Ballparks, Burgers and Breads and Birthdays!

Last Sunday we went to the new Miami Marlin Stadium and besides seeing the new place, I was pretty excited to try their veggie burger.  It’s nice to go to a ballpark and have something to eat besides peanuts!  This park has been really priding itself on the many food choices, including several ethnic choices, seafood, (they have lobster rolls!) kosher, and even a gluten free cart.  As you walk around the stadium, it’s one big food court.  Once I found the concession that sold homemade vegetarian burgers, Mitch and I split up, planning to meet back at our seats, and eat, lunch.  This was at the very beginning of the second inning.  I won’t give you ALL the details, but suffice to say it took almost 2 full innings (missing a Marlin home run) to get my burger.  Apparently, they automatically make them with cheese, but never mention that on the menu board.  Once the first one came out and I said “oh, no cheese, please,” I have NO idea why it took so long.  Workers did try explaining the delay saying things like  “some people really like theirs with cheese,” and “this is the way they come.”  Having read and seen The Fight Club, it always have to wonder what I am really getting after I “complain” for lack of a better word!  When I finally made it back to my seat, it was the end of the 3rd inning.  Oh well, time to try the burger.  It definitely DID taste homemade, and wasn’t at all bad tasting, but Jane made a good point when she said they probably make them with cheese, to hold them together.  It definitely needed something to bind the ingredients as it fell apart with every bite.  I actually sent off an email to the Marlins the next day and was surprised to get a call from Tony, from the Marlins, on Tuesday.  He was definitely nice enough and assured me he would follow up with the people who run the concession.  Maybe it will make it easier for the next “guy.”  As I explained to Tony, who totally seemed to understand, no one would ever order a hamburger and expect cheese to come on it.  THAT would be called a

cheeseburger. Seems so simple.  And just for the record, Big Bear Brewery still gets my vote for best veggie burger, and trust me, I have tasted a lot of them.

Mango madness continues at our house, and yesterday I made my first mango bread.  Well, actually two of them.  Had to cut one to taste it and make sure it was good.   Mitch and I thought it was way better than good!   I gave half of that one to our neighbors, Steve and Sheila, who keep us in the mangoes.  The second one is for tonight’s VFT.  Here’s the recipe:

For the egg substitute mix together 3 oz water, 3 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp baking powder.  Set aside.

3/4 cup canola oil

2 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 cup diced mango

Preheat oven to 350 and oil a loaf pan (I used two small ones).  Mix flour, both types of sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt.  In a separate bowl mix the egg substitute and the oil.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and once well mixed, add the mango in.  Spread into pan/pans and bake for about an hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Happy birthday to two very special people, Carole, my first and forever friend, and Dr/Farmer Ted.  It’s not surprising that you two share the same birthday.  Love you both! Enjoy it all.