May 28 is National Burger Day and Memorial Day is May 25. What better time to celebrate summer, family AND burgers than in a celebration that combines all of them!? We can’t think of any reason. Memorial Day & National Burger Day go hand-in-hand like burgers and cheese!
We know that not every Memorial Day celebration and picnic is going to involve burgers — but we’ll bet that more feature burgers than don’t! Burgers, hot dogs, macaroni and potato salad and chips, dip and adult beverages just go together as a way to kick off summer.
Memorial Day & National Burger Day Go Hand-in-Hand
Summertime eating just seems to conjure up burgers and hot dogs. Easy and quick to cook, delicious. Even children seem to be happy with burgers and hots — give them some ketchup and let them go or drop some American cheese on the burger and your children will probably gobble it right up.
If you’re planning that first big party of the summer and typically Memorial Day is the unofficial kick off to summer. Now when you add in that Burger Day is the same week as Memorial day, why not combine the two of them into one fun, delicious party!? We can’t see any reason not to.
The term, “hamburger” originated in, wait for it… Hamburg, Germany! Some brilliant cook took minced beef, formed it into a patty and cooked a “Hamburg steak.” These “Hamburg steaks” made their way to the United States — it’s believed, in the late 1880s; that is still a topic of much conversation, though.
Something else that is a topic of conversation is that no matter how or when the burger came into our diets and onto our plates, we have loved them for decades! A burger has been a backyard barbecue staple and even the most hardcore backyard chef knows that a burger can be so easily elevated into more than plain patty on a un.
Here are some of the choices you can use when you’re celebrating burger day:
- Traditional beef — 80/20 is sometimes deemed “best” but it’s your preference
- Tofu, bean and veggie — for the vegetarians celebrating burger day
- Exotic meats like bison, ostrich or venison
- Poultry like chicken and turkey
- Wherever else your palate takes you!
Wow your friends, family and guests with your National Burger Day trivia
- American men consumed about seven ounces of meat daily; women eat four ounces
- Louis Lassen is believed to be the “inventor” of the burger
- Beef is eaten more than 50% of the time, the other meat eaten is poultry and fish
- More than 25 billion pounds of beef were consumed by Americans last year
- A 770 pound burger, that cost $5,000 is the most expensive burger made
What can you and your family do to make the most of National Burger Day and Memorial Day?
Assuming that coronavirus has passed and we are able to get together with friends and family and host a huge welcome to summer party, here are some ways to make your party memorable
- Make sure the pool is clean and ready for the pool party!
- If you have backyard chefs who want to try their hand at “best burger chef” invite them to bring their meat of choice and their competitive nature. The winners in this competition will be those of you who get to eat the burgers
- Set up a table and offer condiments so your guests can make their burgers unique. Consider offering” ketchup and mustard — obviously, cheese, a fried egg, avocado, tomato, lettuce, mayo and flavored mayo, gourmet ketchup and mustards, lettuce, onions, peanut butter, crispy onion straws, mac and cheese, hot sauce, baked beans, various types of cheese
Your burger experience is limited only by your imagination — and the toppings you have on hand!
Here is our favorite traditional burger classic
Classic Cheeseburger Take this Classic & Make It Your Own
There is nothing more satisfying than a cheeseburger. Burgers (and yes, hot dogs) are the mainstay and almost expected at every backyard barbecue and picnic.
The only “rule” to follow is to use quality beef with a little bit of fat. Don’t worry about the extra calories — it’s a celebration after all! Once you take that first bite of this delicious burger that you have made your own by adding your favorite toppings you will agree — it was worth it!
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs lean ground chuck with 20% fat content
Salt and pepper to taste
4 slices American cheddar cheese (for the traditional cheese burger you may want to use American cheese)
4 hamburger buns split crosswise
Directions
- Preheat the grill. If you’re using a charcoal grill, heat the coals until they are glowing bright orange.
- Divide the ground chuck into 4 equal portions.
- Form each portion into a ¾-inch thick burger patty.
- Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Place the burger on direct heat.
- Cover and grill about 3 minutes or until the burger patties are golden and slightly charred on the first side. Flip the burgers and grill for another 3 minutes. (Don’t press the burger or you will release all those delicious juices.
- Add the cheese onto the tops of the burgers.
- Place the buns on indirect heat on the grill, cut side down.
- Cover and grill for another minute to melt the cheese and toast the buns.
- Remove the burger patties and buns from the grill.
- Now’s the time to let your inner chef shine and mix and match toppings.
- Enjoy! half of the bun and top with the top part of the bun. Serve immediately.
We’re going to be purists and leave the rest of your burger making to your unique flavors, taste and desire to experiment!