Today is National Retro Day. The name alone can mean different things to different people. In it’s original inception, Retro Day was created to encourage us to pick a point in time before the world was plugged in. Imagine what the world was like before the internet and instant news. Maybe even try unplugging for the day.
I find a certain sense of irony in the fact that we are talking about life unplugged while plugged in. Even the creators of Retro Day, Hermelinda Aguilar, and Robert and Tina Duran need social media to spread the word and get others excited about taking a step back, before we were so disconnected from one another in a personal way.
When I think simple life, before all the electronic connections, I think of malt shops and sock hops. While those days were a tad ahead of my formative, teenage years, as an eight-year-old hosting my first boy-girl party, I can remember doing the stroll and the twist just like the big kids did on American Bandstand.
Now that you know, let’s go retro with burgers, malts and fries. Have a great day!
Old School Lipton Onion Burgers
Onion Burger Sauce
4 tablespoons Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Ketchup
1/2 tablespoon Yellow Mustard
2 teaspoons Dried Onion Flakes
In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and onion flakes together. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Lipton Onion Burgers
20 oz Ground Beef
1 envelop Lipton Onion Soup Mix
2 tablespoons Beef Stock
1 large Beefsteak Tomato
1/2 cup Iceberg Lettuce
Butter as needed
3 Onion Burger Buns
Bacon Drippings
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
Sliced American Cheese, optional
Onion Burger Sauce (above)
Place ground beef in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle dried soup mix over the meat. Add beef stock. With clean hands, work soup mix into the meat. Divide into 3 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball, then flatten to form a thick hamburger patty. Place on a square of waxed paper, transfer to a baking sheet. Cover with foil and chill in the freezer for 30 minutes.
While the patties chill, slice tomato into nice slices. Stack lettuce leaves, roll tight and chiffonade cut to shred. Set aside. Heat griddle to medium heat. Spread a little butter on the skillet. Split buns, toast nicely. Keep buns warm until ready to use.
When ready, spread a thin layer of bacon drippings on the hot griddle. Cook hamburgers on the griddle for about 8 minutes or so on one side. Turn burgers, season with salt and pepper. Cover with a domed pan lid to capture steam and continue to cook another 4 minutes or so. If desired, top with sliced cheese and allow cheese to melt over the patty.
Lay toasted buns out on individual plates. Spread Onion Burger Sauce on top and bottom bun. Scatter lettuce on the bottom bun, place tomato on the top bun. Place patties on top of the lettuce, close with the top bun. Serve with Fries. And for a real retro treat, make some Chocolate Malts.
Crispy Air Fryer Crinkle Cut Fries
15 oz French Fries
Cooking Spray as needed
Salt to taste
Spray basket with cooking spray. Spread fries out in the basket, spray fries with cooking spray. Place basket in the air fryer.
Heat Air Fryer to 390 degrees, 10 minutes cooking time. Pause after 5 minutes, shake basket, then continue to fry for the remaining 5 minutes. Switch to Air Broil, let fries brown for about 2 or 3 minutes. Shut fryer off, empty fries into a serving basket. Season with salt and enjoy.
Malt Shop Chocolate Malts
1/2 gallon Chocolate Ice Cream
1/2 cup Chocolate Milk
1/2 cup Chocolate Syrup
6 tablespoons Malted Powder Mix
Whipped Cream, Optional
Chocolate Sprinkles, Optional
Place four tall glasses into the freezer to chill well.
In a blender, place half of Chocolate Ice Cream, very cold chocolate milk and about 1/4 cup chocolate syrup. Pulse to blend. Add remaining Ice Cream and more chocolate syrup to taste. Give a few quick pulses to blend.
Add Malted Powder, blend until smooth. Taste, adding more powder if desired.
Pour mixture into tall, well chilled glasses, top with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired. Serve with a straw and a spoon. Enjoy!
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Welcome to Rosemarie's Kitchen 