CHEESEBURGERS?

Hi there. It's Hugh. Sara had a super busy week with the day job and couldn't make it to the kitchen before the sun went down; she asked me if I could carry the torch... So, while I'm in charge, we're having cheeseburgers.

I'm a creature of habit. I could eat a cheeseburger every day, and if it weren't for Sara, I probably would. Luckily, she's around, knows what's good for me, and makes things taste good. That's not to say that I don't order the entrée in question nearly every time we go out.

Of all the burgers I've eaten, a few stand out- tallest among them is a burger from Mission Beach Cafe, in SF, a restaurant suggested by Heidi, and one from Vine, a local spot here in South OC. What I really like about both of these burgers, is that the ingredients are simple. What takes them to the next level, is the quality of ingredients and the method of preparation. You can add all sorts of creative, off the wall ingredients to spice up a burger, but I think it's tough to beat something that is straight forward and properly crafted.

After a recent indulgence at Vine, I decided that I was going to learn the art of cheeseburger. I read an article in Sara's Food and Wine magazine, googled a bit for some inspiration, and then started tossing things in as I went along. The resulting recipe turned out well. Not as simple as I imagined, but tastier. And mind you, I'm not much of a foodie, so I don't have spot on reasons for a lot of what follows, but the end result seems to have pleased the few people I've had over for lunch.

THE BACON CHEESEBURGER // Makes three cheeseburgers

1 lb. Grass Fed Beef, 80% Lean

1/4 Cup Bread Crumbs

1 Medium Yellow Onion, Diced

1 tsp. Fresh Thyme

Garlic, Minced

Raw Milk White Cheddar, Shredded

6 Pieces of Crispy Bacon

3 English Muffins

Arugula

Butter

Salt and Pepper

THE SAUCE

Mayo

Whole Grain Mustard

Marsala

More Garlic, minced

1. Fire up the grill, nice and hot. Mine tops out around 450', which seems to do the trick.

2. Start the bacon in a pan. Make sure it's crispy. I avoid the microwave.

3. Chop the onion, toss it in a bowl with the bread crumbs, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Break up the meat and throw that in as well. Make sure all the flavor elements combine with the meat, and form three patties about a half inch thick.

4. The measurements for the sauce are up to you. I usually rock roughly even parts, mayo and mustard, a healthy dose of garlic, and a splash of marsala. And maybe some black pepper as well.

5. Here's where things get weird. Put the patties in a 9x9 pan, and fill it up with cold water. Give them about 10 seconds to soak, then drop them on the grill. Add a little pat of butter to each side of the patties as they cook. Cook to desired doneness (I give them just a little more time on the grill than I used to, without the water bath, and I haven't over cooked one yet. At 450', I give them about 4 minutes on each side, flipping only once). Don't forget to add the cheese.

6. Pull the patties, cover them with foil, and let them rest for 5 minutes. Drop your muffin buns on the grill for a little toast.

7. A bit of sauce to each bun, patty, bacon, and arugula.

GRAPE SALSA ON GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI

My sister is not the easiest person to feed. She has all sorts of food aversions so I’ve learned not to get offended when she doesn’t clear her plate. She loves to shop, I hate it. She’s a free spirit, I’m somewhat of a planner. She likes to stay up late, I'm early to rise... you get the idea. At some point, after playing in the clothing racks at Target and bathing together, we stumbled into completly different interests. We’re the kind of friends that probably wouldn’t have chosen the other out of a group, yet I consider my relationship with her indispensable. We all need broader perspective, and it’s the people who are least like you, who make you see things through new eyes. She is going to be a famous clothing designer, and spends long nights in front of a humming sewing machine, cutting, threading and studding pieces I am consistently impressed with.

If there is anything I have learned about working, it is that you need good snacks. Can I put that on a resume? Sitting down and using no other muscles besides your brain and hands can get awfully exhausting. So this is what I made for Cydney, a snack that is difficult not to like. I hope this was a nice respite from your frozen taquitos, sister. I love you.

RED GRAPE SALSA CROSTINI // Makes One Quart Salsa and About 20 Crostini

This makes a great holiday appetizer and can be made a day in advance. It keeps well, the onion just becomes stronger. Also goes well on some fresh fish or with some simple quesadillas, so you shouldn’t have an issue with leftovers.

