Giardino Burgers

Last week, Ellie informed me she knew what we could have for dinner.  She even printed out a recipe.  I took a look.  She wanted to have Chef Pisghetti's Giardino Burgers.

Now for those of you who don't have anyone in your life who watches Curious George, you probably don't know who this chef is.  He is George's chef friend.  And he apparently inspired Ellie.

Ellie isn't usually the one to help me cook, so I made sure to follow through with her idea.  We even went shopping for ingredients.  She was very into it.  She took the recipe and mentally checked off the items as we found them and informed me of the ones we had at home that did not need to be purchased.  She also relayed the extra comments she heard from Chef Pisghetti himself from the website where she found the recipe.

Then we went home and made some burgers.  I enjoyed cooking with her, even though I figured that these burgers would probably not get eaten.  For these burgers were chick pea burgers, and I already knew Gary wouldn't like them.  The kids were not put off by the look of them, which surprised me.  Upon Gary's arrival home, I touted Ellie's efforts in dinner planning, prep and cooking, showed him the recipe, and told him he was eating one whether he liked it or not. 

I thought they were okay and even better if eaten with something else.  Josh liked them, Ellie took one bite and didn't want anymore.  And Gary ate it with a smile, not disliking it as much as he thought he would. 

A year

This evening we were discussing what day we bought our house.  We knew it was the beginning of July.  Turns out it was today.  One year of owning our third home. 

Tea to drink

My kombucha is now ready.  It is actually a little past ready.  It is rather vinegary.  Ellie likes it plain, Josh says it's too bland.  I have made two more batches to try out.  This time I will check it at 7 days instead of 9.   Gary doesn't like it.  At all.

Kombucha

I have had a small, hmm, obsession is too strong a word, interest in kombucha (I pronounce it kŏm’bū’chah) since I first heard about it.

To start with, it is a fermented tea that contains antioxidants and boosts the immune system.  It's also fizzy!  Bonus! 

But please do not get hung up on it's looks.  It can be off putting.

You can buy it at Whole Foods or Giant for over $3.00 a bottle.  Or you can make your own.  But first you need a SCOBY.  What is that you wonder?  It's an acronym for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast.  It is what ferments the tea.  And you either buy one, make one, or get one from a friend.  It's the thing floating on the top there.

Short on funds here, so I made one.  Lovely, isn't it?  I have read that homemade ones don't make as good kombucha as bought ones from specialty sites.  Oh well, I won't know the difference until I buy one and make some.

Click here for the How To!  It really isn't hard, just a lot of waiting.  You brew tea, cool, add starter kombucha, and the scoby, and wait.  And wait and wait and wait.  7 to 14 days of waiting. 

 All ready to wait.

We'll see you in week!