blog - Mom's Dinner

Raspberry Vodka Soda: My Favorite Summer Cocktail

July 19, 2018 by Susie Weinrich 2 Comments

It’s been a long hot week and I know just what you need: a cold and refreshing cocktail that isn’t sugary. A drink that is made with delicious fruity flavor and a few bubbles. Let me mix you up a Raspberry Vodka Soda, it’s My Favorite Summer Cocktail.

top of a cocktail that is garnished with lemon and raspberries

The Raspberry Vodka Soda is a super easy-to-make cocktail that is refreshing and not sweet, or sugary but is full of raspberry flavor, and fresh citrusy lemon. It is an easy to drink cocktail, so you can have 2 or 3 and not feel like you just drank a candy bar’s worth of sugar.

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Grilled Chicken & Vegetables with Horseradish Cream Sauce

July 17, 2018 by Susie Weinrich 14 Comments

Never eat a plain grilled chicken breast again… unless you want to, then do! But if you want an excellent way to take your grilled chicken to the next level this recipe for Grilled Chicken & Vegetables with Horseradish Cream Sauce is for you…

a plate of grilled veggies and chicken topped with cream sauce

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Flavorful & Healthy- Grilled Chili Lime Turkey Burgers

June 19, 2018 by Susie Weinrich 17 Comments

We have all had a grilled turkey burger that is dry, overcooked, and under-seasoned! Let me save you from that fate ever again with this amazing recipe for Grilled Chili Lime Turkey Burgers. This is a perfectly seasoned and flavorful, juicy turkey burger recipe.

a close up of a juicy turkey burger with guacamole

To make sure you end up with a well seasoned and flavorful grilled turkey burger I fill it with garlic, fresh lime zest, green chilies, and chili powder. These ingredients make a perfect compliment to the grilled turkey flavor.

And next time you fire up the grill check out these Juicy Turkey Burgers , Classic Hamburgers or Grilled Pork Burgers!

Chili Lime Turkey Burgers for Dinner

I am all about balance when I make my weekly meal plan. I do not strive to keep EVERY night low calorie, low carb or even healthy! Sometimes we have Sloppy Joes and fries or grilled steak and Cheesy Potato Casserole. Then sometimes we have Grilled Chicken Salad or Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast and Grilled Fresh Veggies.

I love this recipe for Chili Lime Turkey Burgers as a more “healthy” option to mix into our weekly meal plan. The lean ground turkey is a great healthy meat option and by adding all the seasonings and spices it still tastes decadent.

a turkey burger with jalapenos and salsa

When we have these grilled turkey burgers for dinner I like to have baked sweet potato fries and skewered & grilled onions and peppers.

…However, in all honesty, if I’m too tired to make all those sides- I might just pull out some tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole to have on the side!…it’s better than the alternative- cereal!

How to Make Chili Lime Turkey Burgers

Start by prepping your grill for direct heat.

Make a panade with 1 slice of white or wheat bread cut into small pieces, crust removed. Add in the milk, lime zest, drained can of diced green chilies, minced garlic, chili powder, onion powder, kosher salt and pepper.

Mix that all together until it makes a nice paste. This will keep your turkey burgers juicy while they are on the grill.

Add the ground turkey. You want to make sure you are using a 93% lean ground turkey. It has more flavor and has enough fat to keep your burgers from drying out.

Using a fork or clean hands lightly mix the mixture until the seasonings and chilies are incorporated evenly. Overmixing will create a tough turkey burger.

Divide your ground turkey mixture into 4 equal portions and for four ¼ lb turkey burgers.

Pro Tip: You can use a large round cookie cutter to form equal and really pretty patties!

Now press your thumb into the middle of each patty and make a small dent. That will help the burgers from shrinking into little hockey pucks on the grill.

Pro Tip: Cut a large piece of parchment paper into 4 small squares. Place them under each patty or between each patty if you are stacking the turkey burgers. This will make it super easy to pick up the raw turkey patties and put them on the grill without having them stick to the sheet pan!

Do NOT skip this step….Prep the grill grate by brushing it with a little olive oil. I also brush the raw turkey burger patties with olive oil. This will prevent the burgers from sticking to the grill.

turkey burger with pico de gallo and jalapenos

Grill the turkey burgers over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes per side. Make sure your burgers are cooked thru to 165 degree internal temperature.

Let the burgers rest for about 5 minutes, uncovered, before serving.

Toppings for your Chili Lime Turkey Burger

I like to top my Chili Lime Turkey Burgers with pico de gallo, guacamole and lettuce. The pico de gallo and guacamole compliment the flavors in the grilled turkey burger perfectly, and the lettuce adds a little crunch. Some other good toppings for this burger would be:

Melted pepper jack cheese
Pickled jalapenos
Salsa
Raw Tomatillo Salsa or Grilled Tomatillo Salsa
Fresh Jalapenos for spice!
A squeeze of fresh lime juice
Pickled banana pepper rings
Red onions
Melted Pepper Jack Cheese
Crumbled queso fresco
Fresh sliced avocado
Grilled onion slices

two turkey burgers topped with guacamole salsa and jalapenos

More Grilled Burger Recipes

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The new gameshow, 100 Cooks, premieres on Food Network June 7th, 2026 at 9est/8cst. I hope you will tune in!

Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Mango Jalapeno BBQ Sauce

June 12, 2018 by Susie Weinrich 7 Comments

These Chicken Kabobs are the perfect summer night dinner. The homemade BBQ sauce is full of bright flavors like mango, jalapeno, and tomato, balanced with the deep smoky flavor of chili powder and smoked paprika. All those flavors pair perfectly with the warm charcoal grilled chicken.

skewers of grilled chicken coated in mango bbq sauce

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How to Make Meatball Subs

June 4, 2018 by Susie Weinrich 72 Comments

It's summer. It's 90 degrees. The kids have been in the pool for hours, and the last thing you want to do is head home and spend an hour in the kitchen. I've been there-and I know I'm not the only one. On those hot, exhausting days when everyone's hungry and no one has the energy to cook, that's exactly when you need this Easy Meatball Sub recipe.

easy meatball sub sandwiches topped with melted cheese

This isn't a fancy, from-scratch dinner. It's a real-life solution that's quick and satisfying. I'm giving you full permission to use frozen meatballs and jarred marinara (perfect excuse to grab that half-empty jar from the fridge) to make a delicious dinner without the fuss. Add a few spices, melt the cheese, and pile it all onto buns. These Meatball Subs are flexible, foolproof, and 100% approved by tired parents and hungry kids everywhere.

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What does a meatball sub contain?

Frozen Meatballs – Yep! I give you total permission to make an incredible dinner with frozen meatballs. Not everything has to be homemade to be delicious. Pick your family's favorite frozen meatball and get this dinner started.
Buns – Since this is a pretty hearty sandwich I would opt for a hoagie bun instead of a hot dog bun. it is going to hold up to the sauce, cheese, and big meatballs best.
Cheese – Choose a melty cheese that will go well with Italian flavors. Provolone, mozzarella or even Monterey jack will work great.
Marinara Sauce – You can use store bought marinara or pizza sauce here! I'm guessing you have a jar of marinara sauce in your pantry right now… use that! Nothing special, just use that one that you like the flavor of best.
Seasonings – A mix of garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes makes the toasted bun/roll even tastier!

What Meatballs to Use in a Meatball Sub

So, again, super flexible with the meatballs in this “recipe”. It just calls for store-bought frozen meatballs, just like this Instant Pot Spaghetti with Frozen Meatballs. You can use turkey, chicken, sausage, or beef meatballs. Whatever your family likes!

If you are a fan of Costco like we are, then you should definitely check out these Italian Beef Meatballs. They are our favorite:

Kirkland cooked Meatballs Italian Style Beef from Costco

These are the meatballs that I choose to use in my Easy Meatball Subs. They are seasoned to perfection and have an almost grilled flavor in the background.

Two meatball sub sandwiches, one with cheese, one without

But if you really want to make your own meatballs, these are delicious, easy and quick recipes for Instant Pot Italian Meatballs and Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs. Or you can check out these Baked Italian Meatballs or Chicken Meatballs.

Meatball Sub Recipe Variations

As you have read previously, this recipe is super flexible! There are lots of ways you can customize Easy Meatball Subs to suit your family:

Make it vegetarian by using veggie meatballs.
Try using turkey, chicken or sausage meatballs.
Use whatever cheese you have in the house. Mozzarella, Provolone, Gouda, or Monterey Jack would all work perfectly!
Kick up the heat by adding a lot of red pepper flakes.
Use whatever marinara sauce your family loves.
Try adding a little pesto for a basil heavy flavor.
If you have fresh basil in your fridge or on the back patio, give it a quick chop and sprinkle it on the sub.

Three meatball sub sandwiches with melted cheese

What to Serve with Meatballs Subs

This is a great casual dinner that comes together quickly. So plan on side dishes that also come together quickly with very little effort. Some of my favorites are frozen green beans popped in the oven with a little extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper, a big store-bought caesar salad, or pan sauteed zucchini with garlic and parmesan.

If you need it to be really easy, open a bag of kettle chips and grab some baby carrots out of the fridge. #reallife

Dinner Recipes

If you like this recipe, here are some other easy dinner recipes on Mom’s Dinner:

If you made this recipe let me know how it turned out! Comment below, drop me a line, rate the recipe, or share it on social media. The buttons at the top of the page make it super easy to share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.

I hope you give this “recipe” for Easy Meatball Subs a try in your kitchen.

Love- Susie

More meatball Recipes

Meatball Subs (with store bought meatballs)

Easy Meatball Subs come together in minutes and are a delicious crowd pleasing dinner. I use store- bought frozen meatballs to keep this recipe super simple!

