Stuff Your Burger!

I totally did not intend for the title to sound mean, but I think next time someone makes me mad, I'll tell them to "stuff their burger" and see what reaction I get! Then I'll hand them a Clever Connoisseur business card, and walk away!

In all seriousness, Memorial Day is two days away, and I just can't stop thinking about the deliciocity (there my new-fangled word is again-it just keeps slipping out!) of a great BURGER! My husband asks me all the time to make "greasy cheeseburgers". I understand that there's nothing like a tasty homemade burger, dripping with seasoned juices. Especially when you compare that homemade patty to a 'fast-food piece of ketchup- and mustard-coated cardboard on a bun'. I just hate the thought of serving a heartattack on a plate to my beloved family. All things in moderation, though, and I believe that a healthy serving of animal fat isn't too bad once in awhile.

I prefer my burgers on a grill. However, in the kind of wind like we're having today (50+ mph gusts), grilling isn't always feasible. In those cases, a good-quality cast iron or heavy non-stick (ie Calphalon) grill pan is a great choice.

Also, I choose a higher fat content in the ground beef used for stuffed burgers. Although the higher the fat, the more the shrinkage, I think those yummy juices mix well with the stuffings, and give you a moister, tastier burger. So, look for ground beef that is no leaner than 80/20 (I'd go for the 70/30.....yeah I like my burger a little on the chubby side). If all you have on hand is something super lean, you can throw a pat of butter in the middle. Heck, I've been known to only stuff my burgers with butter, nothing else just butter. It's soooo good!

There are so many things you can stuff your burgers with. Here are a few examples, not including the plethora of cheeses you can use:
mushrooms (sauteed)
bacon (cooked and crumbled)
green chiles
jalepenos
onion (sauteed)
bell pepper (sauteed)
chipotles
bleu cheese
butter
pretty much anything you can think of that is good on top (except avocado, it doesn't cook well inside)

My personal favorite of all time is a bleu cheese stuffed burger with barbeque sauce on top. I pat the patties in a little extra ground black pepper.

Creating these burgers is really simple. For each burger, you'll need two patties. After you pat each patty out, press a little well in the middle with your thumbs, taking care not to dig it all out or your goodies will leak out. You just want to shape them like a pizza crust. Put whatever it is you're stuffing the burgers with, heaped up inside the little well. Put the other patty on top (well facing inside) and seal the edges. Simple dimple!

As if the flavor explosion in your mouth from the stuffed up goodness isn't enough, I always season my beef before patting it out. This gives another dimension of flavor, after you've swallowed up the insides. The following is my basic hamburger recipe. Feel free to try it without stuffing it.

Tasty Burgers
1 lb ground beef for 3 burgers
1/4 c. ketchup (or steak sauce, whatever you prefer)
3 or 4 dashes worchestershire sauce
Montreal steak seasoning (or just salt and pepper)
1 Tbsp garlic powder

Mix well, but be careful not to overmix the meat or it will get tough.

Here's to happy grilling and holiday weekends!