James Beards Favorite Hamburger Recipes

JAMES BEARD'S FAVORITE HAMBURGER

Steps:

• Spread the meat out on a board and grate 2 to 3 tablespoons of onion into it¿use a fairly fine grater so you get just the juice and very finely grated raw onion. Now mix in about a tablespoon of heavy cream and some freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Form into patties¿a 6- to 8-ounce patty for an average serving.
• Using a black iron skillet or your best copper one or your pet aluminum frying pan, Teflon-coated or not (with a Teflon coating you won't need much fat, just a little bit for flavor), and cook the hamburgers in the butter and oil over fairly high heat, giving it 4 to 5 minutes a side, depending on how well done you like it. Salt this creamy, oniony, peppery hamburger before serving it on a buttered bun or English muffin, or as a main course with sliced tomatoes and onions or some home-fried potatoes.

JAMES BEARD'S BAKING POWDER BISCUITS

Steps:

• Sift flour into mixing bowl with baking powder and salt.
• Using fingers, two knives, or a heavy fork, blend butter and flour into very fine particles. (Don't beat any longer than you absolutely must!).
• Add milk and stir just enough to ake particles cling together -- it will be a very soft dough.
• (You may have to add up to another 1/4 cup of milk, for a total of 1 cup of milk in the biscuit dough.) Turn on to floured surface and knead for about 1 minute.
• Drop dough by large spoonfuls on to a baking sheet spritzed with baking spray.
• Bake at 450 for 12-15 minutes.

JAMES BEARD'S CHEESED HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and mix well.
• Form into 8 patties.
• Grill, broil or pan-saute 5-6 minutes on each side, or until meat reaches desired doneness.

JAMES BEARD'S OLD-FASHIONED MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meats, onions, carrots, and spices. Mix well.
• Add in the eggs, milk, bread crumbs, and mix well.
• Place half of the mixture on a greased, shallow baking pan. Place hard boiled eggs (without shells, of course) end-to-end in a line through the loaf. Place remaining amount of mixture on top and form into a loaf with your hands.
• Place strips of bacon atop loaf in an attractive criss-cross pattern.
• Bake at 350 F for 90-120 minutes, depending upon how thick you have formed the loaf.