Food For Thought

There’s just something about homemade hamburgers that reminds me of home, and my childhood. My dad standing near the stove, patting out the ground meat and spices into perfectly shaped patties and the sizzle of them hitting the grill; it’s just so nostalgic. Of course, those simple times are gone now, and the real world is creeping up on me more and more each day. If nothing else, college has taught me how to be more frugal with my spending habits, and how to live on a budget; something I knew nothing of until I went out of my own. Of course, I still have help from my parents in some ways, but in many others, I’m making a path for myself to follow.

I digress. Burgers. Or “Steak”burgers as these are called remind me of those simpler times with my family when I didn’t have a care in the world. Nowadays I make them myself in my tiny apartment kitchen with my friends, but the basic feelings still come out of it. They’re called “steak”burgers because they taste like seasoned steaks, but are burgers. With the addition of a few simple spices, these come alive and do much more than just plain ground beef. Hopefully these will make it to your own backyard BBQ parties, but even if they’re a simple Wednesday night dinner, I’d still be happy.

“Steak”burgers

2 lbs lean ground sirloin
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1Tbsp garlic powder
1Tbsp onion powder
¼ cup seasoned bread crumbs
About 2Tbsp Sriracha (a couple good squeezes)
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the salt and the pepper. Mix until just combined (do not overmix, otherwise you will have dense, tough patties). Form into 8 equal sized patties. Salt and pepper the patties on both sides, and grill about 4 minutes each side for medium doneness. Let rest about 5 minutes to finish cooking and redistribute the juices. Serve with your favorite condiments. Make 8 ¼-lb patties.