Burgers

These were the best burgers ever!  I think they were 5 guys quality!

1 lb ground beef
2 TSB ketchup
Several dashes of worcershire sauce
1/4 cup panko crumbs
1/2 TBS garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp parsley flakes
4 slices of colby jack cheese
8 slices coooked bacon
8 bread and butter pickle slices
mayo, mustard, ketchup
4 hamburger buns, buttered and toasted on the griddle

mix the ground beef with the ketchup, worcershire sauce, panko and spices.  Separate the meat into 4 balls and shape into thin patties.
Fry patties on med high heat in a skillet, or grill them if you like.  I don't like any pink at all, so after I get them browned on the outside I turn the heat down to med low and allow the inside to cook without burning the outside.
Place the cheese on each slice and cover for about 30 seconds until it melts.
Put it on a bun and add your toppings!

Just so ya know: if you aren't toasting bread on a griddle you are a disgrace to all sandwich makers everywhere. Punishable by death!  Ok so, maybe that was a little harsh, but the point is that it makes the sandwich!

Potatoes:  I bought these little baby yellow potatoes, scrubbed and cut in half and then tossed in olive oil, garlic, onion and parmesan cheese.  Bake at 400 until tender, about 20 minutes.

Asian Noodles w/ Curry, Crab Won Tons!

My husband said this tasted like Pad Thai, he's a cuddly little thing, but this taste nothing like Pad Thai.  I called it Asian Noodles because I don't know what in the deuce to call it.  But I also made some curry, crab won tons and they were pretty delicious, too.

1/2 cup oyster sauce
2 TSB soy sauce
4 TSB brown sugar
2 TSB rice vinegar
2 tsp molasses
2 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ginger powder (fresh if you have it, I didn't)
2 TBS sweet chili sauce
3 eggs
2-3 TBS sesame oil
4 chicken breaks, cut into bite sized pieces, rather thin
package of rice noodles, follow instructions on package.

Combine the first 10 ingredients in a bowl, stir to combine and set aside.
Season chicken with salt, pepper (I'm not gonna lie, I usually add some cayenne pepper and/or garlic here, too.  I just can't help myself.)
Wait, make the eggs first, scramble them in the wok w some butter and set aside.
Anyways, heat about 1 TBS of sesame oil in the wok on high heat.  Add chicken and stir fry until browned and no longer pink, set aside.
Heat another TBS or so of sesame oil in the wok and add drained rice noodles, stir fry for about 30 seconds to a minute then add sauce and cook until well combined and noodles have a little brown to them.  Add chicken and egg.

For the wantons I only needed to make about 8 for Christopher and I so I am guessing at the measurements.  About 1/4 cup of cream cheese, softened.  about 2 TBS of chopped crab meat, few green onion slices, few splashes of soy sauce and a generous sprinkle of curry powder.  Wrap in a won ton wrapper and fry until brown.

Left Over Taquitos!

We love love love taquitos!  You can make anything into a taquito, it's great!  Last night I made the taco stew thing, remember that? Well, my husband raved about how delicious it was so I though, maybe I can get away with making some more rice and eating left overs.  Wrong!  I had quite a bit left and it was got about to be going to waste. So I grabbed some corn shells from the pantry heated about 1/2 inch oil and that was dinner.  I used the filling cold, so if would hold together.

It was like a new dinner!  But, don't tell my husband.  He hasn't caught on yet.

Taco Stew

This started out as Taco Soup, turns out I'm not real good at soups so it became more of a stew.  It was very good tho!

1 small package of lean ground beef
4 TBS taco seasoning (I buy bulk so I guess a packet will do)
1.5 TBS flour
These spices I don't know how much:
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Cumin Powder
Cayenne Powder
Crushed Red Pepper
Just a tad of Chili Powder
Salt and Pepper
1 Can whole kernel corn, drained
1 Can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup Cheddar cheese
2 TBS diced pickled jalapenos
2 cups chicken broth
1 package frozen sweet plantains
Sour cream
2 cups cooked rice

Brown ground beef in a deep pot until no longer pink, drain grease. Add flour to meat and cook until that raw flour taste cooks out.  Slowly add chicken broth stirring to break up any clumps.  Add spices, corn, black beans, and jalapenos.  bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer as long as you can, at least 20 minutes.
Stir in cheese.
I cooked the plantains according to the package directions and fried up some corn tortillas I cut into slices while waiting.
Serve with more cheese, if desired, sour cream, plantains and tortillas.
Serve over white rice.