Better than a Restaurant Bacon & Bleu Burgers

"I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today," Wimpy (from Popeye)


I love Cheeseburgers.  In fact, I love them sooo much my Grandpa used to tell me that I was going to turn into one! (Hasn't happened yet, but I am still working on it.)  Looking back, I would have to say that my love for all things cheeseburgers came from my Aunt Dode, who enjoyed taking my Mom, Brother and I out to eat at Buger King on a weekly basis.  These outings are a part of some of my very fond memories of my Aunt Dode, who passed away when I was just 5 years old.  Since I was so little my memories of her are mostly hazy ones, like she loved to play Bingo, she would get her hair done at the salon every week, and she had this amazing red plastic toy box in the shape of a train that I loved pulling the toys out of so I could crawl inside.  I loved that toy box.


I have carried this love for cheeseburgers throughout my life.  I make no attempt to hide this love of mine.  I probably order a cheeseburger from restaurant menu's 8 out of 10 times.  In fact, the last time I went out to eat with my friends, one of them commented on the fact that I wasn't getting the cheeseburger and she was! 

It was only in the last 5 years that I started getting advertureous and began trying new variations of cheeseburgers when I went out to eat.  One of my favorites is a Bacon and Bleu burger.  Mmmm, my mouth starts watering just thinking about it.  I thought to myself, "Why not give this one a try myself?"  And so I did!  And I did it without adding many ingredients to it.  I figure less is better with something as rich and flavorful as bleu cheese. 

 "Better then a Restaurant" Bacon & Bleu Burgers

Ingredients: (makes 4 burgers)

1 lb ground hamburger

2 oz bleu cheese crumbles

2 oz cream cheese

8 slices bacon

salt

pepper

hamburger buns

butter

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven 400F.  Line rimmed baking pan with foil and place bacon slices side by side on the pan.  Bake for 20 minutes. 
2.  Combine bleu cheese and cream cheese, salt and pepper to taste, in a small bowl.
3.  Flatten hamburger into 8 uniform patties.  Spread about a tablespoon of the bleu cheese mixture on top of one patty, then place a second patty on top of that and seal the edges up well.  Continue until you have all four burgers formed.  (Side Note: Make a indentation in the middle of each burger before putting on the grill.  This helps keep them flat when cooking instead of rounding, can't remember where I heard about this little hint but it works, so give it a try.)
4.  On an indoor grill, set to about 375F, grill the patties until done to your likeness.  I like mine well done which was about 6 minutes on each side. 

5.  Butter both sides of  your hamburger buns and set them on the grill until toasted.

6.  Stack the bun with the bacon and patty and ketchup.  I kept mine pretty simple.  You can add any other toppings to your liking. 

 Just look at all this burger!  YUMMY!!!

I have to tell you how the name of my dish came about.  My hubby took one bite of his burger and said, "This is better then a restaurant!" and he was so right.  This is one amazing, juicy and flavorful burger.  I am so absolutely thrilled this turned out as yummy as it did.  Woo Hoo!!!   

My hubby snapped an action shot.  Note my little kitchen helper, at least he stayed out from under foot this time, barely!