Ultimate Pub Burger

I call this the Ultimate Pub Burger because every bit of it has something to do with beer.  It is the ultimate in beer goodness married with burger goodness.  Or is that greatness?

So let's start with the bun.  I'd love to say I came up with this recipe, but I was not the genius who did.  This recipe can be found here and I highly recommend it!

http://thebeeroness.com/2013/09/04/homemade-beer-burger-buns/

Now, let's move on to the burger itself.  It's a Guinness burger.  Seeeeee, more beer!  If you're making 1 pound of hamburger, you're going to need 1/2 slice of pumpernickel rye bread.  But that in a bowl and add enough Guinness beer to just soak the bread.  mix with your fingers until the bread is finely grained.  You don't want big chunks of bread in your burger.  Then add 1 tablespoon of Worsteshire sauce.  Is that how you spell it?  Probably not, but i'm just going with it.  Then add salt, pepper, teaspoon of onion powder and garlic powder and then mix into your beef.  Make your patties and then set aside for the flavors to mingle.  Like a singles mixer, but one where no one is shy or awkward, they all up in each others business.

Okay, the onions!  Slice up 2 white onions and add to a pan with two tablespoons of butter, salt and pepper.  Saute on low heat for about 20 minutes.  Before the onions loose the majority of their crunch, add in 1/4 cup of Guinness beer.  All that to continue to cook and the beer flavor will soak into the onions and  the liquid will evaporate.  It will cook for a total of about 45 minutes to an hour.  Low and slow is the way to go. In the last 5 minutes add a few splashes of balsamic vinegar and a tablespoon of dried thyme.  if you use fresh (which I wish I had) use a little less.

Finally, what might be my favorite part.  Beer cheese sauce!

Add 3 tablespoons of butter to a pot on medium heat and once melted, add 3 tablespoons of flour.  That's right, a roux!  Keep whisking for 3 minutes.  now add 1/2 cup of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of warm beer (I used what I had left from the buns).  Continue to whisk and leave over medium low heat. It will slowly thicken. then add 1/3 of a package of cream cheese and whisk until incorporated.  Now, add 1 cup of shredded colby jack cheese. Then I added some pepper, cayenne pepper (just a bit, not as much for heat, but to break the richness a little), some nutmeg, and I added about 3 tablespoons of jalapeno juice from a picked jalapeno jar.  Continue to whisk and allow to simmer.  This will keep thickening.

Grill your burgers.  Or pan fry.  What ever floats your boat. The beer mixture will make it more moist and more prone to breaking apart so resist the urge to flip initially.  You want that thing to pull together.

All you have to do then is assemble.  Bun, burger, onions, then cheese sauce.  Then eat.

Then smile  :O)

Orange Cranberry Pecan Chocolate and White Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I don't know what happened, but I've been feeling more brave about baking, and I'm glad!  I'm giddy!  I'm Bakity Bakerson!  Okay, I don't know about that one.

Today I took a basic cookie recipe and then upped the ante and I have to say they are about one of the best cookies I've ever had.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together 1 cup of softened butter, 1 cup of white sugar, and one cup of packed brown sugar.   Then beat in 2 eggs, one at a time, and now add in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.

Dissolve 1 teaspoon baking soda in 2 teaspoons of hot water and then add to the mixture along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Stir in 3 cups of all purpose flour.  (I used my stand mixer with the mixing attachment for the whole process).

Add 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg.

Then add 1/4 cup of each of the following:

Milk chocolate chips
White chocolate chips
Chopped pecans
Orange flavored dried cranberries (I found these at Trader Joe's, but if you can't find them, you could use plain dried cranberries and then add the zest from one orange in the batter)

Wet your hands and then form into 2 inch balls.  I like big ole cookies, so you could do half that size if you like.  For the larger cookies, I baked for about 30 minutes.  you'd do about half that if you do half the size cookies.

Remove and place on a cooling rack and then just be happy.  Because they are make you happy cookies!

Roasted Skillet Potatoes

When you make this, you'll know you got skillz!!  You know, because you're making it in a skillet! HA!

I will admit, I got anxious and flipped it out of the pan too soon and it didn't hold together properly.  You'll want it to get to room temperature.  But wait, I suppose I should go over what it is first.

Start by cutting 4-6 russet potatoes on a mandolin so they are about the thickness of a chip.  I say 4-6 because it will depend on the tater and your skillet.

In a skillet dice one white onion and saute in 3 tablespoons of butter.  Add 4 cloves of garlic and continue to saute for 3 minutes.  Add one tablespoon of crushed red pepper and 2 tablespoons of thyme.  (fresh preferred by dried will do).  Then remove from the pan.

Now, starting around the outside, lay the potato slices over lapping in a circle so they rest along the edge and sit at an angle.  Continue round and round (just like Tevin Campbell....80's pop reference there) until you get to the middle.  Melt 5 more tablespoons of butter and add the onion garlic mix.  Salt and pepper the potatoes liberally, then pour the butter onion mixture over the top. then sprinkle with shredded Parmesan cheese.   Bake at 375 for one hour.

Now, let it stand when it's done!  Get it close to room temp so the potatoes will stay together.  Place a plate upside down over the skillet and flip it over!  You'll cut the potatoes in wedges to serve.  Top with chives, sour cream, hot sauce...what ever you fancy!

I tried to take a series of photos and I have a long way to go to get to Pioneer Woman skillz.  Also, in the final meal photo note I've served it with the Tennessee Whiskey pork chops and  (toot toot, here comes my horn) fresh wheat bread that I made today.  My first time! and it turned out great!