A Confession

I have a confession. I find chocolate chip cookies disappointing. (Although this recipe, http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/irresistible-chocolate-chip-cookies/ from cupcakes & cashmere does sound fantastic, the salt did it for me.) It’s not that they aren’t good. They are. I enjoy them soft over crunchy and with a glass of milk. But they aren’t my go to.

See, my problem with the chocolate chip cookie is that it’s completely overrated and the dough is better than the outcome. I know you’re thinking, that’s how she keeps her figure with all those burgers and milkshakes she enjoys. Maybe, maybe…

Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies? My arm is up in the air and I’m screaming ME! ME! ME! like a 3^rd grader. I’d pick other cookies over it: white chocolate macadamia, snickerdoodle, decorated sugar or oatmeal raisin to name a few. It’s plain and standard.

Secondly, how good is chocolate chip cookie dough? I don’t even need to elaborate on that because you all know! In fact, it’s so good that it beats out its baked brother in a delicious contest. I’d pick plain cookie dough everyday, every time.

I also find steak disappointing, I prefer a burger, but that’s for another post. And that’s it for today’s rant from yours truly.

The Task: Pick Up Prescription

The Task: Pick Up Prescription

The Location: Walgreen’s Pharmacy.

For some reason, every time I walk into Walgreen’s my shopping list expands as I peruse the aisles. Aisles? Yes, because those are conveniently the only way to navigate to the back of the store where the pharmacy is located, at least at every Walgreen’s I’ve had to go to for a prescription. And of course, I have to choose which way to get there. I only go down the interesting aisles: the make up, the food, the magazine, the shampoos, the soaps, the nails, you get the point. And I can’t discriminate so I have to go down them all.

Subconsciously, or I’ve learned from experience, I grab a basket and I’m off. In the make up & nails aisle, I grab whatever Essie color I’m digging that day (Walgreens carrying Essie may have single handedly changed my life), a new lipgloss and lipstain, some cotton balls and anything else I saw in one of my usual magazines or blogs. In the food aisle, my purchases depend on my hunger level. Sometimes I pick up just a drink, a Diet Peach Snapple or diet Arnold Palmer or bottle of water. Other times, I grab a granola or candy bar to cure any possible hunger, which could be in my future. Then there are times, I realize I haven’t been grocery shopping in ages so I stock my basket filled with all the cereal I’ve run out of, a new jar of Peanut Butter and anything else they may have that I use.  In the shampoo & soap aisles, I’m a big smeller. I grab every soap bottle to see if anyone has come up with anything better than what’s already, Olay Body Ribbon Wash Blue and Johnson & Johnson Nighttime Bath Wash, resting in my shower. Sometimes I just grab a new product and test it out. Then I’m sure to check the price on the bumble and bumble shampoo (another great addition to Walgreens’ line) just to see if there is any kind of price reduction since the last time I was in and if they have bubble bath, because that may be the hardest product to find anywhere. I dare you to look, and if you’re lucky, please let me know when and where or a send a bottle my way. Then lastly, in the magazine aisle, I grab People, People Style Watch, Glamour, Cooking Light, Saveur, Food & Wine, (Don’t worry Mr. Adam Rapaport, I have a bon appetit subscription at home), Cosmopolitan, Better Homes & Garden and whatever other cover strikes my fancy.  I told you, I don’t discriminate.

By the time I make my way up to the pharmacy, there I am, a basket bulging with all sorts of products and hands filled. I probably look quite ridiculous to everyone, especially the woman at the pharmacy, who was probably the same woman that helped me last time I came in. However, she nicely rings me up, without saying a word, and probably giggles to herself when my prescriptions are the least of my purchases. I then hobble out of the store, hands filled with bags and hurry home. Shamed, I’m sure to keep my eyes forward and not look at any of the items to my left or right. That will be for another trip.

And by the way, I even forgot something. As I say often, I have a shopping problem and I blame my mother.

CASTING CALL

Ever have one of those weeks where you just have so many different things to do?
-Work Out
-Run Errands
-Shop
-Cook
-Entertain
Oh jeez, that doesn't even do justice to my day!

It was then when I had an epiphany: What if there was two of me? That would make my life a lot easier.
I know, just not realistic. But what if it was?

So here's the deal. I'm hiring one. I figure why not? Who says I can't! So I'm looking for you, girls!! A nice girl, just like me!

