You Grill Girl: Greek Burgers with Tomato-Mint Salsa and Rice Salad

Its almost time for the kids to go back to school, so I wanted to squeeze in one more grilled dinner to sit around in the backyard, hanging out, and just enjoying the time we have together before the crazy hectic year starts again! Enjoy this entire meal for only 9 WW points! :) And enjoy the end of the summer.

Greek Burgers with Tomato-Mint Salsa and Rice Salad
Grocery List:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 bag (10 oz) frozen whole-grain brown rice (I used Birds Eye)
1 cup chopped cucumber
1/4 cup pitted, quartered Kalamata olives
2 bottles light Greek vinaigrette (I like Wish-Bone)
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1/2 small red onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp honey
1/2 tsp each salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 lb lean ground lamb or beef (or a mixture of the two)
2 oz crumbled feta
2 tsp ground cumin

How to make it:
1. Coat outdoor grill rack with nonstick spray; heat grill.

2. Steam rice in microwave as package directs. Stir rice, cucumber, olives and dressing in medium bowl; cover and refrigerate.

3. Toss tomatoes, onion and mint with lemon juice, honey and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper. Cover mixture and let stand at room temperature.

4. Mix ground lamb, feta, cumin and remaining 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper; form into four 1-in.-thick burgers.

5. Grill burgers 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in side registers 160ºF.

6. Spoon salsa on top of burgers; serve with rice salad.

Nutritional Information:
(makes 4 servings)
420cal
17g fat
4g fiber
9 WW points

You Grill Girl: Grilled Stuffed Peppers with Couscous

I just love grilling and this recipe is no exception! Easy to make, perfect for summer, and bikini body friendly! :)

Grilled Stuffed Peppers with Couscous
Grocery List:
Filling
2 cups chicken broth
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups whole-wheat, tomato or regular couscous
1/3 cup dried currants (or raisins)
1 large tomato, diced
12 oz fresh feta cheese, crumbled
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped, toasted almonds
1/3 cup chopped fresh mint (dried is fine too)
1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano (dried here too)
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

6 large mixed peppers (red, orange, green, purple and/or yellow)
Olive oil cooking spray

**Serve with: lemon wedges and extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling

How to make it:
1. Filling: Bring broth, 1 Tbsp oil, the garlic and salt to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in couscous and currants, remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes or until broth is absorbed.

2. Transfer to a large bowl; fluff with a fork. Let cool 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 Tbsp oil and the remaining Filling ingredients.

3. While Filling cools, cut peppers in half lengthwise through stems; remove seeds and membranes, keeping stems intact. Cut a thin slice off rounded sides of each half so they won't wobble; coat rounded sides with cooking spray. Put cut sides up on baking sheet.

4. Heat grill. Fill peppers with Filling. Place directly on grill rack, cover grill and cook 12 to 15 minutes until peppers are tender and bottoms are charred in spots. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information
(makes 12 servings)
254cal
13g fat
5g fiber
5 WW points

You Grill Girl: Salmon Burgers with Wasabi Mayo

Hey Everyone! I am feeling so strange today! Tomorrow is my daughter's last day of Kindergarten! I can not believe that my little girl is going to be in 1st grade next year! Is anyone else going through this?
Anyway, that has nothing to do with today's meal! lol Which is VERY tasty, so try it! :)

Salmon Burgers with Wasabi Mayo
Grocery List:
BURGERS
4 scallions, cut in 1-in. pieces
1 Tbsp pickled ginger slices (found in your market's Asian section)
1 tsp dark sesame oil
1/4 tsp each salt and freshly ground pepper
White from 1 large egg
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2-lb piece salmon fillet, skin and pin bones removed, cut in 1-in. cubes
Nonstick spray
6 leaves Boston lettuce

Toppings: wasabi mayonnaise (you can find this on the mayo isle), pickled ginger slices and radish sprouts

Garnish: black sesame seeds

How to make it:

1. Heat outdoor grill.

2. Burgers: In food processor, pulse scallions, ginger, sesame oil, salt and pepper until finely minced, scraping down sides of processor bowl once or twice. Add egg white and soy sauce; pulse to blend. Add salmon. Pulse just until very finely chopped but not a paste. Shape into 6 burgers, each about 3/4 in. thick.

3. Coat burgers with nonstick spray. Grill, turning once, until done as desired (6 minutes for medium-rare, which is preferred).

4. Place on lettuce leaves. Top each with wasabi mayonnaise, ginger slices and sprouts; sprinkle with a pinch or two of sesame seeds.

