Cheesy Stuffed Turkey Broccoli Burger

This burger looks quite delicious, doesn't it? You know what else? It kind of looks, like most delicious burgers, like it might not be great for you. Wouldn't you like, just once, to be able to treat yourself to something that looks, smells and tastes delicious, without having to worry, quite so much, about the calorie content? Not to toot my own horn or anything (okay... maybe just a little toot.. I earned it!), but I'm quite sure I've accomplished it tonight.

You see, we were given a challenge by the lovely folks at Good Cook, to create the most delicious stuffed burger (You will have the opportunity on Tuesday, September 3rd, to check out all of them and vote for the one that looks the best to you!) The options were that you could make one for the "beef" catagory, or you could make one for the "everything else" catagory. Well, if you've been following me for a while now, you know that I was going to turn this into something fairly healthy, which is where the lean turkey, and the broccoli come in.

Now, I'm sure that you'd like to know how I created this masterpiece, right? Of course, I'm going to tell you!

The first thing that I did, was cut up a mushroom, and the tops of the broccoli crowns. Then, I shredded some sharp cheddar cheese and mixed those ingredients all together (the amount that you use will vary depending on how many burgers your making. I made three burgers.) I used a pound of ground turkey, one mushroom diced really small, and about a quarter cup of diced broccoli crowns (I only used the florets, simply because my husband doesn't like the stems, but that's your choice!) I did have some left over "stuffing" after stuffing my three burgers.

I used a Good Cook Burger Stuffer to stuff the burgers (The other day, I also used this to press a few regular patties. It works AMAZINGLY for both!)

I also used a cast iron grill on my stove to cook the burgers. Now, normally, I'm not a huge fan of cast iron, so I was skeptical to try this but was quite impressed after getting used to using it, and will definitely use it again.

My kitchen smelled AWESOME, while it was cooking!

Now, you can season the meat however you'd like. However you'd normally season a burger, I've found that turkey can be seasoned the same way. For this individual burger, I used a McCormick Montreal Steak seasoning. You don't need a lot to get a lot of flavoring.

While it was cooking, I prepared the buns so they'd be ready to serve when the burgers were cooked.

These burgers came out amazing. They were a big hit for my family. They got to eat burgers filled with cheese, and I got to feel great knowing that I was sneaking in some great nutrients also!

If and when you try these burgers, please come back and let me know what you thought of them! Also, don't forget, you'll have the opportunity to vote for your favorite beef and non beef burgers on September 3rd. (don't worry, I'll remind you, also!)

OH, and I almost forgot! You can save 25% on your order of burger tools from goodcook.com, just use the coupon code BurgerLovers. For more savings, recipes, and great products, make sure to follow @GoodCookcom on Twitter!

Disclaimer: I received one or more products above for review purposes only. I was not required to write a positive review. My opinions as always are my own. The Mom Show is not affiliated with Facebook or any other social media networks. The sponsoring company is responsible for all shipping unless otherwise stated. The Mom Show is not responsible for sponsors not upholding their promises and cannot reimburse you for items or the value of products. Should this occur, please contact The Mom Show and I will do my best to help you achieve promised winnings.

Watch Monsters Inc. This Weekend!

Looking for something fun to do with the family this Labor Day weekend?  It is, for some, the last weekend of summer vacation, and the official last weekend of summer for the rest of us.  Since that's the case, and it's back to school time, Disney/Pixar has decided to bring Monsters Inc. back into the Theaters!

If you haven't seen the trailer, or read anything about the movie, you can see both below!

Genre:Comedy/Animation

Rating: TBD

U.S. Release Date:                    June 21, 2013

Voice Talent:                             Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, Dave Foley, Sean P. Hayes, Joel Murray, Peter Sohn, Charlie Day, Nathan Fillion, Bobby Moynihan, Julia Sweeney, Aubrey Plaza, Tyler Labine, John Krasinski, Bonnie Hunt, Beth Behrs and John Ratzenberger.

Director:                                   Dan Scanlon

Producer:                                  Kori Rae

Composer:                                Randy Newman

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer.  The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right.

Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman  (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters.

Mike Wazowski’s (voice of Billy Crystal) lifelong dreams of becoming a Scarer are derailed during his first semester at Monsters University when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), and their out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program.

Notes:

?       “Monsters, Inc.,” originally released on November 2, 2001, was nominated for four Oscars^®: Best Animated Feature Film, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Song—“If I Didn’t Have You,” for which it won.

?       “Monsters University” will hit U.S. theaters nearly 12 years after the original “Monsters, Inc.” theatrical debut.

