Big Mac Panini

Aimee had a fast food craving tonight and I've had this idea for a bit, so I decided tonight was the night to try a Big Mac Panini. Just like a Big Mac, but a bit crispy. Good, but it made my house smell like McD's for several hours.

Ghetto Delicious Cheese Dip

1 Brick Velveeta Cheese, 1 small brick Blue Cheese, 1 can of Chili, 2 cans chopped Jalapenos, chopped white onion, Chipotle powder, Chipotle Tabasco sauce, a bit of cummin and a bit garlic white pepper. It's a gut bomb, but it is great.

Apple Butterscotch Bake

I took a couple of Apples, a Nectarine and a handful of small Plums and put them in the bottom of buttered 8x8.

Mixed:
1/2 C Brown Sugar
1/2 C Water
1/4 C Mile
1/2 C Oats
2/3 C Flour
3.5 oz. Butterscotch Putting (Powdered)
1/4 C Sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 C Butter
2 Eggs
a few sprinkles of Cinnamon

After whisking together I poured over chopped fruit and baked at 375 for a little under an hour.

Buffalo Wing Panini

I reduced down some butter with Franks Red Hot added some rotisserie chicken, blue cheese and some chopped celery. This is one of my favorite paninis that I've made so far. Yum.

Spicy Steak Panini

Grilled steak, cheddar, onion and jalapenos.

The York Bar - just outside Helena, MT

The York Bar

7500 York Road

Helena, MT  59602

(406) 457-3751

The York Bar has always won the "Best Burger" category of our local paper's "Best of Helena," so I've been meaning to head back up for a burger since I haven't been there in about 5 years.

The menu. Chips, no fries, but they do have onion rings.

My mother after running 37.9 miles and my daughter as we wait for foodstuffs.

The inside of the York Bar. Order from the bartender.

The grill.

The Double Cheeseburger. 1 pound of fresh beef, two slices american cheese on a buttered and grilled bun, served with onion, pickle, chips and a York Peppermint Patty. A simple and flavorful burger. I'd put it up against a Gold Bar burger any day.

Taco Panini

Ground beef with taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, Cholula hot sauce and Cilantro on Sourdough.

Neighborly Plums or Gage

Our older neighbor lady went to her friends ranch and brought us back some fresh plums. Very tart with an almost Sweetart aftertaste. Aimee took over a few fresh Mini-Muffin Souffles and she gave us even more plums! Each one is about the size of a quarter or a bit larger. The biggest are about a 50 cent piece.

Chocolate Souffle Mini-Muffins

I had a great day hanging out with my daughter while my wife was at work, then Aimee came home and took Ophelia downstairs for a nap and when they came back up they returned to fresh Chocolate Souffle Mini-Muffins.

1/2 lbs. Dark Chocolate
1/2 lbs. Butter
Melt chocolate and butter over low heat

1 1/2 Cup Sugar
5 Eggs
1/2 Cup Flour

When the butter and chocolate melt together, slowly pour and mix in with eggs, sugar and flour, then mix well. When mixed, pour into muffin, mini-muffine, souffle, or regular pan, sprinkle roughly chopped chocolate on top and bake at 350 until the inside is just the slightest bit moist. Serve warm.

Philly Cheesesteak Panini

The Philly Cheesesteak Panini
Roast beef, Cheez Wiz, Onion and Green Pepper on Sourdough. Fantastic!

Aimee's Slow Roasted BBQ Pork

Aimee used up the rest of her BBQ sauce on the fall off the bone (if there was one) pork. I think she cooked it for 5 or 6 hours, a nice treat to come home to after work.

Test Drive: The Big Hardee

Tried out a Big Hardee tonight. Back east I think they are called Big Carls on account of the Hardee's/Carl's Jr. thing. It was good, I like the meat better, but the Big Mac sauce is just the bees knees. The photo of the Big Hardee was a towering mountain of a burger with fluffy buns and three evenly stacked patties, a gentle dollup of cheese dripping over the burger. I received a smashed, yet edible burger. I'd have one again, plus I live way closer to Hardee's than McDonald's.

A Hamburger Today's Guide to Burger Styles

I don't usually post links, but I thought this was a great article on different burger styles.

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2009/09/a-guide-to-glossary-of-regional-american-burger-cheeseburger-styles-and-cooking-methods.html#continued

Peanut Butter & Bacon Panini

Good, but I think it could use one more ingredient. Banana? Chocolate?

Panini Madness!

First off, Roast beef, onion, Laughing cow soft cheese, salt, pepper and Cattleman's Gold BBQ sauce on cracked wheat bread.

Aimee made a turkey, tomato, Amish bacon cheddar and honey mustard on cracked wheat.

A little late night snack: blueberry, goat cheese and honey on cracked wheat.

BBQ Chicken Panini

Aimee had made some chipotle BBQ sauce from scratch so we figured it was time to try out the new panini press. I took some roasted chicken and cheddar cheese, dumped some BBQ sauce on it and sandwiched it between two pieces of fresh sourdough bread that had been brushed in olive oil. It turned out quite nice and is becoming Aimee's favorite new appliance.

My Birthday Present Pt. 1

DeLonghi Panini Grill. Can't wait to make some crazy paninis.

Grilled Mango & Grilled Goat Cheese

I know I've been eating a lot of these, but damn if they're not good and quite versatile.

Jimmy Buffet Party - Spring Meadow Lake

Kevin designed this years poster, which I love. It reminds me of the early 90's, "Saved by the Bell" style.



"Gourmet Burgers" from Safeway.

Burger stuffed with bacon and cheese

Donuts for Luthers and such



Joe, Eli's cousin from Portland tries and approves of the Luther.

Eli enjoying his first Luther

Eli topped his Luther with mayo, onion and a sausage.

Aunt Bev's Banana Bread

I got a couple of loafs of banana bread from my aunt Bev for my birthday. Awesome! (And great with Amish butter or french toast!)

Julia Child Quote 1

If you'd like a hi-res version, give me an email...

Aimee's Sea Scallops

Fresh sea scallops pan fried in butter and garlic with asparagus, bacon, tarragon, dill, pure vanilla extract with sea salt and pepper, delightfully prepaired by Aimee.

Wild Sage at the Rusty Parrot - Jackson, WY

For my birthday we all went to the Wild Sage in the Rusty Parrot. Because we had a 15 month old, they let us sit outside on the deck by the hot tub. It was a beautiful evening and we couldn't have asked for a more peaceful setting.

Roasted beet and arugula salad with sweet cream horseradish panna cotta passion fruit coulis.

Asian pear salad with pea shoot, baby radishes, mixed spiced nuts, truffled roasted pear vinaigrette.

Sweet pepper crab cakes with snap peas, apricot aioli and tobikko caviar

A close up of the Tobikko caviar on the crab cakes.

Angus filet with pistachio whipped potatoes, speck wrapped baby french beans, oyster mushroom ragout, parsley oil.

Red curry and Kaffir lime bouillabaisse with sugar can skewered day boat scallops, wild gulf shrimp, blue lump crab, broccolini, dragon carrots, jasmine rice

Roasted red pepper soup and fresh bread with truffle butter

My dessert, a lovely variety of cheeses and crackers.

A good steak, not near as good as the Rosebud Steakhouse in Chicago, but decent, if a bit overpriced. The pistachio whipped potatoes were good and earthy, but a nice bit of cheese could have really put them over the top. The customer service was most excellent, though.

Wild Sage Restaurant at the Rusty Parrot Lodge

175 N. Jackson Street

Jackson, WY

(307) 733-4455