Adult Happy Meal Recipe

Assemble lettuce

Wash and dry romaine lettuce thoroughly. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces and place into a chilled small bowl.

Dress the salad: add 3 tbs Caesar dressing and 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice to the lettuce. Toss gently until evenly coated.

Finish: sprinkle 2 tsp grated Parmesan over the dressed lettuce, add 1 cup garlic croutons, and grind 1/4 tsp black pepper over the top. Toss lightly one more time and set aside chilled until serving.

Form and cook patties

Divide 8 oz ground beef into two equal portions and form into small patties slightly larger than the mini buns, about 2.5-3 inches across and 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tsp vegetable oil (or grill). Cook patties 2-3 minutes per side for medium (adjust to preference). In the last 30 seconds of cooking, place half a cheddar slice on each patty to melt. Remove from heat and let rest.

Prepare buns

Lightly butter the insides of 2 mini slider buns with 1 tsp softened butter. Place on the skillet or under a broiler for 30-45 seconds until lightly toasted and golden.

Assemble sliders

Spread 1/2 tsp yellow mustard on one bun bottom and 1/2 tsp ketchup on the other (or combine as preferred). Place cheeseburger patties on the bun bottoms, top with bun tops and serve immediately.

Cook fries

If using frozen shoestring fries, cook according to package instructions. For oven: preheat to 425°F (220°C), toss fries with 1 tbs vegetable oil and 1/4 tsp paprika if using, spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake 12-15 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. For air-fryer: preheat to 400°F (200°C) and air-fry 8-10 minutes, shaking once. For deep-fry: heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry until golden, 2-3 minutes. Season immediately with a light pinch of salt.

Portion and plate: place the two sliders on a small plate alongside about 1 cup cooked fries. Serve hot.

Chill glass

Place a martini glass in the freezer for a few minutes or fill with ice water while preparing the cocktail to chill it.

Mix

Fill a mixing glass or shaker with 1 cup ice. Pour in 3 oz gin and 0.5 oz dry vermouth. Stir briskly for 20-30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted (or shake if you prefer a cloudier martini).

Strain and garnish

Discard ice water from the chilled glass if used. Strain the cocktail into the chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or 1 olive on a pick and serve immediately.