Heart Attack on a Plate?!

**WARNING: What you are about to read may disturb you, even frighten some people. Please read at your own discretion**

Alright, so it was recommended by a buddy of mine that it would be kind of amusing to demonstrate how far I have come in my culinary palate. I must justify this with a little back story on how this amazing dish first came about. Maestro, a little flashback music please?!

While my buddy and I were roommates after college, at a place in Dallas called the Village, we did not have much money for groceries. Hell, we ate whatever we could get our hands on. Grilling out turned out to be a big deal. One night I decided to make myself a couple of hamburgers. Well, they fell apart during the grilling process. Now what the hell am I going to do? So I take a good long stare into the fridge...

I see...

Dozen Eggs
A package of grated cheese
Spicy mustard
Ketchup

Why not, right?

So I finished off the beef in a pan with some oregano and other seasonings. Took it out, leaving the grease behind and cooked the dozen eggs. Then combined the eggs and beef (careful not to overflow the pan). Put that concoction on a plate. Dumped the WHOLE package of cheese on it and topped it off with a hearty drizzle of ketchup and mustard! MMMMMMMMMM?!?!

The recipe evolved to a package of spicy Italian sausage over the course of its shelf-life.

I ate this about once a week or every other week...until my wife said she would like to have me around for a while.

I do not propose anyone follow this recipe. Even thinking about it now gives me the willies. I do not know how I survived, but alas, I did.


Ordinary Chef

Deconstructed Cheeseburger

So tonight the meal consisted of anything that was old in the refrigerator and freezer. I know we all have these moments. Those moments where we are just staring into the pantry/fridge etc. trying to figure out what the hell to fix. Here is something I threw together tonight. Corbin, my 4 year old, helped this evening. Or should I say, he told me what he thought needed to be done.

Deconstructed Cheeseburger on Bed of Hash-browns
   Mango Pepper Chutney










For the Cheeseburger
4 Already formed Hamburger Patties
   I used ground sirloin that I had in freezer
Parmesan Cheese Grated
Montreal Chicken Seasoning
Worscheshire
Bell Peppers
Bacon or Bacon Bits

Throw everything in a bowl and make sure you mix the meat thoroughly so they don't break on the grill. Place them on an extremely hot grill 400+. Sear both sides for marks. Place in 400 convection till done.

Potatoes
Frozen Ore Rita Hashed Potatoes (the cubed kind)
Bell Pepper
Onion
6 T of oil

Saute the Bells and onions in dash of oil till caramelized. Add rest of oil. Cook potatoes as directed.

Mango Pepper Chutney
1 Mango (chunked)
1 Jar of Mom's Christmas Pepper Jelly
Salt
Garlic (dash)
Oil (dash)

Add the mango chunks to hot oil and let soften. Add Pepper Jelly (it can be any type of pepper jelly). Add one clove of minced garlic and salt to taste.

This is it! Place the potatoes down first. Patty on top. Then add the chutney. We had to have some berries with this meal. It was a HIT!

It went well with a State Pen Porter.

First Blog

So today starts a new adventure. From this moment on, I shall henceforth be known as a blogger. I never thought this day would come. It is very strange. I never thought anything in my life would be interesting enough that ordinary people would want to read it. That is until I found my love of cooking.

I have always loved to cook, although my culinary plates consisted of "Heart Attack on a Plate" "Teriyaki Pork Chops" or the occasional steak on the grill. I was in no way a chef! So how did all this begin?

A few years ago I lost my job. I did not know what the hell I was going to do with my life and my career. Luckily my amazing wife (hopefully she reads this) was in a position that allowed me the opportunity to stay at home with my kids. This was a dream come true...stay at home, remember to pick the kids up at school and become Mr. Mom! I mean if Batman can do it, why couldn't I...right? Things were great at first until I got bored, plus the fact my manhood was coming into question because what would I be able to pass on to my boys? What life lesson was I beginning to teach them.

So, my wife and I thought about it for a while...and thought about it...and thought about it. We finally thought, hey, why don't you go to cooking school and be a chef? There was the answer dripping in holy sunlight!

So that is it. I am now in my second semester of school and loving it. My kids are happy...my wife is happy...and I am happy. Now, you are going to be happy because I am blogging about this.

I will try to post almost every night or so with different family recipes, how to get your kids involved in the cooking process, plating techniques and will even through in the occasional restaurant review (my the Ordinary patron point of view).

Please let me know your thoughts or ideas.

Thanks
Ordinary Chef