May is also National Hamburger Month!

So in addition to being Bike Month, May is also National Hamburger Month! This 2009 marks the 17th anniversary for National Hamburger month. This is the month where America celebrates its favorite food!

National Hamburger month was created by White Castle, the inventor of the fast food burger. Originally only a week long, it has grown into a month-long celebration. In celebration of National Hamburger month, White Castle is inviting you to submit your ultimate crave story for the chance to be inducted into the Cravers Hall of Fame. You can be just like Harold and Kumar! Or the Smithereens!Enter at www.whatyoucrave.com.


Some fun hamburger facts:

• According to an article in the NY Times, Louis' Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut is credited with serving the first American-style hamburgers when he placed a ground beef pattie between two pieces of white toast for a busy worker in 1900. Other sources claim Fletcher "Old Dave" Davis from Athens, Texas invented the hamburger in 1904 where he served his patties on thick toast topped with a thick slice of raw onion at the St. Louis World's Fair.
• Americans will eat on average 100 hamburgers a year.
• Only 8% of diners prefer there hamburgers plain without cheese.
• Burgers account for 40% of the sandwiches sold.
• 65% of all hamburger or cheeseburgers are consumed away from home.

Since it is National Hamburger Month and Memorial Day weekend is coming up; fire up the grill! Invite some friends over and have a hamburger cook-out!

***Steeefffffens! Sliders

makes 8

This is my friend Richie's recipe. These are a favorite at the beach house!

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (80/20 preferably)
1 1/2 TBSP. salt
1 TBSP. ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced

8 lettuce leaves
8 tomato slices
2 large yellow onions
8 pieces of bacon, cooked
bleu cheese crumbles
bleu cheese dressing
8 Hawaiian mini rolls

1. Slice onions 1/4 inch thick. Cook over medium-low heat with butter until caramelized and brown, about 25-30 minutes.
2. Combine ground beef, salt, pepper, onions and garlic. Mix lightly with hands until just combined. Form 8 patties about 3/4"-1" thick. Grill uncovered, about 13-15 minutes.
3. About 3 minutes before burger patties are done, place rolls cut side down on grill, until warm and toasty.
4. To assemble burgers, line each bottom of roll with lettuce, tomato slice, hamburger pattie, bleu cheese crumbles, bacon and caramelized onions. Spread bleu cheese dressing on top half and close the sandwich.