Tuscan Summer Sun-dried Tomato Burger

Hi Slow Roasters, thank you for joining us to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of The Slow Roasted Italian.  It has been such an amazing year.  When I first started this blog, I thought I would just be making a record of the recipes that I use regularly, something to look back on and a place for my family to be able to go to pull up the recipes they love.  I never really knew that it would be such a fabulous experience.  I can't believe how much I have learned over the last year.  Flavor profiles, descriptive words, testing recipes, photo composition (although, except a few lucky shots I am still at a loss on this one) thank goodness my amazing husband and partner is such a wonderful photographer.


You, our loyal readers and friends, have helped make this such a completely fulfilling journey.  We love to read your comments, emails and Facebook posts to let us know how our recipes came out for you and some personal stories.  We cherish your comments.

To thank all our amazing friends and readers, we decided that instead of having just one giveaway, we will be celebrating our anniversary for the next 4 weeks with a new fantastic giveaway each and EVERY week, just to show you our appreciation. Scroll under recipe to read more about this weeks Giveaway.

This week we are sharing an amazing line of products from Mooney Farms.  Mooney Farms Bella Sun Luci line features a fabulous array of Sun-dried Tomatoes.  I am so happy to have created a Summer Grilling Celebration burger for you with Bella Sun Luci Sun-dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs - Julienne Cut.  The Tuscan Summer Sun-dried Tomato Burger is moist, flavorful and certainly not your ordinary burger.  It is eye catching.  My Italian family went crazy over this spectacular creation.  You are going to love it too!

Tuscan Summer Sun-dried Tomato Burger 

serves 6
2 pounds 93% lean ground beef
½ cup finely chopped white onion

2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1/3 cup Bella Sun Luci julienne-cut sun dried tomatoes in olive oil and herbs, drained
½ cup shredded Romano cheese
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
6 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
6 ciabatta buns, buttered

1 recipe basil pesto, or your favorite store bought recipe

32 thin slices roasted red peppers, your favorite recipe or store bought

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

In a large bowl combine beef, onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, Romano cheese, salt, and pepper.  Mix until combined, being careful to not overwork the meat.  Form into 6 ounce patties (6 burgers) slightly larger than your bun. Make a slight indentation in the center of the burger to prevent it from doming up in the center. The indentation will rise as your burger cooks.

Grill until golden brown and slightly charred (about 3 minutes), turning once (cook for 3 minutes on the other side for medium). Try not to press down on your burger with a spatula. It will cause the juices to escape and will create a dry burger! Add mozzarella cheese for the last minute of cooking.

Reduce grill to low and place buns on grill (inside down) for about 1 minute, until they are golden brown with grill marks. Remove buns and prepare with 2-3 tablespoons of pesto on the bottom bun. Place cheeseburger on top and 4 slices of roasted red peppers on top.

Serve and enjoy!

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Sun-dried tomatoes happen to be one of my favorite ingredients to cook with, so you can imagine how excited I was when they contacted us to try their products.  I was giddy when the package arrived and I was able to sink my teeth into these amazingly flavorful sun-dried tomatoes. 

We were also able to try Mooney Farms' extra virgin olive oil.  I was pleasantly surprised by the fruity and fragrant olive oil when I opened the bottle.  After appreciating the aroma, I drizzled it on a piece of crusty bread and savored the flavor.  Pesto with this olive oil was definitely in my future!  More on that recipe later this week.

After trying many of the products and making pastas, bruschetta, roasted potatoes and so much more.  I was thrilled and knew I had to share this line with our readers.  I am happy to tell you that Mooney Farms is very generously giving away a Mediterranean Gift basket with an approximate retail value of $125 to one lucky TSRI reader.




Giveaway Rules  GIVEAWAY CLOSED
There is only 1 mandatory entry.  However, you can earn 3 extra entries by performing additional tasks. Contest will close Monday June 25th @ 12:01am.  The winner will be chosen using a random number generator and will be announced Monday June 25th in our daily article.

Mandatory Entry
"Like" The Slow Roasted Italian on Facebook and leave a comment on our Facebook wall "I am a Slow Roaster!"  Return to this post and leave a comment stating that you completed this task.  If you already LIKE TSRI, just leave the comment and come back here and comment that you already like TSRI on Facebook.

BONUS Entries
BONUS - Click through to allParenting.com and check out our Cotton Candy Martini or our Fully Loaded Tex Mex Sliders - LIKE the article with Facebook or PIN it with Pinterest.  Look above the photo in the article for these options.  Return to this post and leave a separate comment stating that you completed this task.

BONUS - "Follow" us on Pinterest and 'PIN' the Tuscan Summer Burger.  Return to this post and leave a separate comment stating that you completed this task.

EXTRA BONUS - "Follow" us on Twitter and tweet about our giveaway.  " Win the @BellaSunLuci $125 Mediterranean Gift basket #Giveaway via @Slow_Roasted http://theslowroasteditalian.blogspot.com/2012/06/tuscan-summer-sun-dried-tomato-burger.html "
Then come back and leave a comment stating you completed this task.

EXTRA BONUS - "LIKE" Mooney Farms on Facebook and comment on their wall "I am a Slow Roaster".  Leave a comment here stating you completed this task.

(TWO) BONUS ENTRIES - Earn one bonus entry by following us on Pinterest and Pinning this Cherry Limeade Cocktail. Leave a comment on this post stating you completed this task.

 Earn one bonus entry by LIKING the Cherry Limeade Cocktail post from today on Facebook (see the Facebook button at the bottom of that post).  Leave a comment on this post stating you completed this task.

FRIDAY (THREE) FINAL BONUS ENTRIES - Earn one bonus entry by following us on StumbleUpon and Stumbling Scrumptious Strawberry Banana Popsicles (click the SU button at the bottom of that post).

Earn one bonus entry by following us on Pinterest and Pinning Scrumptious Strawberry Banana Popsicles (PIN button at top of that post). Leave a comment on this post stating you completed this task.

Earn one bonus entry by SHARING the Scrumptious Strawberry Banana Popsicles post from today on Facebook (see the Facebook button at the bottom of that post).  Leave a comment on this post stating you completed this task.

Thank you all for your participation, we hope you have enjoyed have new entries every day rather than having a bunch to complete in one day.  Don't forget to check back Monday to see the winner and the NEW GIVEAWAY!!!
 

The Slow Roasted Italian was given a sample package to review these products. We were not compensated in any other way. The opinions expressed in this article are the opinions of The Slow Roasted Italian and are no way influenced.

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