmmm!

Baked French Fries
3 russet potatoes, sliced into 1/4" strips
cooking spray
1 t dried basil
1/2 t onion powder
1 t seasoned salt
1/8 - 1/4 c. grated parmesan (depends on what you're in the mood for)

Preheat oven to 400 F. Put foil on baking sheet and spray the foil. Put fries in a ziploc baggie, spray with cooking spray and shake the fries and seasonings together to coat. Arrange fries in a single layer on pan and bake until golden (25-45 min. - depends on how crispy you like 'em).

And the extra bread dough will become...

Spinach Calzones
1 15oz container of ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 T dried Italian seasoning
2 T mayo
1/2 t oinion powder
3 c. shredded mozzarella
1 c. parmesan, grated
3 cloves sauteed garlic
1 10oz pkg frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
s&p to taste
1 32 oz pkg frozen white bread dough

Preheat oven to 400 F. Mix filling (everthing but dough). Divide dough into 8 pieces and roll each into 8" circle. Spoon 1/2 c. filling into each circle, fold over and seal edges. Place on greased cookie sheet. Cut small vent on top and brush with olive oil. Bake 20-30 min. or until brown. If you have leftover filling use it for stuffed shells or spinach pizza.