Stress-Free Lamb Burgers

Ever have one of those weeks? I've just been a giant ball of stress and anxiety for days now and I can't quite put my finger on any one thing that is triggering it.  PMS, the kidlets, lack of sleep, work? The stupid house alarm going off in the middle of the night two nights in a frickin' row? Anyhow, I've been feeling sleep deprived and extremely stabby. So you can imagine that cooking something uber complicated is not high on my agenda.  One of my fav recipes to make during times like these are lamb burgers. Lamb burgers seem fancier than your everyday hamburger, but take about the same amount of effort. 

Lamb Burgers

Ingredients

2 1/4 lbs. ground lamb

1/2 cup diced red onion

6 oz. crumbled feta

1/2 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

1 tablespoon ground coriander

3/4 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

3 tablespoons oil  (+ extra for oiling the grill)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix the ingredients with your hands until evenly blended.  Form into 6 patties. Make a thumbprint indention on the top, middle of each patty.

2. Cover and place in the fridge for 30-60 minutes

3. Preheat grill.  Grill burgers over medium heat on oiled grill, for about 5-6 minutes on each side (or desired doneness).

4. Remove from grill and serve with your favorite condiments.  We like to top ours with a low-cal Greek yogurt dressing like OPA by Lighthouse Feta Dill Dressing. 

Makes 6 burgers.

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Pig Pickin' Cake

Ok, I know autumn supposedly started Wednesday but it still feels really hot to me. I walked over to Weatherstone with a buddy for some coffee today and I was sweating...errrr, glistening!...on the walk back.  Fall can't come soon enough. Maybe it's because I'm an October baby but man, I love bundling up (all those layers hide the love handles I'm working on), drinking hot apple cider by a fire, and don't forget the smell--- I LOVE the smell of autumn. It has a crisp, clean scent that I wish I could bottle up and sniff through the year.  

Anyhow, hopefully with the entrance of autumn, I'll be more inclined to drag my tired ass into the kitchen and cook and thus, blogging more. I'm sorry, really, for being MIA for so long. Seriously, I may have the same amount of hours in the day as Beyonce but I am dead tired...every day.

Despite being in a perpetual state of lack of sleep, one thing I do look forward to is my monthly book club. Last month's book was Carson McCullers' "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter." It was an extremely depressing read but we had a good discussion about it.  I had signed up to bring dessert and wanted to bring something Southern, since the book took place in Georgia.  While rummaging through the internet, I ran across a picture of a Pig Pickin' Cake and decided to bake one. It was easy to make (I made it the night before) and it turned out delicious (albeit not the most attractive cake I've ever made). I looked up the origin of the name (c'mon admit it--you were thinking "WTF?" too!).  Turns out that it's called a Pig Pickin' Cake because it's a typically a dessert brought to pig roasts (aka a "Pig Pickin'") in the South.  Despite the weird mish mosh of ingredients, it's very tasty and not super fattening.

Pig Pickin' Cake

Ingredients

1  box Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix

1  11 oz. can mandarin oranges

4  large eggs

1/2  cup canola oil

1  3.4 oz. package vanilla instant pudding (it has to be instant)

1 15oz. can crushed pineapple with juice

1 12 oz. container of Cool Whip Lite

Instructions

1. Line pan bottoms with parchment paper.  

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

3. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, oranges (with the juice), eggs, and oil.  

4. Divide the cake mix into two 9 inch circular pans.

5. Bake for approx. 30 minutes. Remove cake from oven and cool completely. Pop the cakes out of the tin and remove parchment paper.  Place one cake on a serving dish.

6. In a large bowl, mix together instant pudding mix, pineapple with juice, and the Cool Whip Lite.  

7. Spread frosting along the top of the first cake.  Place the second cake on top.  Cover the whole kit and caboodle with frosting.

8. Store it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.

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San Francisco : The Kabuki

Every once in awhile, Mr. S and I like to go for a quick get away to SF. Nothing is usually on the agenda, just a quick overnight to relax, eat some good food and of course partake in some Philz Coffee. We usually squeeze in a trip to Japantown while we’re there. I like to hit up Daiso for cutie kitchen items and stock up on some of my favorite Japanese treats at Nijiya Market. In the past we’ve parked our butts at the Grand Hyatt or the Orchard. This time however, we decided to stay at the Kabuki Hotel in Japantown.  We scored a great deal on the rate and the hotel's reservation agent, Sandy, made sure we had an upper floor, corner suite.  This way we were assured of some quiet. I stayed at the Kabuki years ago when it was the Miyako and the Raddisson owned it.  It’s now owned by the Joie de Vive chain, not much has happened in the remodeling department (it's pretty no frills) but the JDV staff is terrific.  Domingo was working the front desk during our check in and check out and he was an absolute doll. I took a few pics of our room and the view to share. 