?       Billy Crystal is known worldwide for his film roles in “When Harry Met Sally…,” “City Slickers,” “The Princess Bride” and “Analyze This”; his 2005 Tony®-winning Broadway show, “700 Sundays”; as a cast member of “Saturday Night Live”; and as the nine-time host of the Academy Awards® ceremonies.

?       John Goodman’s current film projects include Ben Affleck’s drama “Argo,” which premiered at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival; the Robert Zemeckis thriller “Flight,” which premiered as the closing-night film at the New York Film Festival; and Clint Eastwood’s sports drama “Trouble with the Curve.”

?       Helen Mirren won international recognition for her work on stage, screen and television. For her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in 2006’s “The Queen,” she received an Academy Award®, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® and BAFTA Award for best actress. She was also named best actress by a multitude of critic’s organizations from Los Angeles to London.

?       Oscar®- Grammy®- and Emmy®-winning composer/songwriter Randy Newman contributes his unique musical talents to his seventh Disney•Pixar film. The 20-time Oscar nominee’s wins include “If I Didn’t Have You” for “Monsters, Inc.” and “We Belong Together” for “Toy Story 3.” He will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2013.

OFFICIAL BOILERPLATE:

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer.  The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”). For more information, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us ontwitter.com/disneypixar. The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters. For more information, check out disney.com/MonstersU.

The linked content above may solely be used without modification for promotional purposes only while the motion picture is in theaters or 3 months from receipt, whichever is shorter, throughout the United States and Canada.  For any use on the Internet, you may only display the content on websites owned by you.  We reserve the right to terminate your use of the content at any time, in our sole discretion, upon notice to you. You are prohibited from using the Disney name, characters or properties and those of its affiliated or related companies, in any advertising, offers or solicitations, in any media as a means to advertise or to suggest endorsement of any product or service. We make no warranties or representations of any kind regarding the content or your use thereof. By using the content, you accept the foregoing limited, revocable, nontransferable, nonsublicensable license. © 2013 Disney. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer:All images and information in this post were used with permission from Disney/Pixar.

Dorm Room Musts -- Guest Post

Dorm Room Musts: What to Pack for the College Road Trip

As you pull out of the campus parking lot, your child happily sets up his or her dorm

room and gets ready the first week of college classes. Although waving goodbye to your

little 18 year old can be a little scary, college is an exciting time for both parents and

students. Whether your child is enrolled in courses from South University or will be

studying at Arizona State this semester, here are some helpful tips when packing for that

all important college road trip.

Bedding

Many dorm rooms use extra long twin mattresses. Extra long sheets can be tricky to track

down sometimes, so definitely check ahead of time to see if your child’s new bunk will

be regular or extra long.

Another good idea is to invest in a good mattress pad. They don’t call them dorm rooms

for nothing. A comfy mattress pad can make all the difference in a good night’s sleep and

will also cover an older mattress to keep things clean for your student.

Documents

After you move in your child, they may periodically need important family documents

such as:

•Driver’s License

•Health Insurance Card

•Certain Health Records

From time to time students will be checking in with their college enrollment office. Make

sure they have the right copies of necessary documents and that they have memorized

their social security number.

Electronics

While there are some essentials such as a reliable lap top and a phone, there are many

electronic devices that are really more luxuries than necessities when it comes to dorm

room life. Most students probably will not need a TV in their room. Many dorms have

common areas already supplied with televisions, cable and DVD players. Having a TV in

their own room can be distracting and take up space .

Another nicety but not requirement is a tablet. Although they are becoming increasingly

popular and can be useful, they are not yet a staple for surviving college life. A laptop

or notebook are already portable for taking notes in class and meeting to work on group

assignments. Many students already have smartphones and multiple mobile gadgets

might be redundant. However, this is really up to the student and how plugged in he or

she wishes to be.

While extremely convenient to have right under the bed, printers can be another added

expense with the cost of ink. A simple alternative is just walking over to the college

library where there are plenty of high quality printers to use for a few cents per page.

Once again, this probably depends on the student’s preference and particular major as an

increasing number of papers and assignments are now turned in digitally through college

websites.

Some electronic accessories that will truly come in handy are a good pair of headphones

and a couple of thumb drives for storage space and transporting presentations.

Making a Home

In the rush of finding shower supplies and school materials, it is important to remember

that your child’s dorm room is going to be home for the next nine months. While teens

will be out at class, in the stands of a basketball game or busy with friends, they will still

spend a good amount of time in their rooms. It is nice to make them feel like home with a

few bright posters and colorful blankets and pillows.

