Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

GREAT post!

I tried doing this on Friday night, and got some outstanding results.
Ground up the meat w/ my Cuisinart, and came out just fine. Just gotta make sure you keep an eye out so you don't get beef puree.
Used my trusty cast-iron skillet, and really digging that smash-n'-scrape technique.... thanks!

I use applesauce occasionally, but only when it goes with the rest of the flavours in the recipe. More often I use plain yogurt (or flavoured if I'm making something with fruit).

I don't like most veg. oils in baking, I find they make for really greasy food. I do, however, replace half the butter in my choc. chip cookies with unrefined coconut oil... and then add coconut flakes to the recipe...yum!

I replace most eggs with a combo of flour, butter, baking powder and water. And I despise fake sugars - no splenda for me - but I have been known to use banana as a sweetener.

For the ultimate in replacements check these out: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/nikkis-healthy-cookies-recipe.html
...even better than they look!

Re Splenda -- It is fine in "wet" applications like cheesecake, but if you want to make a sugar-free cake or something else using the "cream butter and sugar together" method to give it structure, you will have to use maltitol or another sugar alcohol. They have the sugar structure but no calories. That's what manufacturers use to make sugar free candy, etc. Also, if you have ever looked at a package of sf candy, you will see on there somewhere (generally in very fine print): "Warning, may have a laxative effect." That's the sugar alcohol. They are not kidding, either! It's worthwhile using the sugar alcohols if you need to, but be careful.

I have used applesauce as a substitute in a spicy bar cookie. The applesauce flavor was a nice complement to the raisins, nuts and spices, and it kept the cookie moist. It was a big hit with my son who was a vegan at the time and wanted something sweet for the holidays.

Nope. I've never done it. I love my butter too much. And since baked goods are where I eat the vast majority of my butter, I don't see a reason to change...unless I'm baking something for a vegan. That, however, has not been a common experience in my life.

I love this post. Your efforts are much appreciated.

Adam, no joke i most definitely must say that JOY Burger blows shake shack!!!!!!!!!!!!1

@Chairthrower

I love fry sauce. I actually often order shack sauce on the side for fry-dippin'. They charge 75¢ for it though. You'd think they'd give it to you for free...

@jp_bakeupastorm: I hear ya, I despise mayonnaise with a passion, too....but I accidentally ordered the Shack burger WITH sauce once and for some reason, probably because of the addition of all the extra components, i find the sauce delicious. It's the only mayonnaise-based sauce I can deal with. But I agree that the burger is just as good without the sauce.

That's a serious piece of investigation. Great stuff.

in both HS & college (Tokyo), noodle stations (ramen, udon and soba) were pretty good. but in HS I rarely had time to eat lunch at the cafeteria, so I'd buy chicken karaage and yukari onigiri combo if I didn't bring bento.
My favorite dish from the college cafeteria was Bang bang ji tofu.

Ooh - someone reminded me of the chili and chicken noodle soup my elementary school used to serve. I don't know what it was, but both were fabulous. As I got older & I was able to participate in my church hosted blood drives, I always looked forward to the half a peanut butter sandwich & the bowl of chicken noodle soup they'd serve to anyone that donated. MUCH better than the Ritz crackers & Lorna Doones I make do with now.

And yes - totally looked forward to the Thanksgiving & Christmas lunches, mostly because in addition to actual pumpkin pie, we got to choose a little container (paper peel-off lid) of ice cream: vanilla, chocolate swirl, or strawberry swirl. I always went with chocolate. Always.

After graduating I really missed cafeteria food. I loved drinking carton milk over ice and eating halved kiwis. The turkey a la king was so good back then and students would actually run to the lunch room for it. I also miss enchiladas on Wednesday, Mexican food day. Oh, and the lunch ladies used to offer Frito Pie on the side. Chili and cheese served from separate crock pots would be ladled into a bag of chips of your choice. I chose Hot Cheetos! It was so gross and delicious and would leave you with heart burn afterwards.