Beef Patty Melt with Pimento Cheese

10 ounces ground sirloin
6 ounces ground beef short ribs
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 Spanish onions, thinly sliced
8 slices (1/2 inch thick) rye bread, buttered on one side

HOMEMADE PIMENTO CHEESE
8 ounces sharp cheddar, coarsely shredded
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup finely chopped Vidalia onion
3-1/2 ounces jarred pimentos, drained and diced
1 garlic clove, grated
Dash of hot sauce

Prepare the homemade pimento cheese:  Blend the cheddar, mayonnaise, onion, pimentos, garlic and hot sauce in a food processor until well combined.  Transfer the pimento cheese to a glass jar or bowl and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.  Makes 1-3/4 cups.

Prepare the burgers:  Blend the ground sirloin and ground short ribs and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Loosely form the meat into 4 equal 4-ounce patties about 1/2 inch thick.  Create a small well in the center of each patty, using your thumb.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a small saute pan over medium heat.  Cook the onions, sprinkling with salt and stirring occasionally, until caramelized, brown and soft, 25 to 30 minutes.

Season beef patties with salt and pepper to taste.  Heat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle pan over high heat and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the oil.  Cook the burgers, well side up first, until browned on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.  Transfer to a plate.

Spread the homemade pimento cheese on the non-buttered side of each slice of bread.  Top half of the bread slices with a pile of onions, then add the burger patties and top with the remaining bread slices.

Place the sandwich on the griddle and toast until the bread is golden brown and he cheese is beginning to melt, 2 minutes per side.

Serves 4.

Asian Chicken Burgers with Spicy Lemongrass Mayo and Pickled Asian Slaw

Recipe courtesy of Kelsey Nixon

1-1/2 pounds ground chicken, half dark and half white meat (ground turkey, optional)
2 Tbsp hoisin sauce
1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 Tbsp soy sauce
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 scallions, green and white parts, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
4 sesame-seed hamburger buns, halved and buttered

SPICY LEMONGRASS MAYO
1 cup mayonnaise
1 to 2 Tbsp chili sauce, such as Sriracha
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 Tbsp bruised and finely minced lemongrass
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

PICKLED ASIAN SLAW
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 Tbsp thinly sliced pickled ginger
1/4 small head napa cabbage, finely shredded (about 3 cups)
1/4 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

Prepare the spicy lemongrass mayo:  Mix together the mayonnaise, chili sauce, lime zest and juice, and lemongrass in a small bowl.  Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.  Makes 1 cup.

Prepare the pickled Asian slaw:  Pour the rice wine vinegar into a mixing bowl and whisk in the sesame oil and garlic.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add the ginger, cabbage and bell pepper, and toss to coat with the dressing.  Adjust the seasoning and let sit 20 minutes to let the flavors meld together before serving.
Makes 2 cups.

Prepare the burgers:  Combine the chicken, hoisin, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and scallions in a large bowl.  Mix and form into 4 equal patties about 1/2 inch thick and 4 inches wide.  These patties will be a bit wetter than your average patty because of the sauces and flavor in there.  Sprinkle each side of the patties generously with salt and pepper.  Create a small well in the center of each patty, using your thumb.

Cook the patties on the griddle over medium heat until golden brown on each side and 160F internal temperature, 4 to 5 minutes per side.  Because of the sugar content in these patties, they burn easily, so watch the heat.  Let rest 5 minutes.  Place the buns on the griddle buttered side down and toast them.

Spread some of the spicy lemongrass mayo on each half of the buns.  Add the chicken patties and top with pickled Asian slaw.  Finish with the top bun and server with additional slaw and mayo on the side.

Serves 4.

Books I Want to Read

I have problem with deciding on which book(s) to read.  I want a book that'd make my time worthwhile.  I hate to start on a mediocre book, not so bad that I can just quit it, but not good enough to continue.

So I "lifted" the list below from an (ahem) underground forum.  Saving it for a rainy day.

