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Recipes

Where Did the Cheeseburger Originate and 4 More Fun Food Facts

November 27, 2020 by Lynn

Your friendly neighborhood burger joint Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers has become the hottest place to be (and believe us, we know how hot it’s been this summer!). Across our fourteen locations in Arizona and California, we serve tried and true burgers and favorites with a twist, with a comprehensive beer selection. But we couldn’t help but wonder, where did the cheeseburger originate? That led us to some interesting history about some of our other familiar and favorite dishes.

Without further ado, here’s what we found on the origin of the cheeseburger and four more fun food facts.

1. Cheeseburgers

Of course, here’s what we were looking forward to most! Before there was a cheeseburger, there was a hamburger: simply a hamburger patty on a bun. In 1891, just west of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oscar Weber Bilby was the first to serve hamburgers on a thick, yeasty bun instead of between two slices of bread. But it wasn’t until 1924 in Pasadena, California, that a short-order cook named Lionel Clark Sternberger first put a slice of cheese on the hamburger he was making. He called it the “Aristocratic Hamburger” and “The Original Hamburger with Cheese.”

Since then, the cheeseburger tradition includes just about any topping you can put on it, and the burger itself has spread to the rest of the world. Now not only can you have a cheeseburger made with beef, but also lamb, pork, or veggie burgers. The typical staples of a good ol’ American cheeseburger are usually pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, and tomato. However, really what it comes down to is that you’re only limited by your imagination. Take for instance our Bacon PB&J burger: sugar-cured bacon, peanut butter, grape jelly, cheddar, and chipotle honey sauce. It’s sweet, it’s savory, it’s weird, and it’s wonderful.

Come visit and try it out yourself! Our ingredients are fresh, the beer is cold, and the cheeseburgers are exactly right.

2. French Fries

In the US, we love our fried potatoes: we have steak fries, potato chips, tater tots, and hash browns, on top of a multitude of different fries of all shapes and textures, such as waffle-cut, crinkle-cut, and curly. French fries come with almost every restaurant meal, from sandwiches to fried fish. Are they French? Not technically. The story goes that US soldiers in southern Belgium brought the ideas and recipes back from their deployments during World War I. The Belgians typically ate fried fish, but in the winter, when the rivers froze, they fried potatoes instead. So why aren’t they called Belgian fries? It turns out the dominant language of the area was French, and the name stuck.

There have been other French fries, though they probably didn’t look like the long, golden strips that we know now. Back in the 1780s in Paris, street vendors sold fried potatoes, though the potatoes that originally were brought from South America to Europe were tiny—only about the size of golf balls.

The earliest mention of French fries in America was when President Thomas Jefferson directed the White House chef, Frenchman Honoré Julien, to prepare “potatoes in the French manner” for a state dinner. Jefferson was an avid Francophile (he lived in France from 1784 to 1789) and enjoyed bringing pieces of French culture to America.

3. Apple Pie

The phrase “as American as apple pie” has been around since 1851 and was popularized in the 1940s as a patriotic expression. However, it turns out that neither apples nor pie is born and bred in the United States! Apples of different varieties originated in Europe and Asia, and the various pie recipes came to us through immigrants from Sweden, the Netherlands, and Britain. The traditional lattice-style crust was a Dutch invention in the 15th century.

Remember hearing about Johnny Appleseed traveling the highways of the young United States, spreading apple trees wherever he went? Turns out, he actually spread crabapple trees, which have sour, inedible fruit, which is used to make hard cider. The apples we’re familiar with now came from Europe in the mid-1600s.

4. Buffalo Wings

Spicy, tangy, and messy, this is one food on this list that was an American invention from the start. A staple of bars and pubs, this chicken wing slathered in sauce and served with celery on the side was created in 1964. Teressa Bellissimo ran a family-owned restaurant called the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York—hence the name.

Why is it so often paired with bleu cheese and celery? The answer is simpler than you think: because when it was first dished up by Bellissimo, that was all she had available! No matter—the condiments stuck, and a delicious tradition was formed.

Want to be part of the tradition? The city of Buffalo has celebrated Chicken Wing Day every July 29th since 1977. You can either celebrate in New York or close to home—after all, we have four kinds of wings available every day.

5. Pizza

This most flexible of flatbreads comes in an infinite variety. In Brazil, you might expect it to come topped with green peas, with a super-thin crust. In London, you can find it with tandoori chicken and sweet corn. Or maybe you’d like to try the Swedish way, topped with banana curry? Even within the US, there are different ways of baking and presenting it: witness the Chicago deep-dish, the New York-style dripping with cheese, and the square Detroit pizzas.

