Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/5, 1/6 sec, ISO800 “Life Support Machine” Cedar Park, 2020
Behold! Our new De’Longhi ESAM3300 Super Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine, ready to caffeinate the holiday season! We’ve been enjoying it for a few days now, and we think it is great. It uses either whole beans or ground, so there aren’t any K-cups or Nespresso pods to clog the landfill. It also has a steam/froth feature if you like cappuccinos. So convenient and easy to use!
I still enjoy my regular pour-over coffee in the morning, but the afternoon espresso is really nice. ☕
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO3200 “Bully Beef” Cedar Park, 2020
I decided to make some bully beef to take advantage of the abundance of delicious baguettes that Mariko baked. Bully beef is the name used in Jamaica for corned beef (canned) sandwiches, and we used to eat them when we were growing up since my Mom was born and raised in Jamaica.
There are a number of ingredients you can add to the corned beef, but I usually just mix it with mayo, then add some Pickapeppa. You can add onion, tomato, Scotch Bonnet, ketchup, etc. Just do a google search and you can find some good ideas! But for me, just the simple mayo and Pickapeppa was good for a spread to go on the baguette.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO3200 “Bully Beef Time” Cedar Park, 2020
Why not pick up a can of corned beef from the market and try for yourself? It might just become one of your favorites. 😀
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/4, 1/35 sec, ISO3200 “Burger Tower” Cedar Park, 2020
I got the request for burgers, and I was happy to oblige! Like last time, I fried up some bacon as well, but also grilled some onions and jalapeños for Koa and I. (Mariko prefers raw onions and peppers) We also had sliced avocado, so the cheeseburgers had a lot going on. The above photo is Mariko’s sky-high burger, and below is my creation, which turned out to be really messy and fun to eat.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/4, 1/70 sec, ISO3200 “Deluse Burger” Cedar Park, 2020
Homemade buns were beautiful and delicious and made a huge difference! Over the years, I’ve tweaked my burger recipe and technique: I add salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, and Japanese Worcestershire sauce to the 80/20 ground chuck, mixing with a fork.
The most important change I’ve made in cooking the burgers, is when I add the cheese. In the past, I used to add the cheese while the patties were still cooking on the grill. But now, I add the cheese later – when the patties are cooked, I transfer them into a warm casserole dish, add the cheese, and cover with foil while the burgers rest a few minutes. The cheese melts just the same, but the benefit is that the barbecue grill stays cleaner. I really don’t miss that smell of burning cheese the next time I fire up the grill!
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/2.5, 1/100 sec, ISO2000 “Chicken/Udon Nabe” Cedar Park, 2020
The weather is too warm for mid-November but that’s not going to stop us from enjoying a cold-weather favorite: nabe (hot-pot)! Tonight’s had hakusai, Korean noodles (like udon, but not quite as thick), chicken, and mizuna. So light but flavorful and yummy!
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