1 1/2 lb. Seedless Red or Blue/Black Grapes*

1 Anaheim Chile

1 tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar

1 Bunch Fresh Cilantro, Finely Chopped

Half a Small Red Onion, Finely Chopped (more or less to taste)

Salt and Pepper

1 Whole Grain Baguette

8 oz. Chevre, room temperature

2 tbsp. Milk

Oven to 375’

1. Cut the anaheim chile into fourths and remove the seeds, dice as small as possible. Dice the red onion as tiny as possible, and throw those into the bowl as well. Use your discretion with how much onion you like. Dice the grapes, best to halve length and width wise, then chop. Add the vinegar and ½ cup of cilantro and toss. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper to your taste.

2. Slice the baguette, on a bias into ¼’’ slices and arrange on a baking tray. You will need to do this in two shifts. Bake on the upper rack for about 4 minutes, take them out and flip them over, bake for another 4 minutes and let them cool. Repeat with the other half.

3. Put the goat cheese in a small bowl, add the milk and mix it around to make it spreadable. Swipe one side of the baguette with about 1 tbsp. chevre. Place a heaping spoonful of the grape salsa on top and garnish with fresh cilantro.

* By using the most fresh, firm grapes you can find, you will make the chopping easier on yourself. Not to mention the texture benefit. I think using two tones of grapes, makes a beautiful final product.

STUFFED PORTABELLOS WITH HERB SAUCE

I wish I wrote in my journal more often than I do, but I seem to only find myself there when I am sad, working through decisions, or traveling. In each new journal, I have a list of goals on the back page. I always know where to find them, and it's fun looking at journals past to see what I actually attempted to pursue. The six pack abs and fluent spanish and are still pending a number of journals later. For some reason I've taken more action on those in my present journal, and in regards to cooking, I have: 'learn to make a tasty roast chicken' and 'perfect at least three new sauces'.

This recipe, sent to be by my Aunt Suzy who heard it on NPR's Splendid Table, certainly knocks out one of the three. It is easy, sweet, fresh and versatile. It is fairly thick, and would make an amazing spread on a sandwich. You could even thin it out and make it a salad dressing. Like I said, versatile, like the favorite sweatshirt of sauces.

STUFFED PORTABELLO MUSHROOMS WITH HERB SAUCE // Serves 4

4 Large Portabello Mushrooms

2 Bunches Fresh Spinach, Chopped

2 Cups Cooked Brown Rice, still warm

Zest of One Lemon

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

GEORGIAN CILANTRO SAUCE // The sauce is adapted from Martha Rose Shulman's series Recipes for Health in The New York Times. It keeps in the fridge for about 5 days, but be warned that the garlic develops as it sits and effects your breath accordingly.

2 oz Dried Apricots

1 Cup Boiling Water

1/3 Cup Toasted Walnuts

2 Garlic Cloves (to taste), halved, green shoots removed

1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp. Salt (more to taste)

2 cups Cilantro, coarsely chopped

1 Cup Parsley, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup coarsely chopped mixed Basil, Tarragon, and Dill

1/4 Cup Walnut Oil (Extra Virgin Olive Oil works fine too)

3/4 Cup soaking water from the Apricots, as needed

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

For the Sauce:

1. Place the dried apricots in a bowl and pour on the boiling water. Let sit for at least an hour, more if possible, even overnight. Drain over a measuring cup and retain 3/4 cup of the soaking water.

2. Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and drop in the garlic. When it is chopped and adhering to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the bowl. Add the walnuts, and process with the garlic. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the drained apricots, the lemon juice, salt, pepper and red pepper to the bowl, and process to a puree. Add the cilantro and other chopped herbs, and puree, stopping the machine to scrape down the sides several times. Combine the walnut oil and soaking water from the apricots, and with the machine running, gradually add it to the puree. Process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Taste and adjust salt. Best at room temperature.

For the Mushrooms:

Oven at 375’

3. Remove the stems from the mushrooms, brush both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and fresh pepper. Put them on a baking sheet, and bake on the upper rack for 8 minutes to soften. Remove.

4. Remove the stems from the spinach and give it a rough chop. Saute the spinach in 2 tbsp. olive oil until just wilted. Add to the warm brown rice and mix together. Add the lemon zest, pinch of salt and pepper. Amount of oil is your discretion here.

5. Add a heaping half cup of the spinach and rice mixture onto the gill side of the mushrooms and sprinkle with fresh herbs and desired amount of sauce.