Bed 

Sunken in tub and separate shower, Japanese-style

Sitting area with sliding screens

Koi pond on the first floor

Panoramic view from our wrap-around balcony, day time

View from the other side of our balcony, night time

Rooftop garden on nearby restaurant

(click to enlarge, it's pretty cool)

  

The thing I liked most about staying at the Kabuki was the proximity to Japantown (duh, it’s smack in the middle of it) but also that if you head over a few blocks to Fillmore (Pacific Heights), there’s all kinds of small cafes, delicious coffee spots and specialty stores.  Next time you're there, check out Jane on Fillmore and Pizzeria Delfina.  Sure, Pacific Heights is a bit hipstery but like Japantown, there’s practically no riff raff milling bout. Honestly that’s a huge draw for me. The last time we were in SF, I was getting pretty tired of the aggressive panhandlers in Union Square encroaching on my personal space.  Now if they would just build a Philz over in Japantown….☺

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Matzo Brei : One of Life's Perfect Foods

Recent conversation with Kidlet #1 over a breakfast of matzo brei:

Kidlet #1: This is good, what's it made of?

Me: Crushed matzo crackers and egg.

Kidlet #1: What's that?

Me: An unleavened bread. They're like giant crackers. My dad used to buy them for me when I was a kid.  I'd put a ton of margarine on them and eat them for a snack.

Kidlet #1: Cool. Are you going to write about it on your blog?

Me: Maybe.

Kidlet #1: Do you still call us kidlets?

Me: Yeah...but I guess I should change it now that you guys are teenagers. What should I call you? 

Kidlet #2 calls out from the living room: Starlord56! Starlord56!

Ummm, ok.....so I'm NOT going to call them Starlord56 (although I do kind of wonder where the heck he got that idea from?) but I do think they're due for an update. They're hardly "kidlets" anymore at 12 and 15 years old.  Kidlet #1 is taller than me and just started shaving for goodness' sake! So maybe I'll just start referring to them as Teen Z (Kidlet #1) and Teen B (Kidlet #2)?  That should suffice, right? ☺

Anyhow, this weekend try making some matzo brei for breakfast (or a snack), you'll love it.  My favorite recipe is Ruth Reichl's, although I use a little less butter than she recommends (her recipe uses 6 tablespoons).  Reichl once described matzo brei as, "one of life's perfect foods."  I think she's absolutely right, the dish is quite delicious in its simplicity.

Matzo Brei

Ingredients

4 matzos
4 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

1. Crumble matzos into a large sieve placed over a bowl to catch crumbs, then hold sieve under running cold water until matzos are moist and softened but not completely disintegrated, about 15 seconds. Gently press out the excess water.

2. Transfer to bowl with crumbs, then add eggs and salt and mix gently with a fork.

3. Heat butter in a 10- to 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides. 

4. Add matzo mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until eggs are scrambled and matzo has begun to crisp, about 3 minutes. (I usually flip them halfway through, I like them slightly crispy on both sides.)

* Sometimes I like to mix it up by adding in some sliced spring onions or a shake of garlic powder. Or go sweet and sprinkle it with a some cinnamon and brown sugar or a wee bit of maple syrup. There's a matzo brei for every taste.

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Cup of Joe

Ugh! I'm stuck at home today. Woke up feeling under the weather and a bit nauseated.  Mr. S can attest to the fact that I'm a horrible patient. I start feeling quite grumpy when I'm regulated to the bed. Don't get me wrong, I love sleeping in but being forced to stay in bed is...well, it's like back in high school or college when you read a book of your own accord and you loved it, but take that same book and have it part of an assignment where you're obligated to read it? Fuggedaboutit, you hate the book. It's like that with me and sleeping/staying in bed when I'm sick.

Anyhow, being stuck in bed is giving me a chance to do a little bloggin'. This isn't really a food post but I suppose it is kitchen related.  If you know me, you know I'm a huge coffee drinker. It keeps me functional. It's also what keeps me from feeling stabby in the morning at work.  Anyhow, lately there's been a ton of cute coffee cups on the market.  If I had the cupboard space I'd buy them all.

Here are few of my favs. What mugs are you loving these days? Do you like fun ones? Cute ones? Plain ones?

