Triple Cheese Burger: Muenster, American and Pepper Jack

There's a great burger waiting around virtually every corner and summertime is the perfect time for burger recipes worth the effort and here is one for the books.  The awesome part about this Triple Cheese burger is that it's completely meatless and is rocking two whole portobellos with a Beyond Meat® Burger sandwiched in between three slices of cheese, all bringing different elements of deliciousness to the table.  

I am rather fond of the Beyond Meat Beyond Burger™ for many reasons.  I like the option of meatless and less meat days and this burger fits the bill for a great fill in.  I won't say substitute, because this meat option stands on its own, full of flavor and fantastic texture. They are composed of pea proteins and a welcome smokiness, they even give the appearance of a burger cooked medium well. They are a bit expensive for a crowd, so using all mushrooms would rock too.  I've swapped it in on my pickiest girl, Genesis, and it went over very well. She didn't comment, one way or the other, but she ate it and afterwards said that she enjoyed it.  Although the results were not the same the second time around, I announced it before I served it and the girls were like "Mom, we're not Vegans". I expressed to them that I wasn't trying to turn them into Vegans, as much as I was trying to show them that there are plant based meat alternatives and that we can have plant based meal days as well as an omnivorous diet respectively, Bettertarians, consciously making adjustments towards better choices, decisions and health. 

Executing this recipe is breeze and you can dress it up or down any way you choose.  I used some gourmet greens I had on hand from another recipe, but you can use iceberg, bringing fresh crunch.  The portobellos are to me, best cooked on a grill pan, easily allowing excess moisture to escape.  The Beyond burger will take approximately the same time, so all you'll need to decide is what three cheeses you want to use, or not, of course it's up to you.  

This is certainly an indulgent burger, but not guilt ridden. It's easily 1/2 to 3/4  fewer calories and fat, than a full on triple meat and cheese burger, you're welcome.  Make your next meal POP with some delicious and nutritious alternatives to your meaty meals, you may be surprised at how great they taste. Now if you really want to get the crowd going, throw in some BACON! That usually wins over the last leary souls, afraid to think outside the box, the fast food box, that is.  

Recipe:

Portobello mushrooms, large, trimmed wiped clean

Liquid Aminos, optional

Beyond Meat™ Burgers, they come in packs of 2 and 4

3 types cheese, I chose one mild, melty and stretchy, one traditional and one with spicy kick 

Burger Fixins (lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo, ketchup and mustard), as desired

Hamburger Buns

SPST (Salt and Pepper to Suit Taste)

Olive oil for drizzling

Directions:

Marinate the Portobellos(2) in 2 tsp. Liquid Aminos for 15 minutes, then drain and pat dry.

Brush mushrooms and Beyond burger with olive oil and place on hot grill or grill pan.

Start the mushrooms on the flat side.

Once mushrooms start to release their water, It's time to flip, about 5 minutes.

SPST, both burgers and shrooms.

While the proteins cook, prep the rest of the burger.

Lightly grill or toast the buns, drizzled with olive or a smear of plant butter, optional

Add cheeses during the last 2 minutes. 

Assemble burgers and make some memories! 

Grilled Filipino Style Pork Loin w/ Shishito Peppers and Onions

Summer is grilling time at its best and there's nothing like the smell of charcoal, hickory, mesquite, applewood, alderwood or cherry smoking, for low maintenance meals and a break from the kitchen.  This recipe is made simple and easy for serving by using a  marinade to flavor and tenderize the featured item, which is a pork loin, cut in a booklet fashion.   I demonstrate my technique in another one of my posts See and Slay: Easter Elegance, Pork Loin Pinwheel, How to Make a Pork Booklet.  This method cuts the cooking time of your pork loin by virtually 75%. allowing more surface area for caramelization, plus more even cooking.  Ideally, this method also allows for shaving of the loin, making thin slices, perfect for piling high on warmed buns or soft tortillas.  Get more out of your cooking experience and free up some time to be a part of your gatherings and execute an amazing meal all in a few smooth moves!