Have you ever wondered why a pizza topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil is called a Margherita pizza? Did you think it might just really go well with margaritas? In reality, it’s because there’s a legend about the Italian King Umberto I and Queen Margherita. They asked baker Raffaele Esposito to make them a pizza on a visit to Naples in 1889. Esposito was considered the first to bring the Italian pizza into the mainstream, with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings. Before that, pizza was a street food.

 

Filed Under: Recipes

The Beginner’s Guide To Cooking Meat

April 12, 2018 by Lynn

With a few exceptions, meat is a food item that you are free to cook as you wish. Love it juicy, tender, and warm? Cook your steak rare and enjoy it lightly cooked. Prefer to have your meat take on a chewier texture? Fry it until it is well done and seasoned to perfection. At Electricsmokercenter.com, you can learn all about infusing flavor into your meats and cooking it to the perfect texture. As long as your meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature, you can cook it almost any way that you want. Here is a guide that will show you how to cook up various meat in different ways.

The Secret to Tender Pork

Pork can be heated up over a grill, in an oven, or even spit roasted over an open pit. Unfortunately, pork can come with parasites, so it is really important that it gets to just the right temperature inside so that it is safe to eat. The good news is that you can serve up your family a rare pork loin or even barbeque some tender pork ribs without any kind of concern. Cooking any kind of meat requires food preparation safety knowledge, as well as a little know-how when it comes to technique. To be safe, just use a meat thermometer so you can constantly test the internal temperature of your pork products.

Cooking Up a Slab of Beef

Beef can be well done, and in some instances, it isn’t even cooked at all. For example, steak tartare is a mixture of finely chopped beef and spices that is either lightly cooked or served raw. No matter how you and your family are going to enjoy your meal made with beef, you have to either season or marinate your meat first. Seasonings and marinades add flavor, which is what helps to make meat taste savory. If you do decide to eat your beef on the rare side, just be certain that you have taken adequate steps to prepare your meat in a sanitary manner. Eating raw and undercooked meats can potentially put you at risk of food poisoning, salmonella, and E. coli.

Choosing Chicken

The best way to cook chicken is to heat it until it is no longer pink or soft. Overcooked chicken can be tough while undercooked chicken is a danger to humans, and particularly children. Smoking meat over a low fire is a great way to prepare it as it is unlikely to get overcooked and it will also develop a great flavor as it smokes. Always clean all utensils that come into contact with raw chicken both before and after you prepare it.

For the most part, you can’t eat or serve undercooked fish to your family, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go out and enjoy a little sushi. It is always safest to serve meat that is fully cooked, but very few people become sick while enjoying a rare steak or an extra tender slab of pork. Just keep your food preparation areas clean and prep your meat on a separate chopping board to keep everything kosher.

Filed Under: Life Hacks, Mommy Blog, Recipes

Wine Trends To Watch Out For In 2018

March 5, 2018 by Lynn

Red, white, and sparkling wines are part of every special occasion and party. They are also a favorite to enjoy a relaxing night at home, in a restaurant, or bar. If you love wine, you are probably curious about what the newest trends are for 2018. Here are some of the things to expect.

Brighter and Lighter Wines

This year, expect to see an increase in the popularity of red wines that are brighter in color and lighter in taste. They are more acidic, and they use fruits with a red shade. There are wines in this category that had a stable increase in sales last year, which is why there’s a big chance that the trend will continue.

Wine Glasses

Sipping your favorite wine from an amazing wine glass is the best experience. This is why you should be up-to-date with the sparkling, white, and red wine glass trends. For this year, luxurious crystal wine glasses will continue their popularity, especially now that there are more options when it comes to lead-free and more durable crystal glasses. Many Italian-made crystals are popular bets. This is no surprise, especially since the country is known for its wine.

Unbreakable wine glasses will also surge in popularity. These are glasses that are made from various materials like silicone and stainless steel. There are also those that are made to look and feel like real glasses but without the delicateness. Durability has always been one of the concerns when it comes to wine glasses, both the crystals and those made from regular glass. This is a game-changer that many wine enthusiasts will love, especially those who are tired of having broken glasses that they need to replace.

Bigger Wine Bottles

In 2017, a popular wine retailer reported that their sales soared to 378% on wines that had bigger bottles. This trend is expected to continue this year. These big wine bottles have more content, so they can serve more. Those who drink wine often and those who regularly host wine nights or throw parties go for these bottles because they are also more convenient, and you can be sure that you won’t run out of wine easily.

Rise in Popularity of Sauvignon Blanc

This type of wine is already popular, but it’s more thought of as a wine for the masses, and it’s often not the top choice when it comes to special occasions or for impressing guests. This is likely to change this year; given the right winemaking techniques, vines, and sites, this wine can be seen as a top-class choice.

Take these factors into consideration to make your wine parties for this year the best ones. 