The Top 10 Fiction by Year from 1990 - 2010

2010
Baldacci, David - Hell's corner (2010)
Berry, Steve - The emperor's tomb (2010)
Cussler, Clive - Crescent dawn (2010)
Follett, Ken - Fall of giants (2010)
Grisham, John - The confession (2010) ***
Jordan, Robert - Towers of midnight (2010)
King, Stephen - Full dark, no stars (2010)
Larsson, Stieg - The girl who kicked the hornet's nest (2010) ***
Patterson, James - Cross fire (2010)
Thor, Brad - The Athena project : a thriller (2010
2009
Brown, Dan - Lost Symbol (2009) ****
Evanovich, Janet - Finger Lickin Fifteen (2009) ***
Gladwell, Malcolm - Outliers (2009)
Harris, Charlaine - Dead and Gone (2009)
Harvey, Steve - Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man (2009)
Meyer, Stephenie - Breaking Dawn (2009)
Meyer, Stephenie - Eclipse (2009)
Niffenegger, Audrey - The Time Traveller's Wife (2009) ****
Meyer, Stephenie - New Moon (2009)
Young, William P - The Shack (2009)

2008
Atkinson, Kate - When Will There Be Good News (2008)
Collins, James - Beginners Greek (2008)
Cooper, Helene - The House at Sugar Beach (2008)
Groff, Lauren - The Monsters of Templeton (2008)
Lehane, Dennis - The Given Day (2008)
Miller, Sue - The Senators Wife (2008)
Price, Richard - Lush Life (2008)
Barrows, M Shaffer and A - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2008)
Wolff, Tobias - Our Story Begins (2008)
Wroblewski, David - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (2008)

2007
"Amirrezvani, Anita - The Blood of Flowers (2007)"
"Bohjalian, Chris - The Double Bind (2007)"
"Chabon, Michael - The Yiddish Policemens Union (2007)"
"Hosseini, Khaled - A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007)"
"McCall, Nathan - Them (2007)"
"McEwan, Ian - On Chesil Beach (2007)"
"Nemirovsky, Irene - Fire in the Blood (2007)"
"Rowling, JK - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)"
"Russo, Richard - Bridge of Sighs (2007)"
"Shreve, Anita - Body Surfing (2007)"

2006
Atkinson, Kate - One Good Turn (2006)
Bryson, Bill - The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (2006)
Buford, Bill - Heat (2006)
Gruen, Sara - Water for Elephants (2006)
Haddon, Mark - A Spot of Bother (2006)
Hamilton, Jane - When Madeline Was Young (2006)
McCarthy, Cormac - The Road (2006)
Setterfield, Diane - The Thirteenth Tale (2006)
Sundaresan, Indu - Splendor of Silence (2006)
Tyler, Anne - Digging to America (2006)

2005
"Brown, Dan - The Da Vinci Code (2005)"
"Cornwell, Patricia - Predator (2005)"
"Evanovich, Janet - Eleven on Top (2005)"
"Grisham, John - The Broker (2005)"
"Karon, Jan - Light from Heaven (2005)"
"Kidd, Sue Monk - The Mermaid Chair (2005)"
"Kostova, Elizabeth - The Historian (2005)"
"Patterson, James - Mary, Mary (2005)"
"Sparks, Nicholas - At First Sight (2005)"
"Sparks, Nicholas - True Believer (2005)"

2004
Albom, Mitch - The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004) *****
Brown, Dan - Angels & Demons (2004) *****
Brown, Dan - The Da Vinci Code (2004) *****
Wolfe, Tom - I Am Charlotte Simmons (2004)
Thomason, Ian Caldwell and Dustin - The Rule of Four (2004)
Cornwell, Patricia - Trace (2004)
Crichton, Michael - State of Fear (2004) *****
Grisham, John - The Last Juror (2004) *****
Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins and - Glorious Appearing (2004)
Patterson, James - London Bridges (2004)

2003
Albom, Mitch - The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2003)
Brown, Dan - The Da Vinci Code (2003)
Clancy, Tom - The Teeth of the Tiger (2003)
Cornwell, Patricia - Blow Fly (2003)
Grisham, John - Bleachers (2003)
Grisham, John - The King of Torts (2003) ****
Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins and - Armageddon (2003)
Patterson, James - The Big Bad Wolf (2003)
Sebold, Alice - The Lovely Bones (2003)
Sparks, Nicholas - The Wedding (2003)

