Food Friday! : Balsamic Vinegar Marinated Hamburgers

Balsamic Vinegar Marinated Hamburgers

One of our favorite things to do during football season is to grill out before watching the game (on tv... sad to say), and one of our favorite things to grill are hamburgers. A few years back, I found this incredible recipe for Balsamic Vinegar Marinated Turkey Burgers and we love it so much we use it with hamburger meat too. I remember making this for Handsome Hubby's PawPaw one time and he said it was the best hamburger he had every eaten...from a sometimes picky picky eater, that is a huge compliment! Try it for yourself...you might be impressed!

Ingredients

1 pound ground meat (turkey or hamburger)
One medium white or yellow onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (it's your preference. I love this marinade, and I go for more like 3 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon Italian seasonings

Preparation

Finely chop/dice onion or use a food processor. In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings. Add the onion and mix. Pour over meat and mix together. I use my hands...it's just easier. Form meat into small to medium patties and grill until done. I serve this on whole wheat buns, with lettuce (hydroponic lettuce makes for a really beautiful looking hamburger!), avocado, and cheddar cheese (I promise it's not American in the picture), and HH always adds barbecue sauce. :)

Happy Eating! And enjoy whatever football game you may be watching this weekend! GOOOOO JACKETS!

To my Sweetie, Sometimes I leave you notes signed by "Mrs. Dr. B.". This is because I love being your wife, and I'm so proud of the accomplishments you have made!
To the Swede, There is nothing in the world I like more than receiving snail mail (although I don't much like junk mail...). Imagine my surprise when I not only got snail mail all the way from Sweden!!...but, it was a whole package! :) I completely forgot that you were sending it and it made my day yesterday. Hoping the cold weather isn't coming too soon for you already.
To my Small Group Girls, Thanks for a wonderful discussion last night! You ladies are such an encouragement to me and I am thankful for everyone of you...the new and the old! It is always so refreshing to fellowship with you all! Makes my Wednesday's just a little bit brighter. 
To my Dr. B., It was made pretty clear that you would not be doing any procedures/surgeries during your September rotation, but you had a nice surprise yesterday!- you got to put in a chest tube in the E.R. Now, I know it's no open appendectomy or a whipple, but when you haven't been in the O.R. for several weeks, placing a chest tube is an incredible task...one that you were excited to do! Here's to only one more full day in Trauma Surgery and then on to a new month's rotation...I hope filled with so many surgeries you can't even count!

To the Popmiester, Thanks for helping us fix our circa 1927 toilet! Can't believe anyone ever thought that using steel pipes was a good idea (...the pipes are filled with rust!). Thanks for your plumbing expertise and your willingness to work on a project! :) It now takes 2 minutes to fill the enormous tank instead of 30. I'm so thankful that you and Mama Ne' came for the weekend! And Long Dog is even more thankful that you brought along the White Dog. 
To my favorite M-I-L and B-I-L, Yay for figuring out facetime and chatting "face-to-face" with you, at least for a few minutes! It was great to be able to talk to you! We should definitely try and do that more often!
To Stray Kitty, You should really pretend to be more afraid of the dogs. I know you are great friends with Long Dog, but the White Dog spends all of her time licking her lips when she sees you and even tries to nibble your ears when you get close... I wonder what makes her think that kitty cats taste good?... :)
To my Dr. Hubby, My parents got a really good idea of exactly how much you work/ how little I see you while they were here this weekend. As much as they missed seeing more of you, I loved having them here on a weekend that you worked! T minus 3 days until the end of this rotation! Wahooooooooo!!


Picture: This is the steel tank lid on the toilet in our upstairs bath. It's hard to read with the rust build up, but the toilet was manufactured in the USA on June 3, 1927. That is one old toilet!

Food Friday! : Perfect Apple Pie

Perfect Apple Pie

With fall well on its way, and apples in season, I decided to make an apple pie for us to enjoy while watching the Yellow Jackets play last weekend. It turned out great! I must be honest...this is a collaboration of Paula Dean's apple pie filling (from her Crunch Top Apple Pie recipe) and a Cooking Light apple pie crust. It worked well together and the pie was delicious! When I found out Paula's pie crust recipe used 12 additional tablespoons of butter for the same amount of dough, I just couldn't bring myself to make it! 


Dough Ingredients:
 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (of course, I used half all-purpose flour, and half whole wheat flour)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup ice water
Cooking spray

Filling Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash salt
3 1/2 cups peeled, chopped cooking apples(I use 3-4 medium sized peeled apples, depending on how stuffed you want the pie...)
1 (16-ounce) jar applesauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter, chopped into small pieces


Preparation

Lightly spoon 2 1/2 cups flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife. Combine 2 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Gradually add ice water; toss with a fork until flour mixture is moist. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Gently press each portion into a 4-inch circle on heavy-duty plastic wrap. Cover and chill 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

While dough is chilling, preheat oven to 425°. Prepare filling: Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Stir in apples, apple sauce, and lemon juice. Set aside.

