Carol’s Smokey Sweet Pacific Northwest Burger

Pairs well with:

Chenin Blanc

This wine is bursting with crisp, refreshing fruit flavors like apple, pear, and melon, making you want to swing your legs off a dock at sunset.

Carol’s Smokey Sweet Pacific Northwest Burger is a Burger with the influence of the Pacific Northwest.From Starbucks to Microsoft to Boeing, our culture in the Northwest is diverse with a Japanese influence, which is why I chose the Fuji apple. The Walla Walla Sweet Onions are representative of the Agriculture in Eastern Washington I built my burger with layers of flavor but yet simple enough to become America’s Favorite Grilling Recipe. The smoky sweet taste of the burger is sure to please young and old alike. It’s simple to make and as my 16 year old son would say “It’s delicious”

Ingredients:

21/2 lbs Ground Chuck

1 tablespoon sea salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon smoked Hungarian paprika

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

¼ cup rosemount Shiraz wine

1 small can chipotle peppers

1 cup best foods mayonnaise

1 large Walla Walla Sweet Onion

1 large Fuji apple

1 tablespoon Olive Oil

1 tablespoon Butter

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

6 slices thick smoked Bacon

2 Cups Smoked Mozzarella Cheese (Shredded)

6 bun size leaves of Bibb Lettuce

6 Haggen Fresh Baked Hamburger Buns

Instructions:

Start with 2 ½ lbs of ground Chuck.

In a bowl mix the following ingredients:

1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1 tablespoon of sea salt

2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon of Hungarian smoked paprika

1 teaspoon of ground cumin

¼ cup of Rosemount Shiraz Wine

Add the ground chuck to the seasoning and mix just until spices are blended. Do not overmix. Chill until ready to form patties.

Take 1 small can of chipotle peppers . Pour into a food processor and blend into a paste.

Add 2 ½ tablespoons of chipotle paste to 1 cup of Best Foods Mayonnaise and mix together. Chill until time to spread onto the buns.

Take 1 Walla Walla Sweet Onion and cut in half and then into slices. Add to a skillet. Peel and Cut 1 large Fuji apple and cut into bite size chunks. Add the apples to the skillet with the onions. Add 1 Tablespoon of Butter and 1 Tablespoon of olive oil , and 2 tablespoons of Dark Brown sugar to the skillet, mix together and cook on Medium to Medium High heat for 15 minutes on gas grill or until caramelized. Set Aside.

Take 6 slices of a Thick smoked bacon and add to a skillet and cook for 7 minutes and then flip and cook for another 7 minutes or until crispy. Set aside on a paper towel to drain grease

.

Shred 2 cups of smoked mozzarella cheese and put in cool place until ready to use.

Form the meat into 6 patties and cook on the gas grill at Medium Heat for approximately 7 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Once Burgers have been flipped and have cooked for 6 minutes on the second side, add the shredded mozzarella to top each burger.

Remove Meat Patties when done and cover to keep warm.

Toast the inside of each bun lightly for about a minute on the grill.

Pull the buns off the grill and spread the chipotle mayo on each bun. Then place the hamburger on the bun and cut the bacon slice in half and place on top of the meat. Then lay the lettuce on top of the bacon. On the top of the bun put a generous amount of the caramelized onions and apples and then put together the burger and enjoy!!