BLT Hot Dogs with Beer Mustard

Can you tell it's summer and I'm excited?

Honestly, I don't really eat hot dogs very often. But they're just so summery. They're perfect for cookouts. They belong by the pool or on the beach or something. They immediately evoke those images to me. Or I guess images of baseball. Which, in my head, goes with beer. So the beer mustard happened. Oh....now I want to go to a baseball game.

Anyway. These are delightful. I enjoy the mustard, and the little salad thing on top is pretty wonderful. I just love them. Even as a non-lover of hot dogs.

BLT Hot Dogs
Ingredients
4 hot dog buns
4 hot dogs
4 slices of bacon, cooked
1 tomato, diced
1 cup lettuce, shredded
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
2 tbsp dark beer

1. Place the hot dogs in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes, until they are warmed through. Place each in a bun and top with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.
2. For the mustard, blend together the mustard and beer. Add to the dogs. Enjoy!
   
   
   

Breakfast Burgers

So, here we have breakfast burgers. Are we eating burgers for breakfast? Um, you can, but that's not the goal here. It's just burgers with breakfast inspired toppings.

Oh yeah, I also made an egg in the middle of a burger. Highly recommend. 

I'm sort of in love with brunch right now, which was probably the catalyst behind these burgers. But like, name one bad thing about brunch. You can't. It's a lazy weekend meal, with some of the best food. I love breakfast food, but I'm so rarely ready to eat right when I wake up. Hence my love for a later breakfast meal, which often includes more substantial food. Wow.

Be my friend so we can have brunch together. I'll cook if you clean.

Breakfast Burgers
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
4 eggs (or one per burger, but I made 4)
8 pieces of bacon, cooked
4 ciabatta rolls
salt

maple mustard
3 tbsp Dijon mustard (with the specks)
2 tbsp maple syrup (or other syrup)

1. Make the maple mustard by stirring together both ingredients until smooth.
2. Shape the patties, carefully removing a circle from the center of each, large enough to hold an egg. This will require you to make the patties bigger than you probably would normally.
3. Add the patty to the pan, over medium heat. Crack an egg into the hole, then salt to taste. Cook for about 5 minutes on the first side, flip carefully, then cook another 3 minutes.
4. Toast buns lightly, then butter each side.
5. Add the burgers to the buns, then top with bacon and maple mustard. Enjoy!
   
   
   

Superbowl Burgers!

So. The Superbowl is happening. To be honest, I didn't even know it was this weekend until like Thursday. I certainly don't know who's playing. All that aside, this burger has some great stuff, and if we're all being honest, I'm pretty sure food is the best part of a Superbowl party. So make these.

What's that in there? Thanks for asking. It's southwest flavored butter. Where did this idea come from? Well.....I've been watching a lot of Diners Drive-Ins & Dives lately. It's always on while I'm making dinner. Turns out there's a restaurant somewhere out there that makes burgers stuffed with butter. I thought this seemed cool, and decided to give it a southwest twist. So I flavored the butter and topped them with queso, crushed tortilla chips, and guacamole. What could be wrong with that?

I highly recommend these for game day. Or any other day, to be honest.

Southwest Butter Burgers
Ingredients
hamburger buns
1 lb ground beef
tortilla chips, crushed
queso
I used How Sweet's recipe, which is here
guacamole
use my recipe, and add about 1/2 cup black beans (canned)
southwest butter
1 stick salted butter, softened
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
juice of 1/2 a lime

1. Using a fork, mash the other ingredients into the butter. Remove about 3/4 from the bowl, place onto plastic wrap. Gently roll into a log shape, then put into fridge. The rest can remain in the bowl at room temperature.
2. Make the queso and guac.
3. Shape the patties. Form a well in the center of each. Slice a medallion from the chilled butter log, and place in the well, like in the picture above. Reform the patty around the butter.
4. Heat a pan over medium heat. Spread southwest butter on either half of a bun. Toast butter side down for about a minute or two, until the bun is toasted to your liking, then remove.
5. Add the patties to the pan, cook about 5 minutes on the first side, flip, then 3 minutes on the second. Place on the bun.
6. Top with queso, then guacamole. Crush some tortilla chips, then add to the top of the burger. Close the bun and enjoy.
   
   
   

I'm Actually a 50s Housewife

Meatloaf is one of those things that's so annoyingly middle class, white, suburban America, that it immediately makes me feel like I need to be wearing an apron, pearls, and heels while making it. Naturally, I wore none of those things and instead was rocking yoga pants and a hoodie. Also bare feet. I'm classy in my own way. Anyways.