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Crispy Chapati Rolls

Ingredient :

• 1 Cup Gram flour (Besan)
• 1/2 Tsp Ajwain
• 1 Tsp Dhania-jeera Powder ( Cumin and Dry Coriander powder)
• 1 Tsp Red Chilli Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1-2 Tsp Sesame Seeds
• A pinch of Baking Powder
• A pinch of Asafoetida(Hing)
• 1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
• Salt to Taste
• Water.
• Oil for Frying 

 
Method :
In bowl take gram flour and add all above ingredients to it and mix it up well.

 Now add water little by little to make a thick paste or mixture.

Now take a chapati and spread the made mixture over it .

Then place second chapati on it, spread mixture on it again , place third chapati on it and again spread the mixture.

Now Roll this layer of 3 chapaties tightly into a roll and seal the edges with little water.

Steam cook this roll for 10 minutes.

Let it cool for 15 minutes Then cut the roll horizontally.

Heat oil in kadai and deep fry rolls on medium flame.Serve with Tomato Ketchup.

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7 Langkah Nyata Membiasakan Diri Hidup Sehat Setiap Hari

     "Tindakah Sehat" merupakan langkah awal dan nyata untuk memperoleh kesehatan tubuh yang kita inginkan. Sudah tak terhitung lagi berbagai saran dan tips kesehatan yang sudah kita dengar dan baca dari berbagai berbagai sumber. Meskipun begitu, tidak sedikit dari kita yang menganggapnya angin lalu atau tak memperdulikannya. Sebenarnya yang kita butuhkan ialah sebuah tindakan nyata untuk memulainya. Lalu, apa saja langkah nyata untuk membiasakan diri hidup sehat tersebut...???.

   Sahabat, tips kesehatan. Kesehatan tubuh menjadi sebuah hal yang teramat penting untuk menjalankan aktivitas, pekerjaan maupun beribadah kepada Tuhan YME agar lebih sempurna setiap hari. Maka dari itulah, kita sangat dianjurkan untuk bergaya hidup sehat setiap waktu. Tak cukup dengan tahu caranya hidup sehat, kita harus mempraktekkannya dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Berikut ini 7 langkah nyata membiasakan diri untuk hidup sehat setiap hari : 

1. Berdiri Lebih Lama. Faktanya, terlalu banyak aktivitas yang kita lakukan dengan hanya duduk dan jarang sekali berdiri. Padahal terlalu lama duduk dapat membahayakan kesehatan tubuh anda. Untuk itulah, kurangi waktu duduk dengan melakukan aktivitas dengan berdiri.
2. Persiapkan Peralatan Olahraga. Berolahraga menjadi salah satu hal tersulit yang dilakukan oleh manusia modern sekarang ini. Mulailah untuk mempersiapkan semua peralatan olahraga (seperti sepatu, pakaian dan celana olahraga) pada malam harinya. Agar dapat digunakan untuk berolahraga di pagi harinya.
3. Rapikan Tempat Tidur. Istirahat atau tidur malam menjadi hal terpenting dalam menjaga kesehatan tubuh. Buatlah kondisi tempat tidur lebih rapi dan nyaman dengan selalu membiasakan diri membersihkan dan merapikannya sebelum merebahkan tubuh anda.
4. Pergi Ke Pasar. Faktanya, kita dapat menemukan dan membeli berbagai sayuran hijau dan buah-buahan yang terjangkau sesuai dengan pendapatan kita setiap bulan. Karena salah satu kunci hidup sehat yaitu rutin mengkonsumsi aneka sayuran hijau serta buah-buahan yang mengandung sumber gizi bagi tubuh.
5. Tebar Senyuman. Selain dapat meningkatkan kesehatan tubuh, tersenyum merupakan salah satu ibadah dan efektif meningkatkan mood atau suasana hati di manapun anda berada. Jadi, sudahkah anda tersenyum hari ini...???.
6. Lakukan Bersih-Bersih. Jadikan waktu libur kerja menjadi ajang kerja bakti membersihkan rumah bagi seluruh anggota keluarga. Karena lingkungan atau rumah yang bersih dapat menjadikan penghuninya semakin sehat dan nyaman.
7. Persering Aktivitas Fisik. Ubah semua kebiasaan buruk di hari ini seperti duduk terlalu lama, begadang, maupun gaya hidup tidak sehat lainnya. Dalam hal ini, perbanyak langkah kaki, bersepeda di sore hari maupun bergabung dengan komunitas yang dapat mengolahragakan tubuh anda.

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      Semoga tips kesehatan yang mengulas beberapa langkah nyata untuk membiasakan hidup sehat dapat menambah wawasan dan menginspirasi para pembaca. Akhir kata, salam hangat dari penulis. Image courtesy of blackzheep at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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