Cooking with Friends

I'm going to be cooking with friends this Memorial Day weekend.  You know, my friends named Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler and Joey.  I think you may know them, too.  They came into my home every week for years, and now I see them in syndication when I flip through channels from time to time.  I adored them.  We were all the same age, and even though I didn't live in NYC above a coffee shop, I somehow manged to relate to their wacky lives weekly.   I will confess that when I drive through downtown Raleigh now, and see all these new condominiums with shops and restaurants below them , I get a little nostalgic about my past TV life with my "friends" and say to Mr. Piggybank, "I think it would be so neat to have a bar or coffee shop below your residence."  Don't you?

In 1995, my mom who has probably never watched an episode of Friends in her life, found a cookbook called, "Cooking with Friends", and gave it to me for Christmas.  The cookbook is now 16 years old and is a little worn from use.  The photos in the book are from the show's early days with a few photos during the time period where Rachel unveiled her iconic haircut.

I use a lot of recipes out of this book.  They have cute and catchy names for food such as mashed potatoes for the broken-hearted, or Chandler's "Could This BE Any More Fattening? Cheesecake.  You all remember how Chandler talked, right?  Brings back some memories!  What about, "How You Doin?"  I must admit I go around the house and use a little "Joey" speak to my children when they wake up in the morning.

According to the cookbook, Joey might not be much of a cook, but he does know how to make a burger.  That is true, my friends! I've used "his" burger recipe now for 16 years.  It's the most simple and delicious burger recipe and I'm sharing it with you, my friends, because it will be perfect for your Memorial Day weekend cook-out.  I'm serving up these babies for my own friends this weekend.

Joey's Best Grilled Burgers

2 pounds ground beef
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
(I have added some Italian seasoning to the recipe because after all, Joey is Italian).
6 buns, split

Gently mix the meat with the ingredients, and form into six patties (about an inch thick)
Grill about 8 minutes for medium-rare, turning them once.  For medium, grill for about 10 minutes.
****Mr. Piggybank grills our burgers, and we always add cheese.

I looked online this morning in case you wanted to add this cookbook to your collection.  Amazon does still carry this cookbook.  You can get a new one for less than $4.00.  Someone is trying to sell their cookbook for $55.  Why would anyone buy that when you get a new one for less than $5.00?  Maybe Joey signed it!

Have a great memorial day weekend!

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I'm hooking up with Daphne with Flip Flop and Pearls for her recipe link, "Let's Eat, Ya'll!"











And some Friday blog hopping with two great design blogs.








 










See you next week!  Until next time, I'm off to entertain the kids and get my meat for my "Joey" burgers this weekend.