Serve Up Some Love This Fourth of July

Grill with your children for an exciting shared experience

(Family Features) Many of today’s families have something in the kitchen that previous generations didn’t – more men involved in meal preparation. On the Fourth of July, that trend will likely continue as men, especially fathers, take to the grill to prepare popular summer fare for the family.

As millennials shatter stereotypes and share household tasks, fathers are using cooking as a way of bonding with their children by making their favorite family meals together. According to a study conducted by Men’s Health, more men are helping out in the kitchen than ever. Not only are they becoming primary grocery shoppers, but 92 percent of men surveyed said they are preparing meals for themselves and 77 percent are preparing meals for others.

Men are also among the ranks of the top food bloggers, often writing about their cooking adventures with their children. Among them is Derek Campanile of “Dad with a Pan,” whose passion for cooking and sharing recipes grew even stronger with the birth of his son.

“I’ve always enjoyed cooking for people and mixing different ingredients to come up with something everyone enjoys, but it wasn’t until I became a dad that it truly began to sink in,” Campanile said. “When I cook with my son, food is so much more than food – it’s pure love. Cooking together makes it fun to come to the table and enjoy great food.”

Many times, fatherly chefs include meat in all kinds of recipes, but swapping in an ingredient like Jennie-O turkey for beef makes it easy to modify their favorites into more nutritious choices for the entire family without sacrificing flavor. Give it a try with this Easy Cheesy Burgers recipe that makes it simple for parents to cook with their kids this Fourth of July.

Find more ways to involve the whole family in the kitchen at jennieo.com.

Easy Cheesy Burgers

Servings: 8

• 2          packages (16 ounces each) Jennie-O Lean Ground Turkey
• 1          teaspoon kosher salt
• 1          cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1          cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 8          sesame seeds buns, warmed
• ketchup (optional)
• yellow mustard (optional)

1. Heat grill or griddle to medium heat.
2. In large bowl, gently combine ground turkey and salt. Shape ground turkey into eight balls. Cover with plastic.
3. Mix mozzarella and cheddar to create eight piles of shredded cheese, each between 1/4-1/3 cup.
4. Grill patties 12-15 minutes, or until cooked through. Always cook to well-done (165 F) as measured by a meat thermometer.
5. Once patties are cooked through, place on aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Top patties with shredded cheese and place under broiler 3-5 minutes; cook until cheese is bubbly.
6. Place patties on warmed buns. Add ketchup and mustard, if desired.

SOURCE:
Jennie-O