The burgers are better at Hungry Jo's.

17 April 2011 - Alex's Beef Patties for Hamburgers

Another weekend, another engagement party, another Sunday night attempt at cooking due to a whole week of laziness! It was time to have a crack at Alex’s Beef Patties for Hamburgers.

I've got two hamburger patty recipes in my book already, so I've been looking forward to the competition that might arise from trying out these dishes! I decided to try Alex’s first, as they were in my book first (and I had almost all of the ingredients so wouldn't have to do much shopping).

The recipe is very easy and lots of fun to make. They were a darker colour than I'd imagined, but I had no reason for the image in my mind. The best part was definitely getting to mix it with my hands - particularly squeezing the egg and popping the yolk (something I thought I'd find gross, but actually really enjoyed).

It was very simple. I got to use the BBQ all by myself as Sian wasn't home and I felt very cool (in my glasses and my pyjamas and my post-braid crimped hair). It all went really smoothly. The patties fell apart a bit on the BBQ, but I don't know what I could have done about that really. They were delicious and I'm counting it as a hands down success!

I didn't know how to clean the BBQ so told Sian to check it the next morning. She cleaned it but roused on me for not turning off the gas. I said "I didn't have to turn it on so I thought it must just disconnect itself like Dad’s" to which she replied "Dad’s doesn't do that"... Epic fail. May now be responsible for empty gas bottles across the country!

Tips: Find out how to use the BBQ before claiming it was successful! Also, even though Alex wouldn't like it, it's not worth having a hamburger if you don't have beetroot!

Music: Blakroc

It's my party and I'll cook if I want to

15^th January 2011 – Showcase #1

- Jo and Carly's Portuguese Chicken
- Cam's Mediterranean Warm Veg Salad
- Sarah's Mum's Potato Salad (rehashed)

So, it was finally time for the very nerve-wracking experience of my first showcase. As Ash is going to Europe in a couple of weeks it was the last time we’d get to hang out. What better way to say goodbye than to force her to be my first reviewer, make her wear a silly hat as the judge and potentially give her food poisoning?

My sous chef (Carly) and I spent a rocking Friday night eating takeaway pizza and looking through recipe books. We eventually decided we'd have a BBQ. Since Sian and I loved Sarah’s Mum’s Potato Salad so much last time I thought I’d do that again. We found a recipe for Portuguese chicken and spent the afternoon making the marinade and getting everything prepared, we were feeling very cool! We forgot to buy oregano so used Italian herbs, used sweet paprika instead of hot paprika and chicken breast instead of thighs. Didn’t realise until the next day that we actually left the oil out of the mixture (quarter of a cup) - apparently we can’t even read a recipe!

My sous chef and I quite enjoyed all the cooking, even though she complained relentlessly about the heat. We discussed such fascinating topics as how many couples would have sex on their wedding night and if we’d prefer to be called Donka or Wee Ping Dong.

Had six people for the dinner and was feeling the pressure! Everything seemed to go down a treat. Sarah’s Mum’s Potato Salad was again amazing (was pretty much entirely sweet potato this time), Cam’s Mediterranean Veg Salad was good (perfectly charred by me and very well chopped by my sous chef) and the flavour of the chicken was really yum. Some of the pieces were perfectly cooked, some of them kinda overcooked, but no one mentioned it (Jen said “Oh, can you overcook chicken?”). The whole meal was pretty much a hit. Sian’s friends came over and polished the leftovers off – compliments all round!

Went out for a big night out with the girls which was cool. We complained about how old we are and ‘how can one vodka cost nine bucks, they used to only be three?!’ I fell down the stairs in a club, but you know, all in a day!

While dancing Ash accidentally elbowed a ‘little person’ in the head and then patted her on the head and said sorry. Brilliant.

Tips: Make sure you put all the ingredients in the chicken dish.

Music: The Wombats, Tales of Girls and Boys and Marsupials.