Josh's Homemade Hamburger Patties

Today I am sharing my husband's mouth-watering recipe for homemade hamburger patties.  Now, I must tell you that I had to beg him to let me publish this recipe.  Beg!! I owe him big time, but he finally let me share it.  They really are that good. They are better than any hamburger I have ever tasted; perfectly juicy on the inside, and grilled just right on the outside. 

Let me tell you a few tips before I divulge this recipe.  When making the patties, form the meat-mixture into a ball, between 1/4-1/3 lb.  Then, flatten them, but leave them pretty thick.  That will make them juicier and taste better.  Also, do NOT over handle the meat.  Josh made me take notes on that one.  (Kidding.)  But he did emphasize it!  You want your burgers to come out perfectly!  So, follow the steps below, then invite your friends over for the best burgers they will ever have!

Now, my husband has never measured any of these ingredients.  He just eyeballs it and mixes it up, then smells it, and then maybe adds a little extra of something.  So, I stood right beside him with my notebook and pen in hand, writing down how much of everything he put in.  I know some people can cook to taste, and others need exact measurements.  Feel free to add the ingredients to your liking, or follow what I have written down.

Josh's Homemade Hamburger Patties

• 2 pounds, lean ground beef
• 2 tbsp. dried minced onion
• 1-2 tsp. garlic salt
• 1 tsp. onion salt
• 1 tsp. parsley
• 2 tbsp. A-1 sauce
• 1-2 tbsp. worchestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp. liquid smoke
• dash of cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

About a half hour before you make the patties, let the ground beef sit at room temperature.  Combine all ingredients and mix with your hands.  Divide meat-mixture into 1/4-1/3 lb. patties, leaving them pretty thick.  Do not over-mix the meat!  Grill away and serve with your favorite toppings. 

Here is a list of our favorite toppings:

• Mayo or Miracle Whip
• Mustard
• A-1 sauce
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Avocado
• Crisp Bacon (Josh)
• Blue Cheese Crumbles (Becky)
• Sauteed Onion (Josh) or Raw Onion (Becky)
• Mushrooms (Josh)
• Swiss Cheese (Josh)
• More Crisp Bacon (Josh)



Now, I will try and work my magic and get his insanely good Steak Marinade recipe!

Happy Birthday Hubby!

*Sorry for the over usage of the word "amazing." Clearly, I don't know any other adjectives.

**Sorry for the poor pictures, they were taken with my non-smart-phone camera. :)

Yesterday was my husband's birthday, so of course we celebrated with amazing food!! There is this amazing Mexican market close to where my husband works. He goes there for lunch every Friday, and I am always jealous! So of course, I seek every opportunity to join him when I can. They make these tacos that are aMAZing!! He claims they are authentic (he lived with Hispanic people for 2 years), and they are surely the best tacos I have ever eaten.

They cook the steak for like 2 days or something and it has a little pineapple in there for a subtle sweet taste. Then we throw some chopped onion, cilantro, and perfectly ripe avocado's on there. Their homemade cilantro dressing and homemade tortillas are delicious. It is a perfect combination. And it pairs nicely with a crisp Orange Fanta. Heehee. :)

For dinner, we dined at Tucano's, a local Brazilian cuisine. This is one of our favorite places to eat. For me, I love the Brazilian Limeade and the amazing salad bar. My husband drools over the endless skewers of meat they bring to your table, and cut fresh for you. It is delicious!

For the full experience, it takes a good hour or more to eat your meal. It is a really fun place!

What would a birthday be without a birthday cake? Well, a happy one-for my husband :) That's right, he doesn't like cake...or pie...or pretty much 90% of desserts. In the past, I have made my husband a simple Mud Pie or milkshakes for his birthday. But this year, after tasting a new Cheesecake recipe I tried, he requested that. And then he said he wanted to take it to work...so I didn't even get it!! (Actually, he did bring me home a sliver.) But to say that he loved the Cheesecake, is saying something. I recently made it for some friends, and they said "This is the best cheesecake we have ever had." Shucks. I concur. It is amazing. And I will be posting the recipe very soon! Yes, it deserves some anticipated build-up! I'm excited about it! So stay tuned for "Theee Cheesecake."