Recipe: Sirloin Burgers

Ingredients:

1 1/4 lb. ground sirloin (93% lean/7% fat)
1 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. paprika
1 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tsp. cracked red pepper
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 onion, finely diced (or pureed)
3 tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint
3 tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil

Directions:

Mix all ingredients into a bowl with hands until ingredients are thoroughly combined.  Make 4 equally sized patties from the mixture.  Heat your griddle, grill, or cast iron pan to medium-high heat.  Place patties on the heat and cook up to 4 - 5 minutes on each side to desired doneness (5 mins will cook to medium well).  Serve on whole wheat buns with sharp cheddar, two slices of bacon, lettuce, and tomato.  I do not recommend any other condiments are the burgers will be very strongly flavored.

Makes 4 servings.

Recipe: Pad Kee Mao

Ingredients:

2/3 lb. boneless/skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
2/3 lb. boneless/skinless chicken thigh, thinly sliced
1 leek, finely chopped
1 bunch of scallions, finely chopped
1 large habanero, finely chopped
3 tbsp. minced garlic
3/4 cup loosely packed holy basil (Thai basil is OK if you can't find holy basil)
1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
Juice of 2 limes
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/4 cup fish sauce
3 tbsp. dark soy sauce
3 tbsp. white wine
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 package (500 g/18 oz) of wide rice noodles, cooked
2 tbsp. canola oil

Directions:

Cook noodles according to package directions, chilling immediately with cold water after cooking.  Heat canola oil in the wok over high heat.  Add leek, scallion, habanero, and garlic.  Cover, cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.  Add chicken, mix vigorously.  Re-cover for about 3 minutes.  Remove cover and continue cooking until chicken is about 2/3 cooked.  Add bell pepper and holy basil.  Cover and cook for about 3 minutes more until the bell pepper is tender and the holy basil wilts.  Once chicken is fully cooked, push all ingredients to one side in the wok.  Add the beaten eggs to the other side.  Once the egg is close to set, vigorously mix all of the ingredients together.  Whisk lime juice, oyster sauce, fish sauce, dark soy, and white wine together.  Add to the wok and mix vigorously.  Add the cooked noodles and cilantro and turn off heat.  Mix all ingredients together completely, coating noodles completely in the mixture.  Serve immediately.

Makes 8 servings.