1/16/09

cheesy cheeseburgers

copyright 2009 dawn finicane

It was oh so thrilling to get emails from some of you asking me if there were pics of the cheesy hamburgers I made for hubby's birthday. Yes, there are! I only have one decent one as taking pictures at night is tough without the daylight to help lighten up the photo. And this photo I know the burger is upside down, not the best photo, but still good enough.
The recipe? Nothing special, very easy. I am a firm believer that it all starts with the beef. You need good beef with some fat, to build a good burger. I always buy my meats at Whole Foods. I respect how sanitary they are with all their meats, and I feel safe knowing I won't get tainted beef. Plus it just overall tastes better. I use an 85% lean beef, never 90% as it's way too dry; a packet of Liptons Mushroom & Onion soup mix, a few splashes (not dashes) of Worchestshire sauce, a couple dashes of hot sauce, a dash of sugar (yes), a good-size pat of butter. In a large bowl, combine all with my hands, don't overmix though! Form a very large meatball, put a pat of the butter in the middle of the meatball, close the pat over with the meat and then gently push into a very thick hamburg patty. Cook on a preheated pan, over medium heat. Don't go touching and flipping the burger! Leave it, let it do it's thing. You want a nice char on both sides so only flip once! Cook about 6 - 8 minutes each side; on first flip put some nice thick slices of sharp cheddar on that burger! Sometimes I do a cheddar & monterey jack mix and my famous caramelized onions. Sure on really good hearty buns. I am in love with, and use all the time those Iggy Rolls--they are the best bread makers ever, well, plus San Fran has some stellar ones too.
(I know the cheese is upside down in the photo, I just plated the burger wrong...I had a very hungry hubby waiting patiently for his burger!) Yes, those are deep fried sweet potato fries. Slice fries really thin, dip raw fries into some egg whites, chill till hardened, then deep fry in small batches in peanut oil, salt immediately.

35 comments:

  1. I have been craving a cheeseburger all week. You're killing me!

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  2. holy cow, now i'm totally craving a burger. are those sweet potato fries? yum. don't know which i like more...

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  3. Now we're talkin'..big fat cheezeburger and as for the cheese, I sometimes put the slice underneath.

    Are those sweet potato fries?

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  4. I have been eating too healthy lately. I could go for a few of these.

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  5. mmmmm. i love cheese!! and cheeseburgers!! those look SO SO SO GOOD.

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  6. Shhhh...Don't tell the cheeseburger it's not photogenic. (it doesn't know) ;)

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  7. Those cheeseburgers sound intense. I bet my parents would love them, and I'd love those fries!

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  8. oh girl...I could totally eat that right now!

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  9. I am so not happy with you. The small photo was not showing up so I clicked on it and suddenly my whole fucking screen was that burger. I am literally salivating like a dog here. Thanks a bunch.

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  10. Yes, burgs are hard to photograph but yours looks awesome. Would love a bite of that one.

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  11. I love the look of the sweet potato fries! I have to make my next batch that way.

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  12. Nice cheeseburgers! Yummy!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  13. This looks like the real treat. Thanks for the recipe.

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  14. Wow, now that is a burger to die for! This should be on my birthday dinner list.

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  15. I didn't ask about the burger, because I just assumed it would be coming...and I was right! This looks yummy!

    and so do the fries!

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  16. That's the stuff right there! That looks so ^%^#($ good. I love, love, LOVE burgers. I think it's awesome that you stick a pat of butter in the middle. I'm definitely doing that next time I make some.

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  17. that is the ticket- I sometimes make two thin patties and put cheese between them and seal it up...now I want a burger.....aghhhhhh

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  18. Holy cow, those burgers are gorgeous and making me crave one at this early hour of the day! Love it girl!

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  19. What a perfect meal! I make my burgers with chuck, they always come out juicy. Your sweet potato fries look perfect, it seems like those can be hard to get right because they don't crisp up the same way as russets.

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  20. usually my favorite part of a burger is the cheese. it's true. more cheese = more love--this is great.

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  21. WOW, what a burger !!! I'm really wanting one just about now!! Looks awesome, & just perfectly done!!!

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  22. Oooh, I haven't had Iggy's rolls since I left Boston! They really are delicious with burgers.

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  23. Well I had to come back to tell you that dinner was inspired by your burger & fries.... YES that's what I made, I was so hungry having had no lunch today, it hit the spot ;-) !!!

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  24. I don't do burgers, only veggie ones! But if those are sweet potato fries count me in for sure!

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  25. Your burger is very photogenic, Dawn! It looks great.

    It never occured to me to put sugar in a burger, but my hubby sprinkles a little on steak before he grills it so it makes sense.

    We had burgers a few days ago and the hubby put fried eggs on them. Even the kids ate them with eggs. Too funny.

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  26. Aah, I beg to differ, it looks good to me. Maybe it's my Y chromosome ;) But I do think that it is objectively pretty! I made a burger here recently. It was really great! We should form a club :P

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  27. oh my, your burgers are really making me crave for one... looks so yum... :)

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  28. Wow, those look so good!! I was going to make Salisbury Steaks but I am rethinking that decision.

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  29. Couldn't take the time to set up a plate for a photo because I was "morte di fame" & ready to pass out !! heehee!!!!

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  30. Reading the intructions alone just opened my apetite... and I just had dinner... That's an awesome meal!

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  31. Seriously? Holy cow those look good. I don't like sweet potatoes normally, but I found some organic french fries that are awesome-they look like yours! I need to dig the grill out from the 18 inches of snow and fire that bad boy up!

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  32. That burger looks great! I really like sweet potato fries as well.

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  33. As delicious as these burgers look, it's the sweet potato fries that I would likely demolish!

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  34. I made this with ground lamb yesterday. Came out great. The Lipton's mushroom onion makes the critical difference

    I mushed in the Lipton's a few hours before cooking so that the ingredients could absorb moisture from the lamb. Cooked at high heat for a crumbly char on the first side

    Best home burger I've made for months

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