Blue Cheese Burgers

My husband is not a picky eater, to say the least. There have been many times throughout our marriage that I will ask him if he likes what he is currently eating and he says with a shrug, "Not really" and then continues to eat the whole thing. I am always amazed.

However, there is an experience from his teenage years that still haunts him. He was over at his friend's house for dinner and there in front of him was a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes, and really, what teenage boy doesn't love mashed potatoes? He, of course, helped himself to a huge portion and dug right in. And then, after his first big bite, he was horrified. What was that taste? His beloved mashed potatoes had turned into the devil right before his eyes.

And guess what that secret ingredient was? You got it, blue cheese. He had never had it before and will not eat it ever since. So, several years ago, when I told him I was going to make these burgers I found on Pioneer Woman, he was very skeptical to say the least. But I decided to chance it anyway. And we both ended up loving the burger! The onions and blue cheese along with the spicy mayo really has such great flavor. And when we were looking for a fun burger to do this weekend, this immediately popped into my mind. We hadn't made it since that day long ago in Florida. But our memories had not failed us and they were delicious!

Blue Cheese Burgers

by Pioneer Woman

Ingredients:

2 lbs. 80/20 ground beef

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

tabasco sauce, to taste

1 whole red onion

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 c real mayo

Kaiser rolls, or any bakery type rolls

1 C crumbled blue cheese

Some sort of greens, whatever is your favorite

Instructions:

Place meat in mixing bowl. Add salt and black pepper. Add a few dashes of tabasco sauce. With your hands, mix meat and seasonings well. Put aside.

Next, slice onion, not too thick, not too thin. Heat medium skillet over low heat. Add butter and place in onions. Add brown sugar (you can do generous tbsps). Toss ingredients together and then allow onions to caramelize for twenty minutes, tossing occasionally.

When onions are caramelizing, make spicy mayo. Just put mayo in small bowl and add tabasco and mix together. I used several dashes, it is surprisingly how much tabasco you can use before it really starts to take over the mayo.

Cut rolls in half and spread them lightly with butter, then place them on grill or skillet face down. This will allow the spicy mayo, when put on later, to really adhere to the roll. Set aside to cool.

Form the meat into patties, however many you want, depending on how big you want them. Place on grill or skillet over medium to medium low heat. Cook for several minutes, then flip over to cook other side.

While patty is still on grill, add caramelized onion and blue cheese on top. This will allow the blue cheese to get soft. As the burgers finish cooking, spread your mayo on your cooled buns. Then put it all together with some greens and let your mouth thank you!!