gingershelley's Profile
Homemade burgers just don't taste right.
ACgold, you are right-on with advice for a 'fast food patty' treatment. 70/30 cheap meat is the way to roll for a griddled mickey-D taste-alike burger.
Well put.
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
roxlet - thanks SO much for the dressing. I just want to dip everything in it. So far, just my finger, and a couple spears of raw asparagus.
Getting OFF my butt to head to the veggy stand for artichokes; shall report back on that!
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Yum, MC, a 'salady thing' sounds great...
Glad your takin' it easy today:)
Shrimps not "smooth" after boiling (or poaching) for shrimp cocktail
Joan nYC, what ELSE goes into your simmer/boil pot you cook your shrimp in, and what is your actual cooking technique? DO you 'boil", or do you 'poach", etc.? Add bay leaves, lemon, anything to the water?
Tell that, and I can probably trouble shoot for you....
Homemade burgers just don't taste right.
Check out Charcuterie by Michel Ruhlman to get some help on ground meat/fat proportions, and why your having the fall-apart patty problem.
As for taste, IMHO, I think a fast-food burger patty tastes like CRAP on it's own, unless it is a $6-8 dollar 'supposed-Angus' burger. In that case, I am sure there is all kinds of additives besides beef in there. For the cheap patties, ditto, but truly crappy meat combined with the additives.
I only eat at Mickey-D's or Burger King a couple times a year (allways after remembering with that sick little tummy ache WHY that is), and again - IMHO, those burgers taste GREAT - just while eating - as they are a well thought out combo of a bun with LOADS of salt and sugar in them so the bun is loaded with glutamates in and of itself. Condiments - carefully thought out in terms of order of placement. WAY more sauce/mayo, what have you than you might put on at home. Those burgers are not just 'patty', but 'total construction' science experiments.
As for home ground burgers - which we make here, I grind in a bit of buillion paste (better than buillion) for extra beefy-ness, and add onion to be ground into the mix, as well as salt pepper and a trace of sugar as well into the ground beef mix to up the flavor quotient.
S&P just on the outside doesn't cut it here. Also, we don't grind fat seperately and add it in. No way to get that to come together with the meat. You have to grind them together for a good balance and patties that hold together. I only have about 10% fat in mine, and they grill up perfect every time.... tho not flat thin patties; more like 1/4" at minimum in thickness. Like em' rare or, MR stuffed with cheese:)
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
So had to resort to 'hair of the dog', and just made a vodka tonic; in less than 5 minutes my headache went away. Kind of scary, but I shall ignore the ominous thoughts about my drinking habits for now and plan dinner.
Looks like GF and her sweet boy Sam - who is almost 5, are coming over for early al fresco bbq; We shall keep it simple with hot dogs for Sam - and maybe me too. Corn on the cob for all.
The ladies shall have grilled fennel-crusted rare tuna steaks, on a bed of baby spinach with that awesome lemon-caper dressing roxlet posted from Food 52 up-thread. Adding some tomato wedges around the edge of the plates, and if I can get my but to the store, I will also steam a couple artichokes, grill a bit to up the ante, and we will all eat those to start off (more of that dressing on tap). Sam likes to pull the leaves through his teeth. My little gourmand in training!
fresh rasberries and vanilla ice cream - bought - for 'afters'. A nice chilled rose for us ladies....
As guests will be gone by 7:30 or so, I can relax in front of the tube later and probably to bed early!
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Oh, MC - watch that foot! I sense you are a woman who can just ignore the pain if it's 'inconvenient' - until it's so bad it can't be ignored.
A gratin of chipotle cream, cauliflower and cheese sounds delish, and I think I can smell that Pernil from here:)
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Wow, Phreddy, that is HOT out - see why your having the party indoors!
Keep an eye on that niecey....
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
I have a very sexy vintage mumu around here somewhere I use for a bathing suit coverup. Love it!
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Well, ladies, it had clearly been a while since I was at anything that festive too - and am feeling it today!