Filed Under: Mommy Blog, Recipes

6 Recommended Cold Canapés for Your Next Party

November 23, 2017 by Lynn

When holding a holiday party, one of the most stressful parts of the preparation is often the food. This is especially true if you are trying to come up with a menu that is both appealing and different from what everyone else is offered. The solution is to offer a variety of different cold canapés, giving your guests a variety to choose from. Canapés are also visually stunning, making them extremely appealing despite their tiny size. Here are our top picks for this holiday season;

  1. Chicken Curry  Canapés

Everyone loves take-out curry, and these canapés put a fun twist on an old favourite. Often paired with delicious fruit of some kind, they provide the quintessential single bit full of flavour experience that you would expect from this kind of food. These also work well for parties where children will be present, ensuring that everyone will be happy.

  1. Vegetable Topped Crostinis

Most people love the crisp and tantalizing mouth feel that they get from a good crostini. Pairing this with a pureed or dried vegetable and the possibility of fresh cheese just makes sense. The combination of crisp and soft is heightened when using a savoury vegetable or dry toppings. These are often the first canapés gone at holiday parties. You could also spiralize your vegetables for a fancy look. 

  1. Mozzarella Tarts

A classic tart shape, filled with mozzarella, fresh herbs, and topped off with a tomato. This is a great palette cleansing option that appeals to more sophisticated guests. The flaky crust and barely cooked tomato serve to make the creamy cheese and herb combination all the more delicious. They are also one of the most impressive looking canapés, sure to please even the pickiest of guests.

  1. Salmon  Canapés

The classic choice, salmon is one of the most versatile fish in the entire world. Whether is is being paired with cream cheese, sprinkled with lemon, or cured and served by itself, salmon is usually something that most of your guests can agree on. The small bite sized offerings that are served at parties are usually enough to entice the taste buds but not overload them with fishy taste as well, making it the perfect medium for serving up salmon.

  1. Prawn  Canapés

Often served on top of sinfully sweet mousse, prawns are a classic party favourite. Bright and cheery, their natural shape and size lends themselves well to being used as a finger food. Prawns also pair well with a number of different flavours, allowing you to have several different varieties at one party.

  1. Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Canapés

These classic flavours compliment each other and are always fresh and welcoming. Ripe tomatoes seem to melt over creamy mozzarella, while the fresh flavour of basil bursts over the tongue. These are often served on bamboo skewers or on toothpicks, allowing the tomato to remain whole for the best possible eating experience. The secret to making these canapés great is using the best possible ingredients and preparing them no more than 5 hours before serving time.

Filed Under: Recipes

The Best Corporate Caterers Will Look After Your Guests

November 7, 2017 by Lynn

You hire a professional catering service because you want to serve only the best for your guests. Obviously, you want to make them feel satisfied. And especially if you’re a mother, like me, you will want to serve your guests more than a quick crockpot meal. Also, if you are hosting a corporate event, there will probably be important guests in attendance, and you don’t want to disappoint them.

The reason why professional caterers are worthy of doing the job is because they have tons of experience in the business. They will not just provide food for the guests. They will give the best possible dining experience. They will arrange people to wait on tables, and attend the requests of guests.

Aside from the main dishes that you order, they will also provide food for those with special requests. Vegetarians or those who have food restrictions due to allergies, or religion, will also be catered for.

From the start until the end

The best part about hiring professional caterers is that they will be there to provide service from the moment the food counter is opened until the guests leave the venue. They are used to serving important people who may have lots of requests. They have well-trained staff who have done corporate catering in the past.

You won’t be embarrassed

There is huge pressure when organising a corporate event. You have to consider a lot of details. Food is the major part of such events, so you might have to allot a bigger budget for catering, but it’s worth paying a bit more to hire an experienced professional catering service.

Reserve now

If you are organising your event during a peak season, expect that the top catering companies will be busy. They might have to refuse your request, especially if they have already accepted a lot of catering requests. Once you have found the best caterer, after a tasting session, you should book them right away. Of course, you need to check the overall budget but you should not hesitate especially if you know that their services will guarantee the satisfaction of everyone in attendance.

In the event that there is a need to cancel the event, or hold it on another date, check the cancellation policy of the catering company. You might still have to pay a certain amount of money. However, if the cancellation is at the last minute, don’t expect a full refund.

Pick the best professional caterers and entrust them with this major aspect of your event. You still have a lot of other concerns to attend to. You will be able to focus on other details once you know the food is already taken care of, and look forward to a successful corporate event.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Life Hacks, Recipes

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The Lilac City Momma

Hi ladies! I'm Lynn, the mother of two beautiful children. I have a 4 year old girl and an 8 month old boy. I love them beyond works, but sometimes motherhood is exhausting. So I started this blog to share all my DIY's, hacks and recipes to make life easier on moms around the world.

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