-ages 20-30
-a, dare I say it, hot pin up girl look

Don't worry! I won't be sending you to do my errands and all the horrible, I mean wonderful, stuff I have to do. Instead, you'll be doing the fun stuff like hanging out at Patty Burger! And don't worry, there will be some compensation!

How to apply:
Post a picture and tell me why you should be me to either my Facebook page or my twitter handle @realpattyburger

Can't wait to see all you lovely ladies! And I promise, it'll be fun!!

May the Best Burger Win

Last week, I found myself in a rut. Ugh, I even hate that word. Rut.

I was trying to entertain myself in the kitchen and develop new recipes. I wanted to create a few more burgers for the restaurant. I thought the creative side of me might be working and I'd be able to come up with some. But I couldn't. Everything I wanted to create seemed to turn out like something already on the Patty Burger menu. Hmph. What to do?

That was when it came to me. What about asking the customers? What about having a contest? That was it and that's what I'm doing. Thus readers, I dare you to entire the Best Burger Contest!

Here's how to enter:

1. Create your own burger

2. Take a picture and write a description of your burger

3. Submit your burger either on facebook

             a. On Facebook: Simply post the picture on the Patty Burger wall with a description.

             b. On Twitter: tweet the picture at me, @realpattyburger, with a description

4. I will compile all the entries into a facebook album an you all can vote by liking the entries!

Good Luck and May the Best Burger Win!

The Solution to Coffee Gone Wrong

This morning, I woke up put the kettle on the stove and prepared my coffee. A simple task, I do it each morning without evening realizing I’m doing it. By the way, I prefer my coffee at home to be instant espresso with 1 equal and milk. As I began to get ready for the day, picking out my outfit, applying my makeup and doing my hair, I noticed something was off. It was my coffee. Maybe I had poured the water into the mug before the coffee and sugar? Maybe the milk had spoiled? While I had no idea, I knew this was not a good sign and this would not be a good day.

However, I had meetings and places to be so the show had to go on. But in the mean time, I needed a pick me up.

·      Treat myself to a delicious strawberry milkshake?

·      Go buy a candy bar at the nearest convenience

·      Go for a run along the lake?

·      Take a nice long bubble bath?

·      Go buy a coffee at Starbucks?

·      Get a mani/pedi?

·      Mix up a delicious cosmo?

They all seemed to require too much time or weren’t going to be enough or simply weren’t practical.

This was about the time that I remembered it was Tuesday and Tuesday’s meant the farmer’s market at the Museum of Contemporary Art. What could be better than a quick peruse at the smaller Tuesday market? Pick up some delicious fruits & veggies and FLOWERS. Flowers are my favorite pick me up. Not only do they brighten up a room both in sight and scent but they bright up my day every time I see them, both in photos and person. I was going to go buy myself flowers.

I know, you’re thinking, what girl buys herself flowers? This one, right here.** I buy myself flowers often. I love finding interesting vases and bowls to put them in. I love arranging large bouquets into smaller ones. And so I went.

And just like that, my day had returned to its normal path.

**NOTE: I am a huge advocate of chivalry, which I believe is not dead nor should ever be. A guy should always ask a girl out first, buy her a drink and pay for dinner. He should always open the door and help her through. Gentleman, take note.

The Original Patty Burger

Hello Readers!

Here we are at Day 2 of my brand new blog! And what better way to begin my blog than by sharing the recipe that began it all.

For all of my burgers, I start with fresh, not frozen, 100% Angus beef. Then I make the burgers to order.

First, I oil the griddle and then place the freshly made burger patty onto it. I let it to cook on each side allowing the oil to set in. Once cooked, I remove it from the griddle.

Then, I take one of my freshly made buns, and place lettuce and tomato on the bottom. The burger goes on top of that side while an onion is placed on the other. And, my piece de resistance: my top-secret special sauce! You can guess what it is, but I’ll never tell. Then simply put the top and bottom together and enjoy!

Watch some of the guys at the restaurant doing it, just the way I do it!

Welcome!

Today, in the midst of testing out new recipes and watching the morning news, this oddest idea I’ve had yet popped into my mind: I’m going to start a blog. I figured, I’m 25, a chef with a knack for cooking a mean burger in my restaurant but who loves cooking all sorts of foods, often more healthy, when I’m not at my restaurant. Yes, yes, I know you’ve seen the pictures, I look like a pin up girl of the past but actually, I’m a girl about town, who enjoys restaurants, bars, clubs, music, fashion and shopping. I’ve got things to share and I’m going to share them with you, whoever you, my readers, are.