Missy Chase Lapine - BBQ: Healthy and Delicious Recipes from The Sneaky Chef

Welcome to my first in a series of e-books that I plan to offer this year! In this book, we take a sneaky detour outside to the family BBQ, the center of all things yummy and historically not-so-good-for-you meals. In the warm weather months, I loosen my sneaky mask to reveal an abundance of fresh, seasonal, mouth-watering ingredients, simple to make and enjoy with family and friends. When I think about summer, I think BBQ and the smell of juicy burgers on the grill, the taste of fresh local peaches, corn, and tomatoes, icy refreshing strawberry slushies, and of course, my sneaky dipping sauces!

As The Sneaky Chef is best known for hiding healthy foods in kids favorite meals, I have learned over the years (and five books later) that the whole family likes to get in on the action. With over 500 recipes developed for all members of the family and all meals of the day, I never had the courage to take my sneaky wand outside and tackle what had traditionally been known as the mans kitchen, the outdoor BBQ grill! As a result, Im happy to bring you 15 all-new delicious and healthy meals you can share with your family and friends (and not feel guilty the next day)and best of all, you never have to turn on the oven!

To me, warm weather means reconnecting with friends and fun, relaxing timestimes when you can leave your worries and pressures inside while you enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors and the natural health-enhancing recipes included in this book. Whether you live near a local farmers market, or your own supermarket is featuring warm weather favorites, together well maximize the taste, health benefits, and pure enjoyment that comes with the smell and taste of summer faves and the outdoor BBQ.

Through these recipes you can now wave the Sneaky Chef magic wand over everyones grilled outdoor favorites creating guilt-free delicious food! My sneaky swaps, tweaks and tricks secretly make your favorite foods a bit healthier and whole lot tastier, not to mention making you the king (or queen) of the neighborhood and the hero of your family.

In this book you will uncover the sneaky secrets to enjoy favorite foods made healthier such as:

• Creamy saladswith my Sneaky Swap for mayo
• Better burgersjuicy and delicious stuffed with smoky bacon and cheese!
• Grilled Greek pizzainstantly makes you a grilling superstar!
• ... and lots of other summer standbys that leave you feeling light and ready for the beach.

Ill also show you how to enjoy these simple seasonal sensations all year round with simple substitutions, such as using sweet frozen corn or frozen strawberries instead of fresh. You will learn how to master Sneaky Swaps swapping out loads of sugar with fresh strawberries in an icy slushy, and magically mixing carrots and sweet potatoes into a sneaky honey mustard dipping sauce for chicken sausage bites. You will become a wizard at dressing up normally pale, dry turkey burgers with an exciting and enriching blend of blueberries, spinach and spices.

So lets get the grill fired up and earn your next apron badge as a grilling Sneaky Chef!

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Burgers

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Burgers

When you load toppings onto a burger, they often fall off. My inside-out stuffed burgers mix the toppings into the meat, giving you a whole new experience of smoky-flavored turkey bacon, cheddar, and meaty Portobello mushrooms in every bite.

No one will notice that these juicy and delicious burgers feature lean grass-fed beef and fiber-rich flax for a healthier burger recipe.

Makes 4 burgers
2 slices turkey bacon
1 pound lean ground beef (grass-fed optional)
1 1/2 ounces Portobello mushrooms, finely diced
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 ounces reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded or diced
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
4 whole grain hamburger buns
Optional toppings: ketchup, mustard, tomato slices, lettuce, pickles, and/or onions

Prepare bacon as directed on package, drain on paper towels, and chop into small pieces. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use your hands to gently but thoroughly mix together the beef, bacon and diced mushrooms, onion powder, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, cheese, and flaxseed. Dampen hands and form into 4 equal-size balls, then gently press into patties, about - to -inch thick.
Preheat an outdoor grill (or indoor grill pan) to medium-high, and brush or wipe the grill grates with oil.
Grill burgers about 5 minutes on each side (close lid if using outdoor grill), flipping only once, or to desired doneness. For safety, ground meat should be cooked until a meat thermometer reads a minimum of 160F.
Remove burgers to let rest on a clean plate while you warm the buns for a minute on the grill. Add optional toppings and serve.
Sneaky tip: Dont press down on burgers with a spatula while cookingthat makes the juices leak out and leaves the burgers dry.

BBQ Sneaky Turkey Burgers

BBQ Sneaky Turkey Burgers
No one will guess these are turkey burgersthey look and taste like beef!

Adding my beautiful of blueberries and spinach not only gives a sweet moistness to turkey burgers, which can often be dry, but also, combined with tomato paste (the ultimate healthy ready-made puree) and seasoning, makes these burgers look and taste like the real thing! I love these on whole grain English Muffins.

Makes 4 burgers
1/4 cup
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon each chili powder and onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt and a few turns of freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup ground oats (ground in a food processor or blender), or ground flaxseed
1 pound ground turkey (ideally white meat, or a mix of light and dark meat)
4 whole grain English Muffins
Optional toppings: ketchup, mustard, tomato slices, lettuce, pickles, and/or onions

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Purple Puree, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add in the oats and ground turkey, mixing until combined (easiest to mix using your hands). Dampen hands and form into 4 equal-size balls, then gently press into patties, about 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick.
Preheat an outdoor grill (or indoor grill pan) to medium-high and brush or wipe both the grill and both sides of the burgers generously with oil.