2002
Auel, Jean M - The Shelters of Stone (2002)
Clancy, Tom - Red Rabbit (2002)"
Crichton, Michael - Prey (2002) *****
Grisham, John - Skipping Christmas (2002)
Grisham, John - The Summons (2002) ****
King, Stephen - Everythings Eventual (2002)
Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins and - The Remnant (2002)
Kraus, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola - The Nanny Diaries (2002)
Patterson, James - Four Blind Mice (2002) ****
Sebold, Alice - The Lovely Bones (2002)

2001
Cussler, Clive - Valhalla Rising (2001)
Franzen, Jonathan - The Corrections (2001)
Grisham, John - A Painted House (2001) *****
Grisham, John - Skipping Christmas (2001)
King, Stephen - Dreamcatcher (2001)
Straub, Stephen King and Peter - Black House (2001)
Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins and - Desecration (2001)
McMillan, Terry - A Day Late and a Dollar Short (2001)
Patterson, James - Violets Are Blue (2001)
Steel, Danielle - The Kiss (2001)

2000
Clancy, Tom - The Bear and the Dragon (2000)
Cornwell, Patricia - The Last Precinct (2000)
Grisham, John - The Brethren (2000)
Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins and - The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession (2000)
Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins and - The Mark: The Beast Rules the World (2000)
Patterson, James - Cradle and All (2000) ****
Patterson, James - Rose Are Red (2000)
Sparks, Nicholas - The Rescue (2000)
Steel, Danielle - Journey (2000)
Steel, Danielle - The House on Hope Street (2000)

1999
Binchy, Maeve - Tara Road (1999)
Brooks, Terry - Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace (1999)
Crichton, Michael - Timeline (1999) *****
Grisham, John - The Testament (1999) ****
Harris, Thomas - Hannibal (1999)
King, Stephen - Hearts in Atlantis (1999)
King, Stephen - The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999)
Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins and - Apollyon (1999)
Tim LaHaye, Jerry B Jenkins and - Assassins (1999)
Steel, Danielle - Irresistible Forces (1999)

1998
Clancy, Tom - Rainbow Six (1998)
Clark, Mary Higgins - All Through the Night (1998)
Cornwell, Patricia - Point of Origin (1998)
Grisham, John - The Street Lawyer (1998)
King, Stephen - Bag of Bones (1998)
Morrison, Toni - Paradise (1998)
Steel, Danielle - Mirror Image (1998)
Steel, Danielle - The Klone and I (1998)
Steel, Danielle - The Long Road Home (1998)
Wolfe, Tom - A Man in Full (1998)


1997
Clark, Mary Higgins - Pretend You Dont See Her (1997)
Cornwell, Patricia - Hornets Nest (1997)
Cornwell, Patricia - Unnatural Exposure (1997)
Frazier, Charles - Cold Mountain (1997)
Grisham, John - The Partner (1997) *****
Patterson, James - Cat & Mouse (1997)
Sheldon, Sidney - The Best Laid Plans (1997)
Steel, Danielle - Special Delivery (1997)
Steel, Danielle - The Ghost (1997)
Steel, Danielle - The Ranch (1997)


1996
Clancy, Tom - Executive Orders (1996) ****
Cornwell, Patricia - Cause of Death (1996)
Crichton, Michael - Airframe (1996) *****
Grisham, John - The Runaway Jury (1996) *****
King, Stephen - Desperation (1996)
King), Richard Bachman (aka Stephen - The Regulators (1996)
Klein, Joe - Primary Colors (1996)
Redfield, James - The Tenth Insight (1996)
Steel, Danielle - Malice (1996)
Steel, Danielle - Silent Honor (1996)


1995
Clark, Mary Higgins - Silent Night (1995)
Crichton, Michael - The Lost World (1995) *****
Evans, Richard Paul - The Christmas Box (1995)
Evans, Nicholas - The Horse Whisperer (1995)
Garner, James Finn - Politically Correct Bedtime Stories (1995)
Grisham, John - The Rainmaker (1995)
King, Stephen - Rose Madder (1995)
Redfield, James - The Celestine Prophecy (1995)
Steel, Danielle - Five Days in Paris (1995)
Steel, Danielle - Lightning (1995)

