Stuffed Burgers (aka Juicy Lucy/Jucy Lucy)
May 24, 2010 by Andrea
Filed under Beef, Main Course
About a month ago Michael saw an episode of Food Wars on Travel Channel that featured the Juicy Lucy/Jucy Lucy burger, a Minneapolis creation with a devout following, and he knew instantly that he had to make it. I enjoy seeing him get over the moon about trying something new, and it was fun to watch him apply his engineering talents to building the perfect stuffed burger. He likes the mounded look of the Juicy Lucy/Jucy Lucy burger rather than a flat burger, so he piles the fillings high before sealing the edges. Read more
Greek Burgers and Tzatziki
May 11, 2009 by Andrea
Filed under Beef, Condiments
While I don’t want to sound trite, I must say the first of May caught me off guard. I can’t believe it’s May, the school year is almost over and the kids will be out for almost three months, it’s time to register Top Gun for kindergarten, and summer is almost here. But that also means it’s grilling time around our house, actually more grilling time since we like to grill year round, we just happen to do it more often in the warm months. Really, I like grilled food in January but I don’t like freezing my fingers while making it!
Burgers are one of Builder Guy’s favorite foods, so we grill up a batch every once in a while. Some times I just want a slice of sharp cheddar and good barbecue sauce on top, but other times I like to play with the toppings: guacamole with caramelized onions, chimichurri, chipotle salsa, roasted red peppers with some kind of gooey cheese. The sloppier the better. And I happen to like tzatziki on my burgers, especially with arugula or an arugula pesto. Read more
Italian-Style Meatloaf
December 30, 2007 by Andrea
Filed under Beef, Grow Your Own, Main Course
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t like meatloaf and haven’t fixed it in years. We’re just not a meatloaf family, so when I announced one day last week that we would be having meatloaf for dinner I got a very strange look from Michael.
“Meatloaf?”
“Yes, meatloaf.”
“Why?”
“I found a recipe that I think might be pretty good.”
“Hmmm.” He was not convinced, and truthfully I wasn’t sure that I was either, but I was willing to try.
The recipe comes from Cooking Light and the loaf has sun-dried tomatoes and lots of fresh basil. Read more
Slow Cooker Four Bean Baked Beans
August 1, 2007 by Andrea
Filed under Beef, Pork, Recently Updated
When I was growing up, baked beans were a delicious part of all our cook outs and potlucks. Cans of pork and beans were mixed with ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and onions, then baked in the oven. Sometimes strips of bacon were laid on top, creating a smoky aroma and flavor that reminds me of many summers spent playing outdoors all day long and outdoor meals enjoyed with family and friends.
I haven’t made baked beans in a long time and this summer I was looking for an excuse to make some. Our neighbors hosted a potluck cookout over the weekend, and I jumped at the chance to try out a slow-cooker variation of my favorite baked beans recipe. This version is made with four kinds of beans, ground beef, and bacon and then slow-cooked for five or six hours. They smelled wonderful as they cooked, and they were a hit at the potluck. The flavor is a little sweet, a little smoky, and a little tangy, a nice combination. Read more
Michael’s Spaghetti and Meatballs
February 13, 2006 by Andrea
Filed under Beef, Italian foods, Pasta
We usually have some kind of pasta for Sunday dinner, and this is my husband’s favorite. He takes over the kitchen and makes the sauce and the meatballs. His philosophy is always to err on the side of more flavor, so he piles on the garlic and onions. He makes his meatballs using a pan saute method, and then drops them into the sauce while it cooks so that the character of the sauce is infused into the meatballs. The sauce is a chunky garden-style, with plenty of mushrooms, onions, peppers, and olives. We use fresh ingredients in season and canned or dried out of season. We often double the recipe and then freeze the sauce and meatballs in 32 ounce containers to pull out for quick meals.
Equipment
3-5 qt mixing bowl
#40 scoop
frying pan
sharp knife
6 qt stock pot Read more
Cincinnati Style Chili
January 1, 2006 by Andrea
Filed under Beef, Main Course, Pasta
We’re still perfecting this recipe, but so far we like the results. My husband spent a number of years in Ohio, and he thinks this is pretty darn good. The first time I tasted a Cincinnati style chili, I was ecstatic. It tasted exactly like the hot dog chili we used to get at the Roanoke Market when I was a little girl. I guess that hot dog vendor must have spent some time in Ohio.
You need to allow 3-1/2 to 4 hours to make the chili. If possible, make it the day before and then warm it up (it’s even better that way). Or if you are absolutely craving a 5-Way, use a very lean beef and make it the same day, just make sure you start early.
[Updated September 6, 2008]
Equipment
4 quart pot Read more
