The "Ultimate" Burger

When I first met my husband he wasn't much bothered with fancy foods or complicated recipes. Over the years, for better or worse, I seem to have rubbed off on him and now he is building his own repertoire of delicious recipes including this one for "The Ultimate Burger" which I think he got from a co-worker while we lived overseas.

The Ultimate Burger Patties

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef
2 lg eggs
¾ cup Brown Sugar
2 Jalapeno peppers diced
3 Green Onions finely diced
6 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 tbsp A-1 sauce
salt & pepper to taste
3-5 strips cooked crumbled bacon
1 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tbsp honey
½ tsp each of the following
garlic powder
onion powder
paprika
black pepper

Mix all ingredients together and form into patties (4 large, 6 average or 8 small)

When making patties I like to flatten with a small plate to keep the burger from bulging in the middle or you can form them so the middle has a slight depression to compensate. Grill burgers on medium high heat until cooked to preferred doneness. On the side of the grill over a low heat place buns sliced and spread with butter or olive oil. The buns should brown nicely in 1-3 minutes. Just before burgers are done top with a slice of pepper jack cheese.



I think you'll find the added ingredients make these burgers so good you'll have trouble NOT going back for seconds. We usually serve this with a side of onion rings and grilled corn on the cob. Somehow leftovers never seem to be a problem.

Pizza with Pizazz

My husband and I love to make our own pizza and a fun summer twist to your everyday homemade pizza is grilled pizza. Yep you heard right GRILLED! It’s so simple yet elegant, it makes a great meal to prepare when you have friends coming over. You can prepare whatever toppings you like but I find a Margherita pizza suites me best for grilling.

I cheat a little on my crust because I like the boxed Jiffy Pizza Crust mix. I do doctor it a bit however.

Crust
(makes 4 small or 2 large personal pizzas)

2 Jiffy Pizza Crust mixes
1 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1 Tsp Garlic powder
1 Tsp Onion powder
1 Tbsp Parsley

Before adding water to mix add all spices and mix well. Knead the dough briefly to bring it all together then set aside in an oiled bowl to rise. (following box directions) After initial rise, knead briefly then separate into two to four pieces. Gently stretch each piece into a circle and lay on a cookie sheet dusted with corn meal. Place rounds on a hot grill for 2-5 minutes per side or until almost fully baked. (It should be firm enough to flip gently with a spatula) Remove from the heat.

Toppings

1-2 Tomatoes Sliced
6 Cloves Garlic diced
1 Buffalo Mozzarella sliced
7-8 large basil leaves cut into ribbons
3-4 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste.

In a small pan sauté the garlic in the olive oil over low heat. You want to infuse the oil with the garlic flavor. I usually crush the garlic before dicing it to release more of the juices.

Topping the pizza

Brush the crust with the garlic Olive oil (I also like to add the now crispy bits of diced garlic to mine) lay on some ribbons of basil and slices of tomato. I lightly sprinkle some salt and pepper over the tomatoes and then top with the cheese. Return to the grill for an additional 2 minutes (with the lid closed)or until cheese is hot and melted.



Feel free to branch out and be adventurous. This is a great medium for trying new things and just perfect for a summer garden party with friends. It’s simple, inexpensive, everyone gets their own personal pizza plus the novelty will keep everyone entertained.