1994
Clancy, Tom - Debt of Honor (1994)
Crichton, Michael - Disclosure (1994) ****
Garner, James Finn - Politically Correct Bedtime Stories (1994)
Grisham, John - The Chamber (1994) ****
King, Stephen - Insomnia (1994) *****
Redfield, James - The Celestine Prophecy (1994)
Steel, Danielle - Accident (1994)
Steel, Danielle - The Gift (1994)
Steel, Danielle - Wings (1994)
Waller, Robert James - The Bridges of Madison County (1994)

1993
Clancy, Tom - Without Remorse (1993)
Esquivel, Laura - Like Water for Chocolate (1993)
Grisham, John - The Client (1993) *****
King, Stephen - Nightmares and Dreamscapes (1993)
Ludlum, Robert - The Scorpio Illusion (1993)
Rice, Anne - Lasher (1993)
Steel, Danielle - Vanished (1993)
Turow, Scott - Pleading Guilty (1993)
Waller, Robert James - Slow Waltz at Cedar Bend (1993)
Waller, Robert James - The Bridges of Madison County (1993)

1992
Clark, Mary Higgins - All Around the Town (1992)
Grisham, John - The Pelican Brief (1992)
King, Stephen - Dolores Claiborne (1992)
King, Stephen - Geralds Game (1992)
McMillan, Terry - Waiting to Exhale (1992)
Michener, James - Mexico (1992)
Rice, Anne - Tale of the Body Thief (1992)
Sheldon, Sidney - The Stars Shine Down (1992) ****
Steel, Danielle - Jewels (1992)
Steel, Danielle - Mixed Blessings (1992)

1991
Bradford, Barbara Taylor - Remember Me (1991)"
Clancy, Tom - The Sum of All Fears (1991) *****
Clark, Mary Higgins - Loves Music, Loves to Dance (1991)"
Follet, Ken - Night Over Water (1991)
Grisham, John - The Firm (1991)
King, Stephen - Needful Things (1991)
Ripley, Alexandra - Scarlett: The Sequel to Margaret Mitchells ""Gone with the Wind (1991)
Sheldon, Sidney - The Doomsday Conspiracy (1991)
Steel, Danielle - Heartbeat (1991)
Steel, Danielle - No Greater Love (1991)

1990
Auel, Jean M - The Plains of Passage (1990)



Collins, Jackie - Lady Boss (1990)
King, Stephen - Four Past Midnight (1990)
King, Stephen - The Stand (1990)
Ludlum, Robert - The Bourne Ultimatum (1990)
Pilcher, Rosamunde - September (1990)
Rice, Anne - The Witching Hour (1990)
Sheldon, Sidney - Memories of Midnight (1990)
Steel, Danielle - Message from Nam (1990)
Turow, Scott - The Burden of Proof (1990) 

Thai Vegetable Green Curry with Jasmine Rice Cakes

Again, another vegetarian recipe I intend to make for my Dad.  All I've done is having good intentions. :)

Garnish the curry with chopped fresh herbs such as basil, mint, and/or cilantro.

2  Tbsp vegetable oil
12  ounces cauliflower florets, cut into 1-inch pieces
3  Tbsp Thai green curry paste
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
2 Tbsp fish sauce
1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
2 zucchini, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into matchsticks
8 ounces snap peas, strings removed
2 Tbsp lime juice
Salt and pepper

Heat 2 tablespoons oil until shimmering.  Add cauliflower and curry paste and cook until cauliflower begins to soften, about 5 minutes.

Stir in coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar and bring to simmer.

Stir in zucchini, bell pepper, and snap peas, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are just tender, about 4 minutes.

Uncover and cook until sauce is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

Off heat, stir in lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Rice Cake
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 cups cooked jasmine rice
1 large egg
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Pulse 2 cups of rice in food processor until coarsely ground, about 12 pulses; return to bowl.  Mix other 2 cups of rice.  Stir in egg, flour, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.  Using hands, pack rice mixture into 4 patties.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.  Add rice patties and cook until crisp and browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.  Serve rice cakes with vegetables curry.

