Southwestern Backyard Burgers

Ingredients

• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chiles

• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

• 1/2 teaspoon hickory liquid smoke, optional

• 1/2 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers (about 12 crackers)

• 4-1/2 teaspoons chili powder

• 3 teaspoons ground cumin

Instructions

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

• 2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)

• 1/2 pound bulk pork sausage

• 8 slices pepper jack cheese

• 8 sesame seed hamburger buns, split

• Lettuce leaves and tomato slices

• Toppings of your choice

1. In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Crumble beef and sausage over mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 8 patties.

2. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Top with cheese. Grill 1 minute longer or until cheese is melted.

3. Grill buns, cut side down, for 1-2 minutes or until toasted.

The secret to making juicy burgers at home is all in the meat. Did you burn your burgers while cooking them? The culprit is likely uneven thickness. While the shape of the patty doesn't matter, the thickness does. You really want to make sure the patty is uniform, an even thickness, or it's not going to cook properly, which can lead to a burnt outside and undercooked inside. A solution could be to flatten the patties by pressing them flat using a burger press.

Burger presses create consistently shaped and sized burgers. The presses allow you to pack patties without squishing the meat between your warm hands. Heat radiated by your hands can cause proteins to denature. Using your hands to pack raw meat can cause the fat to melt and the meat to break apart, which causes a mushy, unappealing texture when it's time to devour your burger. The burger presses make uniform patties: same weight and diameter every time. Uniform patties cook evenly throughout and will come to temperature around the same time on the grill. The burger press also helps to achieve the weight you're going for ¼, 1/3, and ½ lb. patties. And you get a prettier burger patty. The burgers look good. Who doesn't marvel at a perfectly round, evenly dense patty?

Elevate your grilling game this summer with less stressing and more pressing. Get the tools you need to make the burgers you yearn for. As Frank says:

“And if you should survive to 105, Look at all you'll derive out of being alive! And here is the best part, you have a head start - If you are among the very young at heart.”

Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs, for the cool tools you need to help you with your summer creations. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen” with your family and friends. Enjoy the summer season in Saratoga Springs, NY.