Thursday

It was a little warmer on Thursday, and sunny, which was nice. But it was still a jacket kinda day. The high only reached into the upper 50’s.

I went to the Newburgh Grill and got some soup and a patty melt. Then I took a ride through Hines Park. Most of the trees that were so beautiful on my last trip through have half their leaves down now. I did see one on my way there I thought was pretty, though.

Once I was home, I started the Wednesday wash (a day late). Then I got started on dinner. I peeled and cut up the last four russet potatoes I had and boiled them.

Meanwhile, I got out a pound of ground chuck. I opened the window, turned on the stove vent and, using the box grater, grated 1/3 cup of a yellow onion. Despite my precautions, I still cried like a baby!

I took out 1/4 cup of the grated onion and added that to the ground chuck, along with 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and two garlic cloves I minced. I divided the mixture into four and made each portion into 1/2 inch thick patties.

I heated a skillet on medium-high and coated it with cooking spray. Then I fried the patties about three minutes per side until browned.

I removed the patties and set them aside. I melted a tablespoon of butter in the pan and added eight ounces of crimini mushrooms I had quartered. I sautéed them four minutes, then I added 1/3 cup of dry red wine and the remaining grated onion. I let that cook two minutes.

I combined 1 1/4 cup of beef broth with a tablespoon of A/P flour. I added that to the pan and brought it to a boil. I cooked that about five minutes until it was thick. I added the patties back in with a teaspoon of red wine vinegar.

I let that get happy while I mashed the potatoes. I added too much chopped parsley to the potatoes, though. It didn’t wreck the taste, but it wasn’t the look I was after. Then I plated my dinner.

It was pretty good for just being ground chuck!

I cleaned up and started the dishwasher. Only then did I allow myself to go back to my book. I read until bedtime.