AWESOME WEEKEND EATS!!!

So after my wonderful and relaxing produce shopping, I decided for dinner I wanted some cheeseburgers with Texas cheese fries. Pretty much I wanted Chilis just without having to drive there, hope for great service, and not overpay. Instead I went and purchased $1.00 hamburger buns, 2 lbs. of ground beef for $6.00, and Texas fries - plain for $3.50. Our meal for a family of 4 cost roughly $14.00 (since I added Maple bacon - I had purchased it 2 days ago). This is for good quality burgers and fries. 

From the 2 lbs. of ground beef I was able to make 8 patties. I season my burgers the same exact way I season my steaks. I don't add much because I don't want to drown out the taste of good quality meat. I cooked 4 patties for each of us and froze the other 4 for future cravings (no I'm not pregnant, I just enjoy eating). I gathered my lettuce, sliced a tomato and jalapeño, and placed my bacon in the oven the same time I baked my fries.

This is how my fries turned out. What did I do? I lightly greased the bottom of a casserole with olive oil as well as the top fries. I baked them according to the directions on the bag uncovered. At the same time I baked my bacon on a cookie sheet on the bottom rack. When the fries were almost ready (5 minutes before fully ready), I sprinkled shredded cheese, salt, and pepper. Covered with foil and allowed them to bake for the remaining time, or until the cheese was to my liking. 

When it was done I crunched up one bacon and took some jalapeño slices and put them on top of the cheesey fries.

My burger was cooked well on a pan rather than setting up my grill. When it was done, I put 2 pieces of bacon on top, jalapeño, tomato, and lettuce. Since the jalapeños were my caliente, I used ranch instead of bold AI sauce.

My family was extremely satisfied just as much as I was with the way this turned out. It was nothing special, just simple. And to me, some things are meant to stay simple. 

Well, if my dinner wasn't enough, today we went to church in the beautiful city of Philadelphia. Every time I go across either bridge whether it be Walt Whitman or Benjamin Franklin, I always get a feeling of joy. I don't know if it's because of all the history in the city, but I just get a sense of peace, love, happiness, and pure joy when I get to the other side. 

So after church, we decided to venture out to Chinatown. I was extremely hungry and everything was smelling great on 10th street.  We ended up in Shang Hai 1. We ordered crispy salt and pepper chicken, hot shredded pepper beef, and volcano chicken. Oh my word!!!!!! It was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!! Everything they brought out did. Grant it there were some real tradition food on the menu that I have to try next time since I know their food is legit. They had pork liver, shredded frog, and other things that I didn't want to taste at the point. I was hungry and I wanted to eat something that would be satisfying rather than interesting lol.  

Well, that was our adventure for today. Until next time... -Jen