Burger by Sianturi

One of my ex-colleague once complained when I posted Indonesian foods, she said I should post some Western foods since I am not residing in Indonesia. For her it's strange enough for me living in Canada, but always cook Indonesian/South East Asian foods. So this post is for her...a prove that I sometimes do cook Western foods or fast foods too. It happened last Sunday, Chris was craving for some burgers, so he decided to prepare it at home for our dinner. The first picture shows how it looked like...(well, just as you've expected, ordinary burger).

Here is the chef of that evening. And how skillful he is to stack the burger and all the ingredients in between the buns.

Want to know what he put in the burger? Some cucumber, onion, tomato, mozzarella cheese, and spinach (not in the picture).

The burger won't be tasty without sauces. Here were what he added, mayo, ketchup, habanero and hot pepper sauce. I did not dare to try the habanero one though.

And for my plate, I added some spinach and sweet gherkin pickles at the side...It was so yummy, coz it's served with love. Thank you daddy!

"Me Style" Thyme Seasoned Steak - etcetera

There is always meat on my husband's plate. He will ask for it if there is none. He feels weak without it. And he is crazy of steak. What we have normally is Indonesian style, with coriander and sweet soy sauce as dominant flavor enhancer. This time (oh well...it was like 3months ago though...) I prepared it in a different way, it is more Western style.

Ingredients:
- whole chunk of steak meat (could be sirloin or tenderloin)
- olive oil
- dried thyme
- salt
- lime
- ground black pepper
- 4potato, cut into small chunk
- 200g of mushroom, cut into 4 each, washed

Directions:
Place the meat in a bake tray or aluminum pan, drizzle and rub on the lime. Then smear the olive oil all over the meat. Sprinkle some salt, black pepper and dried thyme. Let it stand for 15minutes. Then bake it at 350F until done (You may add some water during baking, so the meat won't get too dry). For the potato and mushroom, just add olive oil, salt, black pepper and thyme and then mix it well and bake it at 350F until done. Slice the meat and serve it hot with the potato and mushroom. Add some salad and/or hot sauce as you wish.

Burger Anyone?

After chit-chatting with Melanie the other day about what she's been doing these days, I felt like having burger to my comfort. To be honest, I wanted the ones from Harvey's, however somehow I'd never stopped by at any of its stall...either not having enough time nor never passing by nor forgetting when passing by...
Therefore the other day I just prepared it myself...4days in a row I ate these beef burgers in the morning...I think I am lengthening my waist line!
I do not think you need the recipe this time..so I'm just gonna share the pictures..let your creativity's gone wild with every thing you may like to add for your own burger! Cheers...

Grilled Teriyaki Salmon (Salmon Panggang Bumbu Teriyaki)

Last night we just wanted to have something simple, easy and quick to prepare. This salmon needs a little time to prepare, yet so tasty.

Ingredients:
- 2 horseshoe shaped salmon
- 200ml teriyaki marinating sauce
- 4cm of ginger, peel of the skin, wash and slice thinly

Side dish:
- a bunch of broccoli, cut, wash and steam it for 6minutes
- mashed potato

In a bowl, marinate the salmon with teriyaki sauce for 15minutes. Place it in an aluminum pan and add some thin slices of ginger on top of it. Grill it in an oven at 400F for 30minutes. Flip it over on the mid way. Place the remaining sauce in a small pot and add some ginger. Cook it until boiling and stir it constantly.
To serve, place the grilled salmon on a plate and pour some cooked sauce on top. Add the steamed broccoli and mashed potato at the side.

Brown Sugar Marinated Beef Steak

If you ask for something Western but taste more Indonesian, this steak is the answer. It was a result of trying and it turn out yummm...

Ingredients:
- 5 cut of lean meat for steak
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp coriander powder
- 5 cloves of garlic, crack it with pestle
- 1/3 cup of fish sauce
- 1/3 cup of sweet soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp ground black pepper
- other ingredients for mashed potato and mixed veggies

In a big bowl, mix all seasoning well. Put the meat in it and keep it in fridge and let it marinated for at least an hour (I usually marinate it overnightly). Take it out and grill it in the oven at 400F and glaze it with the seasoning two or three times during grilling until cooked (depend how well you prefer your meat to be).
Serve it while hot with mashed potato and cooked mixed veggies (see Grilled Salmon with Lemon-Dill Sauce)

Garlic Bread

Recently I am addicted to garlic bread. so the other day I tried to make it myself and it turned out to be very crunchy and yummy. I likeeeeeeeyyyyy....

