This is how the Susans (myself and friend, Susan Collins) do a Rutherford Hill Winery tasting in Napa County when it’s absolutely pouring outside! You should go. Ask for Kamran — he gave us each warm blankets, poured for us, and made our afternoon educational and wonderful!
Juicy Home Skillet Burger
/I just love a great burger! I’m working on a skillet burger recipe, since I don’t have a grill in Napa (yet). I did two things to ensure juiciness with this burger: 1. the recipe includes heavy cream which, apparently, tenderizes the ground beef, and 2. added chopped pancetta I happened to have in the fridge. I can confirm that this process will get you a super juicy burger even when it’s well done like I did this one!
Ingredients (makes 4 burgers):
1 lb. ground beef (I prefer 80% lean to keep the beef juice)
4 oz. pancetta, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp. heavy cream
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. salt (more or less to your taste)
fresh ground pepper, to your taste
cheese (your flavor of choice, I used a white cheddar, horseradish - delish!)
other toppings: your choice, of course. I used sliced fresh red onion, ripe sliced avocado, sliced tomato, crispy iceberg lettuce and Mt. Olive kosher dill pickles.
burger buns, I used a soft, seeded bun.
Instructions:
Mix together all ingredients, except toppings, in a bowl. I use my hands and gently mix. Don’t overdo it, you don’t want the meat to toughen.
Shape into patties - this will make about 4, or 3 if you like them on the thicker side.
Add your patties to a pre-heated medium-high skillet with just a little bit of oil. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook another 3 or so minutes on the other side, depending on how you like your burgers. (Medium-Rare 130-135f, Medium 140-145f, Medium-Well 150-155f). If you’re adding cheese, put that on the burger when you have 1-2 minutes left in cooking time.
Be sure to let the burgers rest 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Then… load them up with your toppings and feast!
Holiday Fudge that Melts in Your Mouth
/Homemade fudge over the holidays takes me back to childhood. My Aunt Joan makes this homemade fudge of various flavors around Christmas time. The stuff just melts in your mouth! This year, I made a bunch of fudge to share with friends and family.
Read MoreSeared Steaks Finished in the Oven
/Playing with my new Lodge cast iron skillet, I’ve been honing my steak cooking skills! I start by generously coating the steaks with flaked sea salt and fresh ground pepper. This helps get that yummy crust from the sear. So good!

Seared Steaks Finished in the Oven
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Generously season steaks with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil and 1 tbsp butter in a cast iron pan on medium high.
- When the butter has fully melted, place the steaks in the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook 1 minute on the other side.
- Then place in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. This should get them to a nice medium to medium rare, depending on the steak size. Check table below.
- Remove the skillet and set on stove. Top each steak with a pad of butter and let rest for 10 minutes.
Turkey Leftovers Carbonara Spaghetti Squash
/This Turkey Leftovers Carbonara is the perfect five star meal to make with your holiday turkey leftovers.
Read MoreMelted Brie with Pomegranate Seeds Toast
/The combination of melted brie, pomegranate seeds, and sprinkle of lemon zest, makes a great appetizer for the holidays!
Read MoreRoasted Maple Walnuts
/These roasted maple walnuts with spices are a great topper for multiple holiday recipes. We used them over our Holiday Pear & Smoked Trout Salad.
Read MoreThe Fox Burger at Fox Brew Pub
/Exploring eats options in Carson City, Nevada, we found this fantastic place that will surely become a fast favorite! The food, service, ambiance…. The Fox Brew Pub. All of it jams! I had the Fox Burger. Amazing flavor profile! It’s the Bourbon Chipotle Sauce that really takes it over the top!
THE FOX BURGER.: The Original. With jack cheese, bacon, sautéed onions & bourbon chipotle sauce.




