Just Because It’s Monday

Doesn’t mean the weekend needs to end. Rain or shine, burgers are welcome any day of the week.

When Kiddo was just a kiddo one of the things we loved to do was to create our own “special” sauces. To get him to eat green beans, we’d mix mayonnaise with a little lemon pepper. To understand that home-made burgers were even better than McDonald’s we’d make all sorts of different sauces. This childhood tradition hasn’t changed. Now that Kiddo is a grown man, he knows that the only magic in our creative sauces are some extra flavor to everyday dishes.

Whenever we make fresh ground beef patties for our burgers, I like to use our cast iron skillet for cooking. However; we still want those burgers to have some authentic grilled flavor. And that’s when Kiddo and I came up with the idea of a Mesquite Burger Relish. It’s very similar to your typical burger relish, but with a kiss of Mesquite Seasoning for that distinct smoky flavor.

Mesquite Skillet Burgers
Mesquite Relish
4 tablespoons Ketchup
2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Yellow Mustard or to taste
2 teaspoons Sweet Pickle Relish
1 tablespoon Mesquite Seasoning

In a small bowl whisk ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard together. Stir in pickle relish and seasoning. Chill until ready to use.

Burger Fixings
1/2 Red Onion
4 Green Leaf Lettuce Leaves
1 large Beefsteak Tomato
4 Hamburger Buns
4 slices Monterey or Pepper Jack Cheese, optional

Cut onion in half, reserve half for another purpose. Peel and thinly slice remaining half. Break off lettuce leaves, rinse and pat dry. Slice tomato into 4 round slices. If desired, toast buns.

Now I ask you, isn’t that a beautiful tomato? Picked fresh from our garden.

Mesquite Skillet Burgers
1-1/3 lbs Ground Beef
Mesquite Seasoning to taste
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
2 tablespoons Bacon Drippings, optional

Note: Bacon Drippings will add a more smoky flavor to the burger while searing nicely. If drippings are not available, use lard for the same searing results.

Form ground beef into 4 third-pound burgers just slightly larger than the buns. Season with mesquite, salt and pepper. Set burgers aside.

Place a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until nearly smoking. Add bacon drippings to coat the pan. Once the drippings have melted. add burgers to the skillet. Sear, pressing down slightly with a spatula.

Let burgers cook undisturbed for 2 minutes, then rotate in the pan without flipping. Continue to cook 2 minutes. Flip and repeat 2 minutes undisturbed, rotate and cook for 2 more minutes.

Add cheese, remove skillet from heat, cover and let cheese melt.

To Assemble and Serve: Spread Mesquite Relish on the buns both top and bottom. Place lettuce and tomato on the bottom bun. Place burger over the tomatoes. Top burger with red onion slices. Serve and enjoy.

These burgers go nicely with fried, tater tots or a variety of salads such as macaroni or potato.

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I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you