MY VERY BEST BURGER, and SMOKEY-CHEESE CAULI-MASH

Twas the night before Thanksgiving, and all through the house... the smell of good food cooking, but before the feast, some simple food.  Last night we had hamburgers, and tonight it's hot dogs.

This burger turned out so good that I figured I should share it with you.  I only had 1 lb. of hamburger and needed to make it stretch, so I added some fillers and flavors and it turned out phenomenal.  I didn't say a thing to my family, but waited to see if they would say anything, which they normally aren't going to comment on my great cooking for just a hamburger!  But they both took a couple bites and began saying, "Boy this is good!" And the side of Smokey-Cheese Cauli-Mash was also wonderful.  How many recipes of mashed cauliflower can one have?  I have several, but I think this is my favorite now.  Will do this one again tomorrow for our Thanksgiving meal.  The salad is one I've shared before.  You can find the recipe here.


MY VERY BEST BURGER

1  pound  lean ground beef
1/2 cup  almond flour
1/2 cup  parmesan cheese
2 large  eggs
1/4 cup  hot water
1 teaspoon  beef bouillon -- (or soup base, gluten free)
1 teaspoon  worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon  liquid smoke flavoring
1/2 teaspoon  instant coffee granules
1/2 teaspoon  onion powder
1/2 teaspoon  garlic powder

Preheat your grill.  In medium bowl, place ground beef, almond flour, Parmesan cheese, and eggs.  Mix together well.

In Measuring cup, combine water, beef bouillon, worcestersire sauce, liquid smoke flavoring, coffee granules, onion powder, and garlic powder.  Mix well.

Pour liquid into meat mixture and mix together well.  Cover and let sit on counter for 20 minutes.

Shape into 7 patties, 1/2 cup each, and grill.

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7 Servings/Per Serving: 266 Calories; 21g Fat (69.9% calories from fat); 17g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber

SMOKEY-CHEESE CAULI-MASH

1 pound  frozen cauliflower -- (I use frozen but you can use fresh as well)
2 tablespoons  sour cream
2 tablespoons  butter
1 large  egg
1/2 teaspoon  onion powder
1/2 teaspoon  garlic powder
1 cup  smokey sharp cheddar, Hoffman's -- shredded
1 tablespoon  Real Bacon Bits
1/4 cup  Parmesan cheese

In microwavable bowl, place cauliflower and cover.  Microwave on high for about 10 minutes or until cooked soft.  (If you're using fresh cauliflower you need to add a little water.  You can also steam it if you prefer).

In food processor, add cooked cauliflower, sour cream, butter, egg, onion powder, and garlic powder.  Process until smooth.  Add cheese and process again until cheese is melted and mixed in thoroughly.

Spray a 1 quart casserole dish with non-stick spray.  Preheat oven to 375F.  Pour mashed cauliflower into prepared dish and sprinkle bacon bits on top, then cover with Parmesan cheese.

Bake 30 minutes.

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4 Servings/Per Serving: 343 Calories; 27g Fat (70.3% calories from fat); 17g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber--5 g usable carbs

CHEESY BREAD PIZZA CRUST

Again, this is from the Cheese and Wine Bread recipe which became a Cheesy Loaf of Bread, and now has become Cheesy Bread Pizza Crust.  It's more of a bread-like pizza crust.  Sometimes I like the traditional more bread-like crust and other times I prefer thin and crispy.  This was very tasty for a low carb crust, and closer to a true bread like crust than anything else I've come across for pizza crust so far.  I've just taken my original recipe, and this time used buttermilk rather than wine in the mix, because I don't always want to use wine and others don't always want to use wine, and I wanted to see how it would turn out with the buttermilk.  I was very pleased!  Still had that wonderful yeasty bread smell to it and the texture and all came out very much the same as with the wine.

Just to give you fair warning.  I'm not finished yet with this recipe and where I'll take it!  I have plans for more ideas rolling around in my head with it.

So basically, I just tripled the Cheese and Wine Bread recipe for the pizza crust.  I've also done it doubled making the same size pizza but a much thinner crust.  I like the thicker one better.


CHEESY BREAD PIZZA CRUST

3 large  eggs
3 tablespoons  buttermilk -- (or dry red wine)
1 tablespoon  extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup  Parmesan cheese (I used the canned)
3 tablespoons  almond flour
1 tablespoon  psyllium seed husk powder
1 tablespoon  nutritional yeast flakes (see note below)
3/4 teaspoon  baking powder
2 drops  liquid sucralose -- (OR sweetener equal to 1 tbsp.)--optional but I think it adds to the flavor

Preheat oven to 350F.  Place parchment paper onto 12-inch pizza pan or baking sheet.

In small bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk OR wine, olive oil, Parmesan Cheese, almond flour, psyllium powder, nutritional flakes, baking powder, and liquid sucralose.  With electric mixer, beat until smooth.  Let sit a minute to thicken slightly.

Pour out onto pizza pan OR baking sheet, and spread evenly with spatula until it reaches the edges of the pan. Bake about 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and top with your favorite sauce and pizza toppings and bake longer until cheese is melted.

Cut into 8 slices.

NOTE: For more information about Nutritional yeast, how it is made, and the health benefits - http://www.truthnhealth.com/2011/10/nutritional-yeast-and-its-benefits/

Yield:
  "1 pizza"
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8 Slices/Each slice: 85 Calories; 6g Fat (62.2% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber