Cuisinart CSBP-100 3-in-1 Stuffed Burger Press

Amazon.com price - $14.99

Product Description (from Amazon.com listing)

The Cuisinart stuffed burger press is the ultimate 3-in-1 tool for burger making. Start by making amazing burgers stuffed with your favorite flavors in 3 easy steps. Just press, stuff press and you're ready to cook. Or use the convenient slider insert to shape perfect sliders any time for a great snack. This press also works great to make regular burger patties up to 3/4 lb. So no matter what burger you are in the mood for the Cuisinart Stuffed Burger Press has you covered.

PJ’s Review:

Purchased 2/11/2014

I was going to buy one of the “StufZ Burger Press” (as seen on TV) for $12.65, but after reading the reviews, I kept looking. I settled on the Cuisinart because of the reviews, the brand name, and the price. I got 2 of them – one for my son-in-law.

This product is solid, sturdy, and easy to use. After making a few burgers, I think the directions are incorrect. The process says to put 1/3 lb meat into the cup and press the top (with the press cap detached) into the cup to produce the bottom part of the burger that has the indentation into which you add whatever stuffing you want to use. Then “…flatten about 1/6 lb of meat and lay over your filled burger.” Attach the press cap to the top and press down on the stuffed burger.

I bought a package of 4 ea, pre-formed, 1/3 lb, angus 85% lean beef patties at Walmart. I also picked up a block of feta cheese and a jar of Wickles “Hoagie and Sub Relish”. I cut some of the feta into a ¼” dice.

I jammed one of the 1/3 lb patties into the cup and pressed down with the top as far as it would go. The flange on the top stops its travel into the cup at the correct height. The cup overflowed. 1/3 lb. is too much. 1/3 lb = 5.33 ounces. ¼ lb = 4 ounces. 1/6 lb = 2.66 ounces. That’s a total of 8 ounces, or ½ lb. – Unless your meat is much more dense than mine, there’s no way to get ½ lb meat AND stuffing into this press.

I suggest:

1. Although the material is non-stick, spray a little PAM onto the press parts before using.

2. Start by making the TOP of the burger. Put 3 oz into the cup and press with the lid cap attached. That should get you a flat thin top for your burger. Remove it and set it aside.

3. Put 4 oz into the cup and press (with the lid cap detached). That should make the bottom of the burger with the well for stuffing.

4. Remember that you’re going to be cooking meat – and probably to not much more than 145-150 degrees. You may want to pre-cook your stuffing. Onions, mushrooms, garlic, etc.

5. Add the stuffing. NOT TOO MUCH – only to the top of the well. You can use the slider cup as a gauge –it holds about ¼ cup and you want a little less than that.

6. Put the 4-oz. patty (from step #3 above) in the cup and after reattaching the lid cap, press to form the complete burger.

7. Sometimes (often) you have to finish the sealing of the top with your hands/fingers.

8. With 18” snow on my deck, I skipped the grill and preheated a cast-iron skillet in a 350 degree oven. Brown both sides of the burger (2-4 min/side) in the preheated pan over medium heat then return the pan to the oven for about 15 min.

9. At the desired doneness (check with an instant read thermometer) remove from the oven and allow them to rest a bit.

So, spray a little PAM, use less meat, form the top in the press, cook your stuffing, finish in the oven (or indirect grill heat).

PJ

romaine’s–Wood Grill and Bar

romaine’s is my new “go-to” place when I want the best…of everything!

(see 2nd visit review below…)

romaine's

wood grill & bar

299 W Main St # 1, Northborough, MA

508.393.8889

Website link: romaine’s

“Opened in 1999, Romaine’s Wood Grill and Bar’s 165-seat restaurant provides a social atmosphere with intimate lighting and warm décor. Romaine’s Wood Grill and Bar also offers an inviting 40-seat bar featuring the area’s best mixologists, plus a private dining area that can accommodate up to 54 guests.”…from their website.

PJ’s Ratings:

· Overall – 5 of 5

• Service – 5
• Food - 5
• Drinks (full bar) – 5
• Ambience – 5

· If you want to be seated in the Bar Area – get there early and/or make a reservation!  (no reservations for the bar area…)

· PajamaGal and I were pleasantly surprised on this, our first visit to romaine’s. It certainly won’t be our last.

This review’s Visit: 2014/01/20 – 5:30 P.M.

Server: Beth – Excellent service!

Starters:

Calamari - $8

Buttermilk Soaked, Fried Crispy, Cherry Peppers, Sweet Thai Chile Sauce

Fried calamari is my favorite appetizer. Carrabba’s version is the standard against which I measure all others – and romaine’s is almost an equal. For the first time ever, we were offered “tube rings and tentacles”, or “only tube rings.” We like both – and they were great! Delicate, tender, with a breading that was light and fluffy, yet crispy. When I commented that there should be more, PajamaGal said, “But then it would be a main dish, not an appetizer.” (I’d still like a larger portion – it’s a tad too small to share.)

Main Dishes:

Wood Roasted Duck - $22

Broccolini, Spiced Sweet Potato Fries, Fig Demi

PajamaGal loves duck. romaine’s was prepared beautifully. The skin was crisp, the meat tender, juicy, and plentiful. While I didn’t sample her duck, I did taste the fries. They were wonderful. Their shoestring cut enabled their crispiness without being overdone. The spiced flavor was perfect and not overpowering.

·

North Atlantic Haddock - $22

Panko, Horseradish, Garlic Mash, Roasted Pepper, Asparagus (Broccolini), Sundried Tomato Butter

The breading was flavorful and fluffy like the calamari. The Haddock could have been removed from the heat 1 or 2 minutes earlier, although it was not dry. The Garlic Mash was outstanding with large chunks of roasted garlic floating through the perfectly seasoned mash. I wish the Broccolini had been cooked an additional 30 seconds. Its smoky flavor was intense and very good, but for me, there was too much “crisp” and not enough “tender” in the crisp-tender preparation. (Notice that Beth didn’t hesitate to substitute the broccolini for the asparagus.)

Deserts:

· (we had desert waiting for us at home, so we skipped it…this time!)

Posted by PajamaGuy at 7:00 AM No comments:   

Labels: Restaurants

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2/08/2014 – 4:45 p.m. on a Saturday

PajamaGal and I have a 15th anniversary this coming week and we wanted to go out for dinner with our friends to celebrate.  We went back to “romaine’s”.  I wanted the same table in the bar area so I went to their website to make a reservation.  Their website’s link for reservations takes you to OpenTable.  There were no tables available before 8:30 that evening.  It was only 1:00 in the afternoon, so I called romaine’s.  Bonnie told me that they did not reserve tables in the bar area (which starts filling up around 4:45), but if we were there around 5 that she could probably find us a table.

We planned to meet our friends at 5:30, but on a hunch, we got there at 4:50, and were able to get the table I wanted in the bar area.  Before I review the food, I want to report that the folks at romaine’s are remarkably friendly – and in a genuine and refreshing way.

I’d wanted to be there early for two reasons, the table location, and the homemade “Bar Chips”.  We got both – and by 5:22, all tables and seats in the bar area were filled.  At 6:39, when we left, there was standing-room only.

Server: Sarah – Excellent service!

Starters:

Maine Crab Cake - $10

Jonah Crab, Celery Root Slaw, Chipotle Aioli

Fried calamari is still my favorite, but these were pretty damn good.  I’m not a crab cake connoisseur, although I’ve had a few.  These had a perfect balance of crab-to-breadcrumb ratio.  They were cooked with a delicate but crispy crust and were very tasty!  Even the slaw was delicious.  If when I order them again, I will ask for a bit more of the aioli.

