All-American Grilled Burger

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic, minced, or 2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 Tablespoons catsup
1 Tablespoon steak sauce
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cooking oil
Few dashes bottled hot pepper sauce
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 hamburger buns
American cheese slices (optional)
Lettuce leaves (optional)
Tomato slices (optional)
Red onion slices (optional)
Pickle slices (optional)
1 teaspoon vinegar

Directions:

For sauce, in a small saucepan combine garlic or onion, catsup, steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, cooking oil, and hot pepper sauce.

Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl combine ground beef, salt, and pepper; mix well. Shape meat mixture into four 3/4-inch-thick patties.

Grill meat on the grill rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 14 to 18 minutes or until no pink remains, turning once halfway through grilling time and brushing frequently with sauce.

To serve, split and toast the buns on the grill. Serve patties in buns with cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickle, if desired.

Bacon Onion CheeseBurger

Ingredients:

8 strips bacon, cooked and broken into pieces
3 cups sliced onion
4 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 pound lean ground beef
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
4 hamburger buns

Directions:

In a large skillet cook onion in the 4 teaspoons hot oil over medium heat about 10 minutes or until golden brown; stir occasionally. Stir in bacon pieces, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover; keep warm.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine beef, Worcestershire sauce, the 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and the garlic. Divide into eight equal portions.

Shape each portion into a 4-inch diameter patty. Sprinkle half of the cheese evenly among each of four of the patties. Top with remaining patties, pressing down lightly and sealing edges well.

Grill patties directly over medium heat for 14 to 18 minutes or until done (160 degree F), turning once halfway through grilling.

Top burgers with remaining cheese the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking time or until melted.

To serve, place patty on a toasted hamburger bun; top with bacon-onion mixture. Makes 4 sandwiches.

Double Salsa Burger

Ingredients:

1 large tomato, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped green sweet pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 finely chopped, seeded jalapeno peppers
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon snipped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
2 cups shredded lettuce
1/3 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup dairy sour cream and/or guacamole

Directions:

For salsa, in a bowl combine tomato, green sweet pepper, onion, jalapeno peppers, garlic, cilantro, and salt. Set aside 2 Tablespoons of the salsa. Cover and chill remaining salsa until serving time.

In another bowl combine ground beef and the 2 Tablespoons of salsa; mix well.

Shape mixture into six 1/2-inch-thick oval patties. Grill patties on an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 13 to 15 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in side of patty registers 160 degrees F, turning patties once halfway through grilling time.

Arrange shredded lettuce on individual plates. Top with burgers, remaining salsa, and cheddar cheese.

Serve with sour cream and/or guacamole.