Seemed I was fine when I got up, but by the time I drove the hour plus home, did a few things around the house and cleaned the kitchen, my bod was screaming "sit the f---- down!". Finished reading "The Sorcerer's Aprentices, about stagiers at El Bulli (recommend), and now either need a double espresso or a nap to deal with the growing headache. NOT so young anymore I can do THAT party every night. Think I shouldn't have tried so many different beverages....
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Well, I thank my groovy hosts, and their festive friends with such great palates. May be able to finally get a gourmet club out of this bunch going.
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
We were lucky boyzoma, it cleared up around 4pm, and the sun came out. Still not very warm, but a nice evening. Today is turning out sunny as well! Love it when the weatherman is wrong in our favor. Unusual for us to have good weather and you bad - usally other way around:).
The SUN is the only reason I can even think of cooking again seriously today... but not JUST YET....
May 2012 COTM: Food of Spain and Moro The Fish, Poultry, and Meat Thread
Yum, Gio, and I aplaud your reasoning in making the dressing first. Good advice. Will make this one too.
May 2012 COTM: Food of Spain and Moro The Fish, Poultry, and Meat Thread
Looks great BC, and the Sangria too:). I need to make this one; have the imported butter beans in the cupboard, and good clams are easy to get here. This will be Tuesday I think. Good weeknight easy dinner you all say...
May 2012 COTM: Food of Spain and Moro The Fish, Poultry, and Meat Thread
LN, I MUST make this dish... duck breasts on the shopping list NOW, so I shan't forget again:0
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Well, home now a little bleary-eyed from the McMansion goat roast soiree! Several of us spent the night on various couches and guest rooms, as of course - we were out in the middle of bum****, down windy country roads - and MUCH libationing occured.
The spread was fabulous, the company sparkling.
As to the food; starters included new potatoes with sour cream and caviar stuffing, cold smoked salmon canapes on dark bread, one of the guests home made soft goat cheese rolled in snipped chives. A huge punchbowl with ginger syrup, dark rum, lot's of lime, sparkling water and ice was the drink du jour. As the groaning buffet filled as guests kept arriving ended up with several interesting salads; including a wild rice one with a creamy garlic dressing, fava's, roasted peppers and snipped dried apricots; my wierd sweet potato salad; the ol' fav 10 layer salad (I LOVE that stuff!), a nearly pitch-perfect classic potato salad, but with poppy seeds in it, which was pretty awesome, texture-wise. There were several kinds of housemade sausages - a nice white bockwurst with sweet spices that POPPED when you bit it, a lamb murguez with smoked paprika, and an italian 'dog' I had no room to taste. All kinds of condiments from caramelized onions to 5 mustards, a bunch of pickly things.
Then there was the roasted goat! I do love me some cabrio! This guy had been mopped with some kind of mojo, stuffed with garlic, herbs and cut oranges and roast-grilled in one of those caj a china boxes. They were off on a side area that was pretty much man-land all afternoon, so I didn't catch much of the actual process. It was fun to see 5 1/2 drunk guys parade that thing to the buffet though, up on their shoulders and a couple kids following them banging on drums. Fun! There were roasted peppers and potatoes that cooked with it, and piles of tortillas and several salsa's and some awesome beans as well.
Piles of berries, pound cake, and drunken watermelon rounded things out. Along with coolers of beer, sangria and wine.
Around 9, when it was finally dark (around here, evenings stay light until nearly 9 now - one of the best perks of the NW!), people were either dancing or headed in shifts to the hot tub.
Great party, ended this morning with loads of coffee and pans of cinnamon rolls, and lot's of hangovers.
I am going to relax with a book for part of the day, then try to get interested in grilling again here at home tonight. When I recover more, I will think about tonight's menu!
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Food sounds delish MC (again, please pass me a deviled egg:).
I HATE that when I find the propane tank empty, AARRGH is right. That happens too often here as I use it alot on my outdoor patio heater as well. Thank God I have a backup grill that is piped to the house natural gas, tho it is a crappy grill. I use it for convenience too often over my much bette Webber. Sometimes, ease rules.
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
MaryC, "libationing'.... hhmmm. Sounds dirty:) hehehee
Best Korean or authentic Chinese (any region) in Shoreline? Dinner out tonight!
Well, the menu says 'MORE than two"... perhaps if they aren't busy, they don't enforce that - or - it's bad translation, and they mean 'two or more'.