Nutritional Information:

(makes 6 burgers)
235cal
10g fat
0g fiber
6 WW points

Your Girll Girl: Asian Chicken

Tonight's meal is quick, easy, light and healthy. I love anything chinese, so this is the perfect meal for me! :) I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Asian Chicken
Grocery List:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 Tbsp Chinese five-spice powder
1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
4 each skinless chicken thighs and drumsticks (2 lb)
4 baby bok choy (1 lb), halved lengthwise
4 oz shiitake mushroom caps (also called baby portabella's)
1/4 cup each less-sodium soy sauce and rice vinegar
2 tsp toasted sesame seeds

How to make it:
1. Coat outdoor grill rack with nonstick spray; heat grill.

2. Mix spice powder, sugar and salt in small cup. Rub spice mixture over chicken. Grill 5 minutes per side over direct heat. Move to indirect heat and grill, covered, 15 to 20 minutes until instant-read thermometer registers 160ºF, or juices run clear.

3. Meanwhile, coat bok choy and mushrooms with nonstick spray. Grill over direct heat for 10 to 15 minutes, turning once.

4. Stir soy sauce and rice vinegar in small bowl; spoon some over vegetables and chicken.
Sprinkle chicken with sesame seeds.

Nutritional Information:
298cal
11g fat
2g fiber
6 WW points

You Grill Girl: Grilled Turkey and Vegetables

How easy is this? Grilled turkey and veggies? I mean, come on! But this dish packs in the flavor!! You have got to give it a try!

Grilled Turkey and Vegetables
Grocery List:
Marinade
2 tsp grated lemon zest
1⁄4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp chopped garlic
1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
1⁄4 tsp salt
1⁄8 tsp pepper

2 turkey breast tenderloins
1 medium eggplant
1 lb green or yellow squash
3 plum tomatoes, cut in half
Nonstick spray

How to make it:
1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

2. Marinade: Whisk ingredients in a bowl. Put 6 Tbsp and the turkey in a large ziptop bag; seal; turn to coat. Refrigerate 45 minutes.

3. Meanwhile slice eggplant and squash lengthwise 1⁄2 in. thick. Place with tomatoes on baking sheet; coat with nonstick spray.

4. Heat outdoor grill or stovetop grill pan.

5. Put turkey on grill (discard bag). Grill 7 to 9 minutes per side. Remove; cover loosely with foil.

6. Grill eggplant and zucchini 4 minutes per side until just tender; grill tomatoes 2 minutes per side until charred but not soft. Cut vegetables bite-size; toss gently with remaining marinade. Serve with sliced turkey.

Nutritional Information:
Serves 6
243cal.
6g fat
2g fiber
5 WW points

You Grill Girl! : Burgers and Fries

I know sometimes I just want a burger! But I don't really eat red meat, and I ALWAYS have ground turkey in my freezer...so why not use that? Turkey meat can have so much flavor, especially on the grill! And who says that your Husband is the only one to "man the grill"?

So give this "burger and fries" a try, I guarantee, you wont even miss the beef!

Turkey Burgers and Crispy Fries

Grocery List:

Olive oil cooking spray

2 baking potatoes scrubbed, cut in 3/4-in.-thick wedges

1 sweet potato, scrubbed, cut in 3/4-in.-thick wedges

3/4 tsp plus 1/2 tsp salt

2 slices white sandwich bread

1/4 cup fat-free milk

12 oz lean ground turkey

3 links sweet or hot lean Italian turkey sausages, casings removed

1/4 tsp pepper

4 hamburger buns

Serve burgers with: lettuce and sliced tomato and red onion

How to make it:

1. Heat oven to 500°F.

Position racks to divide oven in thirds.

Heat outdoor grill or stovetop grill pan.

Coat 2 rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray.

2. Divide potatoes between baking sheets.

Coat with cooking spray; sprinkle with 3/4 tsp salt.

Toss until evenly coated, then spread in a single layer.

3. Bake 30 minutes, switching position of pans and turning potatoes over halfway through baking, until tender and golden.

4. Meanwhile tear bread in small pieces into a medium bowl.

Pour milk over bread; let soak about 1 minute.

Add ground turkey, turkey sausage, pepper and remaining 1/2 tsp salt.

Mix with hands until blended.

Divide in quarters. With wet hands, shape each portion into a 1-in.-thick patty.

5. Coat patties with cooking spray and grill 12 to 14 minutes, turning once, until cooked through. Serve in buns (with lettuce, tomato and onion if desired) with the fries.

Nutritional Information:

4 servings

536 cal.

9g. fat

6g. fiber

11 WW points (remember, this is for a burger AND fries!)