Joe's Special
Photogenic it's not, but what Joe's Special lacks in looks it more than makes up for yumminess. This old-time dish, a simple and homey scramble of eggs, ground beef, and spinach, is said to have its origins at the San Francisco institution Original Joe's (shuttered indefinitely, sadly, just last week due to a fire). It is something my mom made often when I was growing up; these days, I turn to it when time is short and I'm craving comfort and familiarity.
Joe's Special also happens to be a great jumping-off point for all sorts of midweek flights of fancy. For this, my "standard" recipe, I use dried oregano (I'm not sure what my mom used for seasonings). But throw in fresh herbs if you have any on hand. It's also tasty with curry powder. If I have spare vegetables hanging around the kitchen—zucchini, a potato or tomato—I'll throw those in, too. Of course, at that point, it's not really Joe's Special anymore—just a sort of crazy colorful hash. But it's all good.
Brian likes to dump ketchup on his, while I prefer a generous sprinkle of Tabasco. Alongside, I serve Japanese rice. No reason, really, except that's what my mom always did and it seems to work.
JOE'S SPECIAL
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 box frozen spinach, defrosted (or use fresh, of course!)
5 eggs, beaten
Salt and pepper to taste
Brown ground beef in butter and oil. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and oregano, cook about 30 seconds. Mix in spinach. I usually season at this point. Push spinach/beef mixture to one side of the pan, and pour eggs into the cleared area. Cook, scrambling, until eggs are set, then mix with the rest of the stuff. Heat everything together for a couple minutes. Adjust seasonings.
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This totally reminds me of a dish my mom used to make when I was growing up http://feistyfoodie.blogspot.com/2006/09/comfort-food.html Not so much with the spinach but very similar concept. Funny enough about Brian adding ketchup- when I was a kid, I would add ketchup, or when my mom was feeling in some mood to please me, she'd add a can of tomato sauce to this and I LOVED it (I'd actually eat rice then, because I hated rice when I was a kid, but mixed with this and ketchup, OKAY!) Mmm, I never thought to add spinach, I'm going to try that!
Okay, I just looked again, and I realize yours has egg in the dish (which I know I read, but it didn't connect in my head) whereas mine is egg on top of the dish. Ah well, I'm still going to try this... thanks!!! (This translates well to bento, too- sorry, I know I'm obsessed- because it's much drier than what I make, so there's less mess slopping around like mine has, and since the eggs are cooked through... thinking out loud. Sorry!) Definitely going to try this =)
Oh hey that reminds me! I don't think this dish is particularly ugly, but since you start off with that statement... http://noteatingoutinny.com/2007/10/15/the-ugliest-gourmet/
Hey Yvo, your mom's dish looks yummy. Actually, eggs would go well on top of Joe's Special, too, if you're egg crazy like me and Brian. Tonight, I actually used the leftover Joe's Special as a filling for dinner omelets! I may enter that ugliest gourmet contest . . .