Weekend Review: Huckleberry

Grilled Cheese with Niman Ranch Sausage & Caramelized Onions

My boyfriend and I love to go to brunch on the weekends and one of our favorite spots is Huckleberry (the owners also started Rustic Canyon, which I reviewed here). Part of the reason I love going there is because it reminds me of some of my favorite restaurants back in Boulder, CO, and because they have great breakfast and lunch choices. One of my favorite breakfast offerings is the duck hash, but lately I've been ordering the grilled cheese with sausage and caramelized onions. My only warning is that it's always crowded on the weekends, so you have to go early or plan on waiting in line for at least thirty minutes.

Turkey Sandwich with Cheddar, Grapes, & Arugula

Turkey Burgers with Green Apples & Brie

Grilled turkey burgers, topped with melted brie cheese, green apple, and arugula

L.A. has a lot of awesome burger joints to satisfy my occasional cravings (and my husband's constant cravings), but we also love grilling at home. Turkey burgers are a healthier option – especially paired with whole wheat buns - which means we can eat them often without feeling guilty. These are topped with a mixture of melted brie cheese (side note: I would literally eat anything that was covered in melted brie), thinly sliced Granny Smith apple, and peppery arugula. My husband likes to put dijon mustard on his, too. It might sound like an unusual flavor combination, but it really works. The slightly-tart apples provide sweetness and crunch, the brie is earthy and buttery, and the arugula adds a fresh and peppery note. It's a fun and healthy alternative to a traditional cheeseburger and will have all your friends impressed at your next barbecue.

Related Recipes:
- Classic American Cheese Burgers
- Pork Chops with Apple Onion Sauce
- Salmon Burgers with Avocado Aioli

Turkey Burgers with Green Apples & Brie:

• Season ¾ lb. of ground dark meat turkey with a couple large pinches of salt and pepper.
• Divide meat in half and shape into two burger patties.*
• Add burgers hot, oiled grill or grill pan and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Flip burgers to the other side and top each burger with two slices of brie cheese.
• Cook for another 3-4 minutes, until burger is cooked through and cheese has melted.
• Remove burgers from the grill, place on a plate, and cover with foil.
• Meanwhile, add buns to the grill and toast for 1-2 minutes.
• Place each bun on a plate and top with a turkey patty, a few slices of green apple,** and a handful of arugula.

Serves two

*Use your thumb to make an indentation in the middle of each patty. This will keep them from rising into a dome while cooking.
**I used a Granny Smith apple.

Beginner's Dinner

Penne with Turkey Sausage

Cooking has always been easy for me, but a lot of people are intimidated to step into the kitchen and get their hands dirty. I've gotten a lot of questions from readers as to which of my recipes is easiest, so I put a list together of some of my favorite fast and easy meals. Just follow the instructions and my special tips and you'll be making gourmet meals in no time! My boyfriend even tried the penne pasta last night without my help and it came out perfectly.

Beginner's Meals:

• Penne with Turkey Sausage & Vegetables: Pasta is a great dinner option for new chefs. For an even faster version of this recipe, buy bulk sausage without casings. You can easily substitute William Sonoma's Rustic Vegetable Sauce with whatever store-bought sauce you like.
•  Sweet Chili Salmon: Cooking fish can be intimidating, but this recipe is fool-proof. If the broiler is fully pre-heated and the salmon is cut into 6 oz. pieces, then you'll have perfectly cooked fish in just 10 minutes (after marinating time).
• Asian Noodles with Chicken: These udon noodles cook exactly like pasta, but your guests won't know how easy they are to make. Try to cut your vegetables and meat into same-size pieces so that they'll all cook at the same time.

Sweet Chili Salmon

Asian Noodles with Chicken