Eat less. Spend less money. Watch less TV. Ever notice how most New Year's resolutions are all about deprivation? Well, I'm not doing it.
For me 2009 is gonna be the year of more -- eating more hamburgers. Not McDonald's or Wendy's, but homemade. I may not have a drive through, but I've got the best hamburgers I've ever eaten. It started out with a sample of grass-fed beef from La Cense, a ranch in Montana. I was not expecting much; I'm not really not a hamburger kind of girl. They claim that their unique stress-free ranching, marbled beef, and aging process makes for a beef flavor that's truer, cleaner, and more complex. I have to say, I actually agree with them. It is delicious.
(La Cense beef is packaged with dry ice.)
I made these burgers during an NFL football marathon last weekend. The burgers were better than the football (and there was some really good football last weekend). I grilled them adulterated. The meat was tender, juicy, and richly flavorful. Plus since they're 100% lean beef, they maintained their shape perfectly.
I thought I would just add some caramelized onions and then halfway through cooking them, I decided to turn them into Southwest Burgers. I slathered the smoky grilled meat with a spicy, creamy chipotle mayo and topped them with a mound a sweet, sticky caramelized onions and melted Cheddar cheese. Of course, all of this meaty goodness was sandwiched inside of a toasted sesame seed hamburger bun. (Ta-da-ta-ta-taaaah! I'm lovin' it!)
Now, you know you want a burger too. And starting today, you have a chance to win your own free package of La Cense beef. Here's what you have to do to win:
Just tell me what your favorite type of hamburger is by the end of the day, January 16, 2009. That's it.
One winner, who will need to provide her or his real name and mailing address, will be randomly selected and announced in a future post, so please check back. Don't have a blog? Just leave an active email address where you can be reached. My apologies to my international readers, but given the perishable nature of the prize, winners are limited to US residents.
Finally, if you like a good party, then consider becoming a member of the Grass-Fed Party, "an organization of people who support grass-fed foods and sustainable ranching and believe that American can hold higher standards to its cattle industry." Now that's my kind of New Year's resolution.
The Southwest Hamburger
Makes 2 (8 oz) or 4 (4 oz) burgers
Print recipe only here.
1 pound La Cense hamburger
hamburger buns
a dab of butter or canola oil
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon soy mayonnaise (or mayo of your choice)
1 tablespoon chiles in adobo sauce, chopped
a squeeze of lime juice
4 ounces sliced Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Preheat the grill to medium high. Using your hands, form the hamburger into patties and set aside.
On the stove top, pour 1 teaspoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions; sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar evenly over the onions and toss to coat. Cook the onions for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a small bowl, mix mayo, chiles in adobo sauce, and lime juice; set aside.
Once the grill is hot, place the hamburgers on a clean, well-oiled grate and close the grill cover. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side, or as long as you prefer. (Don't squeeze them flat with a spatula or you'll release their delicious juices.) Use a meat thermometer for the precise level of doneness -- a medium burger is 130 degrees. Cook the meat less is you prefer it rare or longer if you prefer it well done.
Brush the hamburger buns with a dab of butter or oil. Grill for 1 minute or until desired level of toastiness is reached.
Spread some chipotle mayo on the toasted buns. Place hamburgers on the buns and top with cheese, so it will melt. Mound some caramelized onions on top, and eat immediately!
You might also like these football friendly foods:
Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) and Sausage Sandwich with Sharp Provolone
Potato, Rosemary, and Gorgonzola Pizza
Chicken, Jalapeno and Cheddar Quesadillas
Healthy Chili
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