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Community Corner

Recession Burgers

Two mini-hamburger recipes that scream Green Bay and Pittsburgh

We're not out of this recession yet, so why not make a few cuts in your kitchen by reducing the size of the hamburgers you make this Super Bowl Sunday?

Here are two great picks that will represent fans behind both sidelines.  

Green Bay Beer Burgers with Cheese 

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Green Bay fans are most notably known as 'cheese heads,' so any burger that pays homage to these fans will have to include cheese, and lots of it. But we figured why not trick out this burger with some beer in the beef.

Ingredients
1 can of Pilsner beer
1 tablespoon of mustard
3 teaspoons of brown sugar

2 tablespoon olive oil 

1 small sweet onion
1 pound of chopped meat

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

16 finely crushed medium pretzels
1/3 cup diced sharp cheddar cheese

1 pound of sharp cheddar cheese sliced into 12 thick slices
12 mini-rolls
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 cup of Canola or Vegetable Oil

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Burger Glaze
1. Preheat grill to medium high heat. 

2. Open beer and leave to stand for 5 minutes
.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine a splash of beer, mustard, brown sugar and  tablespoon olive oil, and bring to a boil. 

4. Whisk until blended, simmering for 7 to 10 minutes or until mixture thickens and reduces.
5. Remove any foam then set aside off of heat.

Grilled Onions
1. Put half of a small sweet onion (diced) into a frying pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté it for 10 minutes (i.e. onions are softened), stirring occasionally.
2. Add a splash of Pilsner beer towards the end.

Burger Patties
1. Combine beef, salt, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, half of a small sweet onion (diced), pretzels, shredded cheese, and a quarter can of Pilsner beer.

2. Form into 12 patties 2 inches in size.

Cooking Instructions
1. Brush grill rack or pan lightly with vegetable oil. 

2. Place patties on grill.
3. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally and basting the cooked sides with the glaze until the patties reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Then put some sliced cheese on top of the patties and let it melt. 
4. Brush the split sides of the rolls with the melted butter and cook them on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes or until they are lightly browned and toasted.

Mini-'Rothlis' Burgers

Did you know that the Big-Mac was invented at a McDonalds franchise in Pittsburgh? We did... And that's why we've decoded the secrets behind the burger that may be as big a deal as the Super Bowl itself, and posted them here.

Ingredients
Pound ground chuck (80% lean) 

12 mini hamburger buns

10 dill slices
10 teaspoons dried chopped onion
4 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons Accent (unless you are allergic to MSG)

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Mustard
Ketchup
Wax paper

Seasoning
4 Tablespoons salt
2 Tablespoons Accent (unless you are allergic to MSG)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Burger Patties
1. Combine the meat with the meat seasoning, then divide into 12 equal sized patties about 2 inches in diameter.
2. Place meat onto Wax paper

3. Freeze the patties for at least an hour, which will keep them from falling apart when you grill 'em.

Grilled Onions
1. Put the dried onions in a container and add water until there are a few inches of water over the top of the onions. 

2. Cover and refrigerate onions for about 1/2 hour. 

3. Drain the liquid
4. Cover again and refrigerate until 'burger time'

The Pickles
1. Pick very sour dill pickles. 
2. Slice the pickles into very thin slices

The Buns
1. Toast the crowns of your buns laying them face down on the grill closely together.

Cooking Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to warm (i.e. its lowest level)
2. Lay the frozen patties on the grill for 20 seconds. 

3. Sear burgers, applying even pressure with the back of a metal spatula for about 1 minute.
4. After searing them, sprinkle generously with McDonald's burger seasoning and let each side cook for about 1 minute.

5. Dress your buns. (crown, or top side) with secret sauce and pickles.
6. Remove meat from the grill and throw onions in.

7. Cook onions in the burger grease.

8. Throw burgers back onto of the onions.
9. Throw toasted bun on top of the burger and onions.

10. Scoop burger up with spatula and place on the other toasted bun then wrap in wax paper.

* Place wrapped hamburger in your preheated oven and cook the other batch.

The Sauce

Ingredients
1/4 cup Miracle Whip
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons deluxe French salad dressing (the orange stuff)
1/2 Tablespoon sweet relish
2 teaspoons, dill pickle relish 

1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried, minced onion
1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon ketchup
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. Mix ingredients very well in a small container.

2. Microwave 25 seconds, and stir well again. 

3. Cover, and refrigerate at LEAST 1 hour before using.

*Makes nearly 2 cup (enough for your 12 sliders)

*Substitute Thousand Island Dressing for sauce

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