Recipe: "Fun" Burgers (and Grocery Shopping)

"FUN" Burgers are grilled portabella mushrooms topped with garden fresh tomato, roasted red pepper, fresh mozzarella, and a little pesto sauce served on a whole wheat bun.  These summer burgers are a nice alternative to traditional beef burgers -- filling, juicy, and quite tasty!  I should note that the name "FUN" burger (selected by Abby) is short for "Fungus" burgers, but the full name isn't nearly as appealing for a recipe title is it?

FUN Burgers
(my own creation)

Ingredients:
- Portabella Mushrooms (1/person), stems removed
- Thick slices of garden ripened tomato
- Fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- Roasted red pepper (we grilled ours, but you could use canned)
- Prepared pesto sauce (or you could use a bunch of basil leaves and a little oil)
- Whole wheat burger buns

1) Fire up the grill or heat up a grill pan.
2) Lightly brush the top of the mushrooms and peppers with olive oil.
3) Put the pepper and mushrooms on the grill (gill side facing coals) for 5-7 minutes.  Flip everything and cook another 5-7 minutes.  When the mushrooms are soft and mushroomy juices are collecting on the top, add a spoonful of pesto sauce into each mushroom top and then add slices of mozzarella and tomato into the tops and let cook for another 2 or 3 minutes to melt the cheese (put the lid on the grill for this step to melt faster).
4) Remove "Fun" burgers from grill; add the red peppers and enjoy! 
5) Try again sometime with other vegetables -- you could add spinach leaves or grilled zucchini or eggplant or whatever vegetables you would like to layer on top of melted mozzarella. 

Onto a totally different topic....grocery shopping has just gotten a whole, whole lot more fun in the greater Malvern area better because yesterday the Cadillac of grocery stores has finally opened its doors. Sunday was the grand opening of our new WEGMANS.  And, even though I knew it would be insanely crowded (and it was), I took the whole family to wander around the store and marvel at its immenseness (and also to try all the delicious free samples).  We snacked our way through the entire store -- trying triple creme bree on some kind of French bread, ultimate chocolate cake, blueberry/cranberry bread, corn pops with raspberry jam, etc., etc.  It is now my very closest and already my most favorite grocery store, and I am ridiculously happy! 

Yes, I do know that it is a wee bit pathetic to get this excited about food shopping.  Yes, I know that the prices are not quite as low as those at Giant when on 'Bonus Buy'.  But, the regular food prices are the same as Giants' and what a glorious difference in attitude towards food. The produce is fresh and featured!  It is shopping where food is celebrated, instead of the regular grocery shopping drudgery. And, in only one more week, Target is opening right next store.  I'm in mom-shopping bliss over here!!!!