some lunch pics

I have to marvel at how much more prep is involved in making something as seemingly simple as burgers and dogs compared to making last week's boeuf bourguignon. Maybe it's because the beef burgundy is just one thing (although there was a failed pie), whereas for today, I had to prep several things, including a bunch of veggies to use as trimmings. On that note, prep took two or three days because I had to

• slice up tomatoes for the burgers
• slice up lettuce for the burgers
• slice up onions for the burgers
• mince onions for the hot dogs
• make up my own burger sauce (mayo, sriracha, teriyaki = awesome)
• mince pickles to make relish for the dogs
• buy various condiments like ketchup, mayo, etc.
• buy dog and burger buns
• buy sliced cheese for burgers (and to use to make cheese sauce for dogs)
• buy kettle chips (Kirkland Himalayan sea-salt ripple-cut kettle chips!)
• buy dessert (Costco mini-cronuts + Lindt truffles)
• grind my own beef for burgers and chili
• make cheese sauce for dogs
• make chili for dogs
• make burger patties
• fry up bacon for the burgers (bacon cheeseburgers)
• fry up kielbasa and Korean grill franks for the hot-dog component
• fry up burger patties
• prep cookware to take along (saucepan, frying pan)
• pack everything up to take to the office in two trips
• at office: set up trimmings station, bread, etc.
• at office: heat up cheese sauce in saucepan
• at office: microwave chili & set up to serve
• at office: microwave hot dogs & set up to serve
• at office: pan-fry bacon cheeseburgers & set up to serve

Suffice it to say, that's a lot of little things to prep. I got it all done, though, slowly and steadily, and today was the payoff. Even my Korean coworker, who's a conservative eater, ended up downing three hot dogs (but no burgers, alas). My American coworker had one burger and one dog, as did my boss, who insisted on bringing some sauerkraut for the occasion. Everyone ended up stuffed, and I've got leftovers that I'll probably eat for dinner tonight and share with the Korean staff down the hall on Monday.

Here are some pics from today's meal. Mini-cronuts first:

Cheese sauce next:

My first of two bacon cheeseburgers:

My lovely chili cheese dog, using kielbasa:

My second burger, this time with kettle chips:

As I said above, I'll probably have more burgers and dogs for dinner. The cheese sauce is hilarious (basically a Mornay with added cheddar-jack, a bit of turmeric, plus some black pepper, powdered garlic, and chipotle): as soon as it cools down, it turns into rubber. To turn it into a sauce again, even temporarily, I have to add milk and warm the sauce up on medium-low heat. It tastes good, though, even if it's not as runny as warm Cheez Whiz.

And there's your glimpse of today's lunch. A lot of work, but everyone was happy.