Once the dough is chilled, unwrap and place 1 portion of chilled dough on floured wax paper. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Place dough in 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Spoon apple mixture into pie pan and dot with the 2 tablespoons chopped butter. Unwrap and place the second portion of chilled dough on floured waxed paper and roll dough into another 12-inch circle. Lay over the top of the pie and press edges of the pie together, also removing excess dough hanging out of/off of the dish. Cut several slits in the top of the dough to allow steam to escape. You can also decorate with any left over dough pieces.

Still unbaked, but having a little fun with some fall-inspired leaves!

Place pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet; bake at 425° for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350° (do not remove pie from oven); bake an additional 40 minutes or until browned. Cool on a wire rack. Enjoy (best served with vanilla ice cream)!  :)

 

To my Teaching Dr. B., Among many many other things, your job right now is largely managing patients and their care. And managing/teaching med students. The good and the bad. Sometimes you get really lucky, and you work/teach/train an excellent student. Such is the case this month. And as it turns out, he will be the same student on the G.I. service next month! You couldn't be more happy and I couldn't be more happy for you! 
To Weathergirl, Thanks for sending some rain our way! I was so excited this morning to pull out my wellies!! :) I still think it's so appropriate that you gave them to me. Next on my list of weather items? A new umbrella. I'm embarrassed to show you the condition mine is in currently... How about a new IKEA one? Nothing better than a Swedish umbrella with (kinda) Georgia Tech colors!
To Mama Ne and the Popmiester (and White Dog and Sadie Girl), You're coming to visit this weekend and I am beyond excited to catch up over cups of coffee, play disc golf with Popmiester's birthday gifts (disc golf discs, of course!), take the 3 dogs on long walks, and eat great food! I know that only Long Dog will be more excited than me that you're coming... which is why I haven't told him yet. Afterall, he has zero concept of time. :)
To my "golfing" buddy, Warm up your disc golf arm! There's going be a showdown this weekend! I'm not competitive, am I?

To my Dr. B., Thank you for all of your medical consultations. I'm sorry that I have so many aliments sometimes. ;) Thank you for your patience...
To Long Dog, It has been no secret that you were probably a fire-dog in your last life. You love anything that smells like smoke (grill smell included), and you howl at the passing firetrucks...not bark, not whine, howl... I love it and we have been forever trying to catch it on video. I now have the proof! You are such a funny dog and I love you.
To Fall, Yet another reason why I love fall: new episodes of my favorite shows! Can't wait to curl up with Long Dog, some hot tea, on this probably rainy afternoon, and watch the recorded Castle premiere from last night! T minus 8 hours of work remain! The perfect cure for my incredibly sore throat...
To Kung Fu Panda, I was watching you on tv yesterday while doing laundry (yes, I know...26 and watching kid's movies in my spare time...by myself!) and I was surprised to be reminded of a wonderful blessing I experience everyday: Grand Master Oogway said "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That is why they call it the 'present.'" Lord, thank you that you have blessed us with today. Thank you that you make each morning new. Thank you for the provisions and strength you give us to get through each day. It is a wonderful gift. Remind me each and every night that today is just one more day that you gifted me. 


Anyone notice that I had to prompt Long Dog's howling? :) We sound so much alike! Like mother like son (kinda)... 

To my Dr. Husband, I know you care for very, very sick patients on a daily basis, but you may be impressed to know that I saved one of my "patients" yesterday too! He stopped breathing after a dose of anesthesia, and I started chest compressions and prayed that his life might be spared. Almost 15 seconds later, life was breathed back into his little body and he started gasping! I promise I did not do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation...
To our Concerned Friends and Family, WE HAVE A/C! Real a/c, not a window unit. It's nice to have the house really cool, even if it because it might be 65 degrees outside and we have all of the windows still open. Oh, and all the electricity in the kitchen works too!
To this Perfect Fall Day, It might still be officially summer, but what a wonderful day! Beautiful temps, white chicken chili, cornbread muffins, apple pie, and the GT football game (what a wonderful surprise, since I didn't think it would be aired on any of my cable channels)!!! It would only be better if we were actually at Bobby Dodd Stadium! GO JACKETS!
To my Golfing Bee, Did you ever think that you would have time during your intern year to play in a golf tournament?! I sure didn't. I'm so glad you got to play today, and you still have the rest of the weekend off! I heard you played really well!



What's your favorite fall meal/food?
 

Food Friday! : Zucchini Nut Bread Cookie Sandwiches

Zucchini Nut Bread Cookie Sandwiches

It's a bread! It's a cookie! No, it's a sandwich!...

