Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Burgers
The unofficial start of summer is here, try these delicious stuffed burgers at your next backyard party! Yields: 4 Ingredients 4 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 c. shredded mozzarella 1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan 1/2 c. frozen spinach, defrosted 1/2 c. chopped artichoke hearts 1 clove garlic, minced pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional) kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 lb. ground beef 4 Hamburger buns Vegetable oil, for brushing Directions In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and pepper and[...]
The Joys of Birding “On Deck”
Welcome to the first in our series of articles on backyard “on deck” birding! We were fortunate to speak with metro area birding expert Scott Menough, owner with his wife, Sandy, of Wild Birds Unlimited in Lakewood since 1989. Scott is the host of BirdTalk radio, which airs Saturdays from noon to 1 p.m. on 710 KNUS and 1690 KDMT, and also hosts a podcast at BirdTalkGuys.com. Perhaps you’ve never thought about attracting more birds to your yard? Well, according to Scott, conditions here are excellent for doing exactly that. “In Colorado we’re very lucky to have a variety of[...]
Time to Plant Sweet Berries and Fragrant Herbs
Berries and herbs tend to grow slowly, and because of our short growing season here, are best cultivated from starts, which are available now at garden centers, farmers markets, supermarkets and hardware stores. If you try to grow these from seed, well, it might be winter before you see anything! Keep in mind that container plants in general are considerably more exposed to the elements, (heat, cold, moisture and dryness) than plants in the ground. In Colorado it’s advisable to go with plastic pots which won’t evaporate water as quickly than the porous earthen terra cotta pots. (That being said,[...]
Thoughts About Birds
In our busy, nosey, electronic media dominated world, we are told to “stop and smell the roses.” I think we should, especially this time of year. However, there is something else that often gets overlooked in the hustle of our everyday – the birds that surround us. As you sit out on your deck, porch, patio, or go for a leisurely walk, take a moment to relax, breathe, and listen. You will notice the beautiful sounds and songs through the busy sounds of traffic, lawn mowers, and kids playing. Like gardening, bird watching is a stress reducing and relaxing activity.[...]
Spicy Lime Grilled Salmon
Try this light salmon recipe the next time you're looking for something new to try! SPICY LIME GRILLED SALMON Serves 4 Ingredients 1 lime 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes salt and pepper to taste 1.5 lbs. wild Alaskan salmon lime wedges (optional garnish) olive oil to coat grill Directions 1. Using microplane, zest lime into small mixing bowl. 2. Juice lime. Add juice to zest. 3. Whisk together juice, oil, garlic, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. 4. Lay fish in small baking dish, filet[...]