With these and a few other basics, your student will be ready to move right into the

college life.

Image from miami.cbslocal.com

My Dearest Daughter,

A Letter to my Daughter:

    My dearest girl,

You are beautiful.  You have lovely blue eyes and a smile that lights this world.  More importantly, you are beautiful on the inside.  You have a heart of gold.  You're giving, you share, and you absolutely love making people laugh.  You are funny, you love telling jokes, and you have a sweet sense of humor.  You are still innocent.  The bad things of the world, have yet to pop through your bubble of security.  You still see the world as a beautiful place full of wonderful people.  I admire this about you, and it saddens me to think that this will someday change for you.  

My sweet love, the things that I just told you, will give many, many people, plenty of reason to love you.  As you get older, and get to know more of the world, you are going to see and meet a lot of new people.  Boys, and girls both.  You're going to see and hear of things that I wish you never had to.  You're going to see people who feel like their beauty and their worth is merely skin deep.  I want you to always remember that this is simply not true.  When people look to you, show them your smile, and look at them with your genuine eyes, always.  When you speak, speak nicely, use your heart AND your mind.  Let the beauty that's inside be the reason that people like you.

Remember, your body is yours, and yours alone.  It's the only one you'll ever have.  Take care of it.  It will be a gift that you will one day give away, as I did, to your father, and then, though much differently, I gave it also to you.  Don't feel like you need to, or even that you should, show it off.  Keep some of your skin, and some of your body to someday be a gift.  This is classy.  You are wonderful enough without losing your class.  I want for you to know that your body is not something you'll ever have to use to make people love you.  It is yours, and yours alone to cherish until you cherish, truly cherish, someone else enough to share it.

You will see people that the television, and even some of your friends may tell you that you should look up to.  If you decide to do this, base it on their works.  The way they treat others, and also the way they treat themselves.  Dance moves and a nice singing voice are learned skills, and on television and in magazines, outer beauty can be altered and created.  The things that I, and others love about you, are things that cannot be learned or created.  Please remember that.

Let me finish by telling you one more important thing.  Not everyone will like you.  Not everyone will be able to see the loveliness that I see when I look at you.  This is not your problem, and it's something that I never want you to worry about.  You don't need everyone to love you, or even like you.  As long as you love yourself, and you know just how very much the people who are most important to you love you, you'll always feel blessed.  Life isn't always going to be easy, but please know that you will always have a family that you can lean on.  Please always remember these truths that I hope and pray we've taught you well. Last, but not least, know how very much I love you.

Love, 

Mommy

Good Cook Burger Challenge!

I'm posting this as a teaser for what's to come! I am yet again working with Good Cook, and entering a burger challenge! We are getting the opportunity to try a "burger kit" to try to create a "stuffed burger". Then, YOU get to check out all of the pictures and delicious recipes and vote for your favorite one (I'd love it if you voted for mine, but I won't beg.) Spoiler alert: I'm going to go in a healthier turkey burger route (You know I've been on this weight loss journey for a while, and as delicious as a big stuffed beef burger sounds, I gotta stick healthy and low calorie on this!) The voting is on September 3rd! Get ready to check out all of the wonderful recipes!

5 Things To Pack for the Family Camping Trip -- Guest Post

5 Things To Pack for the Family Camping Trip

Being a mom is hard work.  Fathers have the duty and responsibility to give moms a break from the kids every once in a while.  But let’s face the truth of the situation.  When trying to push the responsibility of packing for the family camping trip onto Dad, he usually forgets key items.

Don’t be unprepared on your camping trip to the nearby state park or campground.  There are certain essential items you must bring on the trip.  

 

Mom’s play a monumental role in packing for the camping trip. They stay on top of organizing kids clothing, the food in the cooler, making sure the tent is up to date and good to go.

Here’s a list of 5 important items Moms should consider for packing when camping with the kids.

1. The Tent

This is the most important item on the list.   If your family needs a tent upgrade, then it’s a good idea to conduct your expert researching skills when considering a new camping tent.  It has to be large enough to contain all the children and parents, but you don’t want a huge tent to lug around with all the other gear.  Add that weight onto the responsibility of keeping track of rambunctious crazy kids, and the camping trip will quickly turn into chaos.

Either choose one family sized tent or separate tents for parents and kids.  Whatever you choose, it’s a good idea to invest in lightweight and easily compactable tents. Also, purchase a tent that has a simple and straightforward set up.  You don’t want to be spending hours setting up the tent while trying to watch the kids.  

