Back to the NFL Season
My husband is addicted to NFL football. We actually have a sign in our basement that declares, ”We interrupt this marriage to bring you a football season”. His perfect Sunday during football season is spent on the sofa with his eyes glued to the television. Of course, we cannot forget Monday Night Football, where he and his friends spend time cheering at the television screen. It seems to zap their energy and create a need for nourishment, because soon I will hear their pleas for a snack. In preparation for this, I usually will have something going on in the kitchen to meet their needs.
Burgers and Beer are usually a safe and satisfying choice for NFL football freaks. Instead of ground beef I opted for leaner ground bison which is taster and richer in flavor. I stuffed them with a small amount of bacon and Gruyere cheese knowing that bison tends to lack some of the moistness of beef.
What’s a burger without fries served on the side? We all know deep-frying is not a healthy choice so I oven baked some crispy potato chips.
With NFL starting soon you can try my version of burgers and fries to satisfy the hunger of your football guys and even the gals.
Bison Burgers stuffed with Gruyere Cheese and Bacon
3 pounds ground bison
2 tbsp. butter
1 medium onion chopped finely
3 garlic cloves crushed
1 beaten egg
½ cup dried breadcrumbs
1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme
1 tbsp. chopped fresh sage
3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
4 thinly sliced pieces of Gruyere cheese
4 tbsps. ready crispy bacon
2 tbsps. olive oil
4 hamburger buns
1 large tomato sliced
4 large lettuce leaves
Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Cook the onions and garlic until golden brown. Cool slightly. Place the bison in a medium bowl then
add the beaten egg, breadcrumbs, thyme, sage, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to the bowl with the bison. Add the cooled onions and garlic to the bison mixture and combine well. Shape into eight patties, top four of the patties with one slice of Gruyere cheese and one tablespoon of the bacon. Top each with the remaining patties and press the edges together to seal.
Heat olive oil in a heavy large skillet over high heat. Add the bison patties and cook until well browned 2-4 minutes per side for medium rare.
Garnish with tomatoes and lettuce then serve on hamburger buns.
Homemade Oven Potato Chips with Sea Salt
2 large russet potatoes scrubbed clean
¼ cup melted butter
Sea salt to taste
Preheat oven to 500°F
Cut potatoes to desired thickness but keep the slices fairly thin. You can use a mandoline or food processor, but using a sharp knife works well.
Dry the potato slices in between paper towels to absorb some of the moisture.
Line a baking pan with foil and spray with cooking oil.
Arrange potato slices in an even layer on the baking pan and brush with the melted butter.
Bake in oven for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through and crisp golden on the edges. Sprinkle with the sea salt and serve immediately.