The Weekend Grillers
Weekly BBQ & Grilling Recipes #05


 




Burgers

We do love our BBQ.  

And if we knew we only had one more meal, both of us would pick Ribs.  There's no doubt.  

But sometimes a Burger is EXACTLY what we are craving.  

And you can pretty much bet that your ain't gonna find the Grillers standing in line at no McDonald's.

We'll be home making REAL Burgers.

 

Here are some recipes so that you can make real burgers, too.   

Burgers with Bacon, Cheese and Thyme

Burgers 
Burgers Art Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
 

Read that title again.

You KNOW these are good.  How can you go wrong with bacon and cheese.

Make sure you get meat that is not too lean.  15%fat makes for the perfect burger.

Read that title again if you are comfused or questioning us.  These are NOT meant to be health food -- so do them right.

TWG

 

Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds ground Beef -- Chuck,
  • 6 ounces Bacon, chopped
  • 1 cup Onion, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons Garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh Thyme
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper
  • 8 slices Cheddar Cheese (not American slices.  Do this right.)
  • 4 Hamburger Buns, lightly toasted

To Dress

  • Iceberg Lettuce
  • Tomatos slices
  • Mayonnaise
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Pickles

 

Directions

  1. Fry the bacon until just crisp, about 7 to 8 minutes.
  2. Add the onions to the pan and cook until they are softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer.
  4. Add the thyme and combine.
  5. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool slightly (enough to touch and not get burned.)
  6. Pour the mixture over the ground chuck.
  7. Add Worcestershire sauce and season with the salt and pepper.
  8. Combine all.  Use a spoon if you must -- but your hands will work much better.
  9. Cover and marinate, refrigerated, for 1 hour.
  10. Form mixture into patties, being careful not to overwork it.
  11. Place on plate and cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
  12. When ready, grill on greased rack to desired doneness and serve with dressings to much acclaim. 
 

The Grillers think that burgers (and everything else in life, for that matter) are best when they are the easiest.  But there's nothing wrong with putting on your Fancy Pants every once in a while and trying to impress the neighbors.

This complicated -- but delicious -- little gem of a recipe comes from the Big Green Egg Forum and a reader called FlaBQ.

Goat Cheese-Stuffed Turkey Burgers
with Roasted Red Pepper Relish

Ingredients

  • 1½ pounds ground Turkey (Don't freak.  I'm sure we can easily substitute real meat here.)
  • 6 tablespoons fresh bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoons  fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1+ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 6 tablespoons soft fresh goat cheese (such as Montrachet)
  • 6 hamburger buns
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 jars (7-oz) roasted sweet red peppers, rinsed, drained, patted dry, and chopped
  • 1½ cups chopped onions
  • 3 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
  • 4½ tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • ¼ teaspoons dry mustard
  • ¼ teaspoons cayenne pepper

Directions

For Burgers:

  1. Combine turkey, bread crumbs, lemon juice, thyme, salt and pepper in large bowl.
  2. Mix well.
  3. Divide turkey mixture into 6 equal portions.
  4. Form 1 portion into two 4-inch diameter patties.
  5. Place 1 tablespoon goat cheese atop 1 turkey patty; place second patty atop cheese.
  6. Seal patties at edges to enclose cheese.
  7. Repeat with remaining 5 portions. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

For Relish:

  1. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add red peppers and sauté 2 minutes.
  3. Add onions and garlic.
  4. Cook until onions are tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.
  5. Mix vinegar and sugar in small bowl until sugar dissolves.
  6. Stir vinegar mixture into red peppers.
  7. Mix in mustard and cayenne pepper.
  8. Season with salt.
  9. Continue cooking relish until all liquid has evaporated, stirring frequently, about 6 minutes.
  10. Cool to room temperature. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.)

Makes about 2 cups.

Cooking

  1. Prepare BGE (that's Big Green Egg.  Or "Grill" if you don't have one - Jamie) to 450º.
  2. Grill burgers until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.
  3. Grill hamburger buns, cut side down, until lightly toasted.
  4. Place turkey burgers on bottom half of buns.
  5. Top burgers with Roasted Red Pepper Relish, then bun tops and serve.

 

We've got a friend who makes these everytime he has a cookout -- and no one ever complains that he does.

He says it's a good way to use leftover wine.  We'll have to take his word for it - since there is no such thing as leftover wine at the Grillers' houses. ;-) 

This recipe is easy to double or triple. 

Dave's Wino-licious Burgers

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Ground Chuck
  • 1 cup Breadcrumbs (Sourdough)
  • 3/4 cup Burgundy Wine
  • 4 ounces Mushrooms
  • 2 teaspoons Onion Salt
  • 1 teaspoon dry Mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
  • 8 Hamburger Buns

Directions

  1. Mix together first 9 ingredients.
  2. Shape into 8 patties.
  3. Grill 4-5 inches from heat 5 minutes on each side, or until desired degree of doneness.
  4. Serve




Burgers are great year round, but we like them best in the Fall. 

Not sure why, but it works for us.

Maybe it's that whole getting sad 'cause Summer is ending thing.  

No matter -- here is a delicious "Fall" dessert recipe that, like burgers, also works year round.

 

Cape Cod Apple Cranberry Pie

Ingredients

  • 1/ 2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 1/2 cups cranberries
  • 3 cups sliced peeled apples
  • Pastry for 2 crust 9 inch pie

Directions

  1. Combine first 7 ingredients.
  2. Cook 2 minutes, stirring until sugar dissolves.
  3. Add cranberries.
  4. Boil 2 minutes.
  5. Fold in apple slices and cool.
  6. Pour into pastry−lined 9 inch pan.
  7. Make lattice strips of pastry dough over filling.
  8. Trim edges.
  9. Bake at 425F 40−45 minutes.



Mark wants you to know that even though he wouldn't be caught dead in a McDonald's, he does absolutely love In-n-Out Burger.  ;-)

Mark & Jamie