Pat's Chili Dogs

Yummy, fun, fast, cheap: these all express a pretty well-kept secret of a Tucson original... a gem of a fast food chili dog joint, to be sure!

I had never even heard of Pat's until I met my husband.  Those who know me well know that one of my food weaknesses is fries, especially chili cheese fries, so my husband couldn't wait to introduce me to his favorite chili cheese fry place: Pat's.  It really is a tiny, old-fashioned, walk-up-to-the-window-to-order-then-eat-it-in-your-car type place, but it is oh so good. The atmosphere just might make you love it more.  There isn't any messing around with a white table cloth, and no one will judge if you don't use a napkin.  It is all about the food here, and that is what is taken seriously. 

So I will sum it up: Pat's is the place to go for a fun, cheap, fast food joint with exceptional and original food.  If you love a good chili cheese fry, their order will easily feed two to four people.  If you want to taste love in a hot dog, get one here (although you will probably want more, so at least order two!).  And, if you like it spicy, they bring the heat in their hottest chili!  If my husband says it's hot (which he does), then you know it's hot!  Now it is time to experience this for yourself!  Get out there and get a chili dog (or the chili cheese fries!)!

Green Chili Turkey Burgers

Summer!  Summer means grilling, which means a variety of meat, which inevitably means some type of burger at some point!  So here's my take on a delicious southwestern turkey burger (YUM!).

Mix about 1.25lbs of ground turkey with 1/3cup canned, diced green chili (about 3/4 of the large can of chilies).  Add about a tbsp garlic powder, about a tbsp chili powder, 1/4tsp freshly ground black pepper and about 1tsp salt... Mix (but don't over-mix).

Patty in to 4-5 burgers, depending on how big you want them to be (remember to indent the middle, as burgers will bulge in the middle as they cook!).  I made mine into 4 burgers which I felt were about perfect.  Now head out to your grill.  I would have, except as my husband went out to the grill, he realized our grill didn't work AND we were out of propane... so I used my electric griddle inside.  Still good, but I re-made these burgers later and actually grilled them and I have to admit, a real grill makes them about a thousand times more delicious. ;-)  Add a piece of swiss cheese at the end of the cooking to melt down...

Alright, so for the other components of the burger: caramelized onion!  I personally don't think any burger is complete without some form of onion, but for these, it's just necessary!  And, for the 'spread.'  Mix about 1/2cup light sour cream, 1 avocado and the rest of the green chilis together with a little salt and pepper to taste.  Load this onto your bun, place on the burger, top with the onions, cap it with the other bun half and dig in!

Bountiful Basket Numero Dos

Okay so this is one of the bountiful baskets from a few weeks ago... it was a pretty good one.  I loved everything in it, and the jicama was my 'challenge' ingredient which I made a yummy jicama-cucumber slaw out of!

So as you can see, the veggie half included: green beans, red potatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, lettuce and jicama...

and the fruit half included oranges, pinapple, blueberries, tomatoes, apples, a cantaloupe and bananas!

www.bountifulbaskets.org