Weston Hamburger Press

My roommate has a few kitchen gadgets in his repertoire, and occasionally if he is out of town, I like to fool around and play with them. He is always the one in charge of making hamburgers whenever we have get togethers because ONLY he can work the hamburger press. Well, while the cat is away the mouse will play. So after making some burgers last night, here is my input on how to use the hamburger press:

Using Weston Single Hamburger Press

Step one: Prepare your meat.
You can use this press on any type of ground meat.  You can season the meat with any type of sauce, marinate, or any dry ingredient.  In this project I left my meat plain.  I like to add my ingredients when I cook.

Step two: Get your supplies ready.

You want your press clean and dried, and you will also need the patty paper, I recommend the Weston Patti Paper.  I also use wax paper on my counter top because it cuts down on some of the clean up time.


Step three: Time to make the patties.
You need to adjust the press to make whatever thickness that you prefer.  I use it at the ¼ inch thickness in this project.  When you get the thickness remember to screw down the wing nut on the top of the press so that it won’t change itself in the middle of making your patties.


Place a sheet of the patty paper on the bottom part on the press.
*Remember to put the smooth side on the top so that the bottom of the patty will be touching that side.  This makes it easier it get them apart if you are going to freeze your patties*.



Make up a ball of meat and set it in the center of the press.  It you make it too small, you can add to it and vise-versa if you make it too big.

Place another piece of the patty paper on the top of the roll of meat and put it with the smooth side down.  Pat it just a little bit so that it doesn’t slide or blow away.






Now it is time to close the press.

*Note to you: the first time that I did this I had to adjust the meat to center it just a little bit better.  You will know when this happens because the meat will come out the front of the press.

Open the lid and there you have it.  You can keep doing this over and over again.  It took about 3 ½ minutes to do 3lbs of meat.

And the finished product:

Electric Skillet Date Night Meal

My sweetheart has had a rough week at work this week (the higher ups are debating layoffs so she's stressing). Tomorrow she has the night off and I told her that I would cook a nice romantic meal for us. (luckily my roommate has a date, so it’ll just be the two of us). I called my mom and asked what would be a good meal for a romantic, relaxing dinner. Mom told me to find the Presto Skillet that she gave me when I moved out. Then she told me to check my email for her recipe, below is what she sent:

Billy,

Here are my suggestions for your date night!

Recipe for a Romantic Meal:

Items Needed (not for recipe):
Candles
Lighter or Matches
Table Cloth
Cloth Napkins
NICE Plates (if you need some Billy, come over I have some in storage that aren’t nearly as chipped as yours are, and NO you cannot use paper plates)

Recipe #1

Chicken Milano

Ingredients:

• 1 c. cooked regular or possibly Minute rice
• 2 whole boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 med. onion sliced
• 2 teaspoon garlic pwdr
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce.) can condensed tomato soup
• 1 sm. can liquid removed mushrooms
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional

Directions:
In your skillet cook the onion & garlic in butter over medium heat, cook until the onion is tender. Stirring occasionally. Add chicken & cook until it is lightly browned on both sides, stirring frequently. Stir in tomato soup and remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling on high. Reduce to low, cover and simmer for 20 min, stirring often. Spoon mix over rice.

Recipe #2

(This one will be easy for you)

Get a nice looking Cesar Bag Salad. Get some Cesar Dressing. Put in a nice bowl that looks like you made the salad. Dispose of bag so that she will not find it.

Dessert:

Come by when you get the plates. I’ll have some red velvet cupcakes for ya’ll.

Love,
MOM

Oh yeah that’s right, I have the best Mom ever. (Free cupcakes are always awesome, and she makes them just right). And it doesn’t hurt that she loves my current girlfriend and keeps reminding me not to mess things up with this one.  LOL.

So Presto Skillet, I’m dusting you off and we are breaking bad and cooking tomorrow.