I'm willing to admit in advance that the picture at the end of this post isn't the prettiest, but um, have you ever tried to make meatloaf pretty? It's not pretty food. It honestly doesn't even sound pretty. I know all of these things. But trust me. This is easy and there's nothing about it that's gross. Just your classic, simple American food. It also lends itself well to new flavors. Want Italian meatloaf? Substitute tomato sauce for ketchup and add Italian seasoning. Add jalapenos for spice or bacon just because. This is good stuff, my loves.

Meatloaf and Roasted Green Beans
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup celery, chopped
1 tsp garlic, minced
1 egg
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

green beans
1 lb green beans, ends trimmed
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp garlic, minced
salt and pepper

1. Combine all meatloaf ingredients in a bowl by mashing. Press into a loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes to an hour.
2. Put the green beans on a baking sheet. Pour oil and garlic over, then massage, making sure all the beans have some of both. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.
   
   
   

Chili

I'm baaaack! Sorry for disappearing like that, I was briefly swallowed up by exams. But now I'm back with a pot full of chilly weather (well, not if you live in Florida, good Lord) love.

When I make chili, I sort of just throw stuff into a pot until it looks or tastes right. I also like my chili garlicky and spicy. You can dial back either one and it should still be a good bowl of chili.

I served this with garlic bread because who doesn't like garlic bread? You can find the recipe in my very first post. Such a good combination. Love.

Also recommended: watch Hannibal while you eat this. That's what I did and it was a great decision.

Chili
Ingredients
1 yellow onion, diced
3 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1.5 lbs ground beef
3 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin
1/8 tsp red pepper
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can diced tomatoes (the bigger can, 24 oz)

1. Add the onion to the pot with the oil. Cook for about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, cook another minute.
2. Add the ground beef, stirring to break it up into pieces.
3. When the meat is browned completely, add the beans and tomatoes. Stir.
4. Simmer over medium heat for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Enjoy!
   

Burgers

Aaaaaand we're rounding out summer time with a nice classic. I wasn't planning on putting normal, run-of-the-mill burgers on the blog, but after talking to some friends I realized that apparently a lot of college students don't know how to make them? So I just would like you all to realize that these aren't that hard to make and also are cheaper and yummier than the weirdly circular ones you get out of the freezer.

A lot of people, like Bobby Flay, HATE stuff like chopped onion or whatever in their burgers. But I don't like Bobby Flay and I do like stuff in my burgers. It adds so much flavor and texture. You deserve it.

Burgers
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 tbsp garlic, minced
salt and pepper
buns and any condiments you want

1. Combine all ingredients. I just sort of smash it all together with my hands.
2. Shape patties. You can just sort of mush together the meat into ovals and make a little well in the center so the patties stay flat during cooking.
3. Put into a skillet over medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes on one side, allowing a crust to form. Flip, cook for 3 minutes on the other side. I like my burgers cooked to medium well, and that's what these times are for. Cook more or less depending on your preferences.
4. Serve with buns and toppings of choice.

Spaghetti and Garlic Bread

Hi there! We're kicking off the new blog with a very traditional recipe. Who didn't grow up with spaghetti?

My goal with this blog is to create recipes that are simple enough and easy enough to follow that any other college student can make them.

This garlic bread can solve all your problems. I promise. Didn't do so hot on that exam? Bad break up? Extra homework on a long weekend? Did a frog jump in your car while you were buying groceries? (yes, this happened. I panicked.) Deep breaths. Eat some garlic bread.

Not pictured: my laptop blasting "Arrested Development"

Spaghetti & Garlic Bread

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

1/3 cup onion, chopped (I used red for the looks, but you do you)

1/4 cup celery, chopped

1 tsp minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried basil

1 lb ground beef

1 6 oz can tomato paste

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

1/2 cup water

cooked spaghetti

Garlic Bread

1 loaf French bread

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp oregano

3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese

1. Cook onion and celery in the olive oil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until they are soft. This took about 5 minutes for me.
2. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add beef and cook until brown, stirring to break up any chunks.
4. Add all the tomatoes and water, bring to a simmer.
5. Simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered. Serve with spaghetti in desired ratio.

Bread:

1. Slice the bread in horizontal slices.
2. Mash together the garlic and spices using a fork.
3. Spread on bread, then sprinkle with the cheese.
4. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Happy cooking!