Juicy Hamburgers with Mushroom

This recipe is from Cooks Illustrated and recommended by Mom

Makes: 4 burgers

Total Time: 35 minutes, plus 20 minutes chilling

12 oz white mushrooms, trimmed

1 lb 80% lean ground beef, broken into roughly 1 1/2 in pieces

1 1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2-2 tsp pepper

1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil

4 slices American, Swiss, or cheddar cheese (optional)

1 hamburger buns, toasted

1. Process mushrooms in food processor until smooth paste forms (past will resemble thick oatmeal), scraping down sides of bowl as needed, about 1 minute. Transfer to large bowl and cover. (Do not wash out processor bowl.)
   
   
2. Microwave mushrooms until liquid released begins to boil, about 3 minutes, stirring halfway through. (Do not walk away during final minute; mushrooms could boil over.) Transfer mushrooms to large fine-mesh strainer set over bowl. Using spatula, press on mushrooms to extract 1/2 cup liquid (if more than 1/2 cup is removed, stir extra liquid back into mushrooms.) Discard liquid and return mushrooms to bowl. Refrigerate mushrooms until room temperature, about 20 minutes. 
   
   
3. Return mushrooms to processor bowl. Add beef and salt and process until mixture is uniform and begins to pull away from side of bowl, about 20 seconds. Divide mixture into 4 equal portions and shape patties that are 4.5 inches in diameter. Sprinkle both sides of each patty with pepper. (Patties can be refrigerated overnight or tightly wrapped and frozen for up to 1 month; if frozen, thaw before cooking.)
   
   
4. Heat oil in 12 in skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Transfer patties to skillet and cook until well browned on both side and burgers register 135 degrees (for medium-rare) or 155 (for medium-well), 6 to 10 minutes. If using cheese, place 1 slice on each burger 1 minute before burgers finish cooking. Transfer burgers to plate and let rest for 5 minutes, then transfer to buns and serve.  
   Note: If all of the patties do not fit in the skillet, start by cooking three patties until they shrink slightly, about 2 minutes, before adding the remaining patty. 
   
   

Serve with your favorite burger toppings. 

Chicken Vesuvio

This recipe comes from Cooks Illustrated, is Whole 30 compliant, and Mom LOVES it!
Serves 4-6
For this recipe you'll need a roasting pan that measures at least 16 by 12 inches. Trim all the skin from the underside of the chicken thighs, but leave the skin on top intact. To ensure that all the potatoes fit in the pan, halve them crosswise to minimize their surface area. For the most efficient browning, heat the roasting pan over two burners. Combining the garlic with lemon juice in step 1 makes the garlic taste less harsh, but only if the lemon juice is added immediately after the garlic is minced.

8      (5-2 ounce) bone-in-chicken thighs, trimmed
        Kosher salt and pepper
1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, halved crosswise
2      Tablespoons vegetable oil
14    garlic cloves, peeled (2 whole, 12 halved lengthwise)
1      Tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2    teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 Cups cooking white wine
2       Tablespoons minced fresh parsley

1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and sprinkle on both sides with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Mince 2 whole garlic cloves and immediately combine with lemon juice in a small bowl; set aside.

2. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in large roasting pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place chicken, skin side down, in single layer in pan and cook, without moving it, until chicken has rendered about 2 tablespoons of fat, 2 to 3 minutes longer, moving chicken and potatoes to ensure even browning and flipping pieces when fully browned. When all pieces have been flipped, tuck halved garlic cloves among chicken and potatoes. Remove pan from heat and pour wine into pan (do not pour over chicken or potatoes). Transfer pan to oven and roast until potatoes are tender when pierced with tip of paring knife and chicken registers 185 to 190 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Transfer chicken and potatoes to deep platter, browned side up. Place pan over medium heat (handles will be hot) and stir to incorporate any browned bits. Using slotted spoon, transfer garlic cloves to cutting board. Chop coarse, then mash to smooth paste with side of knife. Whisk garlic past into sauce. Continue to cook until sauce coast back of spoon, 3 to 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat and whisk in reserved lemon juice mixture and 1 tablespoon parsley. Pour sauce around chicken and potatoes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and serve.

PASTA WITH PESTO, POTATOES, AND GREEN BEANS

PASTA WITH PESTO, POTATOES, AND GREEN BEANS
Published July 1, 2013.   From Cook's Illustrated.



WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
The idea of serving two starches together might seem unusual, but this dish from Liguria is the classic way to serve pesto. The starch from the potatoes lends body to the sauce, and the tender green beans add color and flavor. Red potatoes make the creamiest sauce.

Some traditional recipes call for cooking the potatoes, green beans, and pasta simultaneously in the same pot, but it often results in one or more elements being overcooked. Cooking them separately makes the dish more foolproof.

If gemelli is unavailable, penne or rigatoni make good substitutes. Use large red potatoes measuring 3 inches or more in diameter.

• 3 garlic cloves , unpeeled
• 1pound large red potatoes , peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 12ounces green beans , trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths (I like to cut into ½ inch pieces)
• 2cups fresh basil leaves
• 1ounce Parmesan cheese , grated (1/2 cup)
• 7tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled
• 1tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 Cup chopped chicken – I use the Costco Rotiserie Chicken (very good)

1. Toast pine nuts and garlic in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until pine nuts are golden and fragrant and garlic darkens slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl and let cool. Peel garlic and chop coarsely.

2. Bring 3 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add potatoes and 1 tablespoon salt and cook until potatoes are tender but still hold their shape, 9 to 12 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to rimmed baking sheet. (Do not discard water.)

3. Meanwhile, bring ½ cup water and ¼ teaspoon salt to boil in now-empty skillet over medium heat. Add green beans, cover, and cook until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain green beans and transfer to sheet with potatoes.

4. Process basil, Parmesan, oil, pine nuts, garlic, and ½ teaspoon salt in food processor until smooth, about 1 minute.

5. Add gemelli to water in large pot and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Set colander in large bowl. Drain gemelli in colander, reserving cooking water in bowl. Return gemelli to pot. Add butter, lemon juice, potatoes and green beans, pesto, 1¼ cups reserved cooking water, and ½ teaspoon pepper and stir
vigorously with rubber spatula until sauce takes on creamy appearance. Add additional cooking water as needed to adjust consistency and season with salt and pepper.

6. I served Garlic bread with it (delicious)