Last Sunday, I attended a potluck lunch and I had signed up to bring a dessert (enough for 12 people). Of all the dessert recipes I had, I decided to search for a new recipe to try and I came across this recipe on Martha Stewart's website, featuring recipes that included end-of-summer produce. These cookies, as indicated by "bread" in the name, are much more spongy and chewy than your normal cookie, and I might go so far as to say that they are almost like a muffin top. The cream cheese filling gives this sandwich a very oatmeal cream-pie look (especially tempting for children...and adults!), although I think these cookies might be just as good sans filling. Even still, they were a big hit! One (half)word: delish!

 Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour (I used 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour)
1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature (separated)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup finely grated zucchini
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted

Preparation

Sift flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat 1 stick of the butter and the sugars until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Then, beat flour mixture into butter mixture. Mix in zucchini (mostly "de-watered"), oats, and walnuts. Refrigerate 1 hour before baking.

While waiting, make the icing: beat together remaining 1/2 stick butter, the cream cheese, and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop (about 2 tablespoons), drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets (or silpats), spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden, about 15-17 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

Once cookies are completely cool, spread/pipe roughly 1 heaping tablespoon of the filling onto the flat side of 1 cookie, and sandwich with another cookie.

One of the most helpful things my mother taught me in her kitchen was that a piping bag was not necessary. An easier, cheaper, less messy way of piping is to use a ziploc bag: spoon the filling/icing into a gallon-size ziploc bag, close the top after squeezing most of the air out, push contents down to one corner, and twist the top of the bag to keep contents in that corner. Then, when you are ready with a cookie (or whatever you are icing) in hand, cut the corner of the ziploc bag off and pipe away! Since I don't own (yet) a icing piping bag or tips, this is how I pipe everything I make.

I made these cookies the night before and stored them in the fridge until ready to serve. This recipe makes approximately 30 cookies, or 15 sandwiches. Enjoy!

To my Dearest Friend, We have spent the last 6 days without A/C at our house. Last night was finally the last straw and when I saw that the temp on the alarm clock upstairs read 90 degrees, we moved our mattress downstairs to the family room and had a slumber party there (a good 5-10 degrees cooler!). Thanks for making me feel like a little kid again. :) I love slumber parties! To Long Dog, You became so excited when you thought we had moved our mattress downstairs all for you! Nice try, Mr. Cool. Thanks for participating in the slumber party too!
To the Non-functioning A/C System, You had a good run. 17 years of a long life + 1 miserably hot week and we are ready for your replacement! Thank you though for reminding us how privileged we are to normally have A/C. Thank you for reminding us that many people go without such luxuries on a regular basis. Lord, you have blessed us with much! To the new A/C System, T minus 16 hours until you are installed. Not one minute too soon...Coincidentally enough, it's just in enough time to not need the A/C for the beautiful weather weekend!
To the Squirrels, I will just make it known that when I take Long Dog outside to go potty, I am not intentionally invading your territory. There is no need to hiss at or pelt me, Long Dog, or Stray Kitty with acorns. We will ignore you if you ignore us. Otherwise, it's on... bring it! :)
To my Mr. B., Last night, you decided we would buy a window A/C unit to help keep us cool (which may come in especially handy because the upstairs is always hotter). Thank you for being so concerned for my well-being. If only we had thought of it sooner... Of course, the Med-Student Housemate came up with a great solution already: take more overnight call so you can sleep at the air-conditioned hospital! :)

P.S. Shout out to Caitie-Bug! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Is this your 7th anniversary of your 21st birthday? :) Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!


P.P.S. I came home to a wonderful surprise on my front porch! Busby's Heating and Air dropped off a window A/C unit so we don't have to buy one! Almost made me cry to see it sitting there. Thank you, Lord for your provision! And thank you Busby's for your kind heart!

To my Doctor B., Sometimes when you come home and talk about your patients, I think the only reason they are still alive is because you cared for them today.  Thank you, Lord, that you have given him the discernment he needs to treat and help your children. May he continue to have your favor and the favor of those physicians you have placed in his life! Give him the patience, kind-heart, endurance, and understanding he needs to do what you would have him do.
To my A/C, Did I insult you last week when I said that the weather had been so nice, we no longer needed you? You have officially died (at least the compressor) and you started making our breaker box inside the house smoke...eek!! So, we spent all weekend without you. To Weathergirl, Thanks for the slightly cooler weather! It looks like we will be without A/C for another couple of days...so, keep it up!!
To Banker Boy, It's been fun catching up with you this summer after episodes of Suits [insert shameless plug for USA Network here]. I love when I get a call after the show airs with you wanting to know what I thought! Can't believe we will have to wait 10 months before the new season starts. Let's pick a new show and keep up the tradition... 
To my Silly Sweetheart, Last night as we sat down for dinner, you handed me a fork, and called it a "brush". I thought for sure you were just delirious in your post-call sleepy stupor, but then you started humming songs from The Little Mermaid. It's no wonder you connect well with kids. But, I think you meant to call it a dinglehopper. :)