A Tribute to Family: Bryan's Turkey Burger Recipe

It's been just over two weeks since my last post. Things in our world were just thrown upside down, as two weeks ago Wednesday we received a call that Bryan's Auntie Judy had been admitted to the hospital. Needless to say we were shocked as Judy, one of Bryan's closest aunts, was always full of vigor and monitored her health very, very closely. It turns out, she played it her health card too close to the vest. Only 63 years old and married for 43 years, Judy had battled (and beat) breast cancer several years ago. However, a few years later the cancer came back near her stomach. Judy kept this news to herself -- undergoing many rounds of chemotherapy and various treatments alone -- preferring to spend quality time with her family and just-born granddaughter without causing them any worry. Well, after three years of fighting, the cancer had spread beyond repair and Judy was hospitalized. When we got the call, we dropped everything, packed our bags (and Charlie's) and drove up to the Bay Area. It was only then that we learned the truth and severity of the situation. After three days in the hospital and many visits by her loved ones, Judy passed away peacefully with her husband and sister-in-law by her side.

Needless to say the past week-and-a-half has been incredibly emotional as we've all comes to terms with the situation. Whether we agree with Judy's decision is beside the point; we just lost one of the most fun-loving, straight-shooting, brave and compassionate women in our world. Judy was more than just Bryan's aunt; she was a second mom, a shoulder to cry on, and an ear to listen. We love her very much and she will be missed more than she'll ever know.

All that said, it's a bit hard for me to just jump back into blogging. However, I think I've got the perfect post to get back into the spirit: a family recipe. It might not be Judy's famous ziti, but it's one of my favorite recipes that just happens to come from my husband, Bryan. It's comforting, it's delicious and he's been making it since we first started dating, making minor adjustments throughout our relationship and finally perfecting it just a few weeks ago. What is it? A turkey burger, dubbed by yours truly as the Bishop Burger. It's a staple in our household and I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we do.

Bishop's Burgers
3/4 lb of ground turkey meat 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil1 egg white1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard (dijon works as a substitute)1/4 cup diced white onion1 clove garlic, diced3 tablespoons feta cheese1-2 dashes Worcestershire sauceSaltFreshly ground black pepper1 beer (for the handsome cook)Sliced tomatoes, for toppingGrilled onion, for topping1 ciabatta bun, brushed with extra virgin olive oil and toasted on grill