National BBQ and Hamburger Month

By Terry Orr

Wahoo!! We celebrate both barbecue and hamburgers this month!

What are your favorite ways to prepare Hamburgers?

What are your special BBQ meals?

(All images from Google) 

National Cheeseburger Day

Are your hungry yet?
(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

I spend alot of time on the Yahoo! news page trying to keep current on daily events.  As I was pursuing the site on Labor Day I found an article about the largest cheeseburger that was made in Minnesota at the Black Bear Casino in Carlton.  It was 10 feet in diameter and weighed a ton.  It even took a crane to flip it.  It took 4 hours to cook, and included 60 pounds of bacon, 50 pounds of lettuce, 50 pounds of sliced onions, 40 pounds of pickles and 40 pounds of cheese.  It was even quite tasty.  A picture of the massive burger is shown here.

That is Really Big!
(Google Image) 

Another feature on Yahoo! is a program called Blue Ribbon Hunter.  These are small episodes of a reporter traveling around to find the best foods in the country.  I recently saw one from a hamburger festival in Akron, Ohio.  I remember all the burgers she tested, as she was one of the judges for the festival.  I think she said she ate 13 burgers, but the winner was a corned beef burger with sauerkraut and blue cheese.

(Google Image) 

I wasn’t really sure about her choice, to me a cheeseburger must have ground beef , and the best ones I have found, other than grilling my own, are from out of the way burger joints, not the big chain restaurants.  There used to be a small burger joint in town called Kathy's Dairy Bar.  They would grill up the best burgers, on a jumbo toasted bun with mayonnaise lettuce tomatoes, purple onions, pickles and mustard the cheese would be placed on the burger while still on the grill so it was slightly melted.  They served it in a paper checked basket with a side of crisp crinkle fries and a mound of Ketchup.  I would get a thick chocolate shake to drink, and I couldn’t think of a better meal ever. Even after the place closed, and I met my future husband, he also had fond memories of the same restaurant, and would frequently reminisce about having lunch there with his father while they were in town working.  Another great place for a cheeseburger was our local bowling alley in the Delta.  Not a place you would typically go to for burgers, but after all this time I still remember how delicious it was. High School Football games are another place for a great burger.  I think they are so good because you are outside, the band is playing, the aroma of the cooking meat and the roar of the crowd make them taste even better.

Yeah, life it good!
(Google Image) 

Today is National Cheeseburger Day.  According to punchbowl.com, there are several theories about the origins of the cheeseburger. One story claims that the cheeseburger was created between 1924 and 1926 by a chef named Lionel Sternberger. As the story goes, a homeless man dining at Sternberger's restaurant in Pasadena, California, suggested the addition of a slice of cheese to his hamburger order. Sternberger complied, eventually added it to his menu.

(Google Image) 

So today, try to find an out of the way burger joint, bowling alley, high school football game or even cook your own.  Finding a place with a great cheeseburger is a wonderful experience, and will make some great memories too.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/09/03/2424907/minn-casino-cooks-up-record-1.html#storylink=cpy

National Hamburger Month

(Google Image) 

By Akindman

Ever wonder about hamburgers - their history, different ways of preparing, cooking, seasoning, and fixings?  It boggles the mind when you start thinking about those and other related questions.

(Google Image) 

The history of the hamburger dates back to the 15th century where minced beef was considered a delicacy. The name hamburger comes from Hamburg, Germany where it was called a Hamburg steak. And according to the Library of Congress, the first hamburgers were served at Louis’ Lunch sandwich shop (est. 1895).

(Google Image) 

(Google Image) 

National Cheeseburger Day

By Diane Forrest,

Cheeseburger in paradise

Tried to amend my carnivorous habits

Made it nearly seventy days

Losin' weight without speed, eatin' sunflower seeds

Drinkin' lots of carrot juice and soakin' up rays

But at night I'd had these wonderful dreams

Some kind of sensuous treat

Not zucchini, fettucini or Bulgar wheat

But a big warm bun and a huge hunk of meat

Chorus:

Cheeseburger in paradise (paradise)

Medium rare with mustard 'be nice (paradise)

Heaven on earth with an onion slice (paradise)

I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise

I like mine with lettuce and tomato

Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes

Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer

Well good god almighty which way do I steer for my

Chorus:

Cheeseburger in paradise (paradise)

Makin' the best of every virtue and vice (paradise)

Worth every damn bit of sacrifice (paradise)

To get a cheeseburger in paradise

To be a cheeseburger in paradise

I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise

Jimmy Buffett

You guessed it...today is National Cheeseburger Day.  There are several theories about the origins of the cheeseburger. First said to be created between 1924 and 1926 by a chef named Lionel Sternberger in Pasadena, California, the story says that a homeless man suggested Sternberger should add a slice of cheese to his hamburger order. He complied, added it to his menu and the rest is history.

I love cheeseburgers; Saturday night at my house was always burger night, cooking out on the grill, then loading it up with home grown tomatoes, mayonaise, mustard and a slice of cheese. So good!  When I was younger and went to my grandparents for vacations, my grandpa would grill them on a charcoal grill, and then we would eat them with crunchy cheetoes and cold orange crush, watch slides on the side of the house and eat homemade ice cream out in the yard.  You just can't buy better memories than that!

So today on National Cheeseburger Day, why not grill your own and make some memories with your loved ones!

[This article was to be posted on September 18th - sorry for the delay.  Hope you enjoy! D' boss]