Kids Cuisine

When my kids were preschool age, our family relocated from the Midwest to Southern California. Quite a change in lifestyle for us. My husband took a new job and worked obscenely long hours and had frequent trips out-of-town. Feeling like a fish out of water and lacking in adult camaraderie, the kids and I spent our 4 years basking in the Sunshine State, exploring the beaches, theme parks, mountains, and every once in a while, the McDonald’s Playland.

During my husband’s work-induced absences, our diversions included the local fast food establishments in and around our home. As my kids lost themselves in the ball pit and the endless maze of tubes and slides, I would treat myself to the occasional Big Mac. Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. A favorite of mine as a child and still to this day. As I have passed my 20s and 30s and now enjoy my 40s, the whopping 560 calories, 31 grams of fat, and 1070 milligrams of sodium are hardly a girl’s best friend.

A craving for a Big Mac still comes over me every so often. I created a healthier, mini version of the beloved McDonald’s burger to satisfy my fast food desire. My 10-year-old son was the Grillmaster and assisted in the flipping of the burgers. Our indoor grill was a suitable stand-in as grilling outdoors in February in New Jersey is not an enjoyable endeavor. The burgers came together quickly with a total prep and cooking time of about 20 minutes. With a side of oven roasted fries, I can avoid the drive-thru for another day.

Mini Macs

• 1 pound ground beef, I used 90/10
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• American cheese
• 1000 Island dressing
• Dill pickle slices
• Diced onions
• Shredded lettuce
• Mini burger rolls, sliced in half with an extra slice taken off the top bun for the middle bun

In a bowl, combine ground beef, salt, and pepper. Form into about 10 thin patties. Set aside.

Preheat grill pan to medium high. Cook burgers for about 2 minutes per side. Top with a slice of American cheese after the first flip. Remove from pan and set aside.

To assemble a Mini Mac use the following sequence — bottom bun, burger, 1000 Island dressing, onions, lettuce, middle bun, burger, 1000 Island dressing, onions, pickles, lettuce, top bun.

Another fast food craving averted.