Homemade Burger Buns

Makes 6 large burger buns.

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups bread flour
1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon minced dried onion
1 tablespoon honey
2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
4 tablespoons softened butter
1 large egg
2/3 cup lukewarm water
Olive Oil cooking spray

Directions

Combine all of the ingredients in an electric mixer bowl and mix the ingredients with the paddle attachment until the dough comes together around the paddle.

Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough until smooth.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until puffy and doubled.

To form the buns:

Gently deflate the dough on a lightly floured surface and divide it into 6 pieces; each 4 ounces.

 

Shape the dough into balls, and place them in the wells of a lightly greased hamburger bun pan.

If you don’t have a bun pan, space them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.

Gently flatten the buns with your hand to fill the bottom of the pan’s wells, or until they’re about 3 1/2″ to 4″ wide.

Cover the buns and let them rise for 60 to 90 minutes or until they reach the top of the pan.

Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Spray the tops of the buns with olive oil cooking spray.

Bake the buns for 18 to 20 minutes or until they are a light, golden brown and their interior temperature is at least 190°F, measured with an instant-read thermometer.

Remove the buns from the oven and transfer them to a rack. Allow the buns to cool completely, then store airtight at room temperature.

Adapted from a King Arthur recipe.

Grass-fed Steak Burgers with Barbecue Sauce

Makes 4 burgers

Ingredients

4 thick (1/2 inch) sweet onion slices for grilling
4 slices American or Swiss Cheese
Burger Buns, recipe above for homemade or use store-bought

BBQ Sauce

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (about 3 chiles), plus 1 tablespoon of the sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic

Burgers

1 1/4 pounds grass-fed ground beef (sirloin)
1 1/2 teaspoons each kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
BBQ sauce, recipe above
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided

Make the BBQ sauce:

Purée all sauce ingredients in a food processor until very smooth.

Make the burgers:

In a bowl, combine beef, salt and pepper.

Form into 4 equal sized patties about 5 oz each and 3/4 inches thick. Put on a plate, cover, and chill until ready to grill.

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat). Oil the grill grates.

Brush both sides of the onions with BBQ sauce. Grill, covered, until softened, turning once, 8 minutes total.

Brush both sides of the burgers with BBQ sauce and grill, covered, turning once, about 8 minutes total.

Lay the bun halves, cut side down, on grill to toast slightly during the last-minute of grilling for the burgers and onions.

Transfer buns to a platter, place slices of cheese on the bun bottoms and top with burgers and onions.

Serve with extra barbecue sauce or ketchup.

Chopped Vegetable Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Ingredients

4 mini bell peppers, different colors or 1 large bell pepper
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
Half of a large red onion
2 celery stalks
Half a pint of grape tomatoes
Green Goddess Dressing, Recipe Link 

Directions

Dice all the vegetables into ½ inch pieces.

Combine the vegetables in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly;

Divide the mixture among individual salad bowls.

Serve the dressing on the side, so each diner can add the amount of dressing they like.

Macaroni Salad

Ingredients

8 oz elbow macaroni
2 celery stalks, finely diced
1/2 onion finely diced
1/2 bell pepper finely diced
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved, seeded and finely diced
1/4 cup spicy cherry peppers, diced or pickle relish
1/4 cup minced parsley

Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch black pepper

Directions

Make the dressing by combining the ingredients and set aside while you cook the macaroni.

Cook the pasta al dente in boiling salted water, drain and add the dressing while the pasta is warm.

Add the chopped vegetables and mix well. Add salt to taste, but I find this type of salad doesn’t need extra salt.

The mayonnaise, pasta cooked in salted water and seasonings add enough.

Chill the salad for several hours before serving.

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

Makes 2 quarts. I use old mayonnaise jars with screw top lids.

Ingredients

2 cups water
2 cups white distilled vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon crushed black pepper
1 teaspoon dill seed
6 thinly sliced garlic cloves
6-8 pickling cucumbers (Kirby)
A few sprigs of dill
2 clean quart size jars

Directions

Combine water, vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, pepper, dill seed and garlic in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; stir.

Quarter pickling cucumbers lengthwise and divide evenly in the jars; add fresh dill.

Top with the hot vinegar mixture. Cover and refrigerate for several days before eating.

The pickles keep for a few months in the refrigerator.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in barbecue, Beef, Bread, Cheese, Healthy Italian Cooking, Pasta, Pickles, rolls, Salad, Salad Dressing, Sauces, Vegetables Tags: recipes for summer cookouts