A while back, a bunch of really fantastic people (who are also kind enough to be my friends) got together for an epic Burgerfest that featured some really delicious cheese. You might be thinking this is a tad summery for October, BUT friends, I’ll tell you that you are wrong. While the cooler temps are upon us, we are in the heart of FOOTBALL SEASON. And football means the BBQ stays out a little longer. So meat-loving readers, grab your closest football fan friends and try out some cheese-stuffed burgers at your next tailgate.
Burgerfest 2012
The MENU.
4 varieties of cheese-stuffed burgers
2 varieties of grilled buns (english muffins & ciabatta)
A Toppings Bar
Grilled Corn: with Feta and Lime toppings
Salad: Watermelon, Mint & Feta
The MEAT.
Step One:
Season your meat with this:
2 Tbsp Salt
1/4 C Garlic Powder
1/2 C Minced Onion
1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
1/4 C Black Pepper, fresh cracked if possible
1 1/2 Tbsp White Pepper
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Step Two:
Stuff your burgers with CHEESE. Real. Good. Cheese. I used four varieties of Wisconsin Cheese:
1. Ground Beef with Jalapeño Cheddar
2. Ground Turkey with Balsamic Asiago
3. Ground Beef + Pork with Feta
4. Ground Turkey with Bleu Cheese
The TOPPINGS.
Tomato
Basil
Avocado
Proscuitto
Corn Relish
Tzatziki Sauce
Marinaded Cucumbers
Red Onion
Spicy Mustard
Sautéed Onions
Sautéed Mushrooms
Bleu Cheese
Ketchup
I left all of these on the table and let my friends make their own masterpiece on either a grilled english muffin or ciabatta bun.
The SALAD.
Ingredients:
Cubed Watermelon
Feta Cheese
Mint
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Directions:
Toss ingredients together to taste. You can change this up by using mozzarella and tomatoes if needed.
The CORN.
Directions:
Soak corn in the husks and throw them on the grill for 10-15 mins. Leave on the table with some feta cheese and limes. Rub the cheese on the corn, sprinkle with salt and pepper then squeeze with lime.
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The best part about cooking dinner for your friends is sharing what you’ve created. We all helped cook, we drank good beer, we told stories, we made new friends and walked away with full stomaches. A good meal with good company can turn an average day into a truly memorable one. This was one of those nights, for me.
Thanks to Faith for hosting, to her husband Matt for manning the grill and schooling us in furniture building, to Melissa for capturing the night so beautifully, to Kate and Fred for providing such great comedy and to Emily and Tate for being there to share in the fun. Thanks to Wisconsin Cheese for sending us some samples to eat and giving us an excuse to get together for a great meal. You can find more recipe inspiration and videos to inspire your meals here.
