What's a picnic without burgers?

Welcome to Yummy Monday on Tuesday!  Today we begin our series within a series:

where we journey the Internet over to find the best burgers to tantalize your taste buds!  Because what's a picnic without a burger??  Well, ok, that's not true.  You could have a picnic with like fried chicken and potato salad.  Or sandwiches.  Or chicken salad.  Or lots of other stuff.  BUT one of the BEST things to eat on a picnic is a BURGER!


Today I bring you this pretty little number:

Mmmmmm.  And some other great fixin's.  


Alright.  I first discovered this recipe on About.com (barbecues and grilling).  The original recipe really is just a simple burger with bbq sauce.  In the directions, however, it was stated that you could add cheese as well to really make it stand out - so that's what I did.  I added cheddar.


The recipe:


1 1/2 lbs ground round
1/2 C cooked and minced bacon
1/2 C BBQ sauce 
1 small minced onion
French fried onions
Your favorite hamburger toppings
Crusty bun


Mix ingredients together.  Shape mixture into patties.  Cook it in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 7-8 minutes per side for well done.  Butter the bun and toast it.  Place the patty on the bun and top with french fried onions and other toppings.


Reaction:
Tasty, tasty, tasty.  Delicious blend of flavors.  Goes well with lots of normal toppings - ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, lettuce, mayo - you name it.


Challenges?  Changes?
Yep, yep and yep.  The recipe clearly stated that you could add cheese to the mixture.  Don't do that.  It makes the whole thing crumble to pieces - no adherence at all.  Maybe I should have known this.  But I don't really do burgers - as with all good marriages, that's mr's domain.  If you want cheese in your burger, separate the patties and stuff the cheese inside, then seal the pieces of the patty back up.  DON'T mix it in.  Or, do like normal people do.  Lay the cheese on top.  


Overall Assessment:
Flavor-wise this is a great little burger to go with if you want something simple with just a bit of kick.  It's basically a great ALMOST blank canvas.  It was simple to make and took very little time.  It would be even easier if you used the microwave bacon - which I didn't.  I will try this again for sure - but WITHOUT mixing the cheese into the meat.  


And now, for some fixin's.  Today I bring you:

Super yummy


Summertime Pasta Salad
1 lb uncooked rotini
1 head of broccoli
2 C shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/4 C miracle whip
3 T vinegar
1/3 C sugar

Cook the pasta, drain, rinse and cool.  Chop the broccoli into small florets and put them in a bowl with the cheese.  Add the pasta.  Mix the remaining ingredients together in a small bowl.  Pour this over the pasta mixture, and mix well.  Chill and serve.


Oh, I know.  It's a repeat... do you remember it from the Döner Kebabs?  Well, it was so yummy I made it again.  Plus wouldn't that be great at the family picnic?  That's what I thought.


Would you like some dessert?  Ok.  Unfortunately, this is all you get:

Yeah, we were too busy eating to take pictures.  This is my all time favorite Summertime family gathering go-to dessert.  It is sooo tasty.  I originally found this recipe in the Kraft magazine. I've made it so many times, that I've tweaked it here and there to make it extra yummy.  Here it is:


Strawberry Cheesecake Bowl
1 package fresh strawberries
3 T sugar
2 packages (8 oz) cream cheese
1 1/2 C cold milk
1 small package french vanilla instant pudding
1 pound cake (frozen, store bought or homemade) cut into small cubes
Small carton heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Magic Shell


Wash and cut the strawberries and put them in a bowl.  Sprinkle the sugar on them and mix. Place them in the fridge until ready to use.  Beat the cream cheese until creamy.  Gradually beat in the milk.  Add the pudding mix and beat well.  Set this aside.  Make your heavy cream into whipped cream.  Put it in a mixing bowl and beat it well - for a long time - on high.  When it begins to thicken, add granulated sugar - about 1/4 C - very slowly.  Make sure to add it a little at a time.  Then keep beating until it gets really thick.  Place half of the cream cheese mixture in the bottom of a glass bowl (I use a trifle bowl).  Put the cubes of sponge cake over this, then spoon on the strawberries and juice. Put the rest of the cream cheese mixture over the top.  Top it off with some whipped cream and drizzle the chocolate magic shell over the whole thing.


Trust me - it's delicious.  I've tried all three different kinds of pound cake, and my favorite way to make it is to buy the pound cake from the bakery at the grocery store.  It's almost as good as homemade, but you don't have to take the time to make it!  Take this to your next picnic and wow them!


If you have some good picnic recipes, don't forget to link them up to the "Life's a Picnic!" Linky Party.  I can't wait to see your good ideas!

*Be sure to check just below for all the fun parties I link to!