TAIWANESE BREAKFAST BURGER

The other day I woke up with a strong craving for a Taiwanese breakfast burger. Even though I am surrounded by great Taiwanese bakeries and restaurants, there is only one bakery that sells this burger. How is this possible?! Taiwanese breakfast burgers are so unique and delicious; they should be more accessible! They are even difficult to purchase at the one bakery because they sell out so quickly. Disappointed at this realization, I have but no choice but to make my own. With a sweet beef patty, fried egg, cucumbers, tomatoes, Japanese mayo, and a sweet sesame bun, you really can’t go wrong.

TAIWANESE BREAKFAST BURGER

INGREDIENTS

Patties
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup finely minced onion
• 2 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp corn starch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
• 1/4 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
• rice flour for dusting
• 1/2 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tbsp butter
Remaining ingredients
• 8 slices Canadian bacon
• 8 slices thick cut ham
• 8 large eggs
• Japanese mayo
• ketchup
• iceberg lettuce
• sliced tomatoes
• sliced cucumbers
• 8 sesame buns

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut 8 6x6 inch squares out of parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Combine ground beef - Chinese 5 spice powder in a large bowl. Mix until all the ingredients are fully incorporated. Shape patties into 8 equal patties. Place one patty inside a large cookie mold slightly larger than the buns. Press down the patty until it fits inside the mold. Remove the mold and place the patty on the parchment paper. Repeat with remaining patties.
3. Stack the patties and place in zip lock bag. Freeze patties until needed or cook immediately.
4. If patties are frozen, defrost for 30 seconds in the microwave or just until pliable. Dust both sides of patties with rice flour, shaking off excess.
5. Heat oil and butter in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties to the pan. Rest a spatula on the patties but do not press down. This prevents the patties from arching in the middle. Cook patty until browned, about 3 minutes. Flip over and cook on the other side until cooked, about 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and repeat with remaining patties. Set aside and keep warm.
6. In the same pan, add the Canadian bacon and sliced ham. Cook just until heated through and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
7. Wipe pan clean with paper towel. Heat 2 tbsp oil. Crack eggs into the pan and fry until the desired degree of doneness. Remove from heat and set aside.
8. Assemble burgers by spreading the Japanese mayo and ketchup on both the top and bottom buns. Place a piece of iceberg lettuce on the bottom bun followed by the ham, beef patty, bacon, fried egg, tomatoes, and cucumber. Top with remaining bun. Serve.

**Helpful tips and common mistakes

When you read “Taiwanese burger” you’re probably wondering, “what makes this so different than any other burger?” It’s all about the seasoning in the beef patties. Use 80% fat 20% lean ground beef to get a juicier patty.

Shaping the patties using a mold is optional but it does help make the patties a perfect circle.

You don’t have to freeze the patties but having this option is great if you’re making extra patties.

Dusting the patties with rice flour helps to caramelize the patties when cooking. You can use all-purpose flour instead if desired.

Japanese mayo is also known as “Kewpie.” The most popular brand has a picture of a baby on the cover and can be found in Asian markets. I specifically had to go to a Japanese market to find this goodie. I find Japanese mayo to be slightly sweeter and creamier than regular mayo.

Everything you need to make a perfect Taiwanese breakfast burger! If you rather make a traditional breakfast burger, skip the bacon and ham.

I found that if you are cooking the patties after they have been frozen, they don’t rise in the middle. If you cook them immediately after making the patties, however, they will slightly rise in the middle. Simply putting a weight on top solves this problem. Just make sure not to press down or the juices will come out of the meat!

This Taiwanese breakfast burger was exactly what I wanted. The meat is slightly sweet just as it should be and the size of the patty is consistent with those sold in the bakeries. Taiwanese burgers tend to have thinner patties, unlike American burgers. The only difference between my version and the authentic ones is the bread. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a bun that was soft enough; perhaps I just have to make my own buns next time. Other than that, I would have to say that my mouth and my stomach is quite satisfied!

Cheese Sandwich Recipe!

How to make Cheese Sandwich

• Chef: Niru
• Recipe Servings: 1
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Cook Time: 20 mins
• Difficulty Level: Easy

Bread rolled in a spread of cheese, mayo, lettuce, and mustard.

Ingredients Of Cheese Sandwich

• Bread slices
• Cheese slices or cheese sliced from a block
• Mayonnaise sauce
• To taste Salt
• To taste Black pepper
• Mustard
• Lettuce leaves (optional)

How to Make Cheese Sandwich

• 1.Mix mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and mustard.
• 2.Spread a layer of this mixture on to two slices of bread.
• 3.Place a lettuce leaf on one of the slices (on the mayonnaise side) and cover with cheese.
• 4.Place the second slice mayonnaise side down to cover the cheese.
• 5.Cut the crusts, if you so desire and serve.

Key Ingredients: Bread slices, Cheese slices or cheese sliced from a block, Mayonnaise sauce, Salt, Black pepper , Mustard, Lettuce leaves (optional)

KFC Mac and Cheese (Copycat)!

KFC MAC AND CHEESE

This past summer, Kentucky Fried Chicken decided to take its a well-loved side dish, Mac and Cheese, and turn it into a Famous Bowl. That’s right, they said how can we make this better? Make it an entree!

Because this new Mac was only briefly offered, we knew it was time to master KFC’s Mac. Not only so we can pair with copycat Fried Chicken whenever we want, but also to recreate these limited time only Famous Bowls.

First though, let’s take a minute to gush about the delicious, creamy cheese sauce that is the key to KFC Mac and Cheese. It’s absolutely mind-blowing that a dish this cheesy and flavorful could come from a fast-food chain. Yet here it is.

This Mac and cheese have a slightly tangy, sharp cheddar sauce gets soaked up into the tender jumbo elbow noodles. When you bite into the macaroni, you get bursts of hidden creamy cheddar that you never want to stop. 

Who among us hasn’t scraped the container to get every last drop of this thick and rich cheesy goodness?

Now that your (hopefully) convinced that it’s a must-have side dish, you can understand why KFC would take this masterpiece and kick it to the next level by topping with crispy popcorn chicken and even more cheese.

Since Mac and cheese bowls were limited time only, and we don’t know if they will ever be back, we’ve got instructions to make both the regular and spicy versions. If they disappeared off the menu before you got to try one, you no longer have to wonder what you missed out on!

Drop a comment below of more limited edition or lifetime classic KFC Menu Copycats you’d like to see.  KFC is one of my favorite fast food places to recreate copycats for.

HOW TO MAKE KFC MAC AND CHEESE

• Cook the elbow macaroni for 18 minutes then drain.
• Add in the milk, milk powder, mustard powder, cornstarch, and salt until the milk is warm, stirring gently.
• Add in the Velveeta and cheddar cheese until smooth and creamy, mixing gently, then serve immediately.

HOW TO MAKE KFC MAC AND CHEESE FAMOUS BOWLS

So, these cheese bowls are super easy to make, literally just 2-3 toppings depending if you make the regular or spicy versions. It really comes down to what ingredients you use in order to get the taste spot on.

• Popcorn Chicken: The chicken that KFC uses on top of their Famous Bowls, including the ones with mashed potatoes, is their popcorn chicken. Little chicken bites with thick crunchy breading. We don’t have a copycat (yet) but we suggest the Tyson frozen brand for the closest version until we do.
• 3 Cheese Blend: The 3 cheese blend in the Mac and Cheese Famous Bowls is a blend of equal parts Low Moisture Mozzarella, Mild Cheddar Cheese, and Monterey Jack Cheese.
• Spicy Mac: To make the Spicy Famous Bowl, you will need to make a Nashville Hot Sauce and drizzle it generously. Nashville Hot Sauce is a spicy-sweet hot sauce filled with more spices than your traditional hot wing sauce.
• Make it a Combo: If you want to make this into a full Fill Up meal, for much less, serve your Mac and Cheese Famous Bowls with a Chocolate Chip Cookie and a drink.

HOW TO MAKE NASHVILLE HOT SAUCE

• 3 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 Tbsp. dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp. paprika
• ½ tsp. garlic salt
• ½ cup vegetable oil (the kind used for frying)

Whisk all ingredients and pour over your Mac and Cheese Bowls. You can also use this on fried chicken and make it into a Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. 

FUN FACTS ABOUT KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN

• Not So Kentucky Fried Chicken: Although KFC was founded as Sanders Court & Cafe in Corbin, Kentucky in 1930, the first franchise location was opened in Salt Lake City, over 20 years later.
• Do the Dew: Mountain Dew made a special flavor specifically for drinking with the Colonel’s Original Recipe. The Sweet Lightning flavor is a peach and honey blend, which sounds like the definition of southern flair in soda form.
• Bucket of Facts: Before 1957, you would not be able to pick up a KFC Bucket Meal. Created by one of the first franchisees, the same one that would coin “Finger-Lickin' Good”, the first bucket was 14 pieces of chicken, 5 rolls, and a pint of gravy.

10 Best Designer Furniture Stores in Melbourne!

Help your home become the epitome of innovation and authentic design with these top 10 designer furniture stores in Melbourne. Check out the best designer furniture Melbourne has to offer at these furniture showrooms in Melbourne or check out their great furniture websites to fall in love at first sight (or touch) with the most unique furniture from Melbourne and all around the world.

For the amount of time we spend in our private abodes, it’s important to create a space in which you feel completely comfortable and at home. You want to develop a style that reflects you, while also being inviting for others. To achieve this perfect balance we’ve collated the best furniture stores in Melbourne, meaning your luxuriously revamped home is just a click away.

Browse their exclusive collections of both international and local brands and experience the service of real, friendly staff. Incite your senses and immerse yourself in the true wonder of these top designer furniture stores in Melbourne by visiting their nearby showrooms today.

1. Jardan

The Australian family-owned designer furniture store, Jordan, offers furniture made for life.  They have a commitment to providing sustainable, long-lasting, unique furniture in Melbourne made with high-quality, local materials. Jardan has been a carbon-neutral company since 2014 and is accredited with the highest achievable standard with Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). Each piece is crafted to order in  Melbourne and inspired by the relaxed Australian way of life.

2. Living Edge

Leading design professionals love Living Edge for their individually selected products that ooze timeless elegance. They choose the most established and forward-looking luxury furniture brands from around the world and bring these distinguished products to their designer furniture stores in Melbourne and beyond. They have residential, retail and commercial divisions to suit every endeavour, whether it be a single piece of trendy Melbourne furniture or a large scale commercial project.

3. Hub Furniture

Hub Furniture comprises of a team of over 40 dedicated staff that ensure you get the highest quality interior design as well as the most seamless delivery and installation. They consider themselves editors with a responsibility to source the highest quality international trends and bring them to their designer furniture stores in Melbourne and Australia. While being a ‘high-end’ provider of furniture, lighting, flooring and accessories, they also strive to find ethically-produced design that always remain competitive in price.

4. Fred International

Australians have a unique fondness for Scandinavian style and design. Nowhere fosters this relationship more than Fred International. Give your house some stylish pizzazz with a Swedish stool, a Danish drawer or a Finnish birch wood lampshade with their sleek, contemporary and exclusively Scandinavian products. Book an appointment via their website to let your imagination run wild in their furniture showroom, easily stocking the most awe-inspiring designer furniture in Melbourne.

5. Cult Design

Cult Design puts design first, with customer service coming in close behind. They are committed to sustainability, authentic Australian and international design and supporting upcoming talent in Australia. Founder and director Richard Murano developed Cult’s Design Journey competition to give the opportunity for designers throughout Australia and New Zealand to have their designs prototyped and put into production. This means their stroke of inspiration could quickly become the new feature piece in your living room.

6. Great Dane Furniture

Let your house be a gallery of comfort and chic design with the help of the passionate staff at Great Dane Furniture. They consider themselves curators, working with hand-picked ranges of quality furniture sourced directly from Scandinavia’s premier design houses and manufacturers. Each product in their boutique furniture store in Melbourne boasts the highest quality, craftsmanship and innovation. Great Dane Furniture is one of the best furniture stores Melbourne has to offer.

7. Huset

Meaning ‘House’ in Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, at Huset you can deck out your entire abode with the most luxurious furniture, flooring, lighting, art and home decor. With every piece of cool Melbourne furniture you could imagine – all from exclusive Scandinavian brands – you can’t go wrong by visiting Huset’s showroom today.

8. Modern Times

Modern Times offers unique furniture in Melbourne for the more eclectic taste. They pair vintage European designer furniture with contemporary Australian art and design. This gives customers a rare combination of pieces interwoven with a rich history (particularly that of Denmark, The Netherlands and Italy) epitomises modern Melbourne furniture. Founder and co-director, Amy Malin says, “between the furniture and the art there is always something to inspire the imagination.”

9. Meizai

With a strong passion for innovation and constant evolution, you can be assured that the broad range of luxury Melbourne furniture, lighting, wardrobes, joinery and accessories at Meizai is at the forefront of global design trends. They offer designs they believe can truly transform a space. Just some of these designs include bathware from Milan, upcycled lighting from Shanghai or natural fibre throws from Barcelona. Meizu contains some of the most stylish, luxury furniture Melbourne has to offer.

10. Space

The skilled and passionate staff believe Space is synonymous with creativity, integrity and exceptional experience. They also recognise that you are an individual and want your home to reflect your individual style. As South-East Asia’s largest and one of the most progressive designer furniture stores in Melbourne and Australia, you can’t go past Space to redesign your home with quality and innovative design products.

6 Powerful Ways to Protect Yourself From Negative Energy!

It’s never easy to be around negativism. But beyond that, it can be quite toxic and detrimental, fostering a mindset of cynicism, fatalism, and even defeatism.

If you are surrounded by negative energy that’s coming from a coworker, partner, friend, or family member, you must how to protect yourself without engaging.

Here are six powerful strategies you can use to protect yourself against

1. Focus on solutions, not problems. Negative people tend to spend more time on problems than on solutions. What that usually sounds like is a lot of complaining, finding fault, and dissatisfaction. To stay positive, focus on creating solutions that work. If you meet resistance, look at strengths you can build on or simple steps to get the momentum started.

2. Don’t feed the drama. Negative people need drama in their lives as much as they need oxygen. To take their breath away, stay positive and upbeat and refuse the bait, no matter how tempting. Work to keep things on time, calm, flexible, and even-keeled. When you do, you give them nothing to work with.
3. Watch your boundaries. It’s a sad fact of life that you’re better off with some people out of your life. But you can’t accomplish the things you want to do in life if you are surrounded by negative energy–one of the most toxic and contagious forces on earth. Create and keep your boundaries from anyone who wants to break you down, even if they’re a family member or someone who thinks of themselves as a friend.

4. Stop trying to fix everyone and everything. If you find yourself doing for other things that they could and should be doing for themselves, you’re not helping but enabling. Sometimes we can unintentionally produce negative energy by carrying people when they know how to walk, or we try to fix people when they weren’t broken, to begin with. Learn when to stay clear.

5. Respond, but don’t react. A response flows from mental clarity and emotional strength and is chosen to produce the desired outcome; while a reaction is an uncontrollable reflex that flows from fear-based survival impulses. Stay clear of unthinking reactions and learn to respond thoughtfully in the face of negative energy.

6. Take care of yourself. You can’t care for others if you can’t care for yourself. It is not selfish or vain to love yourself, take care of yourself, or to make your happiness a priority. Learning and practicing self-care will help keep you grounded and strong when you’re faced with negative energy.

Don’t underestimate the harm that negative energy can cause–learn how to protect yourself and be smart about it.

Australian food: 10 dishes locals like to call their own!

10. Vegemite on toast

Happy little vegemites enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, and tea, so goes the much-played anthem. This is as Australian food as it gets.

