Jenn Boo-lari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

Cinnamon Rolls!

1: Fifteen seconds in the microwave are the PERFECT time for those rolls.

2: Add the glaze when they're MUCH cooler to get them to stick longer. Otherwise, just spooning the glaze back on the rolls works GREAT.

Someone earned a chip in her ear....

Dinner with the Washington Fam.

Oh no. The cinnamon rolls. They were fantastic.

I can make my favorite baked good any time I want. And it's good.

Oh no.

So I did the Luby's Bacon and Cheese Chopped Steak sight unseen from their recipe book (which doesn't have a picture). Apparently, there's is very long and thin compared to my burger-patty looking one.

Turned on the TV and this was playing in the background, and suddenly I was right-hooked into 1996.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV122X7ycvQ

Oh, NOW I'm finally sleepy. #insomnialife

Update: It did bring out one of the staff who asked some tech questions, which I answered. That's a huge plus right there.

Post.News is pretty frustrating as a lot of basic functions are broken for me, and it appears complaining about it brings out people who make me feel even less welcome.

Maybe it's not for me, Mr. Boobo. Maybe it's not.

This Week's Meals, Working Through The Insomnia Edition (2/3): Luby's Bacon & Cheese Steak

Are chopped steaks (AKA gussied up hamburger patties) a thing outside Texas? I know the Night Hawk restaurants in Austin had several different types (usually called Top Chop'd) as did Tip Top in San Antonio. Luby's has three types of Chopped Steaks.

I like them, but, really, they're just gussied up hamburger patties and outside of Salisbury Steaks, I've never seen them outside of Texas.

Also, after working with cheddar and pepper jack and parmesan cheeses, American cheese is just its own wierd thing....

# Bacon & Cheese Steak

Luby's Recipes & Memories
13.0 steaks

1.0 cup bacon (cooked) (chopped)
8.0 ounces American cheese (shredded)
0.5 cup sliced green onions
8.0 slices white bread (crust removed)
0.5 cup beef broth
1.0 tablespoon kosher salt
2.0 teaspoons black pepper
3.0 pounds ground beef chuck
2.0 whole eggs

1 - Mix bacon, American cheese and sliced green onions in a bowl. Set aside.
2 - Place white bread and beef broth in a large mixing bowl. Work together until bread has absorbed all of broth and is soft.
3 - Add salt, pepper, ground beef and eggs, then blend together using your hands. Chill mixture well.
4 - Divide meat mixture into portions.
5 - Work each portion into a firm ball, and place between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.
6 - Using your hands, flatten ball out into an oval.
7 - Refrigerate until ready to cook.
8 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
9 - In a large skillet on medium high heat, cook two or three steaks 3 minutes on each side.
10 - Remove and place on a foil-lined baking sheet.
11 - Distribute cheese mixture evenly among cooked steaks.
12 - Place steaks in oven about 2 minutes to melt cheese topping.

#thisweeksmeals

Well, if my other insomnia days are any indication of what the rest of the day will be like, may as well just this day started. I'll pass out later, I'm sure.

Body: Hi, Jenn. I'm giving you your Christmas present early this year! Insomnia! Enjoy!

Jenn: ...yay.

This Week's Meals (1/3): Luby's Baked Potato Soup.

Not pictured, sour cream (which I forgot to buy), yogurt (my substitute for sour cream...which was defrosting cause it was in the freezer) or green onions, cause I was freaking out about the sour cream and yogurt.

# Baked Potato Soup

Luby's Recipes & Memories
11.0 servings

0.5 cup bacon (raw) (chopped)
4.0 tablespoons butter
1.0 cup white onion (diced)
0.5 cup flour
0.0625 tsp dried thyme leaves
0.125 teaspoon nutmeg
1.0 cube chicken bouillon
10.0 cups chicken broth
8.0 cups potatoes (peeled) (diced)
1.0 whole bay leaf
1.0 cup heavy whipping cream
8.0 oz American cheese (shredded)
0.5 cup sour cream
2.0 teaspoons kosher salt
1.0 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2.0 large potatoes (baked) (peeled) (diced)
0.5 cup green onions (sliced)

1 - Place bacon and butter in a large saucepan and cook bacon over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, until almost crisp. Stir often.
2 - Add white onions. Cook 3 minutes.
3 - Add flour and stir 1 minute.
4 - Blend in thyme, nutmeg, bouillon cube, chicken broth, diced raw potatoes and bay leaf.
5 - Bring to a simmer 15 minutes or until potatoes are well-cooked and soft.
6 - Carefully break up cooked potatoes in broth until smooth. This thickens soup and gives it body.
7 - Add heavy cream.
8 - Bring back to a simmer 2 minutes.
9 - Fold in American cheese, sour cream, salt, pepper and diced baked potatoes.
10 - Garnish with sliced green onions.

#thisweeksmeals

An unexpected snack while cooking one of next week's meals: Potato Skins!

I'm currently frying bacon in butter. That feels mildly perverse.

Okay, I made six cinnamon rolls, that's two for Crystal, Lissa and me. BUT IF I EAT THREE NOW, I STILL GET ONE TOMORROW WITH ONE FOR CRYSTAL AND LISSA.

Or I could eat all six now, and then dissapear into the night, never to be seen again.

"What holdays DO you celebrate, Jenn?"
"Outside of a three day Halloween holiday from October 31st to November 2nd, I don't really celebrate much. But I will celebrate whatever the folks around me are celebrating."