Recipe:

1 portion of a pork loin, about 2 lbs., cut into booklet

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar

2 tbs. Less sodium soy sauce

2 tbs. fish sauce

2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced

1 tbs. pure cane sugar or Agave Nectar

pinch of red pepper flakes

1 lime and zest

1/4 c. fresh herbs, like parsley, thyme, oregano and basil, rough chopped

SPST ( Salt and Pepper to Suit Taste)

Place all ingredients in a resealable bag and shake.

Add pork loin and marinate for 1 to 24 hours.

Sear on hot grill and continue to cook on indirect heat.

Cook until internal temperature reaches 145*F., about 8 minutes, give or take, depending on charcoal or grill temperature.

Let protein rest for several minutes and thinly slice on a bias. Toss with pan juices after resting and drizzle with additional olive and lime juice if desired.

For Peppers and Onions:

1 lb. Shishito Peppers

2 medium onions, sliced

Toss the peppers and onions with olive oil and SPST.

Place in grill pan on grill and cook alongside loin.   

 

Happy National Independant Beer Run Day, Sweet!

Tiered Rainbow Drip Cake, as per my daughter's birthday request.

These are all photos of recipes I've created and shared for family birthdays, Sunday dinners or just working with different ingredients. If you would like to see a particular recipe for any of these pics, simply drop a request in the comments section below and I will try to get it up as soon as possible! 
No Bake Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake/Pumpkin Pie with Apple Pie Cookie Crumbles

*Periodic Table Cake, Platinum, White Cake, Blue Interior, made by Bronwyn

Guinness Stout Piecaken w/ Chocolate Guinness Stout Cheesecake, Guinness Stout Buttercream and Caramel Drip, for my nephew Rob's surprise birthday party!

Apple Pie Mini Cheesecakes w/ Apple Pie Cookie Crust

Brainy Brownies for Halloween Party 2019

Maca Chocolate Cupcakes and Fruit Cups for Genesis' Birthday

Hummingbird Cake w/ Toasted Walnuts, for my Vacation Buddies 2019

Hummingbird Cake w/ Pecans, Easter Edition

White Chocolate Carrot Cake Cupcakes, Easter Edition

'Ole Fashioned Bologna Sammich Omelette

For some reason, bologna seems to be a controversial food.  I happen to like it, and so do many of the people here and around the country, so this recipe is for you.  For those who aren't fans, no worries, you can plug in another protein, but this one is awesome, just the way it is.  Bologna comes in many different mediums like pork and chicken, beef, chicken, beef and pork, beef, chicken and turkey etc...and some are better, much better than others.  With some on hand ingredients and a little chopping, you can stave off hunger and enjoy a deconstructed Bologna sandwich, with all the components of a country store version, all in one bite.  

Recipe:

3 large eggs, beaten with a splash of milk or water

3 oz. red ring Bologna,  cut into small chunks, from the roll

Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded

1 oz. Hoop cheese, small dice

1/4 c. diced tomato

1 green onion, trimmed and sliced, white and green parts

Olive oil for drizzling

1 pat of butter

SPST

Over medium high heat, in a medium pan, sauté the bologna chunks in a pan drizzled with olive oil and the 1/2 pat of butter.

Sauté until showing signs of browning on the sides and add green onion.

Cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes and remove from pan.

Wipe pan clean and drizzle again with olive oil and add remaining butter.

Pour beaten eggs into pan, and swirl around to coat bottom.

Using a rubber spatula, push the curds inward in the pan, so all the liquid egg comes in contact with the bottom of the pan. 

Shake pan back and forth, often.

Reduce heat to medium, and continue with spatula, going around outer edges as well.

Sprinkle Hoop Cheese dice on one side.

Sprinkle entire omelette with cheese.

Add filling to one side of omelette.

Spread tomatoes atop filling.

SPST (Salt and Pepper to Suit Taste)

Angle the pan and flip the light side onto the other side.

Garnish with more cheese if desired.

Serve Immediately.

Makes 1 hearty omelette or 2  portions for sharing.

I served this omelette with pancakes with fresh blueberries and pure Maple Syrup.

