Thursday, September 23, 2010

Eat, Play, Blog

I became obsessed with food years and years before Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, and a rat made it socially acceptable. Back then, it seemed nobody ate for fun, (much less cooked), and the only place to watch a food show was on PBS's Saturday afternoon programming. In fact, it was somewhat tragic to be the person who cooked extravagant meals for one and stayed in on Friday nights to watch the Japanese version of Iron Chef.

I was 5 years old when I burnt my first culinary endeavor, scrambled eggs. The entire thing was ill advised; I could have burned down the whole house. I was 20 years old when I got my first restaurant job. I was ecstatic and saw the entire thing as a great first chapter to my very own "Kitchen Confidential." But In terms of careers my parents envisioned for me, the list is as follows (in order of acceptability):

Doctor 
Supreme Court Justice
Lawyer
Engineer
Accountant
Drug Addict
Teacher
Nurse
Chef

So after a year, I still have not told them where I am working. I have a lurching fear that if they find out they will strangle me for not spending more time doing practical things like preparing for the CPA exam, applying to law school, or crushing my lifelong dreams. 


I think it would be fascinating to cook for a living. Anything from working for Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester to interning with Misa and Jen in the Nom Nom Truck would be a dream come true. Until then, my double life at Adele's Restaurant in the Stamp Student Union will have to suffice.


I recently entered a recipe contest sponsored by Sunset Magazine to supplement my meager kitchen supervisor wage. The challenge was to create a recipe including sausage, broccoli, and red pepper. If I win, I'm going to buy a KitchenAid Stand Mixer.

***
The SBR Burger!
(This is so uncreative, it hurts.)


4 Italian Sausage Links
Broccoli (1 small head)
Roasted Red Peppers
Red Onion
Mozzarella Cheese
Sesame Buns
Dijon Mustard
Mayonnaise
Garlic (2 cloves)
Olive Oil
Fennel Seed
Salt
Pepper




Preheat an oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. Break down the broccoli into florets keeping only the crowns as the stalks may become tough. Place the florets on a baking sheet with olive oil, one minced clove of garlic, salt, and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes or until the tops turn slightly brown.



Open the sausage links and take out the meat, discarding the casing. Mix in half a tablespoon of fennel seed and one minced clove of garlic. Form 4 patties from the meat. (If the sausage meat does not stay together well, add a tablespoon of flour).
 

Heat olive oil in pan to high. Sprinkle salt and pepper on each sausage patty and sear on both sides for 5 minutes each. Reduce heat to medium, place a slice of cheese on each patty and cover the pan. Cook until the cheese is completely melted.

Blend two tablespoons of mayonnaise, 2 roasted red peppers, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor.




On a toasted sesame seed bun, spread the the red pepper mayonnaise on both sides. Stack the patty on next, followed by several roasted broccoli florets and a few thin slices of red onion.

Mr. Squash enjoyed this burger with sweet potato fries!



***

I didn't win.

5 comments:

  1. Omg I am SO EXCITED for this blog!!! I love your writing :)

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  2. I wish I were as lucky as Mr. Squash

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  3. Why would drug addict come before teacher...?

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  4. This is pretty awesome.. good luck with your dream man!

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