Lamb Sliders and Wedge Fries

Ah, comfort food.  Glorious indulgent comfort food!  Where do I start?  This is the type of meal you should use as a reward after having one of those days. You know what I’m talking about. It’s a day that consists of the below, or a variation of the below based on geography, income bracket, age, and current Blood Alcohol Level:

Dirt-splattered cones and men in orange have narrowed down your morning commute to one pitiful lane.

You spill your Starbucks all over the passenger seat and arrive at the office smelling like you showered in cocoa poder.

Your parking spot is filled by a dent-less myserty car three times as expensive as yours.

It’s pledge week on NPR.

Your office has become home to a batallion of ballsy gnats.

Everyone gets cel phone reception at work but you, and everyone knows it.

Your shirt has a giant grease stain on it which you somehow failed to notice.  Thankfully, no one else is noticing either because your fly has been open since you got to work.

While speaking with a representative for the phone company, credit card company, cable provider or bank, you’re addressed as “ma’am,” and when you clarify that you are, in fact, a male, the representative replies “…really?“

The intern at work happily suggestst that no one would ever be able to guess how old you really are if it just wasn’t for your hair line.

All of the treadmills at the gym are taken, and no one has been on longer than two minutes.

Your loving pet greets you at the door and promptly throws up something the size of a corn dog on the shag carpet.

You mis-programmed your DVR so instead of getting the new episode of LOST, you get back-to-back episodes from TV Land’s Mama’s Family month-long “Mama-Thon!”

Yes, one of those days…

Have you had one recently?

I bet you have.

Thank God you landed at TV Food and Drink, because I have a satisfying, salty, cheesy, crunchy, crispy, savory and yes, just a little greasy to help along that shirt for tomorrow… meal… from heaven… that will take all your cares away like a 1970′s Calgon bath.

Aside from the cook time involved on the fries, this is one of the simplest and most satisfying meals you can make for yourself.  Swap the lamb with ground beef, turkey or ground chicken if you must.  Any cheese will do, any condiment will do.  The happiness factor will last so long, you’ll stop keeping track of the number of hours the smile has been on your face and the palm of your hand has been gently massaging your full stomach.

Lamb Sliders

• 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. ground lamb
• 1 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 4 slices bacon, cooked
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp chipotle pepper
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8-10 small rolls, about 2″ round (when in doubt, go with standard dinner rolls.  They work just as well).

Wedge Fries

• 3 medium baking potatoes
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• Sea salt

Season the ground lamb with the salt and pepper and form into 8-10 patties.  You can use a grill pan, a cast-iron skillet (medium heat) or do what I did and break out the good old NuWave oven (power high).  Cook for 4-5 minutes on one side, and then flip for another 4 (drop down below for the next step once flipped).
While the patties are cooking, take the chipotle powder and the mayonnaise and mix together.  You can use regular mayo, or try Spectrums canola mayonnaise, which, because it’s not made with vegetable oil, is lower in fat and calories.  The chipotle is going to wipe out any detectable difference in taste.
And for the fries.  These will take a little longer, so start them first.  Heat the olive oil in a baking pan for about 5 minutes at 450, or until very hot.  Slice your potatoes in half, then slice each half into 4-5 wedges.  Once the oil is heated, toss in the potatoes and make sure they are well-coated.  Mix and turn them every 15 minutes.  Depending on the pan you use, these could cook in as little as 45 minutes, but if you want them extra crispy, leave them in longer.  I let mine go for about an hour and ten minutes, which worked out just perfectly!  About five minutes before you’re ready to take them out, sprinkle them with sea salt.


Once you flip your patties, add the shredded cheese and the bacon and let cook for another 4-5 minutes.

And there you go!  Split the rolls and toast them in the oven for about 5 minutes.  Slather the sliders in chipotle sauce and load up the fries.  And give Mama’s Family a shot.  Even without smoke monsters and Matthew Fox, it’s kinda good.

Tags: cheese, fries, Heidi Bohay, lamb, NuWave, sliders