Although it looks like Britain's Marmite, locals will tell you Vegemite is very different. And substantially better, more savory than sweet. Although the ingredients are much debated, the dark brown food paste is made from yeast extract (as opposed to Marmite's vegetable extract).

Instructions are simple: spread the toast as soon as possible and apply an even spread of vege.

So popular is it, that reports that U.S. Customs had banned the importation of Vegemite caused a furor in Australian media, which urged protests aimed at the White House. The reports turned out to be false and now are something of an urban legend.

9. Vanilla slice

This pastry originated in France, though there it is called mille-feuille, which translates to a "thousand sheets."

In English, it's a vanilla slice, and Australians claim ownership of the vanilla-custard-filled, multi-layered pastry that's dusted with icing sugar. The slice can come with many flavoring options. Cream it up.

Like pavlova, New Zealanders also claim the vanilla slice. Although they call it the custard square, which is arguably more accurate. Aussies have the vanilla slice, Kiwis the custard square. Both winners.

Get it: La Renaissance, 47 Argyle St., The Rocks, +61 (0)2 9241 4878

8. Cheese and bacon roll

Not one for the health enthusiasts, but a favorite among those suffering from the effects of the night before. The cheese and bacon roll is, quite simply, a bread rolled topped in bacon chunks and cheese. A popular Australian food lunchbox filler.

Get it: Baker's Delight, Shop G02, Level 3, The Broadway Shopping Centre, 1-21 Bay St., Sydney, +61 (0)2 9212 7311

7. Grilled kangaroo

Kangaroos abound in Australia.

Paul Kane/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images

Why not eat the national animal? In some areas 'roos overpopulate the terrain. Plus, the methane-free kangaroo is low in fat. This is not for lovers of well-done meat as it's prone to drying out. It's generally cooked rare to medium, often primarily on one side.

Kangaroo goes well with garlic, pepper, juniper, rosemary and fruity flavors such as plum, red currant, and orange. And no, Australians don't eat deep-fried koalas.

Get it: I'm Angus Steak House, The Promenade, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney 1300 989 989 (in Australia).

6. Barramundi

Perhaps the most Australian of all fish varieties, Barramundi gets its name from the Aboriginal language meaning "large-scaled river fish." It's served in restaurants across the country. Best pan-fried or seared skin-side first (rarely battered or deep-fried), it's often dished up as a fish steak with herbed oil.

Get it: Pier, 594 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, +61 (0)2 9327 6561

5. Crab sticks

They're called crab sticks, but do they contain any crab? Crab sticks are an indispensable part of the culture, a dish in which processed, pulverized white fish flesh is shaped and cured to resemble crab leg meat. And that's still more crab-like than the deep-fried version from the local chippie.

Get it: Zushi Darlinghurst, 239 Victoria St., Darlinghurst, +61 (0)2 9357 3533

4. Fantails

A favorite Australian food, the delectable bite-sized treat is made up of chewy caramel coated in milk chocolate. It's renowned for yellow and blue wrapping scribed with movie trivia, a marketing move that has endeared the treat to DVD groupies and moviegoers.

3. Chicken and corn soup

Australia has embraced Chinese food. There's an abundance of Chinese restaurants dotted throughout every city and town. Chicken and corn soup is a staple of these menus and it's so good, we call it Australian.

Get it: Saigon Bay, 249 Oxford St., Darlinghurst, +61 (0)2 9360 3220

2. Green chicken curry pie

Australians love Thai food. They also love pies (a lot). Put a Thai chicken green curry inside a pie casing and you get the Aussie variant of green curry.

Get it: Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo, +61 (0) 2 9357 3074.

1. Hamburger with beetroot

You can eat burgers all over the world, but nothing is more Australian than slinging a piece of beetroot on top a pattie made with Aussie beef. That soft bun, all-beef pattie, and cheese is simply not properly done without the finishing touch of beetroot.

It's so good that Ronald McDonald tried to jump on the bandwagon with McOz many years back. But it's natural home is the local takeaway joint or local pub.