"My Italian Burger"

Grilled Italian Pork Sausage and Beef topped with Smoked Ham, Salami, and Swiss Cheese with Baked Sweet Potato Fries on the side

I actually somewhat made this up myself--looked at Food Network for some good burgers, and decided to just do my own! I once watched a cooking show that said any time you add pork to beef you get heaven. I did one part mild italian pork sausage with 2 parts ground diet lean beef, added 1/4 of a sweet onion with italian seasoning, salt and pepper. I grilled this on my new cast iron grill pan and topped with grilled smoked ham, grilled salami, and swiss cheese. I grilled a beautiful bakery bun to complete the dish. I will call this "My Italian Burger"

Sascha-5 stars-"Do you like this?"
Eric-5 stars-"Can you make this tomorrow?!?!"

Leek and Prosciutto Ham Quiche Tart with Homemade Crust

Eric-.5 star "I can't believe we are going to waste all this food"
Sascha-3 stars "It looks really pretty, but I won't make you eat this again"

Portobello Mushroom Caps stuffed with Sun Ripened Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

Eric-3 stars "It's not bad, I'll eat yours"
Sascha-1 star "YUCK"

Inspiration

Feeling completely unfulfilled in my non-working hours, I decided to pick up a hobby. I decided that I love food, I enjoy cooking, but I am not the best at certain dishes, and I am certainly lacking on the creativity aspect-although as a child I was always creative, inspired, and "artsy." Even more than those things, I want to enjoy a little more pizazz at my dinner table. Eric sighs and thinks I'm crazy, which I probably am, but I will take the good with the ugly, and he will be eating my good/not so good-food for the rest of his life! So, I have purchased a supply of new cooking tools, and I am making a list of things I would love to add to my collection. I have built a lovely cookbook collection--A complete book of produce, Jewish Cooking, Italian Food, Mediterranean Cooking, Arabesque Cuisine (Morocco, Turkey, Lebanon), Middle Eastern Collection, and the one and only-Julia Child's French Chef Cookbook. My other favorite tool is the Food Network website-which is filled with hundreds of free recipes. So here I have arrived at my blog-which Eric laughs as he states I am a different woman than the one he married since I am now "blogging." BON A PETIET!