Short Rib Burgers, Swimming Pools, Indian Potatoes that almost made me cry.

So, it is turning to Summer and I love it. I used to love the rain and cold but now that the rain and cold are the norm, I love Summer.



I bought Dr. Food a new toy for his Birthday. Pffft. I know his birthday isn't until September something. I just thought that buying it now so he could use it for the whole summer would be good. Little did I know that he would want to cook every meal on it. Smoked Cheerios not so good.



So, I wanted Korean burgers. Yeah, all of a sudden I woke up and thought "Janis! I think you need to go find some short ribs to grind up to make Korean Burgers!" Yeah, no, it didn't happen that way. Actually it happened like this:

Janis: Shit, what am I going to make for dinner tonight. Dr. Food will want to use that damn egg to cook on.

Janis: Well, you could just do some chicken.

Janis: I am sick of chicken.

Janis: Lets make Korean Burgers!

That isn't quite how it happened either. More like I felt like Korean food so I went to my favorite Korean cookbook (Kimchi Chronicles)and found a recipe for Tteokgalbi (what? You think it was pretentious that I called it that because I am not korean? Yes, I am an honorary Korean!) ok ok burgers.



So, I went and bought shortribs. I actually found boneless shortrib. I ground it up in the Cuisinart. I didn't even have to drag out the meat grinder.



Dr. Food made the ground meat into patties and we were good to go. I sat back and sipped on a cocktail while Dr Food grilled these puppies up.



Yum. That is all I can say. Yum. These were so good that neither of us spoke. We just ate.



PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT... MAKE THESE BURGERS.




I made a Korean potato salad and something else that I don't remember what it was. What? No, I am not going senile. I know we just had this a few nights ago. Shut up. I know that it was a salad with jicama and asian pear, and cabbage and a lot of stuff that I had to stand there and cut into small pieces. It just wasn't worth it. Dr. Food almost made "that face".

Ok, the potatoes. It wasn't for the same dinner but they are so good that I can't stop making this. Ok, maybe that is a bit of an overstatement. I made it twice so far.



It isn't hard to make at all. I am begging you to make these.



I warn you that they are addictive.



So now what? Nothin....


Tteokgalbi (Seasoned Short Rib Burgers)
Marja Vongerichten The Kimchi Chronicles

1 1/2lb ground short ribs (If you can't find short rib you can substitute ground meat). I simply bought 3lbs of boneless short rib and ground it myself. You can also buy 3lbs of bone in and take it off the bone and grind it.

1 tablespoon finely minced garlic

1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger

3 tablespoons grated Korean pear

2 scallions, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds

1/2 teaspoon course salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat grill to high or preheat a ridged cast iron grill pan over high heat.

Use your hands to gently mix together all of the ingredients just enough to combine and form into burgers. Grill to desired doneness.


Masala Roasted Potatoes
US Masala

12-15 baby red potatoes (washed and halved)
3 fat cloves minced garlic
1" minced ginger
3 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp turmeric
salt to taste
1 tsp chaat masala
2 chopped (I used one) green chili
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
4 to 5 curry leaves (I used them once and didn't use them once and there wasn't that much difference)
1/2 cup packed cilantro and mint leaves
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp (or to taste) cayenne pepper powder

Preheat oven to 400F.

Grease a large non stick pan and add potatoes.

In a medium pan add oil on medium heat. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, followed by the curry leaves. Allow them to sputter. Add the chili, ginger and garlic and cook for a minute. Add the salt and turmeric and take off heat. Pour over potatoes making sure to stir to coat evenly.

Bake until tender and brown about 25-30 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes or so so they brown evenly. Remove from oven and stir in the cilantro, mint, chaat masala, cayenne pepper and lemon juice.