Orhan Patties

One night back in 2006, when we were living on our boat in Deale, Maryland, our friend Orhan came over for cocktails before dinner.  In the course of conversation he offered to make us dinner.  But there was a catch - I had to do the cooking - he would direct me!  That was his style!  I was missing just a couple of ingredients so he went to his boat and returned with them and we went to work, him sitting just a few feet away from me in the main salon while I worked in the small galley.  You can read more about Orhan by CLICKING HERE.

Tonight we are going to have Orhan Patties as we have called them ever since that night.  I used to make these up whenever we would be doing a long passage on the boat.  They would be in the refrigerator and easy to grab for some quick protein when underway.  We ate them cold.  We ate them warm.  We loved them then and we love them now.

Here is the recipe.  You will love these "burgers" like no others!  You don't need buns so for those of you watching your carbs...these are perfect!


2 lbs ground beef
1 onion - finely chopped
1 head of garlic - about 1/4 cup, minced fine
1/4 C. Italian bread crumbs
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. cumin
Fresh ground pepper

Mix everything together.  Make patties. Cook.

OK, it really is that simple but I will expound on it a bit.  The onion needs to be very finely chopped but don't use a food processor - it just isn't the same.  If garlic bothers you reduce the amount but don't eliminate it.  The cumin really makes it so don't leave it out!

This makes 8 nice sized patties.  Orhan also made some "fingers" that we ate right from the pan while I cooked the rest of them.  So, you could make these as an appetizer too.

I have always cooked them in a skillet, well, because that it how "we" cooked them that first time.  But tonight we put them on the grill and they were perfect!  Try these - you will love them.  Just always, please, call them "Orhan Patties". 

Porcupine Meatballs

I have ALWAYS wanted to make these porcupine meatballs and never had done it.  This week I noticed a lot of leftover rice in the refridgerator and also some ground beef in the freezer.  I had cheddar cheese too!  Ah, all I needed was time - which I didn't have.  But - Kirby did!  I kind of pleaded with him and he agreed to make them.  What a great job he did!  We both love them!  This is so simple it would be a good recipe to make with your kids and they will be so proud!  Most of the recipes I looked at used uncooked rice.  I had rice already cooked that I wanted to use.  Guess what?  It works just fine!


Give this one a try if you want something simple and easy that is very tasty!

1 pound ground beef
3 cups of cooked rice - give or take some
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning (or use cumin instead for a whole different taste)
1/ 2 tsp salt

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix gently with your hands.  Press into about 6 or 7 balls.  Place the balls on a greased baking sheet and bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.  Meatballs can be made early in the day and then baked at supper time.  Add some cooking time if they are right from the reefer.  Kirby liked these with barbeque sauce but with the cheese, they are really good just as is!  Kids love them!

Old Fashioned Meatloaf

Wonderful, simple, easy, comforting MEATLOAF!  Don't we all just love it?  I spent years and years trying to make a good meatloaf that didn't fall apart on me.  They always seemed to crumble on me! Finally I tried the recipe on the oatmeal box!  Yea!  It was great!  I have tweaked it a little through the years but it still is the basic recipe that I found 25 years ago.  My friend Arlene told me that I should post all of my recipes and I told her that sometimes what I cook is just simple home cookin' and nothing special.  But, for Arlene, I will post my meatloaf (although she told me she loves the recipe she uses and that she makes little meatloaves with cheese.  That sounds really good!)  Anyway, she gave me the idea of splitting my recipe into two loaves - because we were sitting outside enjoying a glass of wine and it was getting late to start a meatloaf.  Two small loaves cook faster than one!


And I just realizd that I have never written down the process - just the ingredients!  So here goes, folks!

Suzie's Meatloaf

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Line a shallow pan with aluminum foil (so you won't have to clean a pan!)

• 3/4 lb ground pork
• 3/4 lb ground beef (fat in the beef is bad for you but adds the flavor)
• 1/3 C. oatmeal - the quick cooking is the best
• 1/2 C. chopped onion
• 1/4 C. ketchup
• 1 egg
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• Barbeque Sauce

In a large mixing bowl mix all the ingredients together with your hands.  A spoon will not work.  Knead it well so that the beef and pork are combined.

Gather it all up into your hands and shape it into a loaf. ( I kind of toss and shape, toss and shape to pack it together nicely.)

At this point decide if you are going for one large loaf, two smaller or little individuals.

On the top press an indentation all along the length of the loaf.  Fill this with barbeque sauce.  Of course if you don't have barbeque sauce you can use ketchup.  We just like barbeque sauce better.

For one large loaf, bake at 375 degrees for about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. Adjust cooking time for smaller loaves.

After 10 minutes remove the loaf to a serving plate and carefully slice.
Enjoy with mashed potatoes and a green veggie.