Speaking of connoisseurs, when it comes to margarita’s, PajamaGal is one – or maybe she’s just extremely picky .  She told Sarah that she thought it tasted like dish soap.  (I thought it was good, but a bit too sweet) Without question, Sarah got her a glass of Pinot Grigio.  I’ve returned a lot of food and drink over the years, but I have to say that Sarah’s handling of the occurrence was unlike any I’ve experienced.  Again, genuinely friendly.

Main Dishes:

Wood Grilled Salmon - $20

Roasted Root Vegetables, Apple Cider Glaze, Apple Chips

PajamaGal compares all salmon dishes to the grilled salmon that I prepare for her, so for her to say that romaine’s was “…almost as good as your’s…”  means she really liked it.  It was cooked perfectly and the wood-smoke was not overpowering.

·

Beef Tenderloin Special- $34

Gnocchi, Shaved Asparagus

I didn’t write down the full title of this dish.  This was a very good fillet, and cooked perfectly.  This was maybe the 3rd time I’ve eaten gnocchi, so I’m no expert.  I looked them up in Wikipedia and there seems to be many variations.  These were soft little pillows and very smooth.  The sauce was good, as was the Shaved Asparagus.  I should have ordered the “Wood Grilled Tenderloin” from the menu as I’d intended to sample their best on-the-menu red-meat steak during this visit.  I’m going to guess that this 8 oz. fillet is the same as what’s on the menu, but with a different preparation.

When I’d eaten the last bite, I thought to myself that the dish had been a bit salty.  Although my favorite sauce is béarnaise, I do want to try romaine’s “Brandy Peppercorn Demi”.

Did I tell you about the homemade Bar Chips? They’re thick-cut and well done potato chips.  And they are another benefit of arriving early…

(the cone was served full – my trigger finger just wasn’t fast enough….

PJ

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn

Longfellow's Wayside Inn

72 Wayside Inn Road

Sudbury, MA 01776

978.443.1776

Website link: WaysideInn

 

The Wayside Inn offers a variety of dining options, serving hearty New England classics as well as some interesting updates for the more portion-conscious diners! Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in our wonderfully rustic and atmospheric dining rooms…(from their website) PJ’s Ratings: · Overall – 3 of 5

• Service – 3
• Food - 3
• Drinks (full bar) – 3
• Ambience – 5
• Cost – $$$$$

It seems sacrilegious to criticize where we were happily married. (Actually, we were married in the Martha-Mary Chapel, our reception was at the Inn.)  LWI is a historic landmark – and it’s non-profit! PajamaGal and I have dined at the Inn three times within the past two years.  “Disappointed” would be a term used to describe our previous visit and unfortunately, I wouldn’t raise that assessment for last night’s experience.  The Wayside Inn strikes me as a place where you pay for the atmosphere and not the food.  But to be fair, by the time we were finished (about 6:45), most of the seats in most of the rooms were filled.  And I’d venture to guess that the majority of the folks were locals. It will probably be a while before we return – there are many places where I can spend less than $100 and get much better food.  This review’s Visit: 2014/01/28 – 5:30 P.M. Server: Carol (I think) – Service was adequate, but unremarkable.

Starters:

Fried Calamari .... $9.95
Spicy dipping sauce and hot cherry peppers

As I’ve said before, Fried Calamari is my favorite appetizer. Carrabba’s version (and maybe romaine’s) is the standard against which I measure all others – and LWI’s version wasn’t even close. Two good things were (1) the portion was enough to share, and (2) the menu didn’t lie – those Cherry Peppers were HOT!  But the breading was soggy and the calamari was tough.  

Main Dishes:

Salmon Dijonnaise .... $21.95
Herbed crusted fillet with a hint of mustard

PajamaGal’s  second favorite dish is salmon.  She finished the sides (butternut squash and a baked potato) but brought half of the salmon home.  I did not taste it, and she replied, “OK” when I asked her how it was. Twin Fillets of Sole .... $22.95
Filled with shrimp and crabmeat stuffing, lobster newburg sauce (sides were Butternut Squash and Delmonico Potatoes) Weak on taste, short on sauce.  If there were shrimp within the stuffing, they were shredded/processed too small to detect.  The stuffing reminded me of a over-breaded crab cake.  The sauce was very good, but there was too little of it (I didn’t ask for more; I mostly review what is served “as-is”.)  Without the sauce, there just wasn’t much flavor.
The squash and the Delmonico potatoes were also very good!

