"Straightjacket" Burger

Straightjacket Burger

 

 

     This burger is so named because after the first bite you will be so "crazy" with the wonderfulness that is this burger that you will require a straightjacket to finish this. I was just sitting at work one day and discussing things with one of my coworkers and the idea just came to me. I need to create a burger that is so freaking good it will make you go crazy after just one bite. This burger is packed with meatiness, flavor, gooeyness, and taste that if you do not like it something is definitely wrong with you. The burger is simple but the flavors are out of this world. Straightjacket Burger.

 

Ingredients for simple burger:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbs special seasoning
• Salt/pepper

 

     Simply mix the ground beef, seasoning, (something I am a fan of but not going to give away. Just use your favorite seasoning), salt and pepper together. Press down between two sheets of wax paper with the back of a plate and grill until perfect doneness. Makes 5 patties.

 

Ingredients for topping:

• Homemade bread and butter pickles
• 10 slices crisp bacon
• 5 slice processed cheese
• Molasses honey mustard BBQ sauce, (1 tbs molasses, 1 tbs honey mustard, 1 tbs BBQ sauce)

 

      After the burgers have been cooking until your preferred temperature, (consuming raw beef is  not good for your health), however I like my burgers a bit medium. Place already cooked bacon on top and then a slice of the processed cheese. Let sit on grill until the cheese starts to melt over the bacon and burger, enveloping like a straightjacket. On a good crispy bun, spread some of the molasses honey mustard bbq sauce. Top your burger with fresh bread and butter pickles and you have a "crazy" delicious burger ready to be consumed in its entirety. 

 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Serves 4-5 people.

 

      The combination of the processed cheese slice, the spicy but sweet molasses bbq sauce, and the crisp but spicy pickles make this burger fantastic. Enjoy.

 

The Tracy: (Texas Toast Chicken Sandwich)

Texas Toast Chicken Sandwich

     This dinner combination came to me while watching television.  As usual those typical commercials come on that try to entice you to run right out, hop into your car, and go straight to the drive thru restaurant in your town and purchase the newest, over fried, over processed sandwich. Even though I am not a fan of fast food at all and rarely eat it because when I do I usually get sick, however I will admit those commercials make my mouth water a bit. So I am sitting there watching and decide I need to come up with another great chicken sandwich. One of my cousins had recently been in and she is from Texas. What better meal to create than a tribute to the southern state she calls home. I decided to combine the flavors of a good fried chicken with some peppery cheese, BBQ sauce, and wonderful toasted garlicky bread.  This recipe is so easy even an idiot can do it. Please enjoy The Tracy!

 

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Flour
• Egg
• Cornflake crumbs
• Garlic powder
• Cayenne powder
• Vegetable oil
• 4 slices Texas toast, (store bought)
• Pepper jack cheese
• BBQ sauce
• Mayo
• Bread and butter pickles

    

     First, in order to make this sandwich you have to fry up the chicken. I took a combination of flour, cornflake crumbs, garlic powder, and some cayenne powder and combined them. I dredged the chicken in some egg and then into the flour combo and fry on both sides in a skillet of oil until nice and brown. Then place the chicken onto a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

You can then cook the Texas toast slices in the oven alongside the chicken. Just follow the directions on the box.  

     

     Once both the chicken and the toast are complete all that is left is putting the sandwich together. Take a slice of pepper jack cheese and lay it over the chicken. Sit chicken under your broiler just until the cheese melts and starts to bubble. Meanwhile mix together some BBQ sauce and mayo until you have a nice condiment. Place the chicken between the two slices of toast, coat some BBQ mayo on the top and lay some bread and butter pickles on top of the chicken. Viola! This sandwich was amazing. Quick, simple, delicious, with just a slight kick of heat. I suggest giving this a try. Serves 2

Pulled Pork: An American Classic

Pulled Pork

     When I think of "American" cuisine, some of the first things to come to mind are; Hamburgers, Hotdogs, BBQ ribs, Fried Chicken, Maryland Crab Cakes, and of course Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches.  What better southern dish to have on a nice summer afternoon then a juicy pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and a side of sweet potato fries. Pulled Pork is one of those dishes that takes some time to find the best combination of flavors for your pulled pork sandwich.  I am giving away my personal secret here for my recipe so consider yourself lucky. Another trick is the best way to cook your pork to get that perfect pull apart, juicy, and tender pork that just soaks up your sauce and is full of flavor. Now this is a non-traditional recipe where all the ingredients are based on "eye balling it".  I've mentioned this method in my previous BBQ post.  Just start with a small palm full of each ingredient then adding more based on your taste preferences.  Give it a try.  Just remember to base it on your own tastes.

 

DRY RUB:

• Paprika
• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Cayenne pepper powder
• Brown sugar
• Salt/Pepper

Mix all ingredients together based on taste and sit aside.

     As with the dry rub, the sauce is all based on "eye balling it" again.  This time just start with a tablespoon of each one and build it up based on tastes.

BBQ SAUCE:

• Molasses
• Brown sugar
• Honey
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Balsamic vinegar
• Liquid smoke
• Garlic Powder
• Chili flakes

Mix all ingredients together and sit aside in a squirt bottle if handy.

     Now I use a method I learned on the Internet for getting that smoked flavor of good pulled pork.  Since I don't own a smoker and my grill is too small, I smoke mine in my oven.  You have to know ahead when you want to have the pork completed to eat to know how to time the cooking of it.  I rub my dry rub all over the pork shoulder.  I then place my pork into a Dutch oven.  I place a small ramekin of water and liquid smoke within the Dutch oven next to the roast.  Place the lid on it and place in a 210-degree oven.  Cook for 8-10 hours checking half way through the process to make sure there is still liquid in the ramekin.  When you pull this out of the oven you will be amazed at how easily it is to remove from the Dutch Oven.  The pork just falls apart.  I place it on a wooden cutting board and barely but gently cut into it with a knife breaking up some of the large chunks.  There is very little fat left as it has melted down into the meat.  Mix in a couple drops of liquid smoke and some of the BBQ sauce and you're ready to serve.  Serve this on a nice seeded bun, top with some of the BBQ sauce, and homemade coleslaw and you have yourself and amazing summer BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich.  Serves about 8-10 people.

 

 

 

BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken

     What says summer more than barbeque on the grill, picnics outside in the hot summer air, and easy dinner plans when you don't want to be inside cooking?  So this one weeknight, it was gorgeous outside and I thought, why not just fire up the grill and cook some BBQ Chicken.  BBQ Chicken is a right of summer just like hamburgers and hot dogs. Everyone has their own BBQ that they enjoy or make themselves.  I make my own BBQ sauce that I use for ribs and pulled pork.  This night, I thought I would switch it up a bit.  I took a simple store bought BBQ sauce and added a little of myself to the mix.  Either way it is hard to put "amounts" on the ingredients that go into a delicious tasting BBQ sauce.  Below I give you a simple description to what I did to create a juicy, sweet but tangy, and spicy sauce for my chicken.  As for the amounts, start by "eye-balling" it.  Small palm fulls of each until you get the taste you are looking form.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup store bought simple BBQ sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Balsamic vinegar
• Garlic powder
• Honey
• Pure chili paste
• Liquid smoke

     Mix all above ingredients in a bowl based on taste and preferences. Gently coat the chicken in a bit of the sauce.  Over a hot grill sear the chicken on both sides to get those grill marks for about 3-5 minutes on both sides.  Move the chicken to a cooler side of the grill or over the section that does not have heat below it.  Continue to coat the chicken in more of the sauce and turn.  Cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.  Serves 2.