My Last Fast Food Burger....

My last fast food burger was in September. I was driving a carless friend around and she wanted to stop at Carl's Jr, and I happened to have a coupon for buy one get one free Fampus Star burger. So we each got one. That was my last.
Number 1: I am so used to whole wheat buns (I buy them at the grocery store)that the white bun almost gagged me.
Number 2: The mouth feel of hamburger meat is not appealing to me anymore. As Molly would say, I'm "evolving." I used to drool thinking of fast food burgers. One day about 5 years ago, I did a taste test one afternoon and drove to 3 places: Burger King, Carl's, McDonald's..and ate all 3 burgers that afternoon and loved it. Of course, I felt a bit sick afterwards.
Number 3: I decided to take my doctor's instructions seriously: No beef.(She gave me this admonition because I have a tendency towards high cholesterol.)


Here is a picture of what I fried in the frying pan last night (while my lentil soup was cooking):Sliced onion, green pepper, and some Boca Burgers. We can get 4 in a box at Target for $2.37! (The same thing is $3.99 at the grocery stores).
I serve them on big whole wheat buns with mayo, and hot sauce. I microwave it for just a few seconds to soften and warm the bun. We eat these twice a week. WE usually had a side of salad and something else ( a vegetable).

I do not miss fast food hamburgers one iota. Even when those big colorful glossy ads come in the mail. Mine are better!

Boards

 EMERIC'S APPLE CAKE

(Emeric made this twice dduring his 10 day visit  here to 15129 Dakota Court with his family and Ckelsy and Skye and Finnick.

It is VEGAN!  No dairy. No egg! So moist and good. He made it for Easter and he made it fa few days later.

EMERIC'S APPLE CAKE

1/2 cup  Earth Balance (  this is a health delicious butter substitute)

1 cup sugar

2 cups all purpose unbleached flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

2 cups chilled applesauce

1/8 teaspoon salt

(can add raisins)

Pour into 8 " greased round cake pan or square pan  350 degrees 25-35 minutes

IRISH APPLE CAKE

 While reading one of John's journal's, I saw a list iof his recent favorite foods. One was Irish Apple Cake. I will type it here since some of my children were curious about it. I found the recipe today in a random plastic bag of old recipes I used to use.

I can also call this recipe: "Got Applesuce"? or..."Got Egg Yolks?"

IRISH APPLE CAKE

3 cups sifted all purpose unbleached flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 egg yolks

1 cup butter

grated rind of one lemon (Optional)

2  1/2 cups applesauce

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

~~~~~~~~~

Mix flour, sugar, salt, egg yolks, lemon rind and press 1/2 of this mixture into a greased 9 x 9 x 3/4 " pan or 9  x  13" pan.

Mix applesauce, cinnamon, cloves and spread on top of dough and spread on top of dough.

Sprinkle remaining crumbly mixture over apple sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes

Top with whipped cream or lemon sauce.

- Jackie Grover

My Favorite Soup

 Joan's Carrot Soup

3 cups peeled and rough chopped carrots

1 cup sweet onion chunks

1 heaping tablespoon chopped raw peeled ginger. 

1 level teaspoon cumin powder

1/8 teaspoon tumeric

Saute all the above in your pot with  2 tablespoon cooking oil

Add.....

         4 cups vegetable broth

Cook until everything is super soft.

Blend with immersion blender until smooth.

(Joan usually uses an instantpot and cooks it for 25 min. under pressure. So it is covered the whole time. Since Joan has never made this in a regualr cooking pot on the stove, she wonders if more water has to be added. Or if one must simply just put a lid on the pot and keep it simmering on low.)

Brutally Honest Valedictorian Regrets Being Top of the Class

Blue Moon Ice Cream

 Rachel is eating a blue moon ice cream soft serve here. I never heard of soft serve version. It is a central Wisconsin unique flavor.

Larissa made some using lemon extract ( recipe said you COULD use that) instead of the raspberry extract which is recommended.