Deserts:

 

Rustic Apple Pie a la Mode .... $3.95
Served with our own caramel sauce Served in a bowl with a scoop of ice cream, PajamaGal ate every bite.

Cameta Camera

 

 

CANON

Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital SLR Camera Body & EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens with 75-300mm III Lens + 16GB Card + Flash + Case + Filter + Telephoto/Wide-Angle Lens Kit – $684 (free shipping)

Received the kit 2 days earlier than the projected date.  It was very well packed, everything was there.  Absolutely no complaints about Cameta.

I’ve not had the T3i & kit for a couple of weeks, and I’ve bought & read 2 books on the T3i.  (I recommend David Busch’s T3i guide!) I subsequently ordered and received the Canon Speedlite 320EX ($149 @ Cameta) because the one in the kit is just a dumb flash – the 320EX talks to the T3i and also can function wirelessly as both a slave flash and a remote camera trigger.

I love the camera but would probably buy a differently configured kit if I had it to do over again.  I’ve added things like a monopod, a ballhead, the 320EX, a good filter set with lens hood, (I already had a tripod), and an extra 32GB fast SD card.

The T3i is a great camera – but this post is about Cameta Camera – Of course I’ll check prices when I look to purchase my next item – but I will have no hesitation ordering from Cameta!

Last Vegas is a MUST SEE if you’re over 60!

If anyone who offers recommendation advice for this movie, “Last Vegas”, is under 60 – shut off your hearing aids and ignore everything they say.

I don’t say that with any malice or any ill-feelings toward the younger folks.  It’s just that if you’ve been blessed to have been on this planet for six-score or more years – you’re going to “get it” – and you’re going to laugh your ass off.

Yeah, some of the stuff hits very close to home.  You’re going to find yourself saying, “I KNOW what he means!”  And these 4 guys put on one hell of a performance.  Other than, “Just go see it!”, my only other advice is to make sure your date is over 60 (you want her laughing with you, not at you).,

PJ

The “Geek Squad” is O.K.

As the retired Director of Information Management for NASA’s Space Shuttle program’s prime contractor, I do know a little bit about computers.  A few weeks ago, I was sitting in my recliner with my laptop on my lap.  When I reached for my fresh cup of coffee and took a sip, I heard the unmistakable “snick” sound  of my coffee cup’s ceramic handle separating from the cup.  Time didn’t slow down at all as the 8 ounces of 192° liquid splashed into my lap.  My lips did not delete the explicative that came forth from them.

20 minutes later I’d sopped up the mess, changed clothes, and was sitting at the kitchen table begging my laptop to boot normally.  It wasn’t abiding.  It would start then quit.  Never even getting to the “Starting Windows” screen.

Using my wife’s laptop, I fired up a YouTube video on how to disassemble my Dell XPS, and with only a small Phillips screwdriver soon had the major components spread about the table in front of me.  They were still wet.  After a lot of wiping with lint-free microfiber rags dipped in denatured alcohol, those components were clean and dry.

The keyboard module was not designed to be disassembled.  So, although I thought there might be some of Newman’s Special Blend still inside, I couldn’t get to it.

What I should have done is …

stopped right there and done the wet cell phone trick of putting it in a bag of rice for 48 hours.

Instead, I put it back together.  My big problem came when I was trying to re-attach the 2nd ribbon (the small one that supplies the power for the backlighting) from the keyboard to the motherboard.  I “fat-fingered” and broke the lock-down tab on the ribbon cable connector on the motherboard.  And that ended the possibility of me being able to fix it myself.  If my eyes and fingers had been 20 years younger, I might have considered trying to replace the connector on the motherboard – but there’s no way today…

I got it back together (without connecting the backlight power) and was able to boot to the login screen where the password field was immediately filled with “j’s” without my fingers even touching the keyboard.

Long story shortened – I used an external keyboard and was able to run a complete backup.  While that was running, I researched replacement laptops.  To get anything close to the i5 power and capacity of my XPS I’d have to spend close to $1,000, so I took it to Best Buy and handed it to the Geek Squad.

The minimum charge was $35 to send it off (no they don’t fix ‘em in-house at my Best Buy) to their repair facility and get it evaluated.  During check-in when I described the issue, their system calculated it should cost no more than $131.07 (including the $35).  Even the Geek had no idea how that figure was derived. 

Keep in mind that If the rice thing had worked, and I hadn’t broken the connector, my cost would have been $0.  And I could have replaced the keyboard myself for $44.95 (+S&H from Dell) – fat-fingering aside.

But since I had to have someone else fix it, and since it would cost at least $1,000 to replace it, I figured that even if the estimate was off by half that it would be cheaper to fix than replace.  So off it went to the Geek Guys.

By the time I got home I’d received an email with a “click-here” that took me to GeekSquad.com and a page showing the status of my repair.  Cool!

The Geek Squad “system” needs some work with their coordination of the store, the repair facility, and the website.  The lack thereof did not bolster my confidence level relative to their technical capabilities. 

Eventually, the technician doing the repair called me to say that they’d replaced the keyboard module and that it was working correctly… EXCEPT that the backlight feature wasn’t working because the connector on the motherboard was broken – AND – did I really need the backlight feature or could I do without it?

Hello!?! – I remained calm (this dude was operating on my baby – so don’t piss him off…).  I said that yes, I needed the backlight, and that that detail was written on the repair order, including the fact that the connector was broken.  I did NOT tell him that if I didn’t care about the backlight that I’d replaced the $45 keyboard myself.  I really wanted to, but I kept my mouth shut.  He said the cost would be a total of $150 to which I said, “Go for it!”.

A week later, my XPS is back in my lap and working just fine.  The receipt says they charged $80 for the keyboard, $70 for labor, and $0 for the motherboard.  (they replaced the whole motherboard rather than just one little connector – but didn’t charge anything for it?).

Lessons Learned

1. Don’t pass anything over your laptop that might cause damage if it falls, breaks, spills, or otherwise comes in contact with it.
2. If your electronic device gets wet – shut it off and pull the battery immediately.  Wipe what you can and use the bag of rice method to try to dry it out.
3. Keep your ACTIVATION KEYS where you can find them – whenever a (usually major) component is replaced the software might need to be reactivated.  (Mine did; both the Windows OS and the MS Office)
4. Keep your backups current.  If my XPS had been really fried and replaced, without backups I’d have been screwed.
5. Remember Murphy’s Law – if a catastrophe can happen, it will…sometime – and when it’s least convenient.

Michael’s Restaurant in Concord, Mass.–11/2/2013 UPDATE

 

November 2nd, 2013 – Boy have things changed! And NOT for the good. Three months ago I wrote a glowing review – last night PajamaGal and I revisited Michael’s – probably for the last time.
We’d just seen “Last Vegas” (Great movie, but don’t listen to anyone’s review if they’re under 60 – there’s no way a non-senior could understand or appreciate it!)
We arrived around 5:30, two other booths were occupied. Erika was no longer there, Christine said she’d moved from the area.
We ordered drinks and an appetizer of “Fried Calamari with Crostini” ($11.00). I like calamari and have eaten it all over the world. This appetizer looked and tasted good, although there were many more heads than there were body rings. The flavor was really good, but they were tough and chewy. (my favorite is still Carrabba’s on Bay Area in Houston)
When Christine took our entre order I asked if the management or chef had changed – she said no. PajamaGal had wanted the Veal Parmesan (which I’d recommended from our previous visit), but at the last minute changed her mind and selected the “Mahi Mahi” ($23.00). I opted for the “Haddock Fra Diavlo” ($23.00). I guess my plate was technically correct, the haddock was “…topped with sautéed shrimp…” – although a few 51/60’s to me don’t qualify as “…topped with sautéed shrimp…” for a $23 entrée.
The “Fra Diavlo” wasn’t a “Brother Devil”, but more like slightly “Sassy Sister” sauce and the Mahi’s “…homemade peach glaze …” must have come from a jar. On the bright side, the “fresh vegetables” were fresh and flavorful, but the “seasoned broth” part of the “rice pilaf must have come from one of those foil “seasoning packets”.
The real problem was the fish. Both servings were way over-cooked and well past the “flaky” stage. I almost needed a knife to cut my haddock and PajamaGal’s Mahi was equally dry and tough.
Christine sincerely apologized when I explained our dissatisfaction. While we waited for our check, I expected the chef, or the owner, or at least a manager to express concern. Christine was our only contact. When she delivered the check, she said, “They told me to take only one entre off the bill, but I took both.” Seriously?
I wish it was the manager’s/owner’s night off – I wish the regular chef was out sick and an inexperienced sous-chef was at the helm. I wish we’d gone to Wildwood’s…

====================================================

August 2013

I saw an advertisement in the Acton Unlimited for Michael’s  Restaurant, and the bartender Jorge, “The King of Margaritas”.  A little bell went off in my head.  PajamaGal had been nagging suggesting we try more restaurants to find a “go-to” place – nearby with great food, service, drinks, and decent prices.

I found copies of Michael’s menu on several websites but all of them were from a previous owner – outdated and flat wrong.

Being retirees (from NASA’s Space Shuttle Program in Houston), our normal dinnertime has evolved to the 5 o’clock hour.  Fortunately, the traffic traveling to Michael’s from Hudson was much better than the traffic coming the other way.

Our server, Erika, greeted us at the door and seated us in a comfortable booth. Jorge and his margaritas had completely slipped our minds (PJ-Gal is a margarita connoisseur), so we ordered a Pinot Grigio and my Dewar's with a splash.  (Both were generous @ $6.50 & $7)

Wine & Cocktails = Excellent!

Erika was very efficient and attentive – without being overly-so. She knew the menu and was able to provide preparation detail when asked.  And she actually listened when we spoke!  She kept an eye on our table without “hovering”.  She accepted menu deviations (marinara on the side, pasta - not potatoes, angel hair - not linguini) as a matter of course without making us feel like we were asking for the moon. I really can’t remember having better service!

Service = Excellent!

I ordered the “Crab Cakes” ($12) from the “Today’s Specials” menu. As I told Erika (who said the owner/chef welcomed comments), for $12, I thought the 2 cakes were a tad small and crab/breading ratio was a bit lite.  If they were $7-to-$9, I’d order them again.

PJ-Gal had the “Pan Seared Duck with Raspberry Sauce” ($18), also from the “Today’s Specials” menu.  She loved it and ate every bite.  It was excellently prepared  and the sauce was, in her words, “fantastic”!  I asked her to compare it to the Seared Duck ($32) she’s had at Blue Ginger last month.  She liked Michael’s better.

I was conflicted between the special’s “Swordfish & Shrimp Fra Diavlo” ($25) and the regular menu's “Veal Parmigiana” ($21) – and while I love both, my palate was yearning for some good veal.  I opted for the veal with angel hair.  My palate was rewarded!  The generous portion of lightly breaded tender veal was smothered in a crisp and tangy marinara that was laced with a chiffonade of fresh basil.  My waistline asked Erika to remove the remaining perfectly prepared pasta even though my taste buds begged me to ingest every last strand.

The Food = Very, Very Good!

If the “Bananas Foster” (a PajamaGal weakness) had remained on the new owner’s menu, we would have sampled Michael’s deserts, but since we had to pass by Erikson’s on the way home anyway…we’ll wait until next time.  And there will be a next time – soon.