Asian-Style Sweet Potato Salad

I want to make this vegetarian recipe for my Dad.  Soon!  :)

2   pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cute into 3/4-inch pieces
4   ounces snow peas, string removed, sliced 1/2-inch thick on bias

1   Tbsp rice vinegar
1   Tbsp lime juice
1   Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1   Tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp caynenne pepper
2    Tbsp vegetable oil
1    Tbsp toasted sesame oil

1/3 cup salted, dry-roasted peanuts, chopped
3 scallions, sliced thin

Steam sweet potatoes for 16-20 minutes until nearly tender.
Add snow peas and steam until potatoes and snow peas are tender, 2-4 minutes more.
Drain vegetables and rinse (remember to rinse until they are completely cooled or they will break down and become mushy when tossed with the dressing) with cold water until cool.
Drain again and transfer to large bowl.

Whisk the rest of ingredients together, except peanuts and scallions.  Pour dressing over vegetables and gently toss until evenly coated.  Stir in peanuts and scallions.  Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.

Season again with salt and pepper if needed.

Vanilla Cupcakes & Frosting

I have tried several vanilla cupcake recipes, and this Perfect Vanilla Cupcake is my favorite so far.  There wasn't any butter in it, surprised, but it was moist and tender and flavorful.

I also tried the Ultimate Vanilla Cupcake from The Cupcake Project, which is quite tedious.  It uses all three types of fat: oil, butter, and sour cream, a little of each, instead of just 1/2 cup of oil from the recipe below.  Yet, I still think the cupcakes below taste better.



1¼   cups (125g) cake flour
1¼ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 large eggs
¾ cup sugar
1½   tsp pure vanilla extract
½   cup oil
½ cup buttermilk

Makes 17 cupcakes using the large cookie scoop for each cupcake.

Bake at 350F for 12 - 14 minutes.

I kept baking these cupcakes using convection oven at 325F (12 minutes) and the cupcakes that were closest to the fan were lopsided, yet I couldn't remember using regular oven next time.

Mix dry ingredients.

Beat eggs.  Add sugar.  Add vanilla extract.  Add oil.

Add half of flour mixture.  Add half of buttermilk.  

Add other half of flour mixture.  Add other half of buttermilk.

Batter is very runny and it's okay.  Don't top off the cupcakes.  Fill only half full.

I also like the frosting below for vanilla cupcakes.  I love cream cheese frosting, but it's usually too runny to pipe on cupcakes.  The  Cream Cheese Frosting recipe from Cook's Illustrated adds buttermilk powder to help thicken the frosting and provide the tanginess.  It's perfect for carrot cake, but still a bit heavy for vanilla cupcake.  The frosting recipe below, also from Natasha's Kitchen blog, uses whipped cream for the airiness.

1½  cups cold heavy whipping cream

8-oz package cream cheese, softened at room temp

1½  cups powdered sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract until well mixed.

Fold whipped cream into cream cheese.

Frosts 20-25 cupcakes.

Recipe: Ground Pork and Apple Sliders

Ingredients:

2     lbs ground pork

½    cup minced white onion

1½  cups finely diced apple

1½  Tbsp Italian seasoning

1      tsp garlic powder

1½  tsp sea salt

1      tsp black pepper

Direction

Mix the ground pork with the minced onions, diced apples, and spices.  If you prefer a milder slider, first sauté the minced onions in a little coconut oil.

Evenly separate the meat mixture into 8-10 portions and form those into patties.

Cook on a grill or in a large skillet over medium heat for 7-10 minutes per side or until the patties are done all the way through and no longer pink in the middle.  (Internal temperature of 160F).

You can serve them like burgers wrapped in lettuce, or top with a fried egg and a few dashes of hot sauce.

We had this pork sliders with lettuce and coleslaw, and I like the flavor a lot.

Coleslaw with vinegar dressing

1/2-head of cabbage
1/2 medium onion
1 to 2 carrots
1 green bell pepper
1 to 2 jalapeno peppers

Slice / grate / cut everything thinly.  Mix well.

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2    Tbsp sugar
2    Tbsp oil
1/2  tsp celery seed
1     tsp salt

Mix well.  Add to slaw mixture.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes or more.