Things I Ate In General

I never met my maternal grandmother, Martha, but I grew up eating something my mom called “Grandma Martha’s Casserole.” We didn’t have it often, but I liked the dish a lot. A few weeks ago I called my mom in Minneapolis to ask her “Hey, what exactly is IN Grandma Martha’s casserole? I know it’s ground beef and noodles…what am I missing?”

It would be hard to fuck up this casserole. You cook some rotini or fusilli pasta until it’s al dente, fry an onion, brown a pound of ground beef, mix all of that up with some tomato paste and shredded cheese, and then bake it for 20 minutes or so. Some diced and sautéed tomato or red pepper is a nice addition, but not totally necessary.  

I bought all of the ingredients for this casserole at Target. I should be embarrassed to admit how many times I’ve done my grocery shopping at Target, but the sad truth is that the fancy Targets in Annapolis and Towson often have better stuff than my neighborhood Safeway. I do what I have to do.

Cheesesteak from Taylor Charles Steak & Ice on H Street in Northeast DC. I don’t remember what was on it, except for green peppers, which you can see. I know nothing about cheesesteaks. But this was good. I ate the whole thing.

Shrimp and grits, The Wild Orchid, Annapolis. 

I have written here before about my affections for McDonald’s Holiday Pie. Part of the appeal of the Holiday Pie is that it’s only available for a limited time each year. Besides the month of December, the standard baked apple pie is pretty much the only pie option for those of us in the US. But check out this photo list of internationally available McDonald’s pie flavors! They’re crazy! Highlights include: corn pie from Thailand, bacon potato pie from Japan, and vegetarian pizza pie from Dubai. 

Amassing my own photo essay of rare McDonald’s pies is certainly a goal to focus on. (It seems like the key is getting myself to Asia?) However, every so often, McDonald’s does offer an exciting new pie* in the States (though they are often location-specific and time limited). I missed them rolling out the strawberry & crème pie last spring, but managed to notice them bringing it back for 2013. 

So that’s what this is. You can’t really seem the crème in the picture, but it’s there and kind of cream cheese-y and the strawberries were like a warm strawberry jam. The two components worked well together — I’m a big fan of this pie flavor. I wish they’d keep it around and get rid of the baked apple pie. Also, the idea of the strawberry & crème pie is way less disgusting than the Holiday Pie, though I think I can find it in myself to love both.

*There has been stuff floating around the Internet about a McDonald’s smore’s pie since they first introduced it at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. I finally saw it on a menu at the U Street McDonald’s in DC this winter. When I asked for one they were out. Or didn’t have it right then. Or something. Fuck the U Street McDonald’s, basically.

Creamed chipped beef on a waffle from Morning Edition near Patterson Park in Baltimore. The waffle was a little too sweet for the savory topping, but I will go back to this place for two simple reasons:

I can walk there from my house.

Our whole breakfast cost $12.

Grilled cheese with avocado, tomato, and mayo on Jewish Rye.

I spent two days at the beginning of March pretending to play slot machines while filming a commercial at Maryland Live! Casino. I’m not a huge Bobby Flay fan, but I am a huge fan of his Bobby’s Burger Palace  burgers (there was a location inside the casino) simply because they are cooked to order at the temperature you request. You order a rare burger? You get a rare burger.

My issue with places like Shake Shack and Five Guys (leagues apart though they are) is that all of their burgers are cooked to the same level of doneness. I like rare burgers. And at BBP, I can get one. Even at a casino, in a mall, near an airport, in Maryland. I had a burger with lettuce, tomato, American cheese, and potato chips. Mayo on the side.

Two quick things:

1. I have a new favorite recipe for banana bread. Chocolate banana bread.

2. Doesn’t my new sockerkaka silicone loaf pan from IKEA make a cute little pattern? Only $6.99!