We didn't end up asking, as my sister thought it would be too much food. I will go back with someone with a better appetite, and report!
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
OUCH! roxlet. Hate slicing off the tip of my finger... thanks for the dressing link. Sounds like my kind of flavor profile:)
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
phreddy, corn here is running 5-6 ears for $2, on special for the holiday.....coming from CA, I believe.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp-"Lend Me Your Recipes, Please"
A great alternative with less grease than bacon for shrimp is to substitute proscuitto for the bacon; I like this much better, sweetness also goes well with sweetness of shrimp.
Best ever, is to skewer proscuitto wrapped shrimps on a roasemary frond, soak for 1/2 an hour in Sambucca, then bake at 450 for about 7-10 minutes if you can't grill them. SO good!
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
THE MONKEYS are here! Shecrab, I too had perfected that particular facial expression when I was married:).... The spread sounds good enough to keep their mouths full for sure so you don't have to have too much inane conversation. Especially love the ice cream, and that intriuging aspic. Can you share a recipe?
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
SO glad MC that the dang boot really helps with the pain. That must have sucked to go so long with all that hurtin'!
Pork in all it's forms you have going sounds great. Happy holiday weekend, and pass those deviled eggs:)
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
CM, Below is a link that comes close. I don't know where I got the recipe from anymore... I first made it to take to a bbq potluck over 10 years ago; just wing it now as I make it at least a couple of times each year and have this crazy ability to remember recipes in my head.
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recipetemplateb.php?scale=8&mid=7197
So make this, but do 1/2 sweet potatoes/ 1/2 yukons, or more fun, blue potatoes.
Also, add the microplane zest of 1 lime. 1 diced tart apple like granny smith. Add a couple of minced green onions. You can also add some dried cranberries - optional.
I like this topped with toasted salted pepita's (from TJ's) better than pecans. This salad has always been well recieved... several friends request it at group functions. And it looks great!
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Well, tonight is solo BBQ on a beautiful night here in the NW; after a day at the Edmonds Jazz fest w/ Dad - man that guy remembers when he was a HOT saxaphonist in SoCal, running his car club and his dance band from San Diego to Carpinteria, in his late teens. Gotta love it.
He and the Mrs. went home for BBQ with their friends, and I came home to my lovely Shangrila home...
Simple rib steak marinated in rub of garlic, smoked paprika, dash of worstechire and Aleppo n olive oil. Will grill over charcoal with a side of Baked potato (smoked) with spring onions and Mexi Crema and coarse salt, grilled local asparagus... that's about it tonight!
There may be an apearance of frozen Mango Ice with home-made vanilla ice cream later... Hope to keep that in check. Summer is here, and my jeans are still OUT carousing with MC, etc... sigh.
While prepping that, reddying for tomorrow's group feast, at a friends Microsoft Mini McMansion out in the country... will bring that interesting potato salad with golden sweet potatoes cut by 1/2 blue new potatoes; dressing of Major Grey chutney, yogurt, mayo, lime peel, raisins, diced apple, red onion + some spices and seasonings.... SO good, and different, and pretty.....
There will be a spread there with garden tomatoes, arugula salad, grilled lamb, sausages from someone's (yet to meet) gourmet friend who makes their own, and I hear - a China -roasted marinated goat on offer... more words on the BBQ tomorrow!
Here is to GRILL-axin' on the Sat. of the long weekend:)
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Bow down to the Edna (Ms. Lewis, may you live on forever in your books and writing, and colaborations...), and the pernicious sand that asks for another shower,.
I say, this weekend, here' is to the SOUTH, and a young, creative cook finding her way into our midst. Inspriation, and a Firefly cocktail; I salute you, SheCrab!
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Grilled blanched Kale with garlic?
Grilled steamed potato slices made into salad w/ strong mustard viniagrette with spring salad onions and hard boiled eggs. YUM.
Roasted peppers with sherry vinegar and roasted garlic.
Roasted peaches with bourbon and honey:)
What's for Dinner? #146 - Memorial Day Edition
Nice Ideas SheCrab... for a young one, you are on point :)
