Diner Dash

A wonderful new cookbook just happened to arrive the other day; (I don’t know how that could have happened, it’s not like I visit Amazon very often lol) in the form of The American Diner Cookbook: More Than 450 Recipes and Nostalgia Galore  (Linda Everett and Elizabeth McKeon).

Having holidayed in The States a few times I was on the hunt for a cookery book that would help me recreate some of the glorious food I ate there.

I came across The American Diner by pure chance, thinking that it sounded reasonably good and a bargain it quickly found its way here. I was wrong! It is much more than “good” it is quite fabulous.

It is split into eight chapters (Breakfast at the Counter, Soups of the Day & Salads, From the Grill, Fountain Alley, On the Side, Sandwich Platters, Blue Plate Specials and What’s for Dessert?) which are punctuated by frequent write ups of old Diners across the USA – a great insight into American culture.

Everything I remember munching with much delight is in this book – from grits and pancakes to hamburgers and cheesecakes.  It is a book dedicated to comfort, not one for the weight watching I’m afraid, low fat doesn’t quite figure here, although I’m sure many of the recipes could be easily adapted to become healthier but I warn you they may loose their soul.

So what to make first?  It just had to be Sloppy Joe’s not simply because I ate many of them with gusto but because we holidayed in Key West when I was around 15 and although I felt very grown up and very ‘cool’ I wasn’t allowed in the very famous Sloppy Joe’s Bar and it somewhat irked me that I couldn’t sample the one foodie thing they’re famous for – The Original Sloppy Joe Sandwich! One day I will return, enter that bar and eat that sandwich accompanied by a nice cool Bud.

So back to dinner.  Having a full day to potter round the kitchen was blissful, or at least if I’d not too playful Irish Setters under my feet it would have been more so.  I somehow managed to bake hamburger buns and get the sloppy Joe mince made well in advance so everything just needed reheating and the hotdogs sorting, giving me the rest of the day for dog walking and playing – even more blissful than cooking really

With the exception of the hotdogs everything was delightful, somehow the hotdogs just didn’t taste anything like the same as the ones I’ve eaten in the US, different atmosphere probably and the fact that stuff you eat & drink on holiday never quite tastes the same at home.  

Despite containing only minced beef, brown sugar, tomato ketchup, mustard powder and a drop of tabasco the meat was so very good – surprisingly so, hopefully not because of all the e-numbers I was probably consuming, although I did use organic ketchup so is that a brownie point?

The burger buns were the best I’ve tasted yet too, sweet but substantial, not like the airy fairy things handed out at many a fast food joint here.  Oh and yes I do know they should have been oblong for the hotdogs but they some how mutated in the oven okay?

The Recipe:

Burger Buns (Makes 24):

• 8 cups plain flour
• 2 envelopes fast action dry yeast
• 2 cups warm water
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 eggs

1. In a large mixing bowl combine 4 cups of flour and the yeast.
2. In a separate jug mix the water, oil, sugar and salt, mix well.
3. Add the liquid ingredients to the flour.
4. Beat the eggs using an electric mixer on low for 30 seconds then on high for a further three minutes.
5. Add the remaining 4 cups of flour to the first bowl followed by the eggs.
6. Turn out onto a floured board and knead until smooth.
7. Place in an oiled bowl and cover.  Leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
8. Punch the dough down and divine into three pieces.  Cover and leave to rise for five minutes.
9. Divide each portion into eight balls and make into even circles.  Press flat.
10. Place on a greased baking sheet and leave to rise again, until doubled in size..
11. Bake at 375F or the equivalent for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Sloppy Joe’s (Serves 6):

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 pound lean minced beef
• 1 onion finely diced
• 1 red pepper diced
• 2 tablespoons mustard powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 cup tomato ketchup
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 12 hot dogs
• 6 burger buns

1. In a heavy frying pan heat the oil.
2. Saute the onions and pepper.
3. Add the mince and brown well.
4. Drain any excess oil before adding the mustard, sugar and ketchup.
5. Simmer, covered for thirty minutes, adding a little water if needed.
6. Heat the hotdogs and place two in each bun, spoon the mixture over and serve.