In-N-Out Double-Double

This is a recipe for making what I believe is the best hamburger in the world. The secret to duplicating this and other fast-food burgers is getting the beef patties real thin...about 1/4 inch-thick. If you like, you can press the beef thin onto wax paper and freeze the patties ahead of time. This makes them easier to work with on the hot pan.

Recipe Ingredient
1 plain hamburger bun
1/3 pound ground beef
Dash salt
1 tablespoon Kraft Thousand Island dressing
1 large tomato slice (or 2 small slices)
1 large lettuce leaf
4 slices American cheese (Singles)-or-
2 slices real American cheese1 whole onion slice (sliced thin)

1. Preheat a frying pan over medium heat.

2. Lightly toast the both halves of the hamburger bun, face down in the pan. Set aside.

3. Separate the beef into two even portions, and form each half into a thin patty slightly larger than the bun.

4. Lightly salt each patty and cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side.

5. Flip the patties over and immediately place two slices of cheese on each one. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

6. Assemble the burger in the following stacking order from the bottom up:

bottom bun
dressing
tomato
lettuce
beef patty with cheese
onion slice
beef patty with cheesetop bun.
Makes one hamburger.

Fatburger

Southern California - the birthplace of famous hamburgers from McDonald's, Carl's Jr., and In-n-Out Burger - is home to another thriving burger chain that opened its first outlet in 1952. Lovie Yancey thought of the perfect name for the 1/3-pound burgers she sold at her Los Angeles burger joint: Fatburger. Now with over 41 units in California, Nevada, and moving into Washington and Arizona, Fatburger has become the food critics' favorite, winning "best burger in town" honors with regularity. The secret is the seasoned salt used on a big 'ol lean beef patty. And there's no ketchup on the stock version, just mayo, mustard, and relish. Replace the ground beef with ground turkey and you've got Fatburger's Turkeyburger all up and cloned.

Recipe's Ingredients:
1/3 pound lean ground beef

seasoned salt

ground black pepper

1 plain hamburger bun

1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise

1/4 cup chopped iceberg lettuce

1 tomato slice

1/2 tablespoon mustard

1/2 tablespoon sweet pickle relish

1 tablespoon chopped onion

3 dill pickle slices (hamburger slices)

Optional

1 slice American cheese

Grill the unsuspecting beef patty in a hot frying pan.
Slap the hot side and the cold side together.
1. Form the ground beef into a patty that is about 1 inch wider than the circumference of the hamburger bun.

2. Preheat a non-stick frying pan to medium/high heat. Fry the patty in the pan for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until done. Season both sides of the beef with seasoned salt and ground black pepper.

3. As the meat cooks prepare the bun by spreading approximately 1/2 tablespoon of mayonnaise on the face of the top bun.

4. Place the lettuce on the mayonnaise, followed by the tomato slice.

5. When the beef is done place the patty on the bottom bun.

6. Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of mustard over the top of the beef patty.

7. Spoon about 1/2 tablespoon of relish over the mustard.

8. Sprinkle the chopped onion onto the relish.

9. Arrange the pickles on the chopped onion.

10. Bring the two halves of the burger together and serve with gumption.

Makes 1 burger.

Tidbits

If you want cheese on your burger, put a slice of American cheese on the face of the bottom bun before adding the beef patty. The heat from the meat will melt the cheese.

Chili's Nacho Burger

Here's a clone recipe for a delicious new burger from Chili's unlike any you may have tasted before. It was designed by the folks at this popular chain to incorporate several of restaurant's prepared sides -- all of which you will now have clones for -- including Chili's chili queso, Chili's pico de gallo, and Chili's guacamole. Stack it all onto abun with a juicy 1/4-pound ground beef patty and some crumbledtortilla chips for crunch, and you've got a slightly spicy, South-of-the-border taste. Muy bien, amigos!

List of recipes...
Pico de Gallo

2 medium tomatoes, diced

1/2 cup diced Spanish onion

2 teaspoons chopped fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and de-ribbed

2 teaspoons finely minced fresh cilantro

Pinch of salt

Guacamole

2 small or 1 large Haas avocado

2 tablespoons sour cream

1/4 cup diced tomato

1/2 teaspoon diced jalapeno

1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon salt

Chili Queso

3 ounces ground beef

1 teaspoon all-purpose flour

pinch of salt

pinch of ground black pepper

16-ounce bottle Cheez Whiz

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 pounds ground beef

4 large sesame seed buns

2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded or chopped thin

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 green onion, chopped

16-20 tortilla chips

2-3 fresh jalapenos, sliced

1. First make the pico de gallo. This is easy. Just combine all of the ingredients for the pico in a small bowl and mix well. Cover bowl and chill in the refrigerator.

2. Now we'll make the guacamole. In a small bowl, smash up most of the avocado, but be sure to leave several unsmashed chunks. Add the remaining ingredients for the guacamole to the avocado and mix well. Cover bowl and chill in the refrigerator, next to the pico.

3. Next we'll make the chili queso. In yet another small bowl, mix together ground beef, flour, a pinch of salt, a pinch of black pepper, and a pinch of chili powder. Use your hands to work the dry ingredients into the ground beef. Brown the beef in a small skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Use a spoon or spatula to crumble the beef as it cooks. Cook until it's brown, then set aside.

4. Melt the Cheez Whiz with 2 tablespoons of milk over low heat. When milk and cheese has been combined, add the remaining queso ingredients. Heat while stirring often until cheese is smooth and creamy, then cover saucepan and remove it from the heat.

5. Pre-heat a griddle or large frying pan over medium heat. Lightly butter the face of each bun and brown the buns face-down on the heat.

6. Separate the ground beef into four 1/2-pound portions. Roll each portion of meat into a ball and then pat the meat down into a circular patty slightly larger in diameter than the hamburger buns. Cook the hamburger patties for 5-10 minutes per side, until done. Lightly salt and pepper each burger patty.

7. Build the burger open-faced in the following order starting with the bottom bun:

On Bottom Bun

1/2 cup shredded lettuce

hamburger patty

2 tablespoons chili queso

4 or 5 crumbled tortilla chips

2 teaspoons green onion

On Top Bun

1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise

2 tablespoons pico de gallo

2 tablespoons guacamole

4 jalapeno slices

Serve burger with extra queso and guacamole. May also serve french fries on the side and use the chili queso for dipping.

Makes 4 burgers.