1.) DParker - 07/04/2016

The burner on my 20+ year-old Weber gas grill finally rusted out last month. Since it's so old and generally beat up I'm going to replace the whole thing rather than just the burner. But I've been too busy lately to research the state of the art in outdoor propane cookery, so for the first time ever I've had to tackle July 4th without a grill. Luckily (depending on your perspective) this year's Independance Day fare needed to be kept simple and low in volume. Both of my kids have stuff going on today, and my wife needs to spend the evening with her mother in the assisted-living facility we just moved her into. So we opted to go with just burgers for the two of us. But no grill, so how to proceed in a holiday-appropriate manner?

As much as I like to hate on the French, this seemed like a good opportunity to recognize the fact that, were it not for the frogs backing our play 240 years ago we'd all be speaking English now. So once again, France to the rescue as I prepare le burgers sous vide. Yes, that's right. The heresy of cooking plastic-wrapped meat in water is as applicable to ground beef as it is to fine ribeyes. A little salt, KC Masterpiece Steak Seasoning and a dash of Worcestershire sauce on each side of two ground chuck patties and into zip-lock bags (no vacuum packing required) and the pot of 135 degree water they go for 45 minutes.



The plan was for bacon, tomato, avocado and grilled onions as toppings, but we used the last of the Wright's - bacon - for Saturday's breakfast. Fortunately I found a package of pancetta in the meat drawer, so Italy gets to help out too and make up for their 18th century uselessness.



Tip: Pancetta is quite salty, so when using it as a substitute for American bacon you'll want to cut back on any other salt you add to whatever the Panceatta's going in/on.

Red and white chopped onions sauteed in the pancetta drippings...



...combined with the blue cheese dressing spread on the toasted buns sets the theme. After 45 minutes the burgers came out of their bath done to a perfect medium, and went into the skillet on high for about a minute per side to sear them and form a crust. And although we're celebrating shooting red coats in the face, we're friends with the Brits now and I wanted to give a nod to Brexit, so a thick slice of sharp cheddar was melted over the top of each patty.



Happy Birthday 'Murica.

2.) Swamp Fox - 07/04/2016

Yay!

3.) billy b - 07/04/2016

What........no chibatta:cf::cf::cf::cf::cf::bang:

4.) DParker - 07/04/2016

[QUOTE=billy b;42158]What........no chibatta:cf::cf::cf::cf::cf::bang:[/QUOTE]

Hey, Italy was already representin'. I'm not running the UN here. Besides.....I cooked burgers in hot water, and the [I]buns[/I] are what you're complaining about? :grin:

5.) DParker - 07/04/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;42157]Yay!


[/QUOTE]

Aw, crap. I knew I'd copy-and-paste the wrong language version of that.

6.) BULLZ-i - 07/05/2016

I HAVE DONE THAT AT CAMP WITH OMELETS, THEY TURN OUT REALLY GOOD.

AS FAR AS YOUR GRILL FIASCO GOES, ISN'T IT DOWN RIGHT UN AMERICAN FOR A TEXAN TO USE PROPANE? I MEAN NO WONDER YOU DON'T PUT BEANS IN CHILI. AT LEAST THINK ABOUT A WOOD PELLET SMOKER/GRILL FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE. AND A SMOKER TUBE FOR PRE / COLD SMOKING

[url]http://greenmountaingrills.com/[/url]

[url]http://www.amazenproducts.com/[/url]

7.) Swamp Fox - 07/05/2016

He probably knows someone who sells propane and propane accessories...:wink They'd never let him hear the last of it if he quit.

8.) DParker - 07/05/2016

9.) DParker - 07/05/2016

10.) bluecat - 07/05/2016

Looks mighty tasty. So just a burger a piece? On the fourth?

11.) bluecat - 07/05/2016

Who won the hot dog eating contest? I tuned in and it was Wimbledumb. :bang::bang:

12.) bluecat - 07/05/2016

[url]http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/hot-dog-eating-contest-results-nathans-famous-joey-chestnut-matt-stonie-miki-sudo/l97xoafj4cc51fzp3x2irby6p[/url]

13.) billy b - 07/05/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;42166]Who won the hot dog eating contest? I tuned in and it was Wimbledumb. :bang::bang:[/QUOTE]

Joey won it again, he ate 70 hot dogs, I bet he's still sitting on the crapper.

14.) Swamp Fox - 07/05/2016

I knew he was gonna win when I saw him on TV on Sunday. It was either a brief glimpse on [I]Hannity[/I] while I was changing channels, or one of the Sunday talk shows. (I often get them confused, LOL.)

He looked in fighting trim and had a contagious air of confidence...

15.) bluecat - 07/05/2016

For some reason it wasn't televised this year. Anti-American if you ask me.

16.) Swamp Fox - 07/05/2016

It was pre-empted by more rare interviews with Donald Trump, followed by panel discussions about what Joey's victory means for the Trump campaign.

MSNBC followed up with a three-hour special asking if the Donald had something against kosher hotdogs and why he doesn't serve tacos in his properties' restaurants, while several Fox personalities went on a rant calling for a ban on foreign-made American flags and inexpensive goods from Ceylon and the Orient, except for fireworks.

17.) bluecat - 07/05/2016

I figured that it was an attempt to not offend Muslims with pork products being stuffed into American pie holes on our nation's birthday.

18.) DParker - 07/05/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;42165]So just a burger a piece?[/QUOTE]

Yeah....we're getting old.

19.) bluecat - 07/05/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;42176]Yeah....we're getting old.[/QUOTE]

So, no fireworks either? :wink

20.) DParker - 07/05/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;42182]So, no fireworks either? :wink[/QUOTE]

Get off my lawn!!