4.97 from 58 votes

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 10

frozen meatballs: 10

Total Time: 20

Servings: people

Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

▢ 16 store bought frozen meatballs - I like Costco’s Italian Beef Meatballs
▢ 4 hoagie rolls - or hot dog buns if that is what you have
▢ ½ cup marinara sauce, divided
▢ 1 cup mozzarella or provolone cheese, divided
▢ grated parmesan cheese
▢ extra virgin olive oil
▢ garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes

Instructions

Bake your meatballs according to package instructions
Preheat the oven to 400
Open the hoagie buns and lay facing up on a sheet pan. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and generously sprinkle on the garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Red pepper flakes are optional if you like a little heat.
Place in the preheated oven for about 5 minutes to get a good crisp on the bread.
Place 1 tablespoon of marinara on the bottom bun of each hoagie. Optional- sprinkle generously with parmesan cheese.
Top with 4 meatballs.
Top the meatballs with 1 tablespoon of marinara.
Top it off with ¼ cup cheese.
Place the hoagies back in the oven for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

HOMEMADE MEATBALLS- If you prefer to make your own meatballs, check out either one of these recipes:

Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!

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Friday Gratitude- Summer & James Taylor 6-1-18

June 1, 2018 by Susie Weinrich 1 Comment

Summer…sweet, sweet summer! I love the long days at the pool, bronzed sun kissed skin, warm nights, dinner on the grill, lazy schedules, and lots of time with friends.

I’m looking forward to a fun-filled summer!

Here are a few moments of gratitude from the past week:

End of the Year Party

I have written in other gratitude posts about how lucky and fortunate I feel to have found an amazing group of friends in my community. Most of which are other Moms in my daughters grade. One of those friends is an amazing woman who can bring together a community and plan an event like you have never seen before.

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Fresh Pineapple with Citrus Cilantro Glaze

May 31, 2018 by Susie Weinrich 12 Comments

This Pineapple Side Dish is SO good with ANY Mexican or BBQ dinner! Fresh cut pineapple is marinated in a sweet citrus cilantro marinade. The flavors combine perfectly, making a fresh and bright side dish!

fresh pineapple side dish in a bowl garnished with cilantro

Ingredients

This is a pretty simple recipe. You only need 5 ingredients.

pineapple, orange, lime, honey and cilantro on a table

Tips on How to Pick a Ripe Pineapple

Here are 4 pro tips to help you pick the sweetest, ripest pineapple at the store:

Use your nose! Give that pineapple a big whiff. If the smell of sweet pineapple is coming thru it’s thick spiny skin then you are in luck. You have found a nice ripe one.
Give it a little squeeze! If the fruit has a very tiny give and is not rock hard, then you are in business. This is a good one.
Take a good look! The fruit will change colors on the inside AND the outside as it ripens. If the outside has a nice yellow glow from top to bottom, you can bet the inside is nice and ripe. Just make sure the pineapple is not starting to turn orange. At that point it is over-ripe.
Give it a tug! Pull gently on the very top leaves of the pineapple. If the leaves pull out with very little effort, it’s ready to go.

If you have fresh pineapple leftover you can pop it in the freezer and make these amazing Frozen Pineapple Margaritas!

Step by Step Picture Guide

Start by cutting your fresh pineapple, you can also watch the video in the recipe card:

Cut the top and bottom from the pineapple and discard, (about ½ inch each).
Now cut the spiny skin from the outside, working top to bottom, discard the skin. Make sure you cut off all the brown “eyes” on the pineapple flesh.
Cut the golden flesh from the core, again working from top to bottom, you will see the round hard core in the center.
Finally cut each wedge into ½-1 inch pieces, if any of the core is still attached to the wedges, remove that and discard.

Now make the glaze by whisking together the honey, orange juice, lime zest and juice, and finely chopped cilantro.

Place the pineapple in a large bowl and pour the glaze over top. Toss it all together.

cilantro citrus marinade and cut pineapple

Place in the fridge to marinate for at least 6 hours, up to 24 hours. I recommend you stir it once or twice through the marinating process.

Recipe Tips

Pick a ripe pineapple using the tips above. But, if you find yourself with an under-ripe pineapple this is an excellent recipe to add sweetness!
Use all fresh ingredients to get the best flavor.
Trust me, cilantro and pineapple are amazing together.
You can eat this pineapple side dish right away, but it is SO much better if you can let it marinate for a couple hours.

Throw together an amazing Mexican Dinner with these dishes and a side of Fresh Cilantro Pineapple!

fresh pineapple in a bowl with a citrus cilantro glaze over top

Fresh Pineapple with Citrus Cilantro Glaze + Video

A fresh pineapple recipe that makes an amazing side dish! Fresh cut pineapple in marinated in a citrus cilantro marinade.

This side dish pairs really well with spicy, Mexican, or barbecue flavors.

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 0

Marinating: 6

Servings: servings

Calories: 71kcal

Author: Susie Weinrich