Ingredients:
- Italian or Belgian plain bread
- "garlic plus" seasoning
- butter or margarine

Cut the bread into 2cm thickness. Spread with butter or margarine on one side. Sprinkle some "garlic plus" seasoning on top of the butter spread. Put it in the oven at 250F for app. 5min. Check occasionally until it is brownish. Take it out and serve while warm and crunchy.

Teriyaki Steak

Having a good compliment from my husband when I made Western food for him, makes me want to make another one. Moreover, I found good priced beef when I did grocery shopping the other day and I have some teriyaki sauce in the fridge.

Ingredients:
- good beef for steak (ex: sirloin, tenderloin, thinly cut round beef)
- teriyaki sauce and dip
- all ingredients to make mashed potato and veggies (see: Grilled Salmon with Lemon-Dill Sauce)

In a casserole bowl, place the beef and pour some teriyaki sauce. Make sure all the meat surface are covered with the sauce. Put it in the fridge and marinate it for at least 1hour (the longer it is the better, I normally keep it in fridge for a night).
Grill it or place it in an oven at 400F until done (depend on how well you like your meat to be done, if it's too well normally it would be hard and dry).
To serve, place it on a plate and pour some teriyaki dip. Add the mashed potato and veggies.

Continental Breakfast

Saturday morning, Christian made me a brunch meal. It was actually meant to be breakfast, only late time and big portion. So I was the queen of that day...

Ingredients:
- honey and garlic Italian sausages
- 33% less fat bacon
- egg+salt+pepper
- spice coated french fries
- fresh tomato
- sweet gherkin pickle
- chili sauce

Bake the french fries and sausages in an oven at 350F until brownish. Double check the inside of the sausage, make sure it is not raw inside although it is done outside. In an empty pan, fry the bacon (without oil, coz the oil from bacon will burst out). In a bowl, beat the egg and salt+pepper. Make scrambled egg with a little bit of oil from the bacon (discard some of it if it is too much, you don't want your egg will be too oily, right?).
To serve, in a big flat plate, arrange the fries, sausage, bacon and scrambled egg. Add fresh tomato, pickle and chili sauce.

....and I had a full stomach until 9pm. Thanks hubby!

Grilled Salmon with Lemon-Dill Sauce

I rarely cook western food, since Christian prefers Indonesian food over western one. But for his lunch today I made this grilled salmon. This time, mostly I used instant ingredients. He does not mind though. And he called from work, he said that the salmon is yummy, and he may like to have it again sometimes.

To make grilled salmon:
- 2 slices fresh horseshoe shaped skin-on salmon
- 1 lime
- ground black pepper
- salt

Marinade the salmon with lime, salt and pepper for 5minutes. Grill it until done but not too dry.

To make mashed potato:
- 1 package of instant mashed potato (I preferred roasted garlic or butter and herb flavor)
- 1.5 cup hot water
- 0.5 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp butter or margarine
- salt

Put the hot water, milk, butter/margarine and a pinch of salt in a big casserole bowl. Empty the package and add to the bowl. Stir it evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave one corner uncovered to release the heat and steam. Microwave it for 4-6minutes at high power. Take it out with care. Stir with a fork until smooth.

To make lemon-dill sauce:
- 1 package of lemon-dill sauce mix
- 0.5 cup cold water
- 0.5 cup milk
- 2 tsp butter

Put the mix powder in a microwavable bowl. Add cold water, milk and butter. Stir it evenly. Microwave it until boil (app. 3minutes) and stir it with a fork in every minute. Continue to heat it for another 1-2minutes. Stir before serving.

To make veggies:
- 1 cup mixed vegetables
- water
- butter

Boil the vegetables with water in a pot. Do not overcooked. Drain and add butter while it is still hot and serve.