Breathability in a tent is a huge factor when camping with kids.  You never know what smells or dirt they’ll track into the tent after exploring all day.  Plus, it’s never too late for accidents with very young campers.

2. Disinfectant Wipes

You don’t want to bring home sick kids from camping trips.  A great tool for keeping the kids clean from potential illnesses and diseases when camping is disinfectant wipes. They quickly remove dirt and germs from your children’s hands before eating.  

You don’t have to worry about them playing in dirt all day with a hefty pack of these cleaning agents.  They are child friendly, easy to use and transport.

3. Outfit for Every Day

Kids are subject to all kinds of accidents, especially when camping.  You never know when your child will decide to go swimming in a gigantic muddy puddle, dig dirt holes, spill water all over themselves, or get into any other trouble.

It’s very important to pack lots of socks, underwear, and a change of clothes for every single day.  Having enough clean clothing will prove essential when camping to help clean up the mess.

4. Band Aids and Hydrogen Peroxide

You may not need a comprehensive and fully loaded first aid kit for a quick weekend camping trip with the kids.  But do not forget enough band aids and hydrogen peroxide.  Children are clumsy and reckless.  They fall anywhere and everywhere.  

It never hurts to have too many band aids to patch them up and control bleeding from little scrapes.  Hydrogen peroxide may sting a little, but it will build character and keep their cuts clean.

5. Duct Tape

Do not leave home without it.  Every mom and dad should pack a roll of duct tape in the car and  in the camping pack for a weekend alone with the kids.

Image Source – goodhousekeeping.com

Teaching Your Kids to be Responsible About Their Health -- Guest Post

Teaching Your Kids to be Responsible About Their Health

Good health isn’t a matter of luck. Although genetics does play a part in how susceptible we are to disease and illness, lifestyle is equally – if not more – important in maintaining good health over the course of your life. By teaching your kids how to be responsible about their health, you can ensure that they start out on the road to good health with their best foot forward.

Here are three steps you can take to ensure that your kids know how to take care of their bodies and why good health is so important.

Teach How Their Bodies Work

Kids feel hunger and thirst, as well as the urge to go to the bathroom, and they may be curious as to why. When sickness makes them feel bad, the confusion – not knowing why – can be stressful and upsetting. Teach your kids, in an age-appropriate manner, how their bodies work: why they need to eat, for example, and why they get a fever when they’re sick.

• Look for books and videos that can be used as a teaching tool for your kids. These tools can be a jumping-off point for further discussion, such as why they need to rest after they’ve been sick, why they need to eat healthy foods, and why they need to get exercise every day.

When kids understand why their bodies work like they do – and that they can be involved in taking care of their bodies properly – they are more likely to get excited about that involvement.

Why They Visit the Doctor

Visits to the doctor are a necessary part of every child’s life. When they feel well, they have to visit the doctor for checkups and routine immunizations. When they feel ill, they have to go for exams and prescriptions. These visits can often be frightening for a child.

• Explain what doctors do, why they do it, and how it helps keep your kids’ bodies healthy. Understanding the reasons why they are being put through a stressful encounter with the doctor can reduce that stress.

• Your child’s doctor can be a useful resource in this endeavor. As many traditional medical practices have a high patient caseload – leaving doctors with little time to spend on your child – consider acquiring a membership to a supplemental health program like MDVIP comprehensive primary care. With more time to spend on an office visit, your child’s doctor can take the time to get to know your child, make friends, and explain what they’re doing.

Proper Health Practices

Once your child understands how their body works and how doctor visits help them stay healthy, you can teach them how they can take action for themselves and be responsible for their own health. By following good health practices, they can grow up strong, prevent illness, and avoid doctor visits. Good health practices center around:

• Germs. Teach your kids what germs are, and why it’s important to wash their hands after using the bathroom, sneezing, or blowing their nose. This can be extended to avoiding sharing drinks during flu season, and refraining from eating that chip they dropped on the kitchen floor.
• Food. Eating healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables, gives your kids more energy and better health overall. Get them involved in choosing and preparing their meals – whether it’s washing vegetables to deciding between mashed potatoes or rice as a side dish.
• Exercise. Get your kids outside once a day. Sign them up for after-school sports, take them to the park, or play with them in the backyard. Teach them a love of fitness.

Kids need to learn how to be responsible for their bodies and their health. In order to foster long-lasting wellness, educate them about how their bodies work, how doctors can help prevent and treat illness, and what they can do all on their own to help stay healthy.

(Image source: freedigitalphotos.net)