Atlantic City Sliders, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: A Review

Aside from fun in the sun, a good tan, some much needed relaxation and copious amounts of libations, a trip to the beach  is its own reward.  We normally vacation in North Myrtle Beach every year, sans this year for me and my bestie. Nothing could make that any better, unless you're talking about dropping by Atlantic City Sliders and copping a flight of mini burgers, fries and an ice cold beverage.

 Atlantic City Sliders has a simple and comprehensive menu containing something for all tastes.  My Bestie and I went with a varied selection of sliders, including cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, steak and cheese, hamburger and barbeque, plus chicken sliders and cheese balls to go.  Each and every slider was as good as the next , fresh, hot and juicy, with pillowy, soft bread and complimentary sides of pickles, house made slaw and an atmosphere that will call you back for another round.  

The décor is an exciting and nostalgic collection of pop culture favorites, 50's diner setting, complete with neon, checkerboard and license plates, photos, records, you name it. It is situated directly beside the liquor store by the Food Lion, so it's right on track with two very important stops.  The staff was amiable and diverse, immediately creating an I've been here before vibe!  The owner was on site and right there, in on the grill action.  He was  pleasant and interesting, he even came out into the dining room and chatted with my bestie and me for a bit. He was intrigued by our obvious chemistry (or hysterical laughter ) and  he was amazed at how well we interacted.  He wondered how we managed to still to smile, as some of the couples he's seen, are together but distant, stone faces and grumps.  Part of it is that we are outgoing and bubbly, a dynamic duo, with years and years of experience, when it comes to friendship. We met in college with no pretense or expectations, then blossomed into soul mates.  The rest is living history, love and understanding.  Our dads actually share the same name and we are from a similar demographic.  Things just worked out and we are incredibly supportive of one another.  He is my biggest literary and culinary fan and I am his friend to the end, confidant and homie.

The prices are reasonable and encourage extra ordering. 

 The fries were hot and crispy, fluffy and flaky on the inside. 

 I was delighted that the barbeque was made on site as well. I am a bit skeptical usually, because all barbeque sandwiches are not created equal, but these sliders proved their worth, with the right amount of zing and zang, subtle smoked porkiness, especially accompanied by a dab of the house made slaw. The steak and cheese sliders provided an ample ratio of meat/peppers and onions/cheese, melty and seasoned.

  The classic cheeseburger held its own with properly cooked beef, not over cooked and cardboardy, like some dine and dash burger joints.

 The breaded chicken sliders were simple and delicious, nice and crispy on the outside, supple in the middle, not limp and sogged out in places. 

The cheeseballs were good too.  They had a crunchy outer coating and a molten center.

 We tried to order as many items as possible, amassing a critique for our fellow vacationers and my readers alike.  Atlantic City Sliders was new to us, but it felt like home, and we wondered how we had made it through so many vacations without it, up until then.  We can't wait to go back, for the atmosphere, the food and the owner, he has top notch passion, and it shows in the sliders!  

Atlantic City Sliders

1000 Hwy 17 N

 North Myrtle Beach, SC, 29582  

See and Slay: Italian Style Beef Short Ribs w/ Parmesan Cheddar Mash

The cool weather days at the cabin made for a deliciously decadent comfort food recipe.  I found some short ribs at the local grocer for a virtual steal and grabbed them up, just in case the opportunity arose for some soulful and hearty mealtime.  If the chance would not have presented itself, they simply would have been frozen and transported back home to our freezer there.  The temperatures at the lake plummeted around Tuesday, bringing cold, overcast and pain filled days, as my RA would not be still and all my rebuilt parts reminded me that it was only around 50*F out, even cooler in the wake of dawn.  So much so, that my hands felt like ice and were prickly when I came inside from having coffee on the deck.  Not really what I had mind for summer vacation initially, but every day is a good on vacation, right? I had some fresh herbs on hand and some fire roasted tomatoes and wine, plus the usual aromatics like onion and garlic, so I went forth and created this recipe, full of warm flavors and depth, comforting and soothing to my stomach and bones.  

The twins came over the next day, and I was able to share with them also, my brother in law too.  This made an awesome impromptu elevated lunch and I felt like the 'Belle of the Ball', with no leg work other than a masterful reheat and thoughtful service.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my older sisters and I did.  My tween and teen were somewhat passé on the whole deal, but they did try it and liked it well enough.  This is 'grown folks food' I later went on to say, you guys wouldn't understand' and with a jovial laugh, I then proceeded to plan a more teen and tween friendly dish to accommodate the 'youngins', Bronwyn's Omurice.  

Recipe:

3 lbs. beef short ribs, bone in

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 green onions, trimmed and sliced, green and white parts

3 cloves garlic, smashed 

3 sprigs fresh thyme

1 sprig fresh rosemary

2 c. beef stock

1 cup full bodied red wine, I used a 2016 Malbec

1 15 oz. can diced fire roasted tomatoes with juices

1/4 c. fresh parsley, rough chopped plus more for garnish

2 tbs. butter, unsalted

1 tsp. Italian seasoning mixed with 2 tbs. ap flour

Olive oil for drizzling

AP flour

SPST (Salt and Pepper to Suit Taste)

In a heavy bottomed pan over medium high heat, drizzled with olive oil, a pat of the butter and the smashed garlic.

 Brown short ribs that have been SPST.

Brown in batches, as not to crowd pan, add the second pat of butter for additional batches.

After final batches browned, toss in fresh herbs and onions.

Cook to for several minutes until fragrant.

Transfer to a medium sized heavy bottomed saucepan and add stock and wine.

Bring up to a boil, for about 3 minutes to burn off alcohol, then reduce heat to medium and add tomatoes .

Simmer , covered for about 4 to 5 hours or until ribs are tender and ready to fall off bone and liquid is reduced.

Make a slurry with 2 tbsp. flour and 1 tsp. Italian seasoning and remove pot from heat and stir in.

Put back onto heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Adjust seasonings as necessary.  

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Parmesan Cheddar Mash

3 lbs. russet potatoes, cooked

1/4 c. 2 % milk

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 c. shredded Sharp Cheddar

2 tbs. butter, unsalted

Olive oil for drizzling

SPST

Mash hot potatoes in a medium bowl, add milk, butter and cheeses.  Blend into rusticly smooth mash . Drizzle with olive oil and scallop the top for an interesting presentation.

Makes about 8 servings.

Grillin', Chillin' and Avoiding Electrocution

If you enjoy having a nice flame kissed protein on the grill, now is the time.  Going out is a real treat if it's in your budget or can be done safely, but you can save time and money, just doing it at home or on a family outing.  The cabin where we stayed offers a fabulous grilling area that includes a picnic table, grill and a post for hanging and cleaning fish or lanterns, the choice would be yours.  With the price of beef, pork and chicken beginning to skyrocket in some places, it may be a good idea to grab a cut of steak or two now, as opposed to later, when the prices may be insufferable.  I was able to get these steaks at a great price on this particular day, under $15, for 5!!!  I chose thinly cut Ribeyes and New York Strips, all quickly marinated in a combination of Dale's, fresh garlic and olive oil.  I like to add a splash of seasoned rice vinegar for a burst of acid and tang.  Also for its tenderizing properties.  The zucchini were marinated in an item new to me, Mushroom Flavored Soy Sauce, I found at the local grocer on location and also a bit of the rice vinegar and fresh lemon juice.  

I fought the rain in an effort to get my grill on, while on our trip.  There was a small break in the maelstrom of torrential downpours of about an hour.  By the time I infused the steaks with enough smokiness from the hickory chips and had them browned on both sides, they had cooked through because of their thin cuts.  Like many times before during that week, I had to run for cover, of course not before snapping a couple of photos to share. The rain wasn't so much of an issue, as was the rumbling and tumbling of the thunder, accompanied by lightning, that reverberated through the sky and objects around me.  'High stakes grilling, with a lot at steak' lol pun intended without a doubt, but I had to get at least one grilled dinner out of 7 nights. Afterwards, I was free to chill and finish dinner with leisurely sides I had on hand.  I do not recommend the aforementioned, even remotely playing around with weather notices, thunder and lightning, only the grilling portion!