One of my family's favorite foods is hamburgers. I think it is likely America's favorite foods, with the proliferation of fast food restaurants that serve primarily hamburgers. I think few people would deny that hamburgers taste great to parents and children alike. My children are no different. They'll eat hamburgers without argument. So my problem was to make the hamburgers we were making at home healthier and more filling. Since hamburgers are not one of the recipes in my title of the Sneaky Chef, I have just tried to add vegetables and fiber to our hamburgers while maintaining the taste so my kids eat them happily.

Good Ol' American Hamburgers


Ingredients:

2 lbs. Hamburger
1 tablespoon Mesquite Grilling Seasoning
1/3 cup Minced Celery
1/3 cup Minced Carrots
1/3 cup Minced Wheat Germ
1/3 cup Oats
1/3 cup Ketchup

For a dash of added flavor, do one of the following:

Add 1/3 cup minced green peppers (about 2/3 average sized pepper)
Add 1/2 cup pureed hot chili beans
Substitute 1/3 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce for ketchup

Directions:

Wash hands well. In a large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly. Season with Grilling Seasoning to taste. Make into balls and turn into patties with hamburger press (available at most grocery stores, usually plastic), then grill (recommended for best results) or cook in skillet as desired. Serve on your choice of buns or bread. Be prepared: they will come back for seconds. These are more fulfilling than regular hamburgers, and if the idea is to eat more nutritiously, servings should be limited to two.

Makes 10-12 medium hamburger patties.

Note: You can also prepare these for later, by making the patties and then freezing them. Freezing the patties helps make them easier to cook when you are ready to cook them. Separate layers of patties with waxed paper in a flat freezer-safe dish. Allow burgers to thaw before use, or they will stick to the waxed paper.