Taliesin Portabello Mushroom Burger with Mashed Potatoes and Broccolini

On August 15, 1914 one of Frank Lloyd Wright's servants, Julian Carlton, set fire to the living quarters of the Taliesin studio in Iowa. He then murdered seven people with an axe, including Wright's mistress and her two children. Carlton survived but died in jail six weeks later. Wright built Taliesin II, only to have it burn down again (due to accident) little more than ten years later. Taliesin III still stands.

The US is not a place of pure evil, it turns out, but only a place where people do evil things, as in all places. A. called her insurance provider this morning, and was only on the phone for half an hour before settling that she did not have another US insurance plan and so does not have to pay the several exorbitant bills she received. And her wallet turned out not to be lost but only hidden under some posters designed by our friend D., which say: "Hope keeps you down." Not losing things will raise you up.

Last night, A. made what you see above: mm-MM! Ingredients and directions involve guesswork on my part.

servings: 2

prep. time: approx. 45 min.

INGREDIENTS:

2 large portabello mushrooms

1 red bell pepper, cut into 6-8 strips

red onion, sliced

hot banana pepper rings

arugula

balsamic vinegar

olive oil

Vegenaise

cayenne

1 clove garlic, pressed

olive oil
lots of lemon juice

brocollini

2 Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed

2 cloves garlic, pressed

2 Tbsp. Earth Balance

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

almond milk

salt

pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Rub balsamic vinegar and olive oil on the mushrooms. Bake for 30 min., or until tender.

2. Boil the potatoes in water. When a fork goes through them, drain and mash in a bowl with the garlic, nutmeg, Earth Balance, and as much almond milk as it takes to get the potatoes creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Fry the broccolini over medium heat. Do the same for the red pepper, but get it hot enough to char a little.

4. To prepare the aioli, whisk the Vegenaise with olive oil and garlic. Mix in cayenne.

5. Put the burgers together, with the ingredients listed above or whatever else you want.