Bento Balls Aka French Hamburgers Recipes

FRENCH HAMBURGERS RECIPE - (4.1/5)

Steps:

• Cook minced onion slowly for 10 minutes in butter, until tender, but not brown. Pour into a mixing bowl. Add the ground beef, additional butter, and seasonings to the onions and beat just until combined. Form into 4 patties, 3/4 inch thick. Cover with wax paper and chill several hours. Just before cooking the patties, gently roll them in the flour. In a large, heavy frying pan, melt butter and oil, bring to a moderately high temperature and add patties. Sear them until they're brown on both sides, then reduce heat until they're done to your liking. This usually takes longer than I think, about 15 minutes. Remove patties to a heated oven. Pour fat out of the pan and add sherry (or other wine), scraping up the pan juices, until it's reduced to a thick syrup. Take off the heat and add the butter (allow butter to melt) and serve in a small pitcher to pour over the patties. I often poke holes in the top of each patty (with a fork) so the sauce will ooze down into the meat. Note: the original recipe calls for red wine, white wine, vermouth or beef stock for the sauce. You can use either red wine, sherry or light port or even Madeira.

TERIYAKI WOULD-BE MINCED CHICKEN, TORISOBORO, BOWL

Steps:

• Beat eggs well and prepare scrambled eggs. It'd be easier to prepare scramble eggs with 2 or more pairs of chopsticks to do it.
• Finely julienne your favorite vegetables and boil them.
• Squeeze water out from the defrosted tofu.
• Spread sesame oil in a skillet and sauté the tofu.
• Add teriyaki sauce in the skillet and mix it with the tofu well.
• Place rice, tofu, eggs and vegetables in bowls.
• Spread salt and pepper to taste.

BENTO BALLS (AKA FRENCH HAMBURGERS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment or foil.
• Lightly coat the parchment or foil with cooking spray.
• Mix the bread crumbs, havarti, horseradish, dried onion, salt (or spice-salt mix), cottage cheese, and egg together in a large bowl. (Please note that the horseradish should be prepared, i.e., the creamy kind that is mixed with mayonnaise. We use the Beaver brand.).
• Allow to stand for 5 minutes to soften the bread crumbs.
• Mix in the ground turkey.
• The meat mixture will be very soft.
• Form the meat into balls that will fit into your bento box(or on your plate).
• Flatten slightly so that the meat is formed into shapes resembling patties.
• Place in the oven to bake for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the basting sauce by combining the melted butter, ketchup, and soy sauce.
• Carefully turn the patties over and put them back in the oven until 20 minutes before the meat is cooked through.
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• The time to finish cooking will depend on how large you made your patties.
• I use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
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• Approximately 20 minutes before the meat cooks through, baste one side of the meat with the sauce, returning to the oven for 10 minutes.
• Turn and baste the other side and return to the oven for the remaining 10 minutes.
• Let cool, add to your bento box, and have a great day hiking.

RICE KRISPIES DATE BALLS (AKA ANGEL COOKIES)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, melt butter.
• Add dates and granulated sugar and cook slowly, stirring constantly, until blended.
• Add cereal and coconut, stirring to combine.
• Remove from heat and let cool until you can handle the mixture without burning your fingers.
• Form into 1" sized balls with greased hands, then roll each into powdered sugar to coat.

FRENCH DIP BURGER

Steps:

• Over medium-high heat, heat large nonstick skillet or fire up grill.
• Trim thin slice off top and bottom of ciabatta bun to create flat surface. Then slice each bun in half horizontally. Lightly spread mayonnaise on outside of ciabatta bun, to enhance browning. Place bun, mayonnaise-side down, on grill or in pan. Top each bun with cheese slice to toast bun and melt cheese.
• Season burger with seasoning salt. Grill, broil or pan-fry burger until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
• Top burger with caramelized onions. Place burger on one toasted bun, then top with remaining bun. Cut in half and serve with beef broth for dipping.

FRENCH ONION BURGERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the onions, Worcestershire sauce, salt and mushrooms if using. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 4 patties.
• Grill, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4 inches from the heat for 6-9 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Serve on buns with any condiments and toppings of your choice.