Switching It Up: Not-So-Average Burgers

Who doesn't love a good burger?  I LOVE burgers.  To me, there is nothing better than hanging out outside on the patio with a glass of wine (or beer) in hand, watching J grill some burgers.  And boy, does he make some GOOD burgers!  He has this magical touch when he's cooking - he's one of those irritating people that doesn't measure ingredients.  He just adds ingredients until "it looks right."  Frustrating, right?! (Side Note: I guess I can't complain too much. I do the same thing. Whoops!)  ANYWAYS...I finally pinned him down tonight when we were making burgers and had him measure each ingredient until it "looked right."  So below, you will find his amazing way of seasoning burgers.  But don't worry, this post is going to get even more creative before I'm done!

Burgers & Seasoning:
1 pound ground beef (or turkey or pork or...you get the picture)
1 tablespoon Worchestershire Sauce
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon Tony's Creole Seasoning
Equivalent of one clove of garlic, minced

Combine all ingredients and mix with hands (I know -gross!) until well mixed.

NOW...we have our fantastic burgers grilling.  What are we going to do with these tasty creatures?  We can't just slap cheese and ketchup on them and call it dinner.  Let's just say that J and I have become connoisseurs of burgers, so we'll give you some fresh ideas on what to do (patience is a virtue, right??).  Many times, we take inspiration from other restaurants (BGR) or shows (Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives).  Other times, we take something we both love (Reuben, anyone?!) and making it into a one-of-a-kind burger! Listed below are some not-so-average burgers.

1.  Clemson Burger (aka our attempt at replicating BGR's Clemson Burger)
What It Contains: J's amazing burger seasoning
How to Top It: Lettuce, tomato, bacon, and spicy pimento cheese (ketchup and other toppings as preferred)

Pimento Cheese: 

1 bag shredded, sharp cheddar cheese.

Mayonnaise

Red Pepper (spices)

1 small jar pimentos

Mix cheese, pimentos, and mayo (amount of may varies depending on person. Mix to your taste.)
Add red pepper to taste.  Slather generously onto bottom bun of burger.

2. Bar-B-Que Burger (aka we love BBQ!)
What It Contains: everything in J's burger seasoning WITH your favorite BBQ sauce (about 1 tablespoon) instead of hot sauce.
How to Top It: coleslaw, extra BBQ sauce to taste

3. The Reuben Burger (aka we saw the ultimate Reuben on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives before making dinner and got inspired)
What It Contains: J's amazing burger seasoning
How to Top It: swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing, sauerkraut

Want to get even more Reuben-esque? Make flatter patties and serve on Rye bread!

4. The Black & Bleu Burger (aka we love bleu cheese and bacon)
What It Contains: J's amazing burger seasoning - each burger stuffed with bleu cheese.
How to Top It: bacon and any other burger toppings you like
**This is called the "black and bleu" burger.  We've discussed the "bleu" part of it.  But the black?  Make sure you have the flames going for some extra chargrill on the burger to get the "blackened" part down!