Beast of the East Bacon Cheeseburger (WVa Mounatineer Burger)
The words to the John Denver song “Take me home country roads,to the place I belong….West Virginia..Mountain Mamma..take me home” describe the feeling the people of WVa have for their state. The song goes on to describe the beautiful mountains and land. WVa has so much to do like camping,skiing,hiking,and white water rafting. The people are hard working and loyal. They are coal miners and doctors. We love our state,the USA, and good hearty food. The burgers we eat in WVa are old fashioned,down home,loaded with meat,cheese,condiments,and flavor. This burger is made that way. On a Saturday afternoon in Morgantown the hills are alive with the sounds of WVU Mountaineer Football and the smell of great burgers grilling.
Ingredients:
SAUCE:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Hot Pepper Butter
1 teaspoon sweet pickle relish,drained
BURGERS:
2 pounds ground chuck
1 and 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon 4 pepper blend
1/2 cup grated red onion
2 tablespoons A-1 steak sauce
12 slices bacon
vegetable oil for brushing grill rack
6 slices american cheese (1/4 inch thick)
6 Kaiser rolls,split
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
6 thin slices sweet onion
6 slices tomato
Instructions:
To prepare the sauce:combine the mayonnaise,hot pepper butter,and relish. Cover and chill until ready to use. Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover,or preheat a gas grill to medium high. Using a fireproof 12 inch skillet,on the grill rack,fry the bacon . Drain on a plate with paper towels and set aside. To make the patties,combine the ground chuck,salt,pepper,onions,and steak sauce. Mix well handling as little as possible. Divide into 6 portions and form the patties to fit the buns. When grill is ready,brush the rack with oil. Place burgers on grill. Cook 5 minutes. Flip patties with a spatula and cook an additional 5-7 minutes,or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. During the last few minutes of cooking,add a slice of cheese to each patty.Cover the grill and cook until cheese melts. Place rolls,cut side down on outer edges of grill to lightly toast. Remove burger patties to a platter. To assemble the burgers,spread the mayonnaise mixture on the insides of the warm toasted rolls. Layer the bottom rolls with equal amounts of lettuce,onion slice,burger patty,2slices of bacon,and a tomato slice. Add the roll tops and serve warm.
Makes 6 burgers