Gyro Sliders with Creamy Dill Yogurt Sauce

Gyro meets slider in this epic yet small bite. No lamb needed, just regular beef spiced to perfection to match that gyro flavor, topped with a tangy dill yogurt sauce!

This may be my BEST creation yet! I have made them 3 times now, that is how much I LOVE them! I am pretty sure I have told you I don't make something more than once unless I REALLY love it- even my own recipes. I am like that way with beer too! (That is how I have amassed an impressive 315 beers on untapped)

It all started one night... I was talking to my husband over dinner about what kind of restaurant I would open (if I ever did) and I decided it would be American pub food with a twist. So in discussing what kind of burgers I would create for the menu I decided there should be a Greek burger- it would be like a gyro. It would taste like a gyro in burger form with some sort of yogurt sauce... so the words were spoken and so this was born!

I researched common spices in a gyro and developed this fantastic spice blend. Just the right amount of spiciness with 1 tbsp of cayenne for that kick to your taste buds. Then with the smoked paprika give it a little smokiness and also give the delicious dribbling fat juices an orange hue. The drippings are also delicious when the slider's bottom bun picks up some of the luscious fat juices- even the bun become a joy to eat!

Autumn Shepherds Pie

Why is this a Foodgasm?

One of the greatest parts of Autumn is all the awesomely comforting food. Shepherd's Pie is a comfort classic of meat and potatoes that just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. However, the calories and fat packs on the sweater-weather pounds. Yeah, I don't like that part either, but that is why I am here to not only take this up a few notches with flavor, but also greatly reducing the fat! Is it magic? No it's a foodgasm!

So what did I do to achieve this? Let's take it layer by layer...
The meat layer- I took my trick from my magic portobello beef tacos and added lots of finely chopped mushrooms to the mix as well as some garlic, onion and bell pepper. To add bulk to our meat layer, lots of veggies for vitamins and fiber and for FLAVOR! I also used 93% lean ground beef, which can be rather dry, but with all the veggies it makes it much better!!
The potato layer- I used sweet potatoes since they have more nutritional value with lots of vitamins, **but this is the genius** I used some pumpkin puree mixed into it. Not only adding fiber and bulk but also giving it - FLAVOR. I also used light butter and reduced fat milk. You will not miss any of that fat, I assure you!
The cheesey crust- Reduced fat cheese is the answer, fat free is a no-go, not melty enough and lacks flavor!
 

Taco Tuesday- Magic Portobello and Beef Taco Supreme

 Why is this a Foodgasm?

I am celebrating Taco Tuesday with my friend Lauren of Hall Nesting this week! So I joined her and Christine of Cooking with Cakes to bring you some awesome taco recipes! See below for the pictures and links to their recipes.

 You like tacos? You like beef tacos? Do you like all the fat and calories? No, I didn't think so.

I like tacos, it started in college with Taco Bell. My college served Taco Bell in the cafeteria, one swipe of my student ID gave me access to unlimited Taco Bell. (So healthy!) I liked them so much and I was a poor college student, so I used to smuggle out some crunchy beef taco supremes out of the cafeteria and safe them in my mini fridge for later.
How can I turn tacos into a NY Foodgasm? How do I make tacos that are missing some of the fat and not sacrificing any flavor? It started with the realization that mushrooms are pretty meaty. So I took some 80/20 ground beef that was on sale and I ground up some portobello mushroom caps in my food processor- not only are we filling some of the space with a veggie, I am also adding flavor with the mushrooms. Someone you know not like mushrooms? I don't think they will even notice there are mushrooms, you can taste them a bit, but they are ground so fine they blend in seamlessly with the meat, even the texture is spot on!

That is the magic my friends, lots of amazing flavor, with a veggie bonus and a buzz of flavor! You are not missing out on any of the comfort food aspect at all! I also used multigrain taco shells and low fat shredded Mexican cheese. Then the swap I use ALL the time, non fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream!

Double Stout Guinness Sliders

Why is this a Foodgasm?

Who doesn't like to go out for some burgers and beer? Well I took the two and fused them into the perfect combination they were destined to be! I marinated the ground beef in Guinness, then to add a double shot of that stout action I made caramelized onion with a stout reduction! But wait, there's more! To add to the delicious Irish action I topped these sliders with Dubliner cheese, a sweet aged Irish cheese! I even cut the fat using lean ground beef for the sliders, because I love my heart and yours!

Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Mango Chili

Why is this a Foodgasm?

This features one of my favorite flavor combos EVER, Sweet and Spicy! Sugar and Spice and something nice! It is like ohhhhh yummmmm.....ohhhh WOW! You get the sweet and then BAM I hit ya when you didn't expect you with the spice hammer! This baby is pretty darn spicy too! I would let this slow cook to mellow out the spice or add less dried red chilis than I did, LOL!

I got the idea while talking to my friend about chili. Mike makes a mean chili: sweet and spicy. But the man will not give up the ingredients...he keeps his recipes secrets. Me, well I got this blog and give 'em all away for free! So while talking to him I thought sweet and spicy and remembered the pineapple salsa made my Newman's Own I like so much and then it hit me....WHAMMO! Pineapple Chili- and why not add Mango because I love thee!

Guinness Beef Stew with a Secret Ingredient

Why is this a Foodgasm?

Ahhh Beef Stew, it is perfect and oh so comforting in the winter! I took your traditional beef stew and but I had to kick that puppy up a notch. What should I add? BEER! Not just any beer, but Guinness! So you got this subtle dark beer flavor with your beefy goodness, just to kick those notes of espresso to the next level, I added the secret ingredient.....