Shaking the Shack

I had a chance of taking a long weekend to New York City last weekend. It was much needed since my life has been resembling a country song as of late.

Sometimes you have to get away to recharge the batteries and perhaps pay a crazy price to get lost in an action adventure movie with so much eye candy you don’t know where to look (Fast Five). Or reconnect with friends that you haven’t seen since last summer or later.

Another thing one must do while in New York City is eat! They have so many food options how can you not? I created my food wish list to which my friend responded, “you know you are only here for a weekend, right?” Yes, I knew I was only there for a weekend and I was ambitious.

I overshot however that just means I need to keep visiting NYC until I actually accomplish my food wish list – not a hardship by any means.

Today’s post is about burger love which is fortuitous since May is National Burger Month. I knew the place I wanted to go to and sample their delights thanks to subscribing to A Hamburger Today. A Hamburger Today is a deadly thing since reading their articles will have you dreaming of your next burger and wanting to take a cross country trip to sample the “burgery” delights of each state or maybe that’s just me.

Shake Shack was the name of the game I was playing. Hearing good things about this “burgeropolis” I knew I had to sample the delights, so I did. One word, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

They had me at Potato Bun and then the taste buds went on happy overload with what was between those buns. Oh Em Geeeeeee! A juicy burger cooked to medium and topped with the usual suspects; lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, cheese — I am not a Plain Jane, I like my burger fully dressed. The accessory to this party in my mouth was the Shake Sauce. I am not sure what it is but it is goo-OOd! The Shake Shack burger is truly a burger that I would be happy to eat time and time again; the line out the door proves that I am not alone. I am already thinking about a return trip, sigh.

Until Next Time,
Jennifer

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Shake Shack: 691 8th Avenue/Corner of 8th Avenue & 44th Street NYC, 646.435.0135

In-n-Out – That’s what I am about!

Whenever I visit Los Angeles, my first stop is to the In-N-Out near LAX.  In-N-Out has to be one of my favorite fast food experiences. Visiting the LAX location the food is always hot, fresh, and oh so yummy!  You can also see the planes land at LAX (so have a camera ready).

My dilemma however is that I live in Virginia and there is no In-N-Out – Boo! There is not even an In-N-Out on the East Coast – double boo!  When a craving strikes I have to take matters in my own hands.

So I did.

Several months ago I got a great deal on a Slider Cooker at Target – $7.00 – it was a bargain calling my name – really $7.00?? How could I leave it at the store? Justifying that I will use the cooker for all types of sliders and then in turn make blog gold – I bought it.  I’m reaching – I know; that’s my story and I am sticking with it.

I had been thinking about making “Faux” Double Double sliders for the past month so I finally dug out the slider machine and all the ingredients to fulfill my craving.  FYI:  Sliders are a great finger food for Football Saturdays or Sundays however be sure to make plenty!

There is no real recipe to be had – you simply need ground beef, American cheese, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, Thousand Island Dressing, and buns.   The brilliance is in the assembling.

To assemble a Double Double the order is as follows:
Bottom Bun
Sauce (1000 Island)
Tomato
Lettuce
1^st Burger Patty
Onion
1^st American Cheese Slice
2^nd Burger Patty
2^nd American Cheese Slice
Top Bun

When you layer the burger correctly (or in my case incorrectly*) it is burger heaven!  It’s like a party in your mouth and you are so happy you can’t help but do your happy dance.  I did my happy dance – it’s “The Carlton”.

I think I was delusional with hunger after assembling my mini “Faux” Double Doubles yet I swear the smell wafting to my nostrils smelled like that of an actual In-n-Out creation – I am thinking it was hunger.  The smell made me think of LA – I love LA.  I hope to one day call LA home.

To compliment my slider creation I went into full gluttonous mode and made fresh cut French Fries. Two words. HOG. HEAVEN.  I ate my sliders and fries and caught up on The Vampire Diaries – good times!

Until Next Time,
Jennifer

* I assembled my burgers incorrectly in the photo featured – oops!