Happy Hour Sliders

Another recipe from Healthy Decadence on discovery health channel...they looked yummy! Another recipe I'm not sure how well we can eat since surgery, but I wanted to share.

Olive oil spray
11 ounce tube refrigerator crusty French loaf dough
18 ounces 96% lean ground beef
salt and pepper, to taste
Green leaf lettuce (optional)
12 1/8-inch thick plum tomato slices (optional)
24 dill pickle rounds (optional)
Ketchup or Dijon Mustard, to taste (optional)
3 slices (3/4 ounce each) 2 percent milk American cheese slices (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mist a 13x9x2 inch glass baking dish with spray.

Remove the dough from the tube and place it on a cutting board. Cut it into 12 equal rounds (about 1-inch thick each). Place the rounds side by side (cut sides should be on the top and bottom) on the baking dish leaving about 3/4-inch between them. Press each, to flatten it slightly to about 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Transfer the sheet to the oven and bake the rolls for about 20-22 minutes until they are golden brown and no longer doughy in the center.

Place a sheet of waxed paper on a flat work surface. Divide the beef into 12 equal amounts. Roll each into a ball, packing the meat tightly, then press each into a 3-inch diameter patty. Season both sides of the patties with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate the patties until the rolls are cooked.

Meanwhile, preheat a grill to high heat. Arrange the lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, ketchup and/or mustard, if using, on a platter or in small bowls to accompany a platter big enough to hold 12 sliders. Cut the cheese slices in quarters, to make 4 even squares, if using.

Let the cooked rolls cool for about 2 minutes until warm. Cut each open to make a mini bun. Place the patties on the grill. Grill them about 45 seconds per side for medium rare or until desired doneness is reached. Add one cheese square to each durjng the last 20 seconds of cooking, if using.

Then place one patty on each bun. Transfer them to the serving platter. Serve immediately with optional ingredients, if desired.

Makes 12 sliders. Each slider has: 113 calories, 11 g protein, 12 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat, less than 1 g saturated fat, 23 mg cholesterol, 0 g fiber, 187 mg sodium

Traditional Slider (1 each) has: 173 calories, 8 g protein, 15 g carbohydrates, 9g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 24 mg cholesterol